What is Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction therapy?

MBSR is a flexible and customizable approach to stress reduction. Instead of following a script or acting out meticulously described steps, mindfulness is practiced in the manner that best suits the individual (Center for Mindfulness, 2017).

When added to an existing medical and/or psychological treatment, MBSR has shown to effectively enhance the results of treatment related to:

•    Anxiety and panic attacks
•    Asthma
•    Cancer
•    Chronic illness
•    Depression
•    Eating disorders
•    Fatigue
•    Fibromyalgia
•    Gastro-intestinal distress
•    Grief
•    Headaches
•    Heart disease
•    High blood pressure
•    Pain
•    Post-traumatic stress disorder
•    Skin disorders
•    Sleep problems
•    Work, family, and financial stress

Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn developed the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Since its inception, MBSR has evolved into a common form of complementary medicine addressing a variety of health problems. 

The mind is known to be a factor in stress and stress-related disorders, and meditation has been shown to positively effect a range of autonomic physiological processes, such as lowering blood pressure and reducing overall arousal and emotional reactivity. 
In addition to mindfulness practices, MBSR may also use yoga to help reverse the prevalence of disuse atrophy from our culture's largely sedentary lifestyle, especially for those with pain and chronic illnesses.

Mindfulness may be practiced as a lifestyle -- not to get somewhere else, but to be where and as we actually are in this very moment, whether the experience is pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral.

Source

Flowers, S. (2015). What is Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction? www.mindfulivingprograms.com