Mindfulness Meditation For Anxiety

Mindfulness Meditation For Anxiety Relief

There are many anxiety relief techniques that you may have tried, but have you tried mindfulness meditation for anxiety? The other day a friend of mine explained how she has found mindfulness meditation very helpful. I asked her if she would allow me to share her thoughts with you and she has given me her permission.

Mindfulness Meditation for Anxiety Relief

Here is what she shared…”I found I get short breaths as we do when we have anxiety.

Try to meditate daily when thoughts come, observe them and let them go, don’t attach, it will eventually more and more help you, the more you do it.

You can go with the Buddhist aspect like Thich Nhat Hanh or cognitive aspect like Jon Kabat-Zinn. It helps but you have to practice, read and watch videos.

  • You can also use EFT (emotional freedom technique) tapping .

There are a lot of videos on it. It’s basically a distraction that for whatever reason helps in the moment. I feel funny writing this, as here’s me telling you this while my heart has been racing non stop for months. It’s scary and causes chest discomfort . I am aware that I need to focus and bring myself back to present moment and try not to let it discourage me and continue the practice because it takes a very long time.”

As you can see, she knows what it is like to suffer with anxiety and why I felt it was so important to share her words about mindfulness meditation for anxiety with you! Here is Jon Kabat-Zinn…

Mindfulness Meditation Taster with Jon Kabat-Zinn

Watch this video for a guided mindfulness meditation experience.

My friend went on to say… “I went to a Buddhist retreat recently. It was so life changing. Everyone there had anxiety. They all say that mindfulness is the cure as if you are in the present moment all the time you will not worry about the future or have regrets about the past.

It was amazing the problem is going back to work. It’s toxic there and I need to get out some how. I understand its not always about outside things, they will always be there, but in such a toxic place and you need to remove yourself in order to be able to heal.” (Meditation For Stress Management.)

“My chest hurts all the time, it’s very scary and I can’t stop it even when I’m aware of my thoughts.

  • One of the best thing I have learned is this. Today is beautiful and tomorrow will be more beautiful because it is a result of today and the next day even more.

Also I love when Thich Nhat Hanh talks about good and bad seeds. He explains that we all have both seeds. We need to nourish the good seeds and let the bad go. With time we will have a beautiful flower.

We take all the garbage inside of us, fears anger jealousy whatever and use it to add compost and make your flower more beautiful. (The most nourishing thing to give our gardens are compost aka garbage so don’t try to get rid of it use it.) When Thay flower dies, as everything will, you compost it into a beautiful vegetable garden and so on.

We are all inter-connected to everything. When you drink the water, you are drinking water from the stars, the clouds, the sun, the mist and so on, when you drink your milk be mindful and realize it has the sun, the earth to grow the grass, the cows eat the minerals from the land, the water that it drinks, the sun and rain that make it grow etc.

To be aware and that every breath can be a peaceful breath. Take time to think about what you will say before you open your mouth etc. It takes a lot of practice but its beautiful to me. I like to share because I see how it feels and hope it helps someone else too.”

Here is another video of one of the people my friend mentioned…Thich Nhat Hanh…

Oprah Winfrey talks with Thich Nhat Hanh

This video is truly insightful, deep and powerful. Oprah Winfrey talks to Thich Nhat Hanh.  The powers of mindfulness meditation for anxiety, insight, concentration and compassion…watch and feel peaceful….

Is Mindfulness Meditation For Anxiety Relief Worth A Try?

Here is the final comments my friend shared…

“Mindfulness is a cure for anxiety – it is hard at first but with practice really helps. The Dharma teacher at the retreat told me he has been doing this for 30 years and he is still practicing.

Meditation is an excellent tool and I wish they would teach it in our schools in US. I am starting to teach my young son so that he doesn’t suffer like me although hopefully he will have more of his daddy in him. There are many videos on cognitive mindfulness and Buddhist.

I enjoy listening and reading Thich Nhat Hanh. He is very calming and simple. He is an easy read for the most part and my favorite video so far is Birth and Death by him. I am afraid to die or of loved ones dying so this is a good one for that.

