Meditation And Managing Your Anxiety

When anxiety begins to disrupt our daily activities, it’s crucial to confront the issues. Seeking help from an anxiety therapist is usually recommended, although getting an appointment can sometimes take time. In the meantime, there are strategies you can try to manage your anxiety.

If you have an anxiety disorder and haven’t tried meditation, you should put it on your to-do list. Anxiety affects people differently, and what helps one person may not work for another. However, it’s worth giving meditation a chance because it has proven to be an effective tool for managing anxiety.

How Can Meditation Help With My Anxiety?

When anxiety rears its head, it can sometimes feel like it’s overpowering your mind, making everything seem overwhelming. You might notice yourself sweating more and struggling to concentrate on what you’re doing. 

Instead of panicking in these moments, consider trying mediation. Mediation can help quiet the noise and confusion, calming the fight or flight response that kicks in when you feel anxious. 

Adhering to a regular meditation practice can also help your brain become better at relaxing, even in the presence of anxiety.

Additionally, meditation can boost the levels of the good chemicals in your brain, such as endorphins and serotonin. However, it is essential to note that while mediation can be a helpful tool for managing anxiety, it’s not a cure. For severe anxiety, it’s still advised to seek professional help from an anxiety therapist. Meditation is most effective as a supplementary approach for dealing with instances of anxiety and stress. 

How Do I Start Meditating? 

There are various types of mediation to explore. Take some time to research, find the one that resonates with you most, and try it out to see if it works for you. Here are a few methods to help you get started:

Mindfulness 

Mindfulness is a widely used therapeutic technique employed by numerous professional anxiety therapists. This approach emphasizes being fully present in the current moment. To give mindfulness a try, take a deep breath and hold it for a count of five slow “Mississippis,” then exhale, releasing any anxious or overwhelming thoughts.

Love and Kindness Meditation

The practice of love and kindness meditation involves cultivating compassion and love for yourself and those around you, including individuals you may not particularly like. The objective is to recognize that everyone experiences their own challenges, fears, and difficulties. Nurturing greater empathy, compassion, and kindness can alleviate anxiety and promote positive thinking. During meditation, concentrate on directing positive energy toward yourself, your loved ones, and even those you have difficulty connecting with.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation 

This meditation technique requires tensing and then relaxing your muscles while you meditate. Progressive muscle relaxation can help alleviate anxiety by heightening your awareness of physical sensations and diverting your attention from negative thoughts.

Anxiety Therapy As An Option

If you feel uncertain about trying these meditation techniques by yourself, consider seeking guidance from an experienced anxiety therapist. Attempting them on your own when you don’t feel fully confident may exacerbate your anxiety. If having a professional lead you through meditation sounds appealing, feel free to schedule an appointment.

Going into it already knowing about these techniques and what to expect with them may also cut down on your anxiety and jump-start your mental health journey. Feeling constantly stressed, overwhelmed, and worried is not a way to live. You have the power to change that by deciding that you’ve had enough and taking the first step towards a better mental state.

If you want to learn more about anxiety and how meditation can help you manage it, feel free to reach out to me. I’m here to help.