Anxiety at a Glance

If you feel anxious before or during a stressful situation—such as a medical procedure or a job interview—mind and body practices might help you to cope.

Promising approaches include mindfulness meditation and other meditative practices, as well as relaxation techniques such as guided imagery or progressive muscle relaxation.

Studies suggest that meditative movement therapies (tai chi, qi gong, or yoga) might also reduce anxiety, but the research is too limited to allow definite conclusions to be reached. There hasn’t been enough research on acupuncture for anxiety to show whether it’s helpful. Studies of massage therapy have had conflicting results.