Yes, absolutely! A combined antidepressant and anxiolytic response.
Thank you both for sharing your experience.
>I have never tried meditation, my family says it can open you up to spirits, but I'm not sure if I believe it.
Well, one of the simplest forms of Meditation is relaxation. Matter of fact, you cannot meditate unless you are able to let go of your body and the mental chatter that constantly runs in the background of your mind.
My suggestion is that you find a comfortable position (sitting on a chair; with your spine straight, legs at a 90 degrees angle, feet flat on the gorund; hands palms down on the upper legs -- that is a good starting point).
Then close your eyes, and mentally scan your body. Start with the neck area. Let go of tension there when exhaling.
Then scan downwards your arms, until your reach your hands, palms of hands, fingers. Then return to the neck and shoulder area and go upwards: back of head, forehead, face. Always laoow the tension to resolve and go away when you exhale.
Then scan down to your chest, belly area, pelvis, upper and lower legs. Take some minutes for each of these areas.
Finish with feet and soles of feet and heels.
Then focus on your breathing. Let it become deeper and slower, but only naturally--- do not force your breathing, or you will create more tension.
To achieve a deep and complete relaxation, you will have to do this exercise at least for full four weeks. Ideally you should do that once daily. In the morning (right after you had a cup of tea, or a glass of water), or in the evening before going to bed is also a good time. Do not overeat befoire your meditation; and avoid coffee (as this has too much caffeine, and since coffee is roasted, the caffeine is taken in "shock-wise" /all at once; which can make your heart race -- and this in turn gets in the way of your relaxation).
There is a saying that, for meditation to become "second nature" you have to do it at least for full three months, daily!
Yes. Even if that "good effect" means that I come to realize that I am full of mental chatter, petty worries, and opinions/prejudice about situations and people!
IMHO the general goal of meditation is to realize (i.e. to become aware) how much we are "programmed" --or, if you will, "roboterized"-- by our upbringing, mental attitudes, prejudice etc.
If you can let go of the "mental excess baggage" (worries, attitudes etc.) you will eventuall find that the very core of your being is Peace, and Love.
Hope that helps.
Kind regards,
Thomas S.