Guided Meditation For Anxiety
If you’re feeling anxious from an event or overwhelmed with everyday life, guided meditation can help put you in a more manageable mindset. There are various types of guided meditation available, each offering effective guidance to help quiet the mind and relax.
Guided imagery and visualization are forms of guided meditation that can help reduce your stress and anxiety levels. These practices use visual imagery to encourage both body and mind into a relaxed state, often leading to reduced muscle tension as well as improved mental focus.
The initial step to mastering guided imagery is practice. With regular practice, your skills will improve and you’ll be able to use visualization more quickly in times of high stress or anxiety.
To begin using guided imagery, find a comfortable sitting position. Gently close your eyes and focus on feeling the physical sensations throughout your body. Slowly work your way up from there, focusing on each part of it as you close your eyes.
Start by noticing how your legs and back feel in a chair or cushion, your feet on the floor, and your arms and hands in your lap. Repeat this exercise as many times as needed, paying attention to how each sensation affects you throughout your body.
A study revealed that 10 minutes of mindfulness meditation can help reduce ruminative thought patterns in those suffering from anxiety. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed with a task or something from earlier in the day, this guided meditation is an ideal place to start.