Skip to content
  • Mental Health Issues
    • Anxiety
    • ADHD
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Depression
    • Grief
    • Narcissism
    • OCD
    • Personality Disorders
    • PTSD
  • Relationships
    • Dating
    • Marriage
    • Sex & Intimacy
    • Infidelity
    • Relationships 101
    • Best Online Couples Counseling Services
  • Wellness
    • Anger
    • Burnout
    • Stress
    • Sleep
    • Meditation
    • Mindfulness
    • Yoga
  • Therapy
    • Starting Therapy
    • Types of Therapy
    • Best Online Therapy Providers
    • Online Therapy Reviews & Guides
  • Medication
    • Anxiety Medication
    • Depression Medication
    • ADHD Medication
    • Best Online Psychiatrist Options
  • Reviews
    • Best Online Therapy
    • Best Online Therapy with Insurance
    • Best Online Therapy for Teens
    • Best Online Therapy for Anxiety
    • Best Online Therapy for Depression
    • Best Online ADHD Treatments
    • Best Online Psychiatry
    • Best Mental Health Apps
    • All Reviews
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Advertising Policy
    • Find a Local Therapist
    • Join Our Free Directory

Join our Newsletter

Get helpful tips and the latest information

Choosing Therapy on Facebook
Choosing Therapy on Instagram
Choosing Therapy on Twitter
Choosing Therapy on Linkedin
Choosing Therapy on Pinterest
Choosing Therapy on Tiktok
Choosing Therapy on Youtube
ChoosingTherapy.com Logo

Newsletter

Search Icon
  • Mental Health Issues
    • Anxiety
    • ADHD
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Depression
    • Grief
    • Narcissism
    • OCD
    • Personality Disorders
    • PTSD
  • Relationships
    • Dating
    • Marriage
    • Sex & Intimacy
    • Infidelity
    • Relationships 101
    • Best Online Couples Counseling Services
  • Wellness
    • Anger
    • Burnout
    • Stress
    • Sleep
    • Meditation
    • Mindfulness
    • Yoga
  • Therapy
    • Starting Therapy
    • Types of Therapy
    • Best Online Therapy Providers
    • Online Therapy Reviews & Guides
  • Medication
    • Anxiety Medication
    • Depression Medication
    • ADHD Medication
    • Best Online Psychiatrist Options
  • Reviews
    • Best Online Therapy
    • Best Online Therapy with Insurance
    • Best Online Therapy for Teens
    • Best Online Therapy for Anxiety
    • Best Online Therapy for Depression
    • Best Online ADHD Treatments
    • Best Online Psychiatry
    • Best Mental Health Apps
    • All Reviews
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Advertising Policy
    • Find a Local Therapist
    • Join Our Free Directory
  • What Are Mantras?What Are Mantras?
  • TypesTypes
  • Mantras for AnxietyMantras for Anxiety
  • Social AnxietySocial Anxiety
  • Sanskrit MantrasSanskrit Mantras
  • How to MeditateHow to Meditate
  • How to Avoid Cultural AppropriationHow to Avoid Cultural Appropriation
  • Mantras With Professional HelpMantras With Professional Help
  • ConclusionConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources
Anxiety Articles Anxiety Anxiety Treatment Anxiety Types Online Therapy for Anxiety

Mantras for Anxiety: 12 Mantras & How They Help

Headshot of Marija Galebovic, LMHC

Author: Marija Galebovic, LMHC

Headshot of Marija Galebovic, LMHC

Marija Galebovic LMHC

Marija offers compassionate counseling and support, empowering clients through tailored therapy for stress, anxiety, and life transitions.

See My Bio Editorial Policy
Meera Patel, DO

Medical Reviewer: Meera Patel, DO Licensed medical reviewer

Meera Patel, DO

Meera Patel DO

Dr. Patel has been a family physician for nearly a decade. She treats and evaluates patients of all ages. She has a particular interest in women’s mental health, burnout, anxiety, and depression.

