neuroplasticity and meditation
 

great summary of promising research at this link.
http://meditation-research.org.uk/20...-key-articles/

pasted two summaries below...perhaps it's not for everyone, but it has been a real help for me and...a way to pass the many, many hours. my fave source of guided meditation is http://www.dharmaseed.org/ best teachers for the brain injured (simple, calm, have suffered themselves) at least in my opinion are Pascal Auclair and Tara Brach.

Article 4: Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density

neuroplasticity and meditation - the hippocampusCompared to a control group participation in an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme resulted in increased grey matter in the left hippocampus, a brain area strongly involved in learning and memory.


Article 5: Mechanisms of white matter changes induced by meditation

Here we have a very exciting study showing the impact of meditation practice on the connections between brain areas using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). After only four weeks of meditation changes in white matter – which is strongly involved in interconnecting brain areas [see myelin] – were present in those participants who meditated but not in the control participants who engaged in relaxation exercises. Interestingly, these changes involved the anterior cingulate cortex, a part of the brain that contributes to self-regulation, an important aspect when people start engaging with meditation practice. (read more about this article in a previous post )

here's one specifically for TBI's..
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gu...ic/id563542450
.it's a little hokey, and was far too wordy for me when i couldn't handle quite so much stimulation, but i think it helped my optimism.

feels like there's a sorta palm reader type lady in a long flowing skirt and big bosom sitting beside you and giving you healing energy

i'll try anything :) i've had meditation recommended many times it's time to do it

Meditation can help
 

Thanks for this thread! I'm an experienced meditator since 1987' in my faith this is a daily / multiple times a day practice. For me, putting aside the religious benefits, daily meditation provides a time to find my happy place. And it's very easy to get there anytime I'm over stressed or feeling sick. It's been a life saver for me, and really I depend on it when getting tests, or even pressure at work.

There are many different kinds, so look around and try some out. I believe you will get some benefits and happiness. If you have questions, I'm happy to try and help.

Sending you all love and compassion.

Four decades of research has proven that the brain is transformed by meditation, and now newer evidence suggests that genetic output also improves with meditation.The right genes get turned on and the wrong ones switched off.

Deepak Chopra, Rudolph E. Tanzi, Super Brain

Thanks for the link to the guided meditation site.

Meditation was suggested to me, but I can't seem to relax and focus my mind. Like some TBI patients, I am plagued with restlessness and my brain is too busy - with jumbled, rambling thoughts.

You want to be careful playing with the brain

Back in the beginning of my treatment and rehab, we had a group doing mindfulness cognitive meditation - it was part of a study.

Unfortunately every participant had a negative result. I experienced more major pain and dizziness.

I've been meditating for many many years - so after I recovered from that I went back to other more peaceful meditations.

I still see that study referenced as a miracle for brain issues without any mention of any negatives.

If it helps, that's great. If it doesn't help, then you are not alone.

Good to know. Thanks.

That's why meditation is a *practice* ;) Seriously though, its not so much that you're achieving peace and a clear mind, its the act of trying that's important in meditation.

So the fact that you are plagued with restlessness and your brain is busy and jumbled with rambling thoughts makes you the perfect candidate to keep working at it. I know it sounds counter intuitive.

Meditation is something that NO ONE is good at, brain injury or not for a very long time. But for some reason everyone expects to be able to just sit down and be able to do. Because really, how hard should it be to sit down and do nothing and clear your mind?

In reality its one of the most difficult things to do. Our society emphasizes distraction, constant distraction and stimulation and never just allowing ourselves to be. Need to wait in a line somewhere? Then pull out your phone and amuse yourself with a game, surfing the web, making a grocery list or reading a book. The examples go on and on.

Its another reason that sometimes people find their pain and distress increases when they attempt to meditate. All the rest of the time they distract themselves and their thoughts with tv, computers, phones, chores, other people and then suddenly they are alone with themselves, their pain and their thoughts, perhaps for the very first time.

This can be very scary and alien and for the first (few) time(s) you can be very aware of your body and your pain and your feelings and not be prepared to cope with it. Its not that your pain has actually increased, just that your body awareness increased because you are not being constantly distracted.

Sometimes your pain can increase just due to choosing a body position that doesn't support your injury. Meditation can be done in any position, even lying down or sitting in a comfortable chair, so people with back and neck injuries don't need to put added pressure on injured parts.

As has been mentioned, there are many different types of meditation, so even if you've tried before and haven't liked it, it might be worth another try. The other thing to note, is that it takes time before meditation becomes enjoyable. In the beginning, it can just feel strange and uncomfortable, like any activity you haven't done before and are unfamiliar with.

Once you get a bit more used to it and start to feel its benefits, then you might to feel its a bit more enjoyable and look forward to it. But if you don't feel that in the beginning, don't feel like you're failing at it.

The only way to fail at meditation is to not do it at all. As long as you try, even if you feel like nothing is happening, you are succeeding! :)

Starr

Not counter-intuitive, at all. I just read an article that stated that the brain grows best when it tries - and fails - at difficult tasks, rather than repeating things it does easily.
http://emails.khanacademy.org/528369...OktbN-NhqCe658