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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on April 16, 2009, at 22:45:10
I think it might help me calm down when I start escalating.
Anyone have any ideas on how to meditate?
Posted by yellowbird01 on April 17, 2009, at 7:52:17
In reply to I'm going to research meditation techniques, posted by Deneb on April 16, 2009, at 22:45:10
Deneb, I dont know much about meditation... but I wanted to suggest that if youre interested in this type of thing, you may want to do some research on "mindfulness" too. Good for calming yourself down, recognizing how you're feeling, etc. I did a DBT program for awhile that focused heavily on mindfulness and while it wasnt really my thing, it was very helpful for some people I think.
Good luck. :)
Posted by Dinah on April 17, 2009, at 8:28:07
In reply to I'm going to research meditation techniques, posted by Deneb on April 16, 2009, at 22:45:10
Meditation is great as one of many tools to ward off meltdowns.
But I've found that meds are the best way to keep from sliding further down when I'm already in meltdown.
It's Friday. The weekend will start tomorrow. Please call your pdoc while she's in her office, and tell her how things are going. There is quite possibly something she can do that will help you now. I can't imagine a pdoc that wouldn't welcome a client calling to say that they aren't doing well and would like to take responsibility to try to do something about it by asking for help.
Posted by Zana on April 17, 2009, at 12:17:11
In reply to I'm going to research meditation techniques, posted by Deneb on April 16, 2009, at 22:45:10
I mediatate daily and have done so on and off for 25 years. I don't know if it's helped me. Not like meds. But there is a very good course on CD called "Insight Meditation," by Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein. I believe it's available through www.soundstrue.com. They have a lot of mediation CDs. I think it is certainly worth a try. There is a fair amount of research showing that it decreases anxiety. "Insight meditation" is also called "mindfulness meditation" by some people tho mindfulness is a much broader term.
Hope this helpsZana
Posted by Phillipa on April 17, 2009, at 12:38:56
In reply to Re: I'm going to research meditation techniques, posted by Zana on April 17, 2009, at 12:17:11
For me meditation is something I need a leader for same for Yoga. I just can't sit still. Love Phillipa
Posted by DarkStarEtc on April 17, 2009, at 13:19:20
In reply to I'm going to research meditation techniques, posted by Deneb on April 16, 2009, at 22:45:10
Deneb-
There are many different meditation techniques... I think it's just a matter of finding the one that works for you.
I've tried lots of them over the years- and although in the beginning I thought meditation was a load of nonsense, after a while I came to see that it is probably the greatest path to self-healing that there is. It's just a matter of sticking with it, and giving it time to work; it won't happen immediately, but it can have amazing benefits.Ok- one really basic relaxation meditation.
Choose a time and place where you won't be interrupted for about 15 minutes. Light a candle if you want, (and I find incense helps to relax me, too). Then sit quietly, hands relaxed, eyes closed.
Breathe deepely and gently.
Visualise yourself in a garden, or someplace in 'reality' that you feel comfortable in. All you have to do is sit there, breathing and letting the peace of the imagery flow through you.
Any time your thoughts start to wander off, just kindly say to yourself, "I will think about that later- just now I am thinking about this garden."I try to think of my thoughts being like a puppy- wanting to scamper about... you wouldn't be cross with an innocent puppy, so be just as patient with your thoughts when they want to run about!
Essentially, that's all there is to it... meditation can be as in-depth as you need it to be; when you are starting to learn, it's really important that you go easy on yourself.
If you are interested, there are two books I really do recommend... the first is "Teach Yourself to Meditate" by Eric Harrison, (you can get it second-hand at Amazon for $.80!! but it is a brilliant guide for learning how.)
The second is "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle- he is an expert on teaching how to go about finding inner peace.
I have to admit, I'm not all that good at applying what he says to my own life, but I am working on it! !DarkStar Etc.
Posted by Nadezda on April 17, 2009, at 16:30:08
In reply to Re: I'm going to research meditation techniques » Deneb, posted by DarkStarEtc on April 17, 2009, at 13:19:20
One thought: choosing a time like 15 minutes or any other set time, other than maybe a few minutes, or even 5 minutes, for a beginner, could be a bit intimidating.
