What to Do If You Feel Anxious While Meditating?
A person may experience intense anxiety while practicing meditation, which leads to a scattered mind and failure in the meditation process. So, what should you do if you feel anxious while meditating? Here are the most important tips:
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Change the Location
The main reason for anxiety during meditation might be related to the chosen place. It could be noisy or remind the person of a bad experience. In this case, the person will not be able to focus on meditation. It is advised to change the location to a quieter and more suitable place, preferably green spaces or gardens with fresh air and gentle breeze.
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Focus on Your Breath
Regulating your breathing during meditation is essential for its success. When anxiety arises during meditation, focus on the rhythm and regularity of your breath. The better you focus on your breathing, the more effective the meditation will be.
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Change Your Sitting Posture
An uncomfortable or incorrect sitting position can increase feelings of anxiety, tension, and discomfort. You should change your posture to one that allows complete relaxation.
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Meditate for Short Periods
You shouldn’t start with long meditation sessions, as longer durations may scatter your mind and increase anxiety. Beginners should limit sessions to no more than 10 minutes, gradually increasing the duration as they get used to meditation.
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Control Your Mind
If your mind wanders during meditation, try to regain control by reminding yourself that you are meditating. You should try to dismiss distractions as they come up until the session ends. The best way to overcome anxiety and distraction is to focus on your breathing—the inhaling and exhaling.
Benefits of Meditating the Right Way
After answering “What to do if you feel anxious while meditating,” it’s important to mention the benefits that come from practicing meditation correctly, including the following:
- Freeing the mind from negative thoughts from both the past and present.
- Stopping the mind from worrying about the future and its risks, transforming it into a positive mind that views the future with optimism and love.
- Improvement of life skills such as communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
- Increasing self-confidence, patience, and reducing quick temper.
- Raising intelligence quotient (IQ), which improves productivity in all areas of life.
- Relief from many annoying illnesses like headaches and high blood pressure.





