You may have heard of mindfulness, or maybe not. It’s a popular word these days, especially among health care professionals.
So what is mindfulness?
It’s an awareness of what is happening that does not involve thinking. It’s being aware of thoughts, feelings, and beliefs as they occur, without identifying with them. It’s a non-judgmental, in the moment, state of awareness. Some people call it witness consciousness. It comes out of the tradition of meditation, and is not bound to any spiritual or religious form.
So what does this have to do with anxiety?
Many research studies have shown that mindfulness practice can reduce anxiety. In 1992, results from a Stress Reduction Clinic done by Kabat-Zinn and colleagues, documented significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety and panic. Later studies have showed similar findings, as well as the effectiveness of mindfulness on depression and anger.
Mindfulness is showing promise, and I’ll be talking more about it…
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