See My Bio Editorial Policy
Published: August 25, 2022
  • What Are Mantras?What Are Mantras?
  • TypesTypes
  • Mantras for AnxietyMantras for Anxiety
  • Social AnxietySocial Anxiety
  • Sanskrit MantrasSanskrit Mantras
  • How to MeditateHow to Meditate
  • How to Avoid Cultural AppropriationHow to Avoid Cultural Appropriation
  • Mantras With Professional HelpMantras With Professional Help
  • ConclusionConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

Mantras are typically single words, sounds, or phrases we repeat during times of distress to calm ourselves down. Research shows that mantras effectively help people with anxiety by centering their thoughts and breathing, allowing them to refocus and ground themselves in the present moment and creating a moment of inner peace.1

What Are Mantras?

The word “mantra” stems from the Sanskrit language and refers to an ancient practice used to heighten spiritual consciousness, often utilized within Hinduism and Buddhism. A mantra can be a sound, word, or words, and can be repeated silently, out loud, or just said once.2

What Are the Benefits of Mantra Meditation?

Mantra meditations can help with stress, depression, and anxiety by re-centering your focus and encouraging deep body relaxation.1 They can be done by themselves, or incorporated into larger, structured meditation practices. Mantra-based meditations are not too difficult to learn and utilize, making them a good option for someone looking for a new way to center themselves.

ADVERTISEMENT

Would You Like to Have Less Anxiety?

Anxiety is treatable with therapy. BetterHelp has over 30,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $65 per week and is FSA/HSA eligible by most providers. Take a free online assessment and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Free Assessment

Types of Mantras

Mantras have their roots in ancient religious and spiritual practices, and some still utilize them in this sense.2 On the other hand, mantras used in transcendental meditation (TM), for example, are not strictly linked to a religion and became widely popular in the 1960s.2 These focus more on personal strength and goals. If you are interested in incorporating mantras into your routine, you may benefit from learning more in-depth about different types of mantras and approaches to see which most align with your philosophies.

Some examples of mantras include:2,3,4

  • Religious mantras: The Hindu mantra “om” is used as a powerful mantra in popular culture and in Buddhism, where “om mani padne hum” is a classic mantra
  • Short, meaningful phrases: These are generally self-affirmations that you can repeat to help with grounding, self-esteem, and so on. Some examples would be “this too shall pass” or “I am worthy.”
  • Single words: Single word repetitions are similar to the self-affirmations discussed above, but instead of a phrase, it focuses on a single word, like “peace” or “calm.”

Mantras for Anxiety

Mantras may help with anxiety by reducing the severity of its symptoms, such as racing thoughts and increased heart rate. The effects are similar to those of mindfulness on anxiety, as they both aim to refocus your breathing, thoughts, and actions in moments of distress. In turn, this can help decrease your heart rate and alleviate the physiological symptoms of anxiety and increase positive mood.5

Here are seven examples of helpful mantras for anxiety:

1. One Day at a Time

Saying “one day at a time” or “one thing at a time” can help remind you that you don’t have to do everything at once. In therapy, we sometimes help a patient with taking on different perspectives, and this is a quote that can help with that.

2. This Is Temporary

“This isn’t permanent” or “this too shall pass” are similar ideas. These can help you remember that the anxious feelings you are experiencing will not go on endlessly; they have passed before, and they will pass again.

3. I Am Calm

By using this phrase, you might be able to channel how you would like to feel and tap into that feeling. It can be a good mantra for anxiety, as it focuses on channeling the opposite feeling.

4. I Am ______

Tap into a quality that makes you feel good about yourself for this mantra–strong, wise, loving, brave, resilient, tough, courageous, unwavering, etc. In therapy, this is where self-affirmations stem from, as it can be helpful to remind ourselves that there are things about us that we admire.

5. Peace Is Within Me

This is another phrase you can utilize as a mantra for fear and anxiety. Like with “I am calm,” this helps you tap into how you would like to feel and go into that calm and peaceful place that exists within you. This is similar to when you imagine being in a peaceful or “happy” place.

6. Slow Is Steady & Steady Is Fast

If you experience anxiety, sometimes you can struggle with feeling like you’re not doing enough or moving quickly enough. This is a good mantra for anxiety that might help you slow down and recognize that slowing down can actually be beneficial. Conversely, it can help you realize that moving quickly and with high intensity all the time is detrimental to your mental health and productivity, and can lead to burnout.

