Anxiety is a sense of fear or concern that can occur in anyone at any time. For instance, it’s normal to be anxious ahead of taking a big test or acquiring a new role in the workplace. But when anxiety starts taking over, it can interfere with day-to-day life. With emotions like these becoming so common, people are finding ways to control them – and one way that has become increasingly popular in the last few years is through mindfulness.
Mindfulness is a form of mental training that aims to ‘build skill’ in paying attention to life’s present moment experiences – as they are moment-to-moment and without judgement. This would involve being present, paying attention to what you are doing, and letting go of regret or dread. One method to commence practicing mindfulness is through meditation. This might be sitting still and paying attention to your breath, or it could involve listening to some soothing music. Mindfulness can help soothe an anxious mind by allowing people to scrape away the self-imposed stress from stressful situations and instead focus on the present.
Arbor Wellness in Las Vegas, for example, asks patients to practice mindfulness-based activities to deal with anxiety. People at this mental health clinic are taught to identify their anxious thoughts and feelings without allowing them to dictate their actions. During the guided practices, people learn deep breathing and grounding exercises that help them stay present. For instance, they could concentrate on the feelings in their body or noises around them. It creates feelings of calmness and a sense of control, which can make us more resilient when tough times are faced.
Self-compassion is another key aspect of mindfulness. A lot of anxiety sufferers are extremely tough on themselves, beating themselves up because they feel they should be able to control what obviously must be controllable — their mind. Mindfulness reminds us to be nice to ourselves and give ourselves permission to feel anxious. It shows people that they are not the only ones struggling. This change of perspective can dramatically amend symptoms of anxiety, as well as general mental health.
Schools and offices have been incorporating mindfulness programs into their curriculum and work environment over the years. These programs instruct individuals in basic mindfulness exercises they can practice when feeling anxious, such as taking slow breaths or imagining themselves in a peaceful place.
Mindfulness is a key to anxiety symptom reduction. By staying in the present moment and being gentler on themselves, people may be able to lessen their levels of worry and fear. Practices, such as meditation, breathing techniques, and grounding exercises – with the help and guidance of Arbor Wellness’ competent providers — are more practical means of integrating mindfulness into daily living. Establishing these skills at any early age can help to foster resilience and enhance mental health in the years ahead.
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