Individuals who suffer from panic and/or anxiety find it difficult to live in the moment because they are consumed with what has happened in the past or what will happen in the future. The main problem with this is that we have no control over the past or the future; we only have the now. The past has already happened and we cannot change it. The future has not happened yet and we cannot know what will happen because there are so many variables that can change the outcome. Worrying about what happened in the past or what you think might happen in the future creates fear that increases anxiety or panic. Living in fear prevents us from having a life filled with happiness or enjoying the happiness of the moment and cause other health problems.
"Anxiety disorder may cause loss of appetite and lack of interest in sex. Other symptoms include muscle tension, headaches, and insomnia. Frequent panic attacks can cause you to fear the anxiety attacks themselves, thereby increasing overall anxiety. The constant state of stress can lead to clinical depression. You are also at increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. If you already have heart disease, anxiety disorders may raise the risk of coronary events,"(Pietrangelo, A.)
When we practice mindulness, we learn to live in the moment-because all that exists is now. We are also able to begin to understand that the thoughts that cause anxiety pose no benefit, as researchers from Johns Hopkins University discovered while analyzing nearly 19,000 meditation research studies (source). Dr. Hoge, a psychiatrist at the Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital and an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, conducted a study in which subjects who participated in mindful-based stress reduction were more likely than individuals who were only taught general stress management techniques. Dr. Hoge states "“People with anxiety have a problem dealing with distracting thoughts that have too much power. They can’t distinguish between a problem-solving thought and a nagging worry that has no benefit.” (source)
I, personally, have had much success dealing with fear and anxiety using meditation techniques. I have reduced symptoms of anxiety, improved my overall health, and have become a happier person using mindfulness techniques. I remind myself that worrying does not do any good; it ruins any happiness that you can have in this short existence. You either have to let it go and trust that it will work out for your highest good or work to change the situation (without worry). You can find many useful free meditation videos on youtube or you can go here to purchase digital meditations.
Don't forget to leave a comment about your experiences or shoot me an email at improveyourhealthwithbrandi@gmail.com!
Image credit: 1. Healthline.com