Mindfulness and meditation

[SR2727]

Hi everyone, I've been MIA but life just got in the way of things. I've found myself still in an episode of obsessive thoughts and I'm getting frustrated with the slow progression I've made. Some moments I feel kinda okay then the next it's like I'm back to square one :(. I also can't afford therapy at the moment because of certain circumstances so I'm doing everything on my own which is adding some stress to the situation. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to talk about their experience with mindfulness and/or meditation? I feel like I'm not really getting the hang of it but I know there's people out there who've found it to be really helpful

[Beevee]

Hi. I think mindfulness is very similar to acceptance which is the cornerstone to recovering from anxiety and all symptoms, including obsessive thoughts. Acceptance means observing those obsessive thoughts instead of engaging with, letting them have their say [they will anyway and futile to try and stop them]and then letting them go.

As with most things in life, anxiety thrives if you feed it [engaging with those thoughts] and dies if you starve it [acknowleging and observing].

Best wishes ❤️

[SR2727 in reply to Beevee]

Hi Beevee! I see what you're saying, I guess what I've maybe been doing wrong is trying to push the thoughts out of my mind without observing them first? I listened to a podcast recently and it was said that in order to overcome the obsessive thought you have to actually sit in it and feel the uncomfortable sensation because that's the only way you can work through it. So I suppose what I should try is feel the emotions of the obsessive thoughts during the anxious episode but "observe it", like you said, rather than dismiss it or force it to pass too quickly

[Beevee in reply to SR2727]

Yep, you've got it. 👍🏼

It is very difficult to get rid of an emotion if a person is not prepared to feel it.

Negative thoughts are just another symptom of anxiety. An intrusive thought becomes obsessive because the content resonates with the person [anxiety magnifies minor issues making them seem like insurmountable problems] who then dwells upon it, adding more worry and stress to the equation and giving it far too much attention and respect, which keeps the thought coming.

Before long, the sufferer is exhausted by the constant struggle and the brain loses its elasticity so that the sufferer cannot think around the problem, only the problem itself. I've been there.

I viewed the obsessive thoughts as just another way of anxiety being released and an important aspect of recovery. The more a sufferer allows the release of that negative energy without resistance, the more they recover. It does take time but recovery will come to you.

[lauralidia]

I have been meditating for a while.This is my little very practical tutorial if you want to give it a try.Imagine now that your brain/mind is exactly like all the other organs in your body,designed to do a job.Heart beats,lungs breath,kidneys make pee.Mind makes thoughts.You wouldn’t get mad at your kidneys for making pee,so is pointless to get mad at your mind for making thoughts.With that being said try to just sit comfortably for a couple of minutes and notice your breathing.Thoughts will come and some of them are sticky/obsessive.Is like a conveyor belt,never stops.You will look at them and let them go.Again and again.Good luck😁

[SR2727 in reply to lauralidia]

This is such an interesting concept! I really like that, I think I could try incorporating this 🤔

[lauralidia in reply to SR2727]

Wishing you best of luck😁