If you’ve been struggling with anxiety, you might be looking for a way to get some relief from your symptoms. Maybe you’re tossing and turning at night because your worries are keeping you up late. Perhaps you get exceptionally nervous before social events. Now, you dread getting together with other people because your anxiety has become so overwhelming.
It can be hard to navigate life with anxiety, but there are steps you can take on your own to reduce the severity of your symptoms. For example, many people with anxiety benefit greatly from committing to a meditation practice.
Here are a few reasons why meditation can be so helpful for finding freedom from anxiety.
Staying Grounded in the Present
Anxiety is often rooted in dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. When you’re truly focused on the present moment and staying grounded in what’s happening now, there’s a good chance that you won’t experience such high levels of anxiety.
During meditation sessions, you’ll turn your attention to your breath. Every time your mind starts to wander, you’ll bring your focus back towards your breath. Instead of falling into patterns of catastrophic thinking about the future, or berating yourself over mistakes you’ve made in the past, you’ll be pulled back into the present.
Noticing Thoughts Without Attachment
Meditating does not entail “clearing your mind.” The idea that you have to somehow force yourself to think about “nothing” during meditation sessions is a common misconception. Instead, as you tune into the rhythms of your breath, thoughts about other things will inevitably crop up.
Rather than indulging in these thoughts, you can simply take momentary notice of them. For example, instead of getting lost in thoughts about work, you can a second to acknowledge that work is on your mind, before shifting your attention back to your breath.
You’ll get used to noticing your thoughts like clouds that drift across the sky. They come and go, and they’re not permanent states of being.
Breaking Free from Negative Thoughts
Sometimes people experience anxiety because they identify with negative thoughts and beliefs. Instead of recognizing that you feel frustrated at work, or that you haven’t made as much progress at a job as you’d hoped, you might start to identify as a “poorly performing employee.”
It’s easy to assume that temporary emotions or problems are actually inherent, internal flaws with your personality, but this isn’t true. A meditation practice can help you break this habit of identifying with negative thoughts.
Reducing Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
At times, even mild anxiety can feel like a physical illness. You might suffer from frequent headaches, feel nauseous every time you get nervous, or even struggle with mysterious muscle aches and pains because you’re so tense.
When you meditate, you may notice these symptoms starting to fade. Your muscles will naturally relax, and you may find yourself sleeping better at night. Overall, you feel more “comfortable” at ease in your own skin.
Enabling Patience in the Future
You can reap the benefits of meditation even when you’re not in an active meditation session. With repeated practice, meditation can help you become more patient and relaxed, even in situations that previously would have caused you to feel stressed and frazzled.
For example, when you’re sitting in traffic, or you’re about to have a tough conversation at work, you can tap into the skills that meditation has taught you to soothe your nerves.
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Are anxiety symptoms affecting your quality of life? A therapist can help you develop healthy coping skills. Reach out to us to learn more about your options for scheduling a session for anxiety therapy.