Are other finding Mindfulness is working?

[LittleMissMuffet]

...because it seems to be working for me.

I still largely avoid going outside of my house (which I have done since I lost my job last year and had a really harrowing experience with anxiety there). ...but I am getting braver.

I feel less shame about being anxious. I can step-putside of my feelings enough, so that even appearing or getting anxious and how others may react to this is having little effect on me.

And I seem to be able to get away with using Mindfulness in the moment, when I am anxious and self-conscious, and my anxiety starts to slip away. I get on top of it rather than the other way round.

And most of all, my state of mind and overall peace of mind is much better.

I now want to spend less time going into what could cure anxiety and how such things could work etc -and go out into the world, doing more and relying on Mindfulness with also Mindfulness meditation (and the treatment plan given at www.mindfulrecovery.com).

And I am greatful that I've found something that does give me peace of mind and even does so right in the moment that I use it.

Ok. So I was just wondering if anyone else is finding Mindfulness (and/or Mindfulness Meditation) to be helping them?
I'm even confident enough to give-up looking for any other methods, for the most part, and any other information; and just rely on this method. I have the gut feeling that if I commit my self to practising it, that it could cure me.

And I want to get on with my life. I am 29 years old (turned it on Good Friday actually) and I've been stuck in something of a living nightmare for 2 years (and about 10 years altogether have been a bad dream).
I want to wake-up and be a part of the outside world. And I'm putting all my effort into Mindfulness for waking me up from this social coma.

Well, that's all. Wish me luck!
Little Miss Muffet

 

[sabbath92001]

Happy Birthday Little Miss Muffet,

Mindfulness is helping me too. I've accepted that I have weird thoughts and feelings sometimes. And I'm willing to have whatever to live the life I want. I don't really meditate yet but I'm sure it will help too. The new book I'm reading "The Worry Trap" talks about mindful walking. This will be the next step in my healing process.

Congrats and Good Luck Little Miss Muffet!

 

[Shonen_Yo]

When I was actively in Buddhist meditation, I did feel better for short periods of time. I guess I was just realizing my own exsistence, but after a while it would go away.

 

[LittleMissMuffet]

Hi Sabbath and ShonenYo,

Sabbath...
I am so glad that you are being helped like I am from using Mindfulness!
It is encouraging. And it is likely, that like me, you find this technique to work right in the moment that it is used. -The fact that it sucks out some anxiety right when I use it is what makes me have faith in it and want to commit my self to it.

That book sounds like an excellent next step. I'm also reading books to learn how to be calm -mainly these are meditation books and books on Buddhism.

The thing with having 'weired' thoughts -it is almost like they are only 'weired' when they are too strong for a person to handle and put in perspective. And I think that because Minfulness brings calm -that Impartial Observer aspect that gets a person out from being stuck in their strong feelings- that 'weired' thoughts are less 'weired'. And this may very well be why recently I seem to naturally have less shame about my social anxiety. ....my emotions are not so swift and intense, and I am not swamped and overwhelmed as much by them and now they don't seem so horrible.

Thanks for cheering me on! -I will do the same for you!! Good on you!! Step-by-step we can make it through. :!: -And you are wise to choose any therapy that has a focus of "Acceptance" (someone pointed this point out to me before) because it totally takes out judgements. This means that we keep going because we are aiming for something that we cannot but reach -Mindfulness thinking means that we succeed already when we only practise Mindfulness. There is no such thing as 'failure' because just attempting Mindfulness is to succeed from a Mindful perspective. -That is why it is such a wonderful attitude to take: one that has no aspect of judgement and prospect of loss.


ShonenYo,

Are you familiar with using Mindfulness in the moment of an anxiety attack...? Have you tried this in the moment that you feel anxiety coming upon you and in a social situation that has you reacting anxiously...?

You stated that meditation brought you temporary relief.
...Yet I am confused, because you see, if adopting this approach and way of thinking -a mindful approach - has worked for you in the moment that you have applied it -then why not apply it for every time that you feel anxious....?

It needs to be said that I use Mindfulness in the very moment that I feel anxiety. ...perhaps you misinterpreted what I meant by 'mindfulness' and thought that I was simply meditating and nothing more.

