What is meditation for anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural response of our bodies to stress—a cognitive state2 associated with an inability to regulate emotions. Meditation counteracts the stress response, resulting in lower blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen consumption. A consistent meditation practice not only calms us down but also reprograms neural pathways in the brain, improving our overall ability to regulate our emotions, according to research3. Where Mindfulness Comes In Meditation and mindfulness are concepts that are very similar. While meditation typically entails attempting to enter a different state of consciousness, mindfulness entails becoming aware of one's current location. In this sense, you could consider mindfulness to be the first step toward meditation. Both of these practices may be beneficial for reducing anxiety because they allow you to be aware and worry-free. Deep Belly Breathing This exercise is a type of breathwork and is one of the quickest ways to reduce stress and anxiety . I f...