Mindfulness & Disability

What is mindfulness? Mindfulness, a meditative practice focusing on attention and awareness training, has been shown to have positive effects on mental and physical wellbeing. A recent review of studies has also shown that mindfulness meditation helps people with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder reduce their mental and physical problems. Mindfulness teaches how to be aware of what is happening to us in the present, both physically (such as breathing) and mentally (such as emotion). Mindfulness has been gaining momentum in the public eye over the last 10 years or so. It has been described as both a practice and a way of being, with many saying it has improved their own quality of life. Recently, mindfulness has become a tool for helping those with mental health issues, with the advent of both mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). But how exactly can mindfulness be applied in the lives of people with disabilities, and what benefits does mindfulness have for them? Mental health issues are often linked to a variety of factors, such as socioeconomic status, health, pain, mobility, trauma and isolation, all of which are common challenges for those who have disabilities. It is, therefore, no wonder that people with disabilities often have mental health issues as well. However, this is where mindfulness comes in. Challenging behaviour is the most prevalent problem faced by people with these disabilities. It includes aggressive, self-injurious, destructive and disruptive behaviour. Challenging behaviour is a major threat to the education of children with these conditions. It is also a major reason leading them to criminal pathways. Mindfulness is a style of thinking that helps people manage their thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness is becoming more and more commonplace, whether that is in either the home or the workplace, as more people realise its potential as a tool to help. One study found that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy was effective at helping treat depression not only in the short term, but the long term as well. Often, many people with disabilities will carry a lot of stress and frustration around how a disability can affect their lives, without necessarily having the tools to deal with these feelings. Many people with disabilities experience loss, which then leads to further loss. For example, your sense of purpose may be impacted, or there is sometimes a decrease in self-esteem. But by using mindfulness, visualisation and breathing techniques, people with disabilities can learn to process these feelings in a healthier way. Mindfulness can be used to tackle feelings of sadness, anger and guilt in healthy ways. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for example, can change the way that you think about life events through the use of meditation.