ANXIETY IS AN UNWELCOME visitor, showing up unexpectedly and making everything seem overwhelming. I know this all too well—not as a doctor or therapist, but as someone who has wrestled with anxiety for as long as I can remember. Early on, my way of coping with anxious thoughts was either to obsess over them or to push them aside, neither of which eased my discomfort. Everything changed when I discovered meditation. Through formal and informal awareness practices, I learned to relate to my anxiety more effectively and eventually found some relief.
One of the first benefits of meditationword, mantra, or phrase—helps cultivate robust, flexible attention. This is crucial when working with anxiety because a steady mind makes hard times more manageable.
