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Anxiety disorders are way more than your average anxiety. It's more than being nervous before a test, speech, or job interview. People who have anxiety disorders have a fear that does not go away. However, there are many methods for dealing with anxiety. One thing that may work for one person may not work for someone else. Seeing a therapist or taking medication may work for most, but you can also include holistic methods in your healing. Combining both meditation and professional help can best help you overcome and deal with anxiety struggles.
Meditation can help those who have chronic disorders if accompanied by professional help. Up to 30 minutes a day of deep breathing can make a huge difference. It increases the supply of oxygen to your brain and stimulates the nervous system, which will make you calm. It's simple; breathing helps connect you to your body.
The Problems Anxiety Causes
It’s essential to understand the physical side of anxiety. Typically, when people discuss anxiety, they tend to forgo discussing the physical problems it may cause. Worrying is something that we all do to a certain extent, but it can take a significant toll on life for those suffering from anxiety disorders. If unaddressed, anxiety can cause fatigue, irritability, muscle tension, headaches, shortness of breath, and severe stomach aches.
The Basic Steps of Meditation
As you begin meditation, you should make sure that your mind is 100% in the present moment. Being present in the moment will allow you to pay attention to what’s in front of you instead of worrying about the future or past. Stressing about yesterday or tomorrow will intensify your anxiety. Those are things you have no control over. When you accept what you cannot control, you allow yourself to feel a sense of peace.
The next step is to focus on your breathing. It’s easy to forget about your breathing when caught up in everyday tasks, such as work, school, or just having a busy day of shopping. Breathing is such a simple and involuntary act that many may forget how crucial intentional breathing is.
The last step is arguably the most important. After you have become present and you’ve collected your breathing, it's crucial to pay attention to your body. The first two steps will calm your body, slow your heart, and ease your mind. When you recognize these changes in your body, you allow yourself to calm down.
Meditation Promotes Mindfulness
Mindfulness is simply the ability to be completely present at the moment. A key to battling anxiety is paying attention to how and why you feel a certain way. It's easy to allow the things we cannot control to rule our everyday lives: other people, the future, and the past. Meditation helps to promote stillness. Stillness plays a vital part in deflecting all of the surroundings that can potentially stress you out. This allows you to filter out what you need and don’t need regularly. Although mindfulness does not cure anxiety, it can help you have a more positive and controlled reaction to it.
Practicing Meditation Anywhere
The best thing about meditation is that it can be practiced anywhere. The most comfortable place to practice meditation may be in a lovely peaceful location on a yoga mat, but that isn't always possible. If you find yourself in a position where your anxiety is starting to take over, you can apply breathing and mindfulness techniques. You can sit in your office, cubicle, or car while meditating as long as it's quiet. A simple five to twenty-minute meditation before work every day can be the basis of a stress-free day.
Helps Promote a Consistent Schedule
Adding meditation to your daily routine can be the start of creating a schedule to have a better flow to your day. Anxiety is a result of being overwhelmed with daily activities. Getting a full night of sleep, exercise, and meditating can start your day on the right foot. You will arrive at work, school, or any other daily activities with a calm and collected mind. Chronic anxiety can prevent people from having an active life. Some lose jobs, relationships, and opportunities due to chronic disorders. Routine is essential for people who struggle with any sort of mental illness to avoid boredom and isolation. It’s crucial that you are intentional with keeping your mind stimulated and clear to relax.
Meditation is an excellent method to use when trying to tackle your anxiety disorder. It can help you get in tune with yourself and understand where your thoughts and feelings stem from. Mindfulness and meditation are the keys to the door of wellness. Getting in touch with yourself will help you stop and think whenever you start to feel your anxiety kick in. It’s also essential that you learn the difference between spotted and chronic anxiety to understand what will work best for you. Although meditation can be beneficial, it is only the first step in the process of helping yourself. In many cases, if anxiety is not addressed, it can lead to something much more severe. Some anxiety disorders can lead to negative behaviors, such as substance use. Meditation accompanied by professional help can lead to a complete lifestyle change. If you or a loved one struggles with an addiction resulting from ignored or untreated anxiety, START UP RECOVERY can help. For help managing anxiety and its harmful effects, call us at (310) 773-3809 today.