Yesterday was my first attendance at the MCBT course - Mindful Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - run by our local Psychology. It has been tailored for those with long term neurological conditions but I am posting here as it really doesn’t matter what you suffer from - it helps you cope!
Although I have practised Mindfulness for some time - a bit like diet - it is a discipline which only helps when you stick with it and having a structure and support and ‘homework’ makes it a priority whereas it is just too easy to find something more ‘important’ to do.
Our homework this week is daily body scan & choosing one daily activity to practice Mindfulness.
I am so encouraged that mainstream Psychology is not only endorsing Mindfulness but actively researching and organising such classes.
This is a link to the course we are following for anyone who is interested. Please note that although originally designed for depression - you don’t need to be depressed for this to help!
I totally agree. I was lucky to be referred into a course by my GP few years ago - those were the days! - and found it enormously helpful in dealing with anxiety and panic attacks. I didn’t know I had AF then (LoL!). I had got out of the mindfulness habit - as you do - but now try to meditate daily (almost!) and together with deep breathing it really helps me with the anxiety that seems to arrive with the onset of a PAF episode. As you say, it is a skill to be practiced regularly and I think worth the effort especially if you’re prone to anxiety.
Good luck with your course! Can you do the whole body scan without falling asleep yet? In my class the leaders instructions were always accompanied by the sound of gentle snoring 💤 in the last few minutes!!
I’ve been practising body scans for over 20 years - but yes - I drop off within seconds if listening to someone else - but now only for a few moments.
If I do do my own internal body scan without being guided I don’t and I find that far more effective. Once you have heard it about 10,000 times you can do it from memory.
I was referred by my neurologist but the course availability is increasing, not diminishing here but it does seem that the participants are often those for whom there are no other options so a last resort rather than a first suggestion!
I have also been reminded of the Paradoxical Theory of Change - the more we focus on what is, the more we allow change to happen.
On a very slightly different tack. I am considering Human Givens .Does anyone know about it?I am going through all the background to it...how it works...and so on.It would not be for Afib but for associated problems in connection to hyperacusis.
Yes I do - highly recommend it. hgi.org.uk -is the official website where you will find resources and a list of practitioners.
Developed originally by a psychologist and a group of GPs in, I think Southampton?, it is a pragmatic, evidence based approach integrating various theories.
“change occurs when one becomes what he is, not when he tries to become what he is not. Change does not take place through a coercive attempt by the individual or by another person to change him, but it does take place if one takes the time and effort to be what he is — to be fully invested in his current positions.
I have today attended my second session of one to one CBT. I get 6 sessions through NHS and it came through in two weeks which was very quick. I have also downloaded an audio book with instruction on mindfulness although I must admit I am struggling with this as don’t seem to be very good at it as my mind wanders far too easily, any tips?
The mind likes to keep busy - everyone’s mind wanders. Notice when it wanders without judgement ‘just say to yourself - oh my mind wandered’ then focus on your breathing. A lot of people fall asleep during the body scan. There is no right or wrong way of doing.
Mindfulness is developing the skill to focus on something, stay with that focus and then shift the focus whilst staying in full awareness - it takes a lot of practice.
This is a mindful version of CBT but the difference is that the leaders do not instruct, they may lead, but the also join in the practice - because it works and if they don’t then it there would be separation. Teacher/pupil, which often happens in CBT.
I’ve been practising for over 20 years but I still find the class very useful. The biggest thing is to enter into practice with an open and enquiring mind - to see what happens. x
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