7. Create Your Own!

If there are calming or grounding phrases and words that your family or friends use to compliment or calm someone, it might be beneficial for you to incorporate those into your meditation practice.

Single-Word Mantras for Anxiety

  • Peace
  • Calm
  • Center
  • Still
ADVERTISEMENT

Options for Anxiety Treatment

Talk Therapy – Get help from a licensed therapist. Betterhelp offers online therapy starting at $60 per week and is FSA/HSA eligible by most providers. Free Assessment

Psychiatry for Anxiety – Looking for anxiety treatment that prioritizes you? Talkiatry can help. Find an in-network psychiatrist you can see online. Get started with our short assessment. Visit Talkiatry

Mantras for Social Anxiety

You can also utilize the strategies for generalized anxiety to help you through certain situations that might induce social anxiety. You can use the ones from above, or you can customize them more to a specific social situation. As with the suggestions for general anxiety, if there are any phrases or words that you or your loved ones already used in a similar way, you can incorporate them into your mantras.

Here are five mantras for social anxiety:

1. I Got This

Sometimes, you are your own cheerleader, and this can be a phrase to remind yourself that you will give it a try. An internal pep talk of sorts!

2. I Belong

People who experience social anxiety feel as if they will not fit in certain social situations. This mantra can help remind you that you belong in any space you choose to be in. This can slowly help you restructure and rethink the way you believe others perceive you.

3. I Am Comfortable Around Others

Just like with some of the tips discussed above, this helps remind yourself of how you want to feel in social situations. You want to feel comfortable around others in social spaces, and trying to embody that sentiment through a mantra can help you gain confidence.

4. My Company Is Welcomed

Similarly to “I Belong,” this serves as a reminder that others want you around, and your presence is appreciated and valued.

5. I Am Open to This Experience

People don’t like learning that avoiding an anxiety-inducing situation may actually make their anxiety worse. This phrase can help remind you that you are going to face the social situation without negative preconceptions, which helps decrease instances of avoidance.

ADVERTISEMENT

Would You Like to Have Less Anxiety?

Anxiety is treatable with therapy. BetterHelp has over 30,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $65 per week and is FSA/HSA eligible by most providers. Take a free online assessment and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Free Assessment

Sanskrit Mantras for Anxiety

Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages at over 3000 years old, so it is no surprise that many sanskrit mantras for anxiety have existed throughout history. Sanskrit mantras are more about the energy of the mantra than its meaning. It is believed that Vedic seers are the sources of Sanskrit mantra.6,7,8,9

Some examples of sanskrit mantras for anxiety include:10,11

  • Om Shanti Om: “Peace in body, peace in mind, peace in speech or spirit.” This is a mantra that works to facilitate a peace of mind.
  • Samprati Hum: “The present moment is my true self.”With this mantra you are channeling your true-self, and embracing and loving yourself.
  • Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha: “Salutations to the remover of obstacles.” This mantra taps into navigating any obstacles you might be experiencing.

How to Meditate Using Mantras for Anxiety

Mantras are typically incorporated into your larger meditation practices. Most people find a comfortable, quiet  spot and choose to either lay, sit, stand, or even walk. Once you have settled, close your eyes or focus them on something you see. Take a few deep breaths and begin using your mantra by either silently repeating it in your mind or quietly speaking it.12

The extra helpful bit of using a mantra in meditation is that it provides something to focus on while you clear your mind of the anxiety-inducing thoughts. My clients usually practice meditations for a few minutes at a time initially, because meditation is a skill that takes time to improve. With time, people typically meditate for longer periods of time. Try out scheduling your meditation during a time of day that you think might work for you and modify it based on how you feel.

