I experienced workplace bullying for more than two years which was a very traumatic experience and impacted almost every aspect of my life and leaving me feeling lonely, isolated, depressed, and anxious. I started having anxiety attacks and my health was impacted. Roughly three out of every four people with stress or anxiety in their life say that it interferes with their daily lives, at their workplace. One way of learning how to cope with my anxiety is that I started practicing meditation, hoping to stave off stress and anxiety-related health problems moving forward.
There are many different forms of this ancient practice. If you’re interested in trying meditation, but do not know where to start, here’s a list of three types of meditation practice:
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation, in particular, has become something helps me with my internal balance. The practice of mindful meditation involves sitting comfortably, focusing on your breathing, and then bringing your mind’s attention to the present without drifting into concerns about the past or future. Dr. Elizabeth 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, says that mindfulness meditation makes perfect sense for treating anxiety. “People with anxiety have a problem dealing with distracting thoughts that have too much power,” she explains. “They can’t distinguish between a problem-solving thought and a nagging worry that has no benefit.”
When practicing mindfulness meditation, you observe your thoughts and emotions but let them pass without judgement.
Guided Meditation
Guided meditation, which is sometimes also called guided imagery or visualization, is a method of meditation in which you form mental pictures or situations that you find relaxing.
This process is typically led by a guide or teacher, hence “guided.” It’s often suggested to use as many senses as possible, such as smell, sounds, and textures, to evoke calmness in your relaxing space.
Zen Meditation
This ancient Buddhist tradition involves sitting upright and following the breath, particularly the way it moves in and out of the belly, and letting the mind “just be.” Its aim is to foster a sense of presence and alertness. One of the many benefits of Zen meditation is that it provides insight into how the mind works.
If you choose to meditate or deal with your stress an anxiety another way, always know that workplace harassment and bullying is not acceptable under any circumstance and if you are feeling overwhelmed, please pick up the phone and get the help you deserve.
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