Have you meditated today?

[Stickler]

Ok...I KNOW meditation helps my depression and anxiety.

For a while it just caused me to access deep pain. I would then end in tears and snot pretty rapidly.
Instead of quitting entirely, I really should have switched to chanting OM, as that actually tends to help my chaotic brain settle, and I do not go so deep.

...ANYWAY, I am going to try to meditate daily, and I would like others to join in for mutual encouragement, if you so desire?
I will plan to post on my progress weekly.

Using meditation to treat PTSD has some research to back it up:
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2014/september/meditation-helps-ptsd-090514.html

 

[LuckyDuck]

No, I have not, yet. I will soon. With archery.

LD

 

[Changing4Best]

I meditate when I pray, which I do daily. To me, meditation is when you listen for God as opposed to talking to Him and asking Him for things. There is a verse in the Bible that says, "Be still and know that I am God." To me, doing this is meditation. I do it before my formal prayers each day, as well as within my impromptu ones.

 

[Sideways]

I'm all over it! It's 9am & I've ticked off meditation, exercise & migraine for the day, although not in that order;)

 

[Gadgie]

I have to take my medication every day, as if I try to miss a couple times, or try to cut back on them, I "rattle" (this is a term that drug addicts use, when they desperately need a fix)

First symptom is tiredness, and constant yawning, then my hands start to shake, not long after that, I start to fidget, can't settle down, and I can't seem concentrate, all my limbs cramp up and start to shake!

It's a horrible feeling to have, sweaty and shaking, it makes me so ill, that I was t to throw up!

 

[Stickler]

I have to take my medication every day, as if I try to miss a couple times, or try to cut back on them, I "rattle" (this is a term that drug addicts use, when they need a fix)

I take all the pills! All the time! :woot: Psych meds help keep me alive.
( I suggest strongly that all people follow doctor's advice, but do get second opinions and do research if you feel it necessary.
Be an informed and politely assertive medical consumer, in other words.)

But no, meditation.
Like what the Zen Buddhists do.
I have inconsistently done it since high school, so off and on over half my life?
It helps depression and anxiety.

There is much science to back this, including documented MRI changes in the brains of participants in meditation studies...
Unfortunately the weather's playing with my Internet.

Dead Link Removed

 

[KwanYingirl]

This link will take you to a video of Tara Brach discussing the validity and benefits of meditation. She continues to discuss the deep suffering we experience and how learning to attend to the present moment, through meditation will lead to calm. I'd like to thank @Ms Spock for introducing me to Tara Brach. Her videos about radical acceptance and on attend and befriend have been life changing for me.

My therapist has been teaching me the strategies of breath, of coming back to the present, to notice without judgement at times when I am overwhelmed by fear and flooded with trauma memories, that the simple act of these practices will reduce my suffering. He encouraged me to take up yoga and reiki and I am recently working with a Shaman to learn how my spirit guides can help me in times of great suffering.

I make it part of my day to day experience to practice these skills of meditation. It doesn't mean you have to sit for an hour and stare at your third eye and wait for enlightenment. It's an active and direct agreement to live in the moment. After having watched many of Tara Brachs videos, I have come to the conclusion that Donald Trump lives in a profound and pervasive state of fear. I believe he is deeply suffering and is dragging us all down the cesspool. I expect him to drop dead of a heart attack soon.

As for me, I have a renewed faith in my quest for calm.

 

[corvidae]

walking meditation...and craft meditation: do those count? engaging body so that the mind may...wander (or not).

 

[Ronin]

... Triaging isn't meditating either right? :hilarious::)

I'll catch up later.

 

[Klo]

Trying to meditate gives me anxiety. I have no idea why.

 

[KwanYingirl]

@Klo it might be anticipatory anxiety. That happens to me too. I think if I quiet my racing thoughts, then bad memories will flood me. It's taken me a long time to stay in the present and usually I just concentrate on my breathing, which calms me down. I prefer guided meditations because I don't trust myself that I can pull it off alone.

 

[EveHarrington]

No, not yet! I'll get right on it, I promise! :)