I've read, too, that even taking a few deep, relaxing breaths can make a difference, if you do it several times a day.
I don't think it's a complete solution to emotional distress--as opposed to meds-- but it helps me a lot, in combination with meds.
There's also a technique called mindfulness that's related to meditaton, where you focus on sensations, even the sensation of your hand on the arm of a chair--or look at an object, or several objects in sequence--and breathe deeply. Sometimes having a focus is easier than closing your eyes.
You can search for guided meditations on utube-- often they tell you how to meditate as you begin the meditation.
Nadezda
Posted by Deneb on April 17, 2009, at 19:04:45
In reply to Re: I'm going to research meditation techniques » Deneb, posted by yellowbird01 on April 17, 2009, at 7:52:17
I am not really into meditation, at least not yet. I just thought it might help me calm down when I need to.
I will look into mindfulness. Thanks for the suggestion.
Posted by Deneb on April 17, 2009, at 19:08:01
In reply to Re: I'm going to research meditation techniques, posted by Dinah on April 17, 2009, at 8:28:07
I will be OK Dinah. My pdoc doesn't work on Fridays. She works 4 days a week.
I don't see how there can be anything done meds wise for me. She already increased my Risperdal to 1 mg and I am taking a lot of SSRI.
I felt bad last night, and this morning, but I am good now. I am planning for SF, fun things.
Posted by Deneb on April 17, 2009, at 19:10:14
In reply to Re: I'm going to research meditation techniques, posted by Zana on April 17, 2009, at 12:17:11
Thanks Zana.
I think I will look into meditation/mindfulness/self hypnosis. I think they are probably all good for calming down.
A CD to guide me would be very useful.
Posted by Deneb on April 17, 2009, at 19:12:59
In reply to Re: I'm going to research meditation techniques » Deneb, posted by DarkStarEtc on April 17, 2009, at 13:19:20
Wow, thanks DarkStarEtc!
I will try that. How often do you meditate?
Posted by Deneb on April 17, 2009, at 19:16:43
In reply to Re: I'm going to research meditation techniques, posted by Nadezda on April 17, 2009, at 16:30:08
Thanks Nadezda.
I think 5 mins would be good.
I actually have Marsha Linehan's DBT workbook. I can read through it again and maybe try mindfulness again.
Posted by DarkStarEtc on April 22, 2009, at 21:39:08
In reply to Re: I'm going to research meditation techniques » DarkStarEtc, posted by Deneb on April 17, 2009, at 19:12:59
I don't meditate as often as I should, really- it's a bit like going to the gym or doing anything beneficial... why do we avoid doing the things that are good for us ? ? I don't know; sometimes I feel like I avoid meditation because it really does require me to look deeply within myself for it to really work.
...and that's scary stuff.
It can be the very best, and yet at the same time the most VERY unpleasant kind of medicine-
it makes me see that I have to take control of my life from this point onwards- but at the same time I also have to confront what brought me to this point in the first place.
I have to say that for me, meditation has done all the things that my therapist should have done, (but didn't).
Posted by desolationrower on April 24, 2009, at 21:34:52
In reply to Re: I'm going to research meditation techniques, posted by Zana on April 17, 2009, at 12:17:11
i like 'beginngers mind, zen mind'. i think its wierd not to use buddhist writings on meditation; noone in the west has done it for 500yrs, though if you can read latin theres probably some good stuff somewhere
-d/r
Posted by chumbawumba on May 8, 2009, at 15:48:31
In reply to Re: I'm going to research meditation techniques, posted by desolationrower on April 24, 2009, at 21:34:52
When I was taught Zen meditation years ago it was described to me this way. If thinking is like traffic on the freeway, meditation is just sitting under the freeway. Neither trying to stop traffic, nor hitching a ride.
Just sitting with no deliberate though in essence.
That's the Soto Zen school anyway. The Rinzai Zen process is different I think.
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