Is Meditation a Good Choice for Managing Anxiety?
YES! A classic example we have is to observe the Buddhist monks. They used to train their minds and create awareness of self with the use of a ritual object – for instance, beads. In this way, during meditation they use these beads to keep themselves on track. They were the practitioners we commonly associate the meditation with. Another purpose that justifies the meditation being a good choice for the management of cognitive or somatic anxiety is the analysis of emotional states i.e. anger, compassion, hatred, love, fear, joy etc. Meditation is the term that describes the state or a phenomenon of cultivating positive [2] and peaceful mental responses within mind and body including relaxation.
Various research studies have provided evidence to support that meditation regulates mood and manages anxiety. The results of over 20 randomized controlled trials have verified this fact. Different techniques of meditation were applied among anxiety sufferers and relaxation response was achieved. Mindfulness as a form of meditation is lined with the similar degree of effect in the treatment of anxiety as antidepressants drug therapy. Open monitoring meditation benefits of the brain indicated in a study recently that meditation reduces the anxiety in general [3]. Similarly, within three months of training, 22 patients had been recovered from anxiety. The condition was maintained [4], symptoms of panic disorder were lessened with the help of follow-up.
Through the act of meditating, we have the ability to observe our mind and internal feelings. It is a way to gain clarity [1]! If you keep a journal, you should see a drastic change in the reduction of anxiety symptoms and related mind or body disturbances.
References
- https://web.archive.org/web/20130714054602/http://vitalwarrior.org/the-program/step-7-meditation/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krKXXmnLQ80
- http://liveanddare.com/benefits-of-meditation/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdL9-NhXL6k