General Some Advice On Relaxing The Mind?

[Jenr]

Good morning I am after some ideas on how to relax the brain even if its only for a few minutes a day? I wake up early morning and thats it the brain does not stop thoughts are going everywhere? I would love to be able to just think of nothing I wonder if that will ever happen.
I spoke to the doc he has put me on anti depressents as things get me down I find that they are helping a little.

 

[Nicolette]

Exercise, yoga, meditation.

 

[ISupportHer]

Probably everyone is different but I use audio books to kind of divert my thoughts. Use my iPod even when driving and use a mystery or a comedy podcast to try to divert my thoughts and worries.

I usually listen to rock music but when I feel real tense, switch to a lighter genre.

I have less sleep issues these days but I had started using a specific guided imagery CD "Restful Sleep" and by now it is kind of like Pavlov's dogs for me. Kind of a conditioned response. I made sure I had it on my iPod when I had surgery a month ago and I swear it helped me that first night. Helped me relax through the pain. OK, I give credit to Percocet too, LOL. The CD did NOT help when I first used it a year ago, it was the repeated use that got me to the point that it helps.

I would suggest things like aromatherapy. Again, something that did not work for me at first. Amethist has done several entries on her blog that are excellent information.

ISH

 

[cat]

i have used the following fairly successfully but they do have to be repeated regularly to help.

Meditation - especially when in a group or to get e back to sleep during the night
Medication - seems to have helped to turn off my internal 'chatterbox'
Focusing therapy - a way of acknowledging your worries without trying to deal with them all at once, developed by Eugene Glendlin she has written many books on the subject or goggle it for information
Spa visits - very relaxing, I try to leave my worries at the door, its also a place where I can clear enough space to be able to write about my feelings
Body scanning- start at your toes & really concentrate on how they feel, noticing any pain, tight muscles etc. I usually find that by the time I get to my head I'm ready for a nap & when I wake I have fewer worries.
If you're happy to go for it my psych recommends massage, at present I'm having reflexology & very light indian head massage.

Cat

 

[Michel]

I have had huge "relax the brain" problems for years. Last night, I woke up around 2 a.m. (sleep is one of my problems) and wrote in my journal. I wrote about how frustrated I feel when other people tell me how I should feel about the traumatic events in my life, how I should react to them, how I should change myself so that I become stronger than I was when they occurred (like it's my fault I was unable psychologically to manage extreme, chronic abuse!). I am, after all, the one who has survived 15 years of it. I wrote that I thought this makes me pretty amazing. Then I put on some music and took a hot bath with sesame oil and took half a xanax. This morning my mind is relatively quiet.

So I suggest you sit down and write down how amazing you are.

 

[Jenr]

Thank you for your replies. Gee Michel I think it would take me a bit to feel like I am amazing?
I know we are here doing our caring but sometimes I just dont care?:(

 

[amethist]

Hi jenr

Meditation with Aromatherapy is a good way to start, though it does take time and practise. Lavender seems to be the best one to start with or maybe Rose, as they both have a calming scent. There are others, just be careful you don't pick a stimulating one if you decide to use Aromatherapy.

If you are new to this then it will be best if you just try it for a few minutes to start with, building up to 20 minutes. There are a lot of different techniques you can use, but it is best to try different ones until which way suits you best. I find the best way is to have soothing music playing quietly in the background, no words to it just music. American Native Indian music can be really relaxing though some would say it is too intense to start out with, but it is very rhythmic which makes it easier to relax into. There are a of Cd's on the market, but choose one that is specific for meditation or you could end up with something that stimulates your mind too much, I made that mistake once myself LOL.

If you have some time alone, maybe just 1/2 an hour a day where you will have no interruptions from anything. Unplug the phone and lock the door, then try it out, and keep trying it you will manage to find some peace but like I said it does take time and practise.

As for NOT caring sometimes, I think we all go through that and just want to run away from all this entails. We keep going and doing things like this is a big help to us as carers and our sufferers. Sometimes we have to put our selves first, so we CAN keep caring for them, not that we always manage it, but we should.

I hope this helps you a bit more.

Amethist