Van Der Kolk On Mindfulness And Why It May Cause Dissociation

[Gs172003]

@shimmerz - Thanks for the link. That was fascinating.

I have been able to do some...

My counselor told me not to meditate. What she did say to do was progressive muscle relaxation and deep breathing. But absolutely no meditation

 

[seedling]

@missy meier My first therapist gave me a progressive muscle relaxation exercise when I was at my worst. And he was adamant that it was not a meditation.
I liked it and it helped lower my stress levels.

In time I started using it as a kind of meditation without trying to. I'm still not sure what I was doing with it but it got me in to an internal world where I could work on my traumatic emotions.

Do you like it?

 

[Sandstone]

I was so grateful for this thread last night, so thankyou again @shimmerz for starting it. In the Qui Gong part of Tai Chi class, the instructor described a meditative exercise we would add in, about visualising streams of water running down our body ( UK is experiencing a heatwave ). I was able recognise my immediate fear, know why it would be bad for me and remove myself from the hall calmly, instead of feeling I had to push through and then panicking. Just listening to the description I could feel my eyes widening into frightened staring O's. Doing the exercise would have been harmful.

I think the whole of Tai Chi is going to be beneficial, so long as I can stick with it. I worked yesterday on being mindful of my body as I moved; it and I are so often wholly detached from each other.

I'm interested that progressive relaxation has been good for @missy meier and @seedling . My first T, who was generally spot on about what he said, was very firm that I must not use it. He never explained why, but my feeling is that it would have left my mind open to pick up things from my body that I would rather not know. I've devised am alternative for myself, that involves describing in detail what sensations each part of my body is feeling right now. It is often a surprise to find an area that is experiencing physical pain that I had not noticed.

 

[Gs172003]

I haven't tried it yet

 

[Gs172003]

Deep breathing and nor fighting it has been the best SO FAR. But I'm also an avoider so I'm constantly busy until I crash.