They have sangha’s all over that teach these practices. Also meetup.com has a lot of mediation groups or mindfulness or Buddhist groups that are free in peoples areas and you can meet up with people that will help you learn the techniques.”

I would just like to say a very big thank you to my friend for sharing her thoughts on mindfulness meditation for anxiety.

I would love to hear your own experiences or thoughts in the comments below…

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About Jennifer Johnson

I suffered with social anxiety and stress for years. I discovered what my triggers were and learned to control them. Hopefully some of the natural anxiety relief techniques I have tried, will also be your solution.

Comments

  1. I need to Meditation for my anxiety Jennifer … how do u do it? Will it help my bellyaches, anxiety and ocd? I need different options … I do brushing therapy that my occupational therapist told me to do….and joint compressions because I also have sensory processing disorder and this disorder can cause me to have bad anxiety from being overly stimulated from my senses not working right!

    This is what they call a sensory meltdown!!! Which I get alot! I also have a weighted lap blanket that I use in school and home. This blanket puts weight on my joints and it instantly calms me down! I can concentrate better and it just makes me feel safe!

    I was just wondering if Meditation would also work for me Jennifer… as a different kind of therapy as well! Maybe you can also do an article on Sensory Processing Disorder also! I think alot of people don’t know what it is and I think it would be helpful!!!! – Lauren

    • Hi Lauren, Meditation is wonderful. It is very calming and I think it would help you a lot. There are many videos you can watch on YouTube, where people show you how to do it.

      Even if you find a quiet place and close your eyes and let your mind be still. Don’t think of anything…it can seem difficult in the beginning…but if you can learn to meditate, you will learn to calm yourself.

      This would be a huge benefit when your anxiety and OCD is making you feel very upset. You could go to your quiet place and begin to meditate.

      As for learning, you don’t have to spend any money. You can just go and watch some videos to see how they do it. Did you watch the video at the start of this page?

      Thank you for visiting me Lauren!

  2. Ernestine Velez says

    A step-by-step guidebook to mindfulness meditation in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.

  3. Johnnie Kennedy says

    During walking meditation we walk slowly, in a relaxed way, keeping a light smile on our lips. When we practice this way, we feel deeply at ease, and our steps are those of the most secure person on Earth. Walking meditation is really to enjoy the walking—walking not in order to arrive, just for walking, to be in the present moment, and to enjoy each step. Therefore you have to shake off all worries and anxieties, not thinking of the future, not thinking of the past, just enjoying the present moment. Anyone can do it. It takes only a little time, a little mindfulness, and the wish to be happy.

    • Jennifer Johnson says

      Hi Johnnie, that sounds beautiful. I am looking forward to my walk in the sun today. I will practice what you have described. I hope everyone else does too.

  4. Talking to people helps in reducing anxiety at least you can share what worries you.

    • Jennifer Johnson says

      Hi Dan, yes, especially with family and friends that are prepared to listen and be understanding. Obviously you are one of the lucky ones too…like me…my family and friends are very supportive. Many people are not so fortunate.

  5. Everytime we get stressed, we just need to clear our mind by meditating for even only 5 min, it will help us to restore our calm.

  6. My experience in depression is never promise when you are happy, don’t reply when you’re sad nor decide when you’re angry! That was the major reason for me to be depressed, but since I practiced meditation, my mind has changed and I am compassionate and more understanding now!

    • Jennifer Johnson says

      Hi Sara, that is such great advice! “Never promise when you are happy, don’t reply when you’re sad nor decide when you’re angry.”

      I love how the practicing of meditation has helped too! Thanks for sharing!

  7. Avoid staying alone to prevent bad decision like committing suicide or something like that, just get out of the house and look for people to talk to!

  8. Wow, thanks so much for sharing it, so helpful for me for my daily life!

  9. Jennifer says

    Hey, I have already did it for my anxiety relief as my doctor didn’t let me go on calming tablets, I am too young for it so I did meditation practice, it’s so nice!

    • Jennifer Johnson says

      Hi Jennifer, that is great that your doctor didn’t prescribe any anxiety medications and I am assuming they suggested meditation? If they did, how exciting is that?! Plus, if it is helping you that is even better. 🙂

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