By Denise Everheart I Posted on : January 28, 2021
Stress and uncertainty can create anxiety. Try a guided meditation for anxiety relief before you are on your last nerve!
Everyone has anxious thoughts at some point or another. And probably more so in recent times due to so much uncertainty in the world. Mostly, I think we all have some level of coping skills that we may use to get through those once-in-a-while anxious moments. But, if you’re looking for an easy, and healthy way to manage the anxiety that reoccurs, becomes unmanageable, and starts to take a toll on you and your wellbeing- guided meditation is a great tool in the moment and even longer-term.
Long-term relief is one of the most important things to consider when dealing with anxiety. The anxiety that isn’t remedied can have devastating effects on our health and all aspects of our life. Symptoms range from an increased heart rate and gastrointestinal problems to having trouble sleeping and having a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom.
No one wants to live this way and you don’t have to!
Read on for real anxiety relief.
What causes anxiety?
First, let’s look at one of the main causes of anxiety. Ongoing stressful events! If you are not able to take a break from stress and properly recover from stress, anxiety is not far behind. Here are some of the contributing factors for anxiety:
work stress or job change
change in living arrangements
pregnancy and giving birth
family and relationship problems
major emotional shock following a stressful or traumatic event
verbal, sexual, physical, or emotional abuse or trauma
death or loss of a loved one
Although all of these factors can contribute to feelings of anxiety, feeling anxious is always about the future. Worrying about what will or will not happen is at the crux of anxiety. Questions like what if something bad happens again(?), and what if I cannot handle new situations(?)- are all about the unknown, a.k.a. future.
With the stress of past events making us feel anxious about the future, where is the present moment? Nowhere to be found!
The longer we live with stress and anxiety the more likely we are to be triggered. When we go through traumatic experiences like sexual assault or being in a combat zone, it obviously takes its toll on us, and (amongst other things) can lead to or increase anxiety, which if left untreated can become a lifelong struggle. Or a trigger can simply be that last straw in a stressful situation that broke the proverbial camel’s back. Left unchecked, anxiety triggers can become a tangled web of suffocation and create the likelihood of having an anxiety disorder down the road.
Preventing an anxiety disorder is probably way easier than treating generalized anxiety disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Social Anxiety Disorder to name a few!
Let’s get you some tools so you can start to feel better!
Guided meditation for anxiety
Guided meditation is an excellent tool for stress reduction and anxiety relief. Regardless of where you find yourself on the anxiety spectrum, a guided meditation is an easy first step on your path to greater calm.
What makes a guided meditation great for dealing with anxiety? You basically hand over the reins of your anxious thoughts to the calm voice guiding you gently into a space where you can breathe and let go! Nothing to do, just close your eyes and enjoy each moment of more and more relaxation.
To start, try this guided meditation for anxiety by Art of Living Founder, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Here is one more guided meditation for anxiety, led by Jim Larsen, a senior faculty member of the Art of Living Foundation, that is also very nice.
For more guided meditations for whatever is stressing you out, try the Art of Living meditation app, Journey.
Want to learn more about how to meditate? You can read How to Meditate: The First and Last Guide You’ll Ever Need.
Other tools for anxiety relief
Yoga. Yoga can also be a wonderful tool for reducing anxiety. Check out this online yoga studio for an easy way to reduce anxiety right from home.
SKY Breath Meditation. SKY Breath Meditation is far more powerful than any breathing exercise or guided meditation session. Studies show that SKY practitioners experience a significant decrease in clinical and non-clinical anxiety and depression! SKY also reduces PTSD and addictive behaviors as well as enhances deep sleep. Now, this is a meditation practice worth practicing!
I would love to personally invite you to learn more about SKY Breath Meditation by attending a free breath and meditation session online!
You feel like you're worrying too much and it's interfering with your work, relationships, or other parts of your life
Your fear, worry, or anxiety is upsetting to you and difficult to control
You feel depressed, have trouble with alcohol or drug use, or have other mental health concerns along with anxiety
You think your anxiety could be linked to a physical health problem
You have suicidal thoughts or behaviors — if this is the case, seek emergency treatment immediately
I sincerely hope that everything shared here is helpful to you and your dear ones. Enjoy these guided meditation sessions and know that living anxiety-free is possible!
Denise Everheart is a freelance writer, life-long meditator, SKY Breath Meditation instructor, party planner, veg chef, and recipe designer. Follow her @everheartstudio4meditation and @celeplateyourlife on Instagram.
Disclaimer: This content on the Art of Living Blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, Any links to third-party websites are provided as a convenience only and the Art of Living Blog is not responsible for their content.
