Practicing Mindfulness Could Cause Problems For Ptsd Sufferers

[Teasel]

I've come across articles like the one you posted before @Queen Boudica and personally am very glad I did. As I have extreme difficulty with for eg being aware of my body or breathing.

I've often found that people who love mindfulness totally reject any information whatsoever which has anything critical to say about it in any way at all. Even if it's information intended to help sufferes of ptsd...

Lucky them hey x

 

[Friday]

Moderation in all things, neh? There is a balance point for each person, and that point of balance will be different with each.

I'm ADHD... Which means that generally, mindfulness as taught, is a very bad thing for me. I'm hyperaware of nearly all things at all times. My balance point here is the opposite from most people, I need to be selectively aware, to filter out the chaos of awareness into clarity of action or purpose... Not to be more aware.

I'm PTSD... Which means: that I lose my awareness of all things present; past and present become a blur to me. Or I become hypervigilant, and lose meaning & discretion in all things present, because there is no past & no future, only the now, and the now is distorted. When this happens? And it's not an emergency, where the moment is all? I have to reach. To find meaning. Now is not forever. Priorities need to shift. Or I disassociate, lose all touch with past, present, future. There are 3 balance points here.

There are other balance points, but those 4? Are a good enough place to see the vastly different, often polar opposite, needs depending on which is engaged.

If I apply the wrong torque? It's going to f*ck things up. Make them worse. To find my balance, I need to move towards the middle.

 

[ms spock]

Self Compassion and Mindfulness are interconnected and backdraft is an interesting concept to understand why it is so hard, and so dangerous at times for people to begin Mindfulness.

Most clinicians have witnessed how difficult memories resurface when a client feels truly seen, heard, and loved in therapy. A metaphor for this process is “backdraft.” Backdraft occurs when a firefighter opens a door with a hot fire behind it. Oxygen rushes in, causing a burst of flame. Similarly, when the door of the heart is opened with compassion, intense pain can sometimes be released. Unconditional love reveals the conditions under which we were unloved in the past (see earlier example of Sarah). Therefore, some clients, especially those with a history of childhood abuse or neglect, are fearful of compassion (Gilbert et al., 2011).

 

[Chava]

See mindfulness is being presented as this easy to do thing to bring you peace. It isn't. Not to me. It costs lots of money to do any of this to find people who know what they are doing, and then you struggle to even get anywhere.

There are many free meditation centers that also offer beginner instruction. If you talk to the leader/priest you might get some compassionate alternatives. I've honestly never spent a dime on meditation. There is much you can research as well, and test out practices that might feel okay. For me it was about getting grounded in my body...but no, I did not expect that to bring me instant peace. Not likely. I just needed to find a way to do it. So even following a youtube yoga video or qigong. Yin yoga or viniyoga is often a little slower, not so focused on strength and "exercise". I like mantras, but know that's pretty personal. Some people do okay with loving kindness meditation. Or like I said earlier, just coloring. It's a process. Sitting down and meditating isn't supposed to be easy for anyone...why mindfulness of all kinds is usually called a "practice."

 

[ms spock]

I don't know all of this, mindfulness, therapy, trying to navigate this nightmare just think it is hopeless for me. Just made me realise I am so far from anything stable. I do feel like it sets you up for feeling like a failure. What should be, how it should be, how to do it right. See mindfulness is being presented as this easy to do thing to bring you peace. It isn't. Not to me. It costs lots of money to do any of this to find people who know what they are doing, and then you struggle to even get anywhere.

Perhaps listen to the audiobook of "The Mindful Way Through Depression" not for the Mindfulness aspect of it but for the ways in which it breaks down Depression and depressive thinking. And for the ways in which it goes through being gentle with yourself when depressed. It also recommends NOT to start Mindfulness when depressed.