Perhaps, therefore, you need to practise Mindfulness in ordinary life and not only whilst meditating in private.

However, if then there are still obstacles to this technique working for you -I can recommend that you check-out this site: www.mindfulrecovery.com
Look under the section "Treatment" and take a quick read through (if you don't have much time). It is fairly short and easy to read. You can see how the creator of this site, a recovered Social Phobic, has applied Mindfulness and Mindfulness meditation to anxiety disorders.

He uses meditation that is not just Mindfulness, but a combination of some other kinds of meditation (I am not sure whether the appropriate term is Creative meditation or Insight meditation?...but-) he essentially gets a person to 're-live' anxious situations and then gets them to alternate to Mindfulness as a means of assimilating their emotions. He also gives us a list of thoughts or attitudes that we use as 'maladaptive coping methods' and gets us to meditate on how we respond to perceived stress so that we gain a conscious awareness of just how we react to this and -perhaps more importantly- so that we are more aware of ourselves reacting how we do when we do. Then we are more conscious of our 'negative' reactions -our 'maladaptive coping methods' -and this boosts are ability to step away from disordered anxiety. ...In fact, I gather that having conscious awareness is the whole aim of Mindfulness (and indeed any truly healthy state) and that part of being consciously aware is being able to recognise -in the moment- our negative reactions. When we can see ourselves reacting in accordance with old unwanted patterns this is when we are actually able to 'correct' such mistakes. -That is, we can only change and 'correct' a mistake when we are fully aware and accepting of it as being there. -Otherwise, without a 'wrong' thought being present in our awareness we are unable to CHOOSE our thoughts and this renders us powerless over our emotions. (We need an alternative other than 'right' thoughts.) ...I understand that 'wrong' by definition is something that we cannot be conscious of; and so, Mindfulness changes our perception by accepting what we cannot accept -ie: whatever we label as 'bad', 'wrong' or 'painful' -and in doing so, it allows us choice over our emotions and therefore, control.

So, if I may, I would like to recommend this site to you. I think that it would be good if you at least skimmed through it -the 'Treatment' part mainly because this is the most important part and is fairly short. Then you could try these things out for yourself.
I think that some CBT is also a part of this site -by way of replacement of unhelpful attitudes with helpful ones.
And the creator got over Social Anxiety, so that is certainly encouraging.

 

[niknik]

Hi, try reading "Wherever You Go There You Are" by Jon Kabat Zinn. Takes you on a step by step guide through the process of mindfulness. I would recommend it for anyone, no matter what point they are at in their life. The steps are small and you can stay at one point for as long as is comfortable for you before you move on to the next. Good Luck.

 

[LittleMissMuffet]

Thanks niknik.
I'm definetly going to make a note of that book you recommended. I've got about 4 books I'm going through (sometimes all at once) on meditation. but they are fairly general introductory ones. And I defintely appreciate being recommended a book that is specifically about Mindfulness.
...so such a thing is helping you then, I gather? -I am glad. And I definetly am deriving a positive benefit from both meditating and just using Mindfulness when I get distressed in situations. -I feel that it is like a way of giving me something to focus on when my senses get overwhelmed and too much gets in my poor emotional filtering system.

I like the Buddhist prinicple of focussing on 'no thing' and attaining 'no mind' ....this, to me, sounds like a great way to alleviate anxiety and the grasping for security and attachment to some-thing that I believe tends to characterise it.

 

[Shonen_Yo]

Hi Sabbath and ShonenYo,

Sabbath...
I am so glad that you are being helped like I am from using Mindfulness!
It is encouraging. And it is likely, that like me, you find this technique to work right in the moment that it is used. -The fact that it sucks out some anxiety right when I use it is what makes me have faith in it and want to commit my self to it.

That book sounds like an excellent next step. I'm also reading books to learn how to be calm -mainly these are meditation books and books on Buddhism.

The thing with having 'weired' thoughts -it is almost like they are only 'weired' when they are too strong for a person to handle and put in perspective. And I think that because Minfulness brings calm -that Impartial Observer aspect that gets a person out from being stuck in their strong feelings- that 'weired' thoughts are less 'weired'. And this may very well be why recently I seem to naturally have less shame about my social anxiety. ....my emotions are not so swift and intense, and I am not swamped and overwhelmed as much by them and now they don't seem so horrible.

