Meditation

[formidible]

Does anyone do meditation to help with anxiety? I am thinking of going to a taster session next week at my local Buddhist centre. This will obviously be based on Buddhist techniques. Has anyone else done this? I am a bit nervous of going on my own but think I should at least try.

[london-man]

Hi mate, I used to practice meditation quite a lot, lately ive had severe anxiety and a bit of zen meditation does help.

[bonnie1959 in reply to london-man]

LM what is zen, I have that on the Wii computer games, is that what you mean, its where you sit as still as you can and upright ,and watch a candle burn away.

Bonnie

xxx

[london-man in reply to bonnie1959]

Zen meditation is all about silence and stillness Bonnie, just sitting without thinking xxx

[bonnie1959 in reply to london-man]

God that will be a task, how do we do that, clear the mind. we have automatic thoughts going on all the time.

Bonnie

xxxx

[london-man in reply to bonnie1959]

Breathing meditation is a good place to start, count your breaths from 1 to 10, when your mind drifts go back to counting breaths, do it for about 20 mins to an hour to start, I used to meditate regular but kind lost my way and ended up being hit with anxiety again xxx

[bonnie1959 in reply to london-man]

This sounds good, I will have ago at this. Maybe if you could try again, it may help if it helped you before.

Bonnie

xxx

[Hidden in reply to bonnie1959]

I used to wobble all over the place with that! Xx

[london-man in reply to Hidden]

Lol, it takes time and practice xxx

[Gambit62 in reply to bonnie1959]

Zen is a form of buddhism that is practiced in the far East - it developed from Chan buddhism in China. Both are closely connected with martial arts. The main philosophical point is that through meditation everyone can achieve and enjoy moments of 'enlightment'.

For the record, Buddhism is often classed as a form of atheism (no one god) just the aim of achieving enlightenment = being at one with the universe ... hope I'm not offending any Buddhists out there with that description. One consequence is that practitioners aren't trying to convert you!

[bonnie1959]

I have not done this, but did read a while ago that they are the best places to go for this, and they don't try to convert you. I wish I had the confidence to go to my local Buddhist Centre

Bonnie

xxx

[Hidden]

I've just had a quick look and there is a centre quite near me. I would love to go, but not ready to go at the moment.

[formidible]

There are 2 videos which I'd recommend to watch, especially if you have not yet done any meditation. They are less than 10 mins each and explain how meditation can help anxiety sufferers.

Part 1: youtube.com/watch?v=OOHH6px...(Not working as expected?)

Part 2: youtube.com/watch?v=dPKhJfr...(Not working as expected?)

I've watched them and they have motivated me to want to try, hence next week I will take the plunge at the taster session.

[london-man in reply to formidible]

Good luck mate, meditation does help, when you can quiet the mind it really changes things for the better.

[Hidden]

Oh,wish I lived near you I would have went with you,love to try it.

[skanty]

Yes i have done meditation. It is very useful in anxiety. i have gone for budhist mediation only. It will be good if u will go for it.

[Jeffju]

I found meditation very good but it takes a bit of practice.However, any quietening of the mind is helpful when you have anxiety. I would definately go for it. I think Buddhism is such a neat way of life and thinking.Good luck. I am sure they will make you most welcome.

[Gambit62]

Have used meditation in the past and just picking it up again. Know a lot of people who find Buddhist meditation really helps them to cope with life

[Hidden]

Not sure if anyone saw it but Horizon did a whole show on techniques to help anxiety. Turns out meditation is a great tool to long term improvement. You only have to do about 10 minutes a day to see improvements. Check out this TED talk: youtu.be/qzR62JJCMBQ(Not working as expected?)

[hvr1]

Hey, I've tried meditation a couple times and so far really like it. I've been going to a group which is only weekly and quite far out of the way so I'm trying to do it by myself at home recently, which I'm finding much harder. Thanks for the videos you posted though, I will have a look at those properly later and hopefully that'll give me some more help. I find switching off can be the hardest thing in the world, especially when I'm feeling really bad and anxious already. But I know it's good for me so even the trying alone is something. Good luck with your group, I hope you'll find it beneficial. I was really scared to go at first but hopefully you'll find like I did, that the people there are so calm and have a great energy, they want to be quiet and relax themselves so there's no pressure : ]