What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness comes from third wave CBT and is inspired by Zen Buddhism. It has been shown to be a very important element of therapy and can have many beneficial effects on the brain. Thus, mindfulness is helpful for anxiety, depression and stress. The brain is plastic, which means it is changeable. It has been shown that the brain changes in people who practice mindfulness. Studies have shown positive changes relatively quickly - after practicing mindfulness for a short period of time. With the help of mindfulness, the person becomes calmer, less reactive and better able to let go of thoughts. They experience less worry, anxiety and rumination and can live more in the here and now.

There are several active components of mindfulness. The person learns to distinguish between their thinking self and their observing self. People often identify with their thoughts, but with the help of mindfulness, you get to practice defusion instead of constantly being in fusion (fusion with the thoughts). The person becomes better at shifting focus between their thoughts, feelings, needs, wants and external observations. In this way, they become more present in the moment and aware of when they are not. The increased awareness of the person's inner sensations leads to making conscious choices, instead of going on autopilot. Mindfulness involves a neutral and accepting approach to thoughts and feelings. This may be new to those who are used to trying to fight off or avoid negative thoughts and feelings. Sometimes mindfulness is used as part of a CBT or ACT treatment.