Mental health struggles don’t discriminate when it comes to who its effects and how. Anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, solely or in a combination of all or more can impact anyone. Our I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. While having someone to talk to is crucial, it’s also important to note that in some cases, a quite moment alone, also known as meditation, is exactly what you might need.
Meditation is the practice of continually reeling yourself into the present moment. Studies show that mindfulness meditation can reduce a long list of ailments, including depression, chronic pain, anxiety, and high blood pressure. Even without suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, meditation is useful tool to help ground you and can give you peace and a sense of internal balance.
Cue The Muse S, a headband and iPhone app combo that can teach you to meditate using real-time biofeedback. With intelligence more artificial than a human coach, yet helpful nonetheless, the relaxation gadget can see what your brain is doing and tell you about it as it's happening. Through the use of headphones, you are able to listen to real-time audio cues that tell you what your brain is up to.
It’s been only in the last decade has technology had any role to play in meditation. That is until 2014 when Interaxon, the Canadian company that made the first meditation headband first rolled it out. Taking all the sensors from the hard-plastic Muse 2, with the addition of sleep features, and a washing machine safe soft fabric band, The Muse S is even more advanced and the company's top-of-the-line model.
With brain-sensing feedback as the product's marquee feature, if it senses more active and stressed brain activity, the soundscape will respond with more turbulent "weather" like gusting winds, thunder, or roaring waves. Contrastingly, if it senses calm, the audio environment will quiet down. You will only hear tranquil sounds like delicately rustling leaves and chirping birds.
As your brain will likely shift between calm, active, and in-between states countless times during a session, the real-time audio tells you exactly when those shifts happen, giving you the chance to figure out what "works" and what doesn’t.
The companion iOS app is where you control your session. It allows you to customize its time, mode, and audio profile. Its optional voice-guided meditations are comparable to what you'd find on rival platforms like Calm or Headspace. At $350 — though sometimes on sale for $300 The Muse S is a bit pricey, however comes with guided meditations are free with your purchase. But if you’re super about it, a subscription costs $12.99/month or $94.99/year adds over 500 more guides with new recordings added weekly.
WATCH MORE: 5 Ways to Ease Everyday Anxiety
The I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-8255.
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