Monday, March 23, 2009

Using Meditation to Fight Panic and Anxiety

By Stephen Jablonski

Meditation is a term that's used to describe a whole range of methods used to transform our everyday awareness. The goal is to help us learn more about our true nature and in the process we bring more stillness and harmony into our lives. When we feel this harmony, we're less likely to suffer from pressure or panic. So meditation can help us deal with our stress and anxiety.

And while the tranquility meditation offers us is a powerful tool, it is also a tool that goes widely un-used. That's because a lot of people are intimidated by meditation. They think it takes years of "monastery training." Or they think you need to have a natural talent for it. But that's not true of meditation at all.

Meditation is actually quite easy to do. Oh sure, to learn and use advanced meditation techniques takes considerable time and practice, but the truth is that you can begin to learn meditation very quickly. And after just a few short, simple sessions, you can begin to enjoy many of the benefits it holds.

When beginning something new, it's always best to have some guidance. That's why I suggest starting out with a meditation class if you can. There are usually some great beginning classes available through your local YMCA or other community organizations. They're a great low-cost way to get started.

And don't forget your library. You'll find many titles about meditation at any well-stocked library. Books have the advantage of giving you great depth on the subject and they can also get you going rather fast. But their disadvantage is that they can only guide you so far and they can't help you make corrections or changes.

Audio CDs and DVDs are an excellent way to get started with meditation. They provide more guidance by actually leading you into and through each meditation session. This gives you a more "full-bodied" experience and leads to a deeper practice and understanding which leads to more anxiety relief benefits.

When starting out with meditation, you typically learn one or more breathing meditations first. They're relatively simple to do and they get you actually meditating fast. If you stick with it, you can move into more advanced meditations and you can stay in the meditative state for longer periods. How far you take it is really up to you. But you will feel the calming effects of meditation from your very first session.

The practice of meditation is a very old and studied art. It's been around for 1,000's of years because it yields real benefits. It's a truly effective method for dealing with stress, anxiety, and even panic attacks. So I'd recommend that you give it a try. After all, it's easy to do, doesn't cost much, and it could mean a great difference in your life. - 14130

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