Julie Brefcyznski-Lewis, research assistant professor of neuroscience, places a PET helmet on a patient to capture images of the human brain in action. (WVU Photo/Aira Burkhart)
Practicing social distancing is one way to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, but practicing emotional closeness may help alleviate the anxiety that the coronavirus can provoke.
Julie Brefczynski-Lewis, a research assistant professor in the West Virginia University Department of Neuroscience—part of the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute—said that “switching to compassion mode” may be one way to manage that anxiety.
Brefczynski-Lewis is an expert in compassion meditation, which she calls a technique for getting out of the claustrophobia of self-centeredness, cultivating concern for others and realizing we are not alone in our experience of suffering. She has published several peer-reviewed studies dealing with various forms of meditation, mindfulness and neuroimaging.
She also has developed a smartphone app to assist in applying meditation techniques for daily stress relief, and she regularly leads mindfulness meditation sessions at the WVU Health Sciences Center.
She is involved in research that uses MRI, PET scans and electroencephalograms to reveal activity within the brain.
Quotes:
“When it comes to anxiety—and believe me, I am not exempt—I find that switching to compassion mode is most helpful. This is true in any situation, but especially so in a large-scale crisis. You can start with a loved one or yourself and use compassion for your own anxiety or suffering as a springboard to think of the suffering of others in a similar situation. You can wish yourself and others happiness, freedom from suffering, ease or anything positive and helpful.”
“A review of randomized controlled studies of compassion meditation has shown an effect size that even exceeds antidepressants, and that may carry over to anxiety as well. At the very least, it may stop you from buying all the toilet paper.”
Resources
The WVU Mindful Steps Squad website
The WVU Mindful Steps Squad Facebook page
West Virginia University experts can provide commentary, insights and opinions on various news topics. Search for an expert by name, title, area of expertise or college/school/department in the Experts Database at WVU Today.
-WVU-
see/03/17/20
CONTACTS: Julie Brefczynski-Lewis
Research Assistant Professor, Neuroscience
Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute
WVU School of Medicine
304-293-4820; jblewis@hsc.wvu.edu
OR
Marisa Sayre
Senior Marketing Strategist
Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute
304-293-8976; marisa.sayre.m@wvumedicine.org
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