Patients with severe diseases are most commonly sent to doctors to receive standard treatments. However, sometimes, consulting with spiritual growth resources may be the best type of treatment.
A new study out of the University of Michigan showed that individuals with heart problems who go on non-denominational spiritual retreats are significantly less likely to suffer the effects of depression.
Depresion is very common in individuals with cardiovascular problems. The mood disorder can be crippling and make it more difficult for patients to follow through with their prescribed treatments, which often leads to poorer health outcomes. Addressing depression is a central point of heart disease care.
For the study, researchers provided one group of heart disease patients with standard care for the condition, while a second group was sent on a spiritual retreat. The results showed that those in the retreat group were more likely to report feeling hopeful about the future and less sad about their current condition.
The retreat included activities like meditation, drumming, journal writing and outdoor activities. These types of spiritual growth activities are known to help people channel their thoughts to the present and enable them to overcome their worries about the future.
Author and flutist Ilchi Lee has long recommended these types of activities for people who are worried about the past or future. Given the fact that there is nothing an individual can do to change anything but the present, there is no reason to think beyond this time. Keeping the mind focused on the moment is the key to spiritual growth.
Findings such as these indicate that there is a strong link between a person's spiritual and physical self, and treating both sides of a problem can have significant benefits.
