There's A Reason You May Get Antsy During Meditation — A Psychologist Explains

Ever feel impatient, anxious, or even angry during meditation? You're certainly not alone: Even if you wholeheartedly believe in the powerful practice, sometimes (or, let's be real, most times) you just can't seem to sit still. You may even berate yourself for the inability to clear your mind, or you may think meditation just doesn't click with your head space.

"People often say: 'Well, I don't like to meditate because it makes me nervous,' or 'I don't like to be still because it makes me nervous.' No, what you're discovering is how nervous you are, how jittery you are." Meaning, the practice itself isn't what's making you feel antsy—you were already feeling jittery to begin with, and meditation is propelling those feelings up to the surface.

Plus, according to Parker, feeling like you can't sit still is a likely sign you need that meditation practice. As she tells us, releasing stress and tension oftentimes isn't too pretty. Sure, you may feel a sense of relief afterward (sometimes a very tangible physical release, as she explains here). But while you're actually in the throes of that inner work? It's uncomfortable—and that's a good sign! It means you're finally freeing your body from all those negative emotions. "The work is to learn to tolerate the discomfort of healing," she notes. Only then will you be able to truly relax.