In brief
Practices that train your attention on the present moment without judgement. healthdirect suggests mindfulness and meditation as relaxation techniques for stress and anxiety.
- Relaxation techniques can help you manage stress and boost your ability to cope, according to healthdirect.
- Meditation usually has few risks, but in one review about 8 per cent of people had a negative effect, most often anxiety or depression.
- Talking therapies for depression include CBT, mindfulness and online therapies.
How it works
Mindfulness means keeping attention on the present moment without making judgements. Programmes such as mindfulness-based stress reduction teach mindful meditation, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy combines it with parts of cognitive behaviour therapy.
A 2018 analysis found mindfulness-based approaches worked better than no treatment for anxiety and depression, and about as well as other proven therapies, though a later analysis urged caution and found few long-term effects. Mindfulness may help reduce insomnia and improve sleep quality. It should not replace usual medical care.
Connections
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Mindfulness and meditation can ease
- Anxiety Supported
healthdirect suggests relaxation techniques, such as mindfulness and meditation, to help manage anxiety.
Source: healthdirect Australia, Anxiety
- Chronic stress (allostatic load) Supported
Relaxation techniques, such as mindfulness and meditation, can help you manage stress and boost your ability to cope.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Stress; healthdirect Australia, Anxiety
Sources
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Summarised from the NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and healthdirect. Sources read on 13 and 16 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.