Stress Management Professional An International Journal

Vol.2, No.2, JULY - DECEMBER 2014

22

In line with several other studies (Evans, Ferrando,

become more and more intense and far from the

Findler, et al., 2007; Boswell & Murray, 1979), present

actual situation, such that over time it becomes more

study has also found that mindfulness based

and more difficult to differentiate reality from one's

therapies can be helpful for the treatment of anxiety.

judgment of it. After the intervention, participants

The improvement in anxiety symptoms in present

reported an increased awareness of daily activities

study can be explained by the fact that apart from the

(which make them feel pleasure and mastery), a better

act of attending to the present moment, there are also

observation of and attendance to experiences, and a

the acts of sitting still (or abstaining from movement)

more accepting attitude towards experiences

in MBSR. As suggested by KabatZinn (1990) When

(Schroevers&Brandsma, 2010). As mindfulness

practicing meditation, it is actually useful to resist the

approaches encourage people to allow these

first impulse to shift position in response to bodily

negative feeling to be there, acceptance tended to

discomfort . So it can be said that Sitting Meditation

occur through the processes of understanding that

actually work like a behavioral technique named

things are not necessarily how one wishes them to be.

response prevention or delinking. As during

By caring for the self, participants realized that they

meditation restlessness and other discomfort are

were as deserving of happiness as anyone else, i.e.,

calmly observed without movement and mediator

they accepted themselves (Dobkin, 2008). Further,

directs his/her attention to these sensations of

nonjudgmental observation allowed them to accept

discomfort and mentally welcome them (Kabat-Zinn,

the situation as they were and let go without

1990). Further, when sitting motionless is associated

disputing or rejecting aversive thoughts or in other

with anxiety, tension, or restlessness, delinking

words they differentiate one from their thoughts. This

maintains an in-vivo exposure and enables

is one of the most valuable premise of mindfulness-

desensitization so that relaxation can occur (McGee,

based programs that not being your own thoughts

2008).

(Kabat-Zinn, 1990). As Kabat-Zinn wrote your

thoughts are just thoughts and that they are no you

Several studies have also suggested that mindfulness

or reality . It provide alternative methods for teaching

meditation can be helpful for the treatment of

decentering skills, training patients to recognize when

depression (Toneatto& Nguyen, 2007). Positive results

their mood is deteriorating, and using techniques that

in our study can be explained by the fact that

would take up limited resources in channels of

depressed people often spend a great deal of effort

information processing that normally sustained

trying or push away negative memories, feelings, and

ruminative thought-affect cycles (Segal, Williams &

experiences. This unwillingness to accept negative

Teasdale, 2002).

feelings or thoughts is the first link in the mental chain

that can rapidly lead to the instatement of automatic

Finding of this study indicate the efficacy of MBSR in

and habitual depressive ruminations (Segal, Williams,

modifying the TABP. The explanation for this

Teasdale, 2002). The worst damage produced by

modification is hidden within the definition of TABP

depressive rumination is the fact that the ruminative

itself. As TABP refers to a number of personality trait

thought nurses itself constantly. This happens

characteristics, including rushed; ambitious and

because ruminating always involves making a

competitive behavior, impatience, hostility, and

judgment about the experience. This process

intolerance (Friedman &Rosenman, 1974). Whereas

generates thoughts and, therefore, emotions that