Question: “Hi Heather, recently I’ve decided to start meditating to manage my anxiety. I’m finding it difficult to focus on my breathing, anxious thoughts keep filling up my head-space. Do you have any advice on how to power through this?”
Advice: “Firstly, great step in starting to meditate! Mindfulness meditation is backed by science and it is such a great resource that is often overlooked when it comes to treating anxiety. It is completely normal to have thoughts come into your mind especially while you are a beginning to meditate. Please let these thoughts in, do not restrict yourself from thinking them because this will lead to an increase in anxiety. Meditation is not about controlling your thoughts, it’s about not allowing your thoughts to control you. When you notice these thoughts come in to your head-space, label them as “My anxious thoughts” then acknowledge the thought and return your focus back to your breath. I have shared our “Releasing Anxious Thoughts” meditation below, try practicing this whilst labeling your anxious thoughts, without judgement and allow yourself to return your focus to your breath.”
Warmly,
Heather Bach MA Psych., CCC
Clinical Director of Bach Counselling Group
