When Mindfulness Doesn't Calm Anxiety

Hello Rasheed,
I'm so glad that you are enjoying HealthyPlace's Anxiety-Schmanxiety blog and finding a lot of great anxiety articles! I just checked out the link you provided, and you have great information to offer. It's wonderful to have so much information out there to help people deal with and overcome anxiety. I'm sorry I can't share your link publicly due to policy. I do think that it's a useful site in getting over anxiety.

Hi Bridgette,
Of course that makes perfect sense. One of the most frustrating things about anxiety/panic attacks is that they can make themselves worse because people are anxious about the very fact that they're having an anxiety attack. It's frustrating when you try to find something that works but it doesn't. That's common. Everyone is different, so different things work for different people. When you're not in the midst of an anxiety attack, it can be helpful to brainstorm and develop a list of what might be effective in calming you down. What things work for you personally regardless of whether or not they work for others? Experiment with different things, and give yourself permission to cross things off your list that don't work for you.

Hi Andres,
Thank you for your insight. I am in complete agreement that a flashback is not the present. Sometimes when I've worked with people with PTSD, especially in the early stages of treatment, a flashback feels so much like the present that when they try to be mindful of the "real" present, they instead remain in the flashback. When this is the case (and it isn't always the case), I have found that when in the throes of a flashback, someone can visualize something completely different, then outside of the flashback they process the truth that a flashback is not the present. That helps along the healing journey. I agree with your approach of helping people separate the true present from the past.

Hi Cee,
You raise a very good point. There are so many approaches to managing/diminishing anxiety, and they all work differently for different people. I think that's why so many therapeutic approaches have been developed (and are still being developed). People notice that a proven technique is not effective for them or for those they are helping, and they try to figure out what will work instead. But it's a very tricky process because we're all so different. I, too, have had to try many things. Adding to the frustration is that something, such as mindfulness, will work in some instances but not in others. That's why it's good to start to develop a toolbox of multiple strategies. Don't worry about finding tons of strategies all at once because that alone will exacerbate anxiety. Experiment to find just one thing that works, even just a little, and then use it and eventually build on it. Looking at your list, I notice that these all involve mostly thinking and emotions. Have you tried physical activity on a regular basis? Or things that involve creating with your hands such as painting or working with clay (you don't have to be a fantastic artist -- the point isn't to create museum pieces but to have a physical outlet for your anxious energy)? Whatever you try, focus just on you. Don't beat yourself up because these techniques work for some people but not you. There's nothing wrong with you. Just concentrate on yourself. It's okay, and it will help.

Hello Red,
A situation such as abuse, rape, or any other such trauma is not at all the same type of anxiety as general life anxiety. It goes without saying that a coping skill in one situation doesn't automatically apply to every situation.

Hi Dale,
I'm so sorry to hear about your frustrations. Two important things: It's very good that you were born, even though anxiety is intense and blocks out any good stuff; and no matter what people say, it's not your fault when treatments don't work. Anxiety is insidious and can be difficult to get rid of -- trust me, I know. Have you tried (maybe you have) trying to identify one source of your anxiety? Anxiety feels huge and all-encompassing, so sometimes when you isolate one source, you can work on improving that part of your anxiety. That can be helpful in at least reducing your anxiety piece by piece. That is just an idea--something that has worked for me to alleviate some of the intensity. I wish you the best of luck in reducing anxiety and easing some of its awful symptoms.

Hello Nu,
If that quote appeared in the article, I would definitely agree that it doesn't make much sense at all. Sometimes, true mindfulness, which includes a focus on the present moment, doesn't work. If someone's anxiety is rooted in the present moment or in a flashback that the brain experiences as the present moment, focusing on the present doesn't work at all. However, other components of mindfulness, such as deep breathing, stillness, focusing on something to quiet the mind, do still work. The key is in modifying the aspect of mindfulness that focuses on the present. Instead, choose a peaceful, calming image, and be mindful of that. This is an important clarification. Thanks for your comment!

Hello Annie,
Thank YOU for your feedback. I hope these tips do help you and will fit right into your current mindfulness practice that already is successful. Except when it isn't. :) When something doesn't work, there's always something else that does. I wish you very well in both reducing anxiety and in your music career.

Hi Edith,
You raise excellent points. Researchers are trying to discover exactly what you mentioned -- a cure, a way to reset the brain. After all, if so much of anxiety is brain-based, it goes to reason that we can affect change in the brain to cure anxiety, PTSD, and more. It reminds me of that much-desired but elusive fountain of youth. Of course a brain-based cure of anxiety is more logical than a fountain of youth. So far, no cure has been found, but there are proven strategies to minimize anxiety and live well in spite of it. Maybe one of the reasons a cure hasn't been discovered is that anxiety is a natural part of our existence, and it can be positive. Maybe we don't need to eliminate it. Instead, maybe turning our attention to ourselves and the quality life we want is better than focusing on a cure (because then we're focusing on anxiety). Just food for thought! This doesn't mean that researchers should stop searching for a way to reset the brain. Interestingly, I've been reading on mindfulness recently. Researchers are finding that it actually changes the brain. It increases our gray matter throughout the brain, including structures that are involved in anxiety, such as the hippocampus. So maybe we are getting closer to a brain-based cure!

Hi Scott,
Stress has a way of throwing everyone and everything for a loop. As you well know, it affects physical health and emotional health. Sometimes, anxiety becomes "immune" to our coping skills, tools, and strategies -- even when these things are usually highly effective, like the things you were doing. Do you have other strategies in place? If you don't have a lot, it could be helpful to brainstorm as many things as possible that you could do to reduce anxiety when things like exercise and yoga stop working. They'll start working again. You just might need a variety of approaches so your anxiety never becomes immune to any of your strategies. Think of a wide variety of activities, even things you normally wouldn't do (maybe learning to knit, learning a new way of exercising, etc.) Your brain and body will respond differently to something new. Brainstorm as many things as you can, and keep them in a notebook for easy reference. Also, maybe talk with your boss about what you could do if this happens again. Knowing that there's a realistic plan in place can help reduce anxiety.
Know that while this is a terrible experience, it's a normal one and part of anxiety. There's nothing wrong with you or your strategies. You have the strength and determination to deal positively with these flares -- it's obvious from the fact that you've handled your recent surge really well. You've got this!