Today’s lifestyles are often fast-paced and stress-inducing and are not reserved only for adults. Teenagers are also experiencing the effects—anxiety and sleep issues are becoming increasingly common in adolescents. Mindfulness and relaxation techniques are helpful tools for young people struggling with sleep or anxiety issues.

If your teen is struggling with their mental health, Family First Adolescent Services can help. We include meditation therapy for teens in our programming, which can teach techniques to ease their minds and support restful sleep, such as guided meditation for anxiety and overthinking. To find out more about how we support teens and families, reach out today at 888.904.5947.

What Are the Benefits of Meditation for Sleep and Anxiety?

Guided meditation can help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation, which can lead to better sleep. There are many benefits to practicing meditation including:

A Calmer Mind

Many people who have difficulty sleeping tend to ruminate or think unhelpful thoughts over and over on a loop. This makes it difficult for the mind and body to relax and settle down for sleep. Meditation helps to slow down these repetitive thoughts by guiding an individual to focus on their breath or a visualization. As they do this, their mind starts to relax, allowing them to gently drift off to sleep.

A More Relaxed Body

Anxiety and stress can lead to tension in the body, which can make it difficult to unwind before bed. Chronic tension can also lead to physical aches and pains like headaches and muscle aches, which can also make it difficult to sleep soundly through the night. In addition to calming the mind, meditation can also lead to physical relaxation. There are many types of meditation, and some are designed specifically to ease tension in the body, such as progressive muscle relaxation therapy.

Improved Thought Patterns

You may be familiar with the saying, “What you think about, you bring about.” This is especially relevant when it comes to meditation for stress and anxiety. When your teen meditates, they guide their mind toward calming thoughts or try to clear it of thoughts altogether. This effectively takes their mind away from troubling or anxious thoughts and toward thoughts that are more neutral or pleasing. And as you may have experienced yourself, this tends to lead to more positive thoughts.

Can Meditation Help Your Teen?

Meditation is often overlooked as a therapeutic modality, especially for teens. However, it can be a valuable resource to add to their self-care toolkit. Meditation may be beneficial for your child if:

• They frequently have difficulty falling or staying asleep.
• They often seem worried or fearful.
• They have trouble concentrating.
• They are often irritable.
• They are avoiding social situations they used to seek out.

Mindfulness and meditation can be deeply calming practices, which can provide young people with a readily available method to relax their minds and bodies. Teens who regularly practice meditation for sleep and anxiety may experience more balanced emotions and are less likely to turn to destructive coping methods, such as self-harm or substance misuse.

Find Support for Your Teen at Family First

Anxiety and insomnia can be troubling for anyone, but when it is your child struggling with these issues, you want to do anything you can to help them. Family First Adolescent Services offers meditation therapy for teens so they can learn how to use this valuable practice to find relief from anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and many other mental health concerns. To find out more, reach out at 888.904.5947 or fill out our online form.