How to Avoid Cultural Appropriation When Using Mantras

Meditation and mindfulness practices are evidence-based approaches that mental health professionals can use as therapeutic tools, but because these come from a variety of cultures and religions, it is important to make sure that professionals and their clients are not decontextualizing or appropriating these practices.13

Everyone could try to decrease their likelihood of appropriation by:14

  • Learning more about the history of mantras
  • Honoring the origins of these practices
  • Reading, watching, and listening to those within that field (i.e., finding a Vedic teacher if you want to learn Vedic mantras)
  • Be respectful by not concealing the history and cultural roots of mantras
  • Be respectful of how you use mantras (i.e., don’t use “Om” as a house decoration)

Pairing Mantras With Professional Help for Anxiety

It’s never too late to consider professional help. If you need support with your anxiety symptoms, or if you are just curious about whether therapy might be a good fit to help with anxiety, it is worth talking to a therapist to see how they might be able to help. Before you begin browsing an online directory, make sure you know what type of therapist you are trying to find.

In addition to therapy and meditation, consider exploring further anxiety treatments in your assessment of what might best work for you. Oftentimes, a holistic approach to mental health concerns is the most effective treatment.

Final Thoughts

Using mantras may help some people calm their anxious thoughts. They provide similar benefits to mindfulness and meditation, which are effective in treating anxiety symptoms as well. However, this might only be one piece of the puzzle, and may not work for everyone. So, if you need help with your anxiety symptoms, it is a good idea to consider talking to a therapist to see what else, in addition to or in replacement of the mantras, would be helpful for you.

Additional Resources

To help our readers take the next step in their mental health journey, ChoosingTherapy.com has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. ChoosingTherapy.com is compensated for marketing by the companies included below.

Therapy for Anxiety & Medication Management

Brightside Health – develops personalized plans that are unique to you and offers 1 on 1 support from start to finish. Brightside Health accepts United Healthcare, Anthem, Cigna, and Aetna. Appointments in as little as 24 hours. Start Free Assessment

Anxiety Diagnosis & Treatment

Circle Medical – Affordable and accessible anxiety evaluations and treatment. Diagnosis and prescription over video. Insurance accepted. Same day appointments. Visit Circle Medical

Learn Mindfulness, Meditation, & Relaxation Techniques

Mindfulness.com – Change your life by practicing mindfulness. In a few minutes a day, you can start developing mindfulness and meditation skills. Free Trial

Anxiety Newsletter

A free newsletter from the experts at ChoosingTherapy.com for those impacted by anxiety. Get helpful tips and the latest information. Sign Up

ChoosingTherapy.com Directory 

Find local therapists that offer online and in-person therapy. Search for therapists by specialty, experience, insurance, and location. Find a therapist near you.

For Further Reading

  • What Is A Mantra?
  • TedTalk: How A Mantra Can Impact Your Day In A Positive Way
  • Meditation with Sanskrit Mantra 
  • How We Can Work Together to Avoid Cultural Appropriation in Yoga
  • Vedic Community Foundation

SPONSORED
Online Anxiety Test

Online Anxiety Test

A few questions from Talkiatry can help you understand your symptoms and give you a recommendation for what to do next.

Take Test
Best Online Therapy for Anxiety of 2024

Best Online Therapy for Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health issues in the world. To find the best online therapy for anxiety, we reviewed over 50 providers. Our evaluation focused on their geographic coverage area, cost, convenience, extra features, and more. Our top recommendations are based on more than three years of research and over 250 hours of hands-on testing. Read on to see our top picks for the best online anxiety counseling platforms.

Read more
Best Online Psychiatry Services

Best Online Psychiatry Services

Online psychiatry, sometimes called telepsychiatry, platforms offer medication management by phone, video, or secure messaging for a variety of mental health conditions. In some cases, online psychiatry may be more affordable than seeing an in-person provider. Mental health treatment has expanded to include many online psychiatry and therapy services. With so many choices, it can feel overwhelming to find the one that is right for you.

Read more

Mantras for Anxiety Infographics

What Are Mantras? Mantras for Anxiety How to Meditate Using Mantra for Anxiety

Pairing Mantras with Professional Help for Anxiety

Find a therapist in your state

Get the help you need from a therapist near you

City or zip Search

California
Connecticut
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Texas
Virginia

Are you a Therapist? Get Listed Today

Anxiety newsletter

A free newsletter for those impacted by anxiety. Get helpful tips and the latest information

Sources

ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.

