![]() What’s more, some research suggests that a variety of mindfulness and meditation exercises may reduce anxiety levels ( 9).įor example, yoga has been shown to help people reduce anxiety. Notably, this effect was strongest in those with the highest levels of anxiety ( 6).Īlso, one study found that 8 weeks of mindfulness meditation helped reduce anxiety symptoms in people with generalized anxiety disorder, along with increasing positive self-statements and improving stress reactivity and coping ( 7).Īnother study in 47 people with chronic pain found that completing an 8-week meditation program led to noticeable improvements in depression, anxiety, and pain over 1 year ( 8). Meditation can reduce stress levels, which translates to less anxiety.Ī meta-analysis including nearly 1,300 adults found that meditation may decrease anxiety. Meditation can likewise reduce symptoms in people with stress-triggered medical conditions. Many styles of meditation can help reduce stress. In an 8-week study, a meditation style called “mindfulness meditation” reduced the inflammation response caused by stress ( 2).įurthermore, research has shown that meditation may also improve symptoms of stress-related conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, and fibromyalgia ( 3, 4, 5). These effects can disrupt sleep, promote depression and anxiety, increase blood pressure, and contribute to fatigue and cloudy thinking. This produces many of the harmful effects of stress, such as the release of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines. Normally, mental and physical stress cause increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol. One review concluded that meditation lives up to its reputation for stress reduction ( 1). Stress reduction is one of the most common reasons people try meditation.
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