If you struggle with anxiety, you may have tried a variety of treatment and coping methods, including prescription medication. Finding ways to manage your anxiety can feel difficult, but more and more, people are turning to holistic approaches of managing mental health like anxiety, such as therapy, CBD treatment, and meditation.
Mindfulness for anxiety is a great technique that can help not only reduce anxiety but improve your emotional and physical health.
Practicing Mindfulness: What Is It and How Can It Help My Mental Health?
If you have anxiety or other stress disorders, you may have heard of mindfulness before. You may have even dabbled in it on an app on your phone, such as Headspace. According to the Mayo Clinic, mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Sounds relaxing, right? But more than that, you may be wondering how it can help your mental health:
- Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress. Deep breathing is a great way to reduce the physical symptoms involved with anxiety, such as faster heart rate and jitters.
- Mindfulness can assist us in becoming aware of the thoughts and habitual patterns that create stress for us. When we let our mind settle, it’s easier to isolate those thoughts and begin to let them go.
- Meditation can create a space where we are able to not only be aware of our intrusive thoughts but also our negative reactions to them. This can help us get to the root of our stress and identify why we might react the way we do
If you’re interested in how mindfulness can reduce anxiety, here is a simple breathing exercise you can try on your own:
- Begin by emptying your lungs.
- Slowly breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds.
- Hold your breath for 7 seconds.
- Exhale firmly through your mouth for 8 seconds
- You may repeat this breathing cycle up to 4 times.
Anxiety Treatment at Philly Family Life Counseling, LLC
Managing your anxiety and stress can often feel overwhelming, especially with the variety of different treatment options available. If your anxiety is starting to affect your everyday life, it may be time to seek help. Dr. Devers and Associates at Philly Family Life Counseling, LLC are experienced anxiety therapists who can provide you with tools, such as mindfulness for anxiety, that will help you cope and manage your mental health.
For more information on anxiety therapy and how mindfulness can help, call us at (215) 677-3810 or fill out our online form. You can also check out more tips on meditation and mindfulness exercises you can do on your own here. Your anxiety doesn’t have to control your life; call PFLC to start a journey toward your happiest, healthiest life today.
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