Another empirically-validated way to address stress in our lives is through meditation, prayer, religious ritual, and other spiritual activities. Simple meditation and/or prayer lasting 20 minutes or more a day can make a great difference in cortisol levels and has even been shown to reduce blood pressure and enhance brain growth and memory. This is especially helpful if one begins by giving thanks for blessings received.
You may wonder how this non-physical activity can stimulates brain growth. Basically, it’s through two different mechanisms. First, we know that brain growth factors are suppressed by cortisol, and typically meditation and extended prayer suppress cortisol production. They also help relax blood vessels and capillaries which, along with focused attention, allows for improved blood flow of oxygen and nutrients to various parts of the brain. So this combination— reduced cortisol, increased BGF, focused attention, and improved circulation—allow for the growth of new neurites.
Dr. Andrew Newberg has done extensive study in this area and notes that various other faith-based or religious activities can have a similar effect as well, such as congregational singing, putting one’s trust in a higher power, seeking forgiveness, forgiving others, benevolent giving, showing concern for others, etc.
Several studies in prominent medical journals like The American Journal of Psychiatry have shown that prayer and other spiritual practices can reduce or alleviate depression. A study at Utah State University published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine showed that older people with strong religious beliefs, as opposed to those with less faith, handled stress as well as persons 30 to 40 years younger, and did not experience as much elevation in blood pressure.
Since stress and depression affect both physical and mental health, we were not surprised to find that when researchers at Yale School of Medicine studied more than 2,000 people over age 65, they found those who attended religious services regularly were less likely to lose their mental faculties or become physically disabled.
So if you feel burdened by stress, you may want to try daily meditation and of course if you believe in a God or higher power, be sure to maintain and perhaps extend your daily prayers, and related spiritual/religious activities. These may do wonders for your body and brain. And they may provide the insight and solutions you need to reduce other stressors you may be experiencing as well. Whether your spirit soars or not, your brain will bless you!
