Deployment is one of the most stressful things a soldier has to deal with. Obviously, whenever a soldier is deployed, there is the risk of being injured in combat. Soldiers also have to deal with the stress of leaving their loved ones behind, which may include their spouse and children. In fact, deployment is not just stressful on the soldier being called in for duty, but on their family and friends, as well.

If you are in the military and you have just received notice that you are being deployed, one of the most effective ways you can deal with the stress is by meditating. Meditation might sound corny to you; you may think it is just a bunch of nonsense reserved for hippies and gurus; but that assumption could not be any farther from the truth.

In recent years, scientists have been eagerly studying meditation to find out if it can actually live up to its claims, and the results they have been getting all say the answer is a resounding “yes!” Thanks to new scientific equipment, like functional magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI) machines, scientists are now able to look straight in to the human brain while its working to determine if the effects of meditation are real.

Even Mayo Clinic now recognizes meditation as a real tool for reducing stress and anxiety, as evident by the article they have published on their site here.

“Mindfulness meditation” – training the mind to quiet itself, and only focus on the present moment objectively, without judgment – is proving to be the most effective form of meditation for relieving stress and anxiety. The great thing about mindfulness meditation is that you can practice it just about anywhere, anytime. All you have to do is sit comfortably with your eyes closed and focus all your attention on what’s happening in the moment – not what you are thinking but what is happening.

For example, one thing you could focus on is your breathing; noticing every breath you take; feeling the airflow in and out of your lungs. Another thing you could focus on is the sound of your environment. Even if you are in a quiet place, listen closely for the subtle white noises that fill any space.

Learning how to practice mindfulness meditation is a great way to reduce your stress and anxiety so you can cope with the difficulties of being deployed.

Note: Specifically, with regards to medical issues, always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Web site.

Copyright © 2012 Tracy Quantum, LLC. All rights reserved.