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Natural Awakenings North Central New Jersey

Physiological Response to Spirituality

woman meditating

MICROGEN IMAGES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY from sciencephoto/CanvaPro

A 2023 study in Integrative Medicine Reports involving 68 undergraduate college students evaluated the physiological effects of an eight-week wellness intervention called Awakened Awareness for Adolescents and Emerging Adults (AA-A) designed to help participants develop a personal relationship with their higher self and a higher power, while broadening their awareness toward outward accomplishments.

 

At the beginning of the study, the researchers collected self-reported information about clinical, psychological and spiritual well-being from the participants and measured their heart rate variability (HRV)—the slight variation in time between heartbeats. HRV is an indirect measure of stress because it indicates the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the nervous system. A person in a fight-or-flight mode will have lower HRV, whereas a relaxed person may have higher HRV.

 

Participants attended weekly, 90-minute groups sessions. After the last session, the same HRV and well-being data were collected. Significant improvements were noted in the participants’ HRV, suggesting improvements in the ability to recover from stress and spiritual decline. Further research is required to fully understand the role of spirituality in resilience and recovery from stress.


5 Top Tips to Finding Your Next Doctor

1 Keep an Open Mind! Healthcare has come a long way. Today, you have access to practitioners that branch outside of traditional medicine and aim to identify the root causes of conditions while using alternative treatments that may help you get the relief you need. Just because it’s not a pill, doesn’t make it pseudoscience.

2 Build Your Health Care Team. There is no one doctor that can be the be-all-end-all for your health needs. Be sure to have a team of practitioners with different “lenses” and areas of expertise who will treat the root cause and not just the symptom(s).

3   Environment Influences Healing. Health is multi-factorial. Your mental and emotional environment plays a pivotal role in your healing potential. Your doctors and their staff should create an office atmosphere filled with positivity so you can get the most out of your care.

4 Your Story Matters.  Before you begin any treatment, be sure to have a comprehensive consultation to discuss your health concerns. Find practitioners who welcome questions and will take the time to listen and treat you with respect.

5 Report of Findings. When it comes to our health, we often make decisions without understanding the risk versus benefits. Knowledge is an important part of the healing process and is essential to make conscious, informed health decisions. Find practitioners who take the time to explain their exam findings and the recommendations for treatment in ways that make sense to you.

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