Thanks for cheering me on! -I will do the same for you!! Good on you!! Step-by-step we can make it through. :!: -And you are wise to choose any therapy that has a focus of "Acceptance" (someone pointed this point out to me before) because it totally takes out judgements. This means that we keep going because we are aiming for something that we cannot but reach -Mindfulness thinking means that we succeed already when we only practise Mindfulness. There is no such thing as 'failure' because just attempting Mindfulness is to succeed from a Mindful perspective. -That is why it is such a wonderful attitude to take: one that has no aspect of judgement and prospect of loss.


ShonenYo,

Are you familiar with using Mindfulness in the moment of an anxiety attack...? Have you tried this in the moment that you feel anxiety coming upon you and in a social situation that has you reacting anxiously...?

You stated that meditation brought you temporary relief.
...Yet I am confused, because you see, if adopting this approach and way of thinking -a mindful approach - has worked for you in the moment that you have applied it -then why not apply it for every time that you feel anxious....?

It needs to be said that I use Mindfulness in the very moment that I feel anxiety. ...perhaps you misinterpreted what I meant by 'mindfulness' and thought that I was simply meditating and nothing more.

Perhaps, therefore, you need to practise Mindfulness in ordinary life and not only whilst meditating in private.

However, if then there are still obstacles to this technique working for you -I can recommend that you check-out this site: www.mindfulrecovery.com
Look under the section "Treatment" and take a quick read through (if you don't have much time). It is fairly short and easy to read. You can see how the creator of this site, a recovered Social Phobic, has applied Mindfulness and Mindfulness meditation to anxiety disorders.

He uses meditation that is not just Mindfulness, but a combination of some other kinds of meditation (I am not sure whether the appropriate term is Creative meditation or Insight meditation?...but-) he essentially gets a person to 're-live' anxious situations and then gets them to alternate to Mindfulness as a means of assimilating their emotions. He also gives us a list of thoughts or attitudes that we use as 'maladaptive coping methods' and gets us to meditate on how we respond to perceived stress so that we gain a conscious awareness of just how we react to this and -perhaps more importantly- so that we are more aware of ourselves reacting how we do when we do. Then we are more conscious of our 'negative' reactions -our 'maladaptive coping methods' -and this boosts are ability to step away from disordered anxiety. ...In fact, I gather that having conscious awareness is the whole aim of Mindfulness (and indeed any truly healthy state) and that part of being consciously aware is being able to recognise -in the moment- our negative reactions. When we can see ourselves reacting in accordance with old unwanted patterns this is when we are actually able to 'correct' such mistakes. -That is, we can only change and 'correct' a mistake when we are fully aware and accepting of it as being there. -Otherwise, without a 'wrong' thought being present in our awareness we are unable to CHOOSE our thoughts and this renders us powerless over our emotions. (We need an alternative other than 'right' thoughts.) ...I understand that 'wrong' by definition is something that we cannot be conscious of; and so, Mindfulness changes our perception by accepting what we cannot accept -ie: whatever we label as 'bad', 'wrong' or 'painful' -and in doing so, it allows us choice over our emotions and therefore, control.

So, if I may, I would like to recommend this site to you. I think that it would be good if you at least skimmed through it -the 'Treatment' part mainly because this is the most important part and is fairly short. Then you could try these things out for yourself.
I think that some CBT is also a part of this site -by way of replacement of unhelpful attitudes with helpful ones.
And the creator got over Social Anxiety, so that is certainly encouraging.

I wasn't aware it could be applied on a moment basis. But it takes a while before it has an affect and my mind is racing too much to practise mindfulness during a panic attack.

 

[LittleMissMuffet]

Hi Shonen-yo,

I don't know for sure what the answers are. But I can form some ideas as to how Mindfulness works to change our perception...

Before I mentioned Cesar Bujosa's website and how one step of his therapy involves the person practising awareness of 'maladaptive coping methods', that is, of modes of coping or of reactive ways which we use to deal with our panic and fear. Finding this part of his therapy has seemed very important to me, and my guess as to why this struck me as important is because I think that it is a really crucial part of recovering.

