Info needed please

[purpletwo]

I've been a member of this community for several years now - with trapped nerves, lower back pain, sciatica in both legs and feet, and now arthritis in lower spine (wear and tear 'old' thing, which comes with being in your 60s!) I rarely post anything, but you all help me more than you know, with info and just your posts. I've also suffered from depression for years now, and I've been trying to look up forums for this on Health Unlocked, but I'm struggling to find anything that would help me! Any suggestions as to where to look would be appreciated.X

[kenster1]

hi various pages anxiety depression page anxiety page and mental health.click on my page if you want then click on the desired page or look at the bottom of this page.

[johnsmith]

Depression and a number of mental health problems are movement and posture related. I am part of a movement talking with physiotherapists about treating things like depression, bipolar, anxiety and other mental health conditions.

Look up muscle trains. Look up Thomas Myers. Look up Ida Rolf. The first international conference on fascia was at Harvard medical in 2007. In the East the martial arts were used to treat various mental health problems. Zen practice teachers talk about the body and mind are neither one nor are they two. There is an interaction between the two.

Talking therapy can make a mental health problem much worse because of the rumination involved. Movement done in the right way can reduce mental health issues. What is the right way? There are no words to describe what this is. The tools of meditation and mindfulness can help in the investigation of this. There should be local Buddhist groups who can help you develop practical knowledge of this.

The religious traditions are very helpful in helping with some types of mental health difficulty.

Hope I have been helpful.

[purpletwo in reply to johnsmith]

Thank you for your replies. I'll check out the info you've given me. I'm aware of the correlation between pain and mental health, and how one can effect the other.

I've had several lots of counselling. Some have helped, some not. One of my counsellors was also a Sharmen (hope I've got the spelling correct!) That was particularly interesting, and helpful.

I've also been on a Mindfulness course. I have a CD which I'll dig out and put into practice! The problem is, when in pain, and your mood is low, It's not always easy to motivate oneself to engage with all the stuff that you know would make you feel better!

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[johnsmith in reply to purpletwo]

Mindfulness is about learning about yourself and investigating yourself. Mood being low is part of being mindful. I do not know how long you have been doing mindfulness. I started 40 years ago. My take is the same as the monks of the Buddhist Thai forest school.

When my mood is low it is an indication that my brain needs rest. Monitoring how the body responds to situations because of a painful condition is tiring and taxing. Mood being being low is an indication the brain needs rest. So sleep is needed.

Mindfulness took off because psychologists and psychiatrists found they could make money from it. Most religious traditions have mindfulness in their spiritual practice. With the mindfulness in the religious traditions are rules which are there for a purpose.

Mindfulness will not make you better. What you learn from practicing mindfulness and put into action will make you better.

"Meditation_A_Way_of_Awakening_-_Ajahn_Sucitto.pdf" is one of the best books on mindfulness and meditation that I know. It is a free download from:

amaravati.org/dhamma-books/...

Find a local Buddhist group who practice mindfulness and meditation. That will make it easier to practise and get support for your practice.