  • Álvarez-Pérez, Y., Rivero-Santana, A., Perestelo-Pérez, L., Duarte-Díaz, A., Ramos-García, V., Toledo-Chávarri, A., . . . Serrano-Aguilar, P. (2022). Effectiveness of mantra-based meditation on mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), 3380. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063380

  • Encyclopaedia, B. I. (2006). Britannica concise encyclopedia. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Incorporated.

  • Burke, A., Lam, C. N., Stussman, B., & Yang, H. (2017). Prevalence and patterns of use of  mantra, mindfulness and spiritual meditation among adults in the United States. BMC  complementary and alternative medicine, 17(1), 316. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1827-8

  • Chan, R. R. (2014). Mantra meditation as a bedside spiritual intervention. MedSurg Nursing, 23(2), 84+. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A367797626/HWRC?u=dall6191&sid=bookmark-HWRC&xid=d561542a

  • Villanueva, K.N. (2019). Mantra and Meditation in Buddhist Hospice Chaplaincy to Alleviate Anxiety by Karen Nelson Villanueva. In Feminism and Religion [BLOG]. Claremont: Newstex.

  • Schmidt, L. (2022, July 8). 9 Powerful Mantras in Sanskrit and Gurmukhi. Chopra. https://chopra.com/articles/9-powerful-mantras-in-sanskrit-and-gurmukhi

  • Deepak ChopraTM️. (2017, December 13). Mantras. https://www.deepakchopra.com/articles/mantras/

  • Chopra. (n.d.). 7 Days to Relieve Stress and Anxiety – Streaming. Chopra 21-Day Meditation Experience. Retrieved from: https://chopracentermeditation.com/store/product/151/7_days_to_relieve_stress_and_anxiety_streaming

  • Deepak Chopra. (2021, January 11). Deepak Chopra: The First Front for Stress and Anxiety Relief: A Guided Meditation. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QAs6hikKqo

  • Williamson, J. (2015, August 16). 7 Sanskrit Mantras for Meditation and Gratitude. Healing Brave. https://healingbrave.com/blogs/all/sanskrit-mantras-for-meditation-gratitude

  • Sanskrit Mantras, Saraswati Publications, LLC. (n.d.). Some Simple Mantras for Those Just Starting Out. SanskritMantra. https://www.sanskritmantra.com/article_info.php?articles_id=32

  • Ramananda, S. (2007, August 28). A Step-By-Step Guide to Practicing Mantra Meditation. Yoga Journal. https://www.yogajournal.com/poses/mantra-meditation/

  • Surmitis, K. A., Fox, J., & Gutierrez, D. (2018). Meditation and Appropriation: Best Practices for Counselors Who Utilize Meditation. Counseling and Values, 63(1), 4–16.  https://doi.org/10.1002/cvj.12069

  • Baitmangalkar, A. (n.d.). How We Can Work Together to Avoid Cultural Appropriation in Yoga. Yoga International. https://yogainternational.com/article/view/how-we-can-work-together-to-avoid-cultural-appropriation-in-yoga

Show more Click here to open the article sources container.

Your Voice Matters

Can't find what you're looking for?

Request an article! Tell ChoosingTherapy.com’s editorial team what questions you have about mental health, emotional wellness, relationships, and parenting. Our licensed therapists are just waiting to cover new topics you care about!

Request an Article

Leave your feedback for our editors.

Share your feedback on this article with our editors. If there’s something we missed or something we could improve on, we’d love to hear it.

Our writers and editors love compliments, too. :)

Leave Feedback
ChoosingTherapy.com Logo White
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Write for Us
  • Careers
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

FOR IMMEDIATE HELP CALL:

Medical Emergency: 911

Suicide Hotline: 988

View More Crisis Hotlines
Choosing Therapy on Facebook
Choosing Therapy on Instagram
Choosing Therapy on X
Choosing Therapy on Linkedin
Choosing Therapy on Pinterest
Choosing Therapy on Tiktok
Choosing Therapy on Youtube

© 2025 Choosing Therapy, Inc. All rights reserved.

X