My thoughts are that, the way we have dealt with our anxious feelings is to try to stop them. This approach is a deepseated one. It is our reaction to the painful emotions that we expereince and similarly it is how we judge with our mind what is what.

Now, I think that Mindfulness takes a completely different approach that is totally removed from judgement of our emotions and from perceiving them as 'wrong'. And, what I know of our minds is that whatever is painful registers as 'evil' and we resist being aware of it -we do not consciously acknowledge that it exist because 'pain' and 'evil' are negative things which our mind just cannot accept.

But if there was a way in which to accept these negative aspects of ourselves, then we would change their status from negative into positive. We don't accept them because they are negative, so the only way out is to accept them. ....And mindfulness is a safe way of doing so.

So, what I have said here is fairly basic, I know.... But my point is that if we can notice our negative emotions - if we notice that we are anxious and our mind is racing -already this means that you are recovering.
In fact, this is the essential step that means you are making it.
Without this step, we would not be accepting the so-called 'unacceptable' parts of ourself. If your mind is racing with anxious thoughts and you notice it, you are already curing yourself.

The different perception being adopted here is one of seeing that we make mistakes, or the fact that we make mistakes and have anxiety problems means that we have started to no-longer have mistakes and have anxiety problems. ...theoretically, you are already cured as soon as you have awareness of your 'mistakes'.
This is why in spirituality, 'evil' is associated with darkness. 'Good' is associated with Light. And, what is brought to light -what is made consciously aware and acknowledged as existing- is made 'good'.
Mindfulness gives a way (or perhaps 'the way'?) to develop this higher conscious awareness. It allows us to step-out of our discriminating and judging mind and its reactive and unthinkingly repetitive way of perceiving situations.

Well, I wish that I knew more and understood just what the situation is so that I could explain exactly what was happening with you. I'm not that clever unfortunately.

One thing that I have read about is that at first when we practise Mindfulness we are made aware of how turbulent our minds are and how out of control. And then I read that this step is absolutely crucial for recovery. -unless the practitioner of mindfulness becomes aware of how out of control their mind is, they cannot attain control.

Perhaps Jesus said it best: "Whoever humbles himself the most and becomes like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven"
-noticing your mistakes is realising perfection.

 

[Shonen_Yo]

Very wise words, Ms. Muffin!

I'm aware that realizing my fear and anxiety is a good thing and my reaction to such anxiety provoking stimuli is improving. I studied mindfulness by myself for, maybe, three to four years under the Theravada tradition. It's not an easy thing to do: to overcome the self and I have never reached that level.

I accept panic attacks and observe it as being part of myself and not something that I should be fighting, but rather something I should answer. "Are my reactions correct?", "Is just inherent to my personality". My current stance is that I'm a very conscious person, so it is inherently me; it's like having to think about every breath you inhale and exhale. This is how I approach every situation, it gives me an advantage in some, but an extreme disadvantage in others. It makes me a very cautious person. This is why I always wanted to shed light onto my darkness rather than look into my light, if you prefer :wink: I try to look onto both nowadays, because without darkness, light would ever exist.

 

[M1tCh]

I've also found Mindfulness to be beneficial.

Recently, while on my daily walk around the neighborhood, i've made it a habit to observe my footsteps; to become aware of and put focus on them. The result of this practice relaxes my senses...With each step it's like walking into a greater awareness of ones surroundings and out or around from the darkness of badgering thoughts.

I recommend Mindfulness to everyone.

 

[flake__]

I think my therapy involves alot of 'mindfulness'.

It makes alot of use of the observer point of view.

It also looks alot at success/failure boxes but in a specific way.

My most recent task is to lean forward as if about to fall over several times a day. I laughed at this because the other steps have been more direct ie dealing head on with SP thoughts. But he explained it and now i understand. It's about mastering attention, perception, and tension. I've been given alot of details to do but leaning forward and feeling like you're about to fall is one big metaphor for me in an SP situation, basically.


I dunno how i will get on with this but i will try it, i recommend mindfulness techniques.