Can mindfulness help with anxiety?

When you experience anxiety, your mind may catastrophize, imagine unlikely scenarios, make attempts to prepare for future events, or keep you in a negative state of rumination or anticipation.  Though anxiety is helpful in small doses, excess anxiety can cause us to dwell in the future even though we never truly live there. Mindfulness has been shown to be helpful to people who struggle with anxiety, allowing them to return to the present moment.

During mindfulness, the mind is focused on the here-and-now.  Thoughts or emotions may emerge about tasks, scenarios, plans, etc., but the relationship to them becomes objective—the participant is simply aware of their presence vs gripping tightly to them.  There is typically a focal point to help engage with the present experience, such as the breath, bodily sensations, or other things within the field of perception. 

A powerful benefit of mindfulness is that it provides a “brain break” from overthinking and being caught up in the future. Sitting in what it can be incredibly helpful for the brain to decipher between where you truly exist now vs where you don’t exist—and we never exist in any moment but this one.  It’s often exhausting to maintain a state of worry, so staying in the present can give the brain a much-needed reboot of energy. 

Another significant asset of mindfulness is that it allows for the participant to build emotional awareness and intelligence.  When we take a step back from our thoughts and emotions, we are able to see them more clearly and respond rather than react.  For example, you may notice your pet has a cold, leading you to worry about the possibility of their death and/or sustaining vet bills you can’t afford.  Mindfulness in this situation can help you to take pause, notice your concerns, and allow for a reduction of the initial response.  Your new thought maybe: I know how to deal with my pet’s cold. Or, If I notice something more serious, then my plan will be to (xyz). Or, my pet has been sick before and didn’t die.  When we allow ourselves the chance to be present with what is, we allow more solid, true information in as well.

Calm, Headspace, mindfulness websites, and Youtube are all great resources for exploring the type of mindfulness that might work best for you.  It’s an excellent way to take power over your immediate experience!