Meditation for anxiety

[sumihari]

Hi All,

As mentioned in an earlier post I had tried meditation for years which helped with anxiety. But I have stopped it for almost 4 years and I want to get back into it. I got hold of the 8 minutes meditation book which I think is excellent. My problem is that I will do it for a few days and stop , it is only 8 minutes and I don't understand why I cannot do. I almost don't want to spend the time as I don't think it would help and I am fed up of trying.

Anyone else in this forum who meditate or try to and have similar hurdles and how did they overcome them and what was stopping them from meditating, any particular fears, etc. Has anyone had any success with some simple meditation technique.

I am a very visual person and to a lesser degree auditory but not much kinesthetic so I need a technique which gives me a break that gives my imagination a break. So please respond with any success in meditation.

Thank you .

[sumihari]

Thank you all for your suggestions on meditation and other activities which help you de- stress. Sorry for the late response though but I was engrossed compiling a digital photo album for my family. This was unusual for me as I normally go on the computer to check on the medical web sites to fulfill my daily hypochondriac needs!!

As to meditation, well I have been meditating for about a week - similar to what osceola does. Even though it is early stages, I find myself looking forward to sitting in my special chair to meditate for only 10 minutes. I used to meditate daily for more than 10 minutes and had done so for around 11 years. Somehow it helped me cope with the GAD. It is interesting that since I stopped I struggled a lot more with the GAD . Could be just coincidence.

I do agree with Shaina in that I think anxiety sufferers should set aside some time daily to relax, be it art , yoga , meditation . For me meditation worked in the past , as it did slow down my chatterbox brain.

[ShainaW]

I think that 'meditation' can mean many things.  It's about finding your 'happy place,' somewhere where you feel at peace.  Meditation can be achieved through doing mundane things that you enjoy, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to sit in one place and think of grass fields.  Granted, it works for some people, but for a lot of us who think too much sitting still in silence is what can lead to anxiety attacks =P

I find doing things that I enjoy, such as art, very much akin to what meditation is supposed to be.  Art, instruments, listening to music, creative writing... anything that can involve a hoby and your hands... It puts you into a sort of 'zone' where you can just focus on the joy of what you're doing and not on the outside world and whatever upsets you.

Even if you think you 'suck' at something like art, try anyway.  No one else needs to see it anyway, and it can actually be very theraputic as well.

Just my 2 cents.

[dibren102]

I have found that using Guided Imagary very relaxing and helpful lst thing at night and first thing in the morning.   Your mind doesnt have to work as hard as when using Mindful meditation.  In particular Inner Alchemy - Connecting to the Inner Healer.  As you listen to the Cd you are guided to relaxation and to a point where you become the healer.  After all thats what dealing with anxiety is all about.  You can have a look at this site www.newmindrecords.com if you want to find out more.  I have three one on Fear, Peace and Healing, actually one will do as they are quite similar.  I am in Oz too so they are available here.  Best wishes in your wellness journey.

[osceola]

I find that mindfulness based meditation works well for me. It is kind of a cognitive-behavioral approach in that it results in you being more aware of the tapes (thoughts) that constantly come up in your head that result in anxiety. I just get in a comfortable position for me (sitting up in a chair with my hands in my lap) and focus on my breathing, in and out.  I lose attention( e.g." I have to..." I should have..." I think I'll have salad for lunch.." My back hurts...etc), but  when I realize that I've "been gone", I just note it or label the thought(s) (e.g. planning, judging,thinking, regret,anger, sadness, etc) and then focus on my breathing again. Believe me, there are times I have to "come back" again and again and again. But we are all human and that is the way our minds work. With mindfulness meditation, you are not trying to clear your mind or be blank, but be aware of the way things (you) are. That takes the pressure off for me. It is the way it is. And I become  aware of my thoughts and how they affect the way I feel.  Like greenlydia, when I feel I can't sit still, I do something with movement (simple yoga), focusing on making sure I breathe thru each movement or stretch. I find it really helps me to get in touch with my body. There are lots of kinds of meditation practices to choose from; it may just take awhile to find what works for you. Some days one kind may work and a different kind on another day.Take care.

[RubyWitch]

Hi Again Sumi...............
What's the weather like "down under" today? I live in the Pacific Northwest, Washington State to be exact. It's April and we had 5 inches of snow yesterday. I think we may have made the national news with that! I went out to pick some spinach from my garden, but couldn't find it! (The spinach, not the garden!)
Anyway, as to your questions about meditation. I'm not a very good resource for your questions about why you can't seem to stick with it. I tried it and had the same problem. I just could not get my mind to stop it's constant strain of "what if's" long enough to find any peace. I know that it can take some time to actually learn how to meditate. It takes time to get your mind to shut up. I guess I just don't have the patience. I did find something that suited my life better and that is Tai Chi. I love the gentle, graceful movements and the concentration it takes to learn the routines and then do them, quiets my mind.............takes me to a place that is not exactly silent, but serene. It is also very helpful with my arthritis as it's a very gentle form of movement. I feel less pain after a session, I can walk with almost no discomfort and for many hours my mind is in a much better place. And you can do a very quick routine and acheive almost the same results as a full session. Just a thought.
I hope others who are into meditating will respond more fully to your question.
Peace
Greenlydia