FAO Anxiety Sufferers

[AnnieLouisa]

Hi Squirrel
I can understand that it is very difficult to be still and concentrate on the breath when you are coiled up like a spring and your heart is pounding. Have you tried a more active form of meditation, like a walking mindfulness meditation for instance? I know it may be more difficult to do this first thing in the morning, but if you have a garden you could get moving around it whilst appreciating the sensation of your feet on the ground, the movement of your knees, ankles, the sun and wind on your face. Take each sense in turn - vision, hearing, touch. The fact that you are moving may distract from your anxiety while you meditate.

[Bethany]

Mindfulness of the body and mindfulness of thought have helped me infinitely with anxiety. First, anxiety is brought on by the fight-or-flight response, so noticing when my body is going into this reaction has helped me to take measures to minimize it. To calm my body, I do breathing exercises, yoga nidra, etc.

Then, I pay attention to my thoughts. Anything that is fear-based can be redefined, leading to a long-term decrease in anxiety.