You are not out of trauma, and you and your children are not safe. So you are not a candidate for Mindfulness anyway - from any nuanced knowledgeable teacher. Two psychiatrists have said you have situational depression. You have done everything possible. Now there needs to be a Royal Commission into the Australian Family Court which corrects unsupervised access to men who do domestic violence, sexual abuse and have the potential to kill their children. Until your children are safe there is no point to you doing Mindfulness.

There is a point to doing forms of Self Compassion and lots of distraction.

 

[void]

Please re-read what I have said. I was quite detailed when I explained how closing your eyes, a t...

Mindfulness does not require having ones eyes closed.
Mindfulness can be practiced during every activity other than sleep.
One can practice mindfulness when walking, chopping veggies, mowing the lawn, watching a duck swim on a pond, there is no limit to the number of situations where the technique can be practiced.

I have found closing my eyes difficult as well. One need not do so.
Be well.:happy:

 

[Tinyflame]

@void I think mindfulness has to be adapted to the individual, not disagreeing just saying if one's wiring is different or what-have-you it's difficult to explain to someone without that reality, let alone different experiences, history etc.

Somewhat analagous, they tell everyone to "eat Garlic, it's good for you". Well, not if you're Diabetic, or allergic. Etc. In my case, for unknown reasons it always- & I mean always without exception- gives me night terrors, Idk why.

There is so much unknown. I agree if something is making you feel horrendous maybe another way or a different way or a different time is better..?

 

[KwanYingirl]

Consider the Zen garden. Designed as a place to practice letting go of suffering. A place to put ones focus on a very primal, simple act. Such as moving a pebble. It simply gives the brain a vacation from the usual racing thoughts that can plague the soul.

It took me a very long time to be able to grasp the concept of grounding. I lived for forty years dissociated. I was a wreck. There is nothing I have read in this thread that I cannot identify with. I have been where everyone else has. I just want to assure you that things can get better. Tiny increments of time, moments of peace and clarity, feeling connected to something-anything that is not self destructive. I am only sharing my experience and hope. I am not judging anyone.

 

[Tinyflame]

Tiny increments of time, moments of peace and clarity, feeling connected to something-anything that is not self destructive.

Yes. So very hugely critically necessary. :tup: :notworthy: :hug:

 

[Kailani]

I find peace in the lapping sound of water against a boat or waves or nature sounds, looking at the leaves of a tree moving in the breeze.... Prayer helps me not be so focused on my incapable self and find strength and help from another source. I don't like to be self focused it freaks me out!! I would not choose myself as a roommate haha!!!! Maybe too many head injuries haha

 

[Queen Boudica]

I did speak to my psychologist today about mindfulness. He says he doesn't recommend me doing it and he knows a lot about mindfulness. Described it really well, something like the thoughts come through and you just release them out again, but he was well aware I can't do that and said it can cause problems with people with PTSD and complex trauma. He did say it is becoming the panacea for treatment but it should be used as a tool with other therapies, not just on its own. Said something like the CBT therapists are now owning it like they invented it but it has been used for centuries.

Told me what I already knew because he said it before that if you try to ignore something then you automatically start to think about it. Also gave an interesting example. If you distract by doing something like going to the movies because you are trying to ignore it, then it comes through you can start associating going to the movies with those thoughts. And every time you go to the movies you get those thoughts. Might explain a few things with me.

I'm not going there. I have enough without bringing on more problems. Yes @Ms Spock I am still in that environment not free of it, so everything is still shackled. (oops not supposed to think of it like that, there go those intrusive thoughts)

 

[Tinyflame]

Yes me too @Queen Boudica , I feel the same. Idk I was just told yes it isn't always the best way to go. And I've been having problems with those cross-associations too. Thank you for explaining it.

But, you know what, too? Being 'in it' @Queen Boudica would be all the more reason to seek out whatever brings you stability & peace or help or relief. :hug:

@Kailani , that's sweet. I feel the same. But I disagree I think you'd be a good room-mate. :) :hug: