Anxiety is on the Rise

Meditation and Mindfulness Techniques as a Possible Antidote

Life moves quickly these days. In our faced-paced world, it is easy for both children and adults to feel overwhelmed. One of my meditation teachers once shared that the average person of today will be exposed to more information in a single day than the average person of a century ago would have encountered in an entire year. Children today are very scheduled, have less time to play freely in nature, and most are spending increased time on screens. For some children who have academic challenges, attention deficit disorder or executive function challenges, parents may notice rising levels of stress or anxiety.

Amy Saltzman, M.D., a holistic physician and mindfulness coach in Menlo Park, California, conducted a study in collaboration with researchers at Stanford University. After eight weeks of mindfulness training, the fourth- through sixth-grade students in the study showed documented decreases in anxiety and improvements in attention. They became less emotionally reactive and were better able to handle daily challenges and make thoughtful choices about their behavior.

Causes of anxiety in children today are vast and wide. There’s been a notable increase in anxiety among children over the past few years, making them the most anxious generation of all time (Psychology Today, 2024). Causes of this generation’s anxiety may include economic instability in families, rise in screen time, pressure and comparison from social media, lack of opportunity to build resilience through unsupervised play, lack of access to nature, or lack of free time to relax and restore. In addition, anxiety can sometimes run in families. It may also arise from physical illness, low self-esteem related to a learning difference like dyslexia, or feelings of isolation from peers.

Research shows that our brains are wired to cling to the negative, almost like Velcro, while positive thoughts tend to slip away like water on Teflon. Sometimes the mind becomes caught in “cognitive distortions,” or negative thought patterns shaped by how we see ourselves and how we believe others perceive us. Over time, these repeated stories can influence the way we think, feel, and move through the world.

Learning to quiet our internal thoughts, through mindfulness practice, time in nature, or unstructured play, offers people of all ages the chance to pause. And when we can string together a series of these pauses, we begin to experience ease. This ease helps lower cortisol levels, allowing for clearer thinking and a wider, more open heart. Ease and clarity gradually replace anxiety and fear.

Both quantitative and qualitative research show that mindfulness improves student behavior, supports emotional regulation, and enhances learning. Increased focus also helps counteract the shortened attention spans shaped by media and digital devices. The ability to sustain attention is essential to completing any task—whether in school, sports, or daily life. While meditation doesn’t remove life’s challenges, it certainly softens how we meet them

Can Mindfulness practice be a part of your
child’s Orton-Gillingham tutoring sessions?

Yes! While formal mindfulness classes are not always a fit for families or a child, there are practices that can be worked into tutoring sessions that can have a positive impact on a child’s learning. We can discuss options prior to starting tutoring sessions.

Can Mindfulness become a part of a family practice?

Yes! If you are interested in bringing mindfulness to your family, the best way is to learn these practices yourself. Please contact me to learn about upcoming retreats at South Ferry Sanctuary in Narragansett.

Can Mindfulness practices be used in my classroom?

Absolutely! I have seen it in action! I ran several 16 week programs in the Newport’s Public Schools teaching classroom teachers and students about a variety of mindfulness practices. Teachers and students practiced these practices side by side and found moments of rest and relief together.

Can Mindfulness practices be offered for teacher- professional development?

100%! I have led professional development workshops on Mindfulness and Movement in two different communities in Rhode Island (Newport and Burrillville).

Quieting the mind isn’t easy. That’s why it’s called a practice. You just have to begin.