How Meditation Can Help With Anxiety

Our fast-paced and hectic world is filled with situations that can cause us to feel an overwhelming amount of stress. This stress sometimes develops into, or manifests itself as, worries and fears, or physical discomfort, leading to feelings of anxiety. Have you fallen into this frustrating path?

If so, it’s comforting to know that you have the tools to help yourself by understanding your worries and fears, and taking action to get to the root of them. A method we love to help with any emotion is the use of meditation.

At Full Moon Retreats, meditation is always a part of our events. Our participants find the different kind of meditations we teach (“sitting,” “moving,” “focused,” “guided,” or “brief” group meditations) very powerful and liberating. They always ask for more!

Meditation is a basic self-help technique that can get you in better touch with yourself. It also relieves stress, relaxes your body, and calms your mind.

Anxiety is your body’s reaction to a fearful situation.  However, anxiety can happen also when there is no perceived threat. You may even fall into a pattern where you’re afraid of the fear itself, and you avoid situations that have brought out anxiety in the past.

**Warning! Anxiety is fueled by avoidance!**

You will soon find that avoiding life does nothing to help you solve your challenges. In fact, the more you avoid, the more anxious you may become! And you will certainly restrict your life choices. You can enjoy much better results by figuring out the underlying causes of your feelings. Participating in counseling or group therapy situations may help you understand these feelings. Another way to get to the root of your feelings is by practicing meditation.

We love our group meditations. It’s like meditation to the power of 10! Come to our events, and try for yourself.

There are different ways you can approach a meditative practice. You can start by just picking a time every day when you can calmly be alone without distractions. Begin your meditation by taking deep breaths and focusing only on each breath as it goes in and out.

On a particularly stressful day, you might have more difficulty focusing on your breath. The thoughts of whatever is stressing you may keep getting in the way. When this happens, acknowledge the thoughts, and then go back to concentrating on your breath. Eventually, you’ll feel your mind grow calm.

As you calm your mind, begin purposefully taking notice of your thoughts. All you must do is notice them, and then return your attention to your breath again. If any thoughts make you uncomfortable or tense, relax your muscles and then focus on your breath again.

Try not to stress yourself out further by getting frustrated with the meditation process. As you continue to practice, it will get easier, and you’ll look forward to your relaxation sessions.

HINT: Meditation is about learning to accept whatever thoughts come into your mind, instead of fighting them. Once you release the attachment to your feelings and just allow them to happen, most of the internal fight is already over.

Meditating will help you become fully aware and mindful of the present moment. Remind yourself to focus every day in the present so you’re not burdened by past and future stress. With regular practice, you’ll be able to expand the amounts of time that you stay in the present.

By continuing to meditate on a consistent basis, you’ll begin to notice your true self. You can discover a lot about your life by maintaining awareness of the present moment. You’ll also notice the way your body reacts to stress and anxiety, and will become better equipped to deal with uncomfortable feelings.

Although meditating can go a long way toward easing your feelings of anxiety, sometimes meditation practice alone may not be your complete solution. In these situations, don’t hesitate to ask for help. There are many treatment options that include other natural methods, counseling services, and even medicines.

With meditation and other methods, if necessary, you can make your feelings of anxiety become a faint memory of the past. Be proactive about creating a life free from fears or worries, and start meditating today so you can look forward to a bright future!