[Seeking Help] Does mindfullness really work

[Anxious Annie]

Hi

I suffer from anxiety and had many back and forth with the GP about it. I have done cognitive behavioural therapy and in the past I have done mindfullnes. It was a group therapy and we are all still in touch over whatsapp and we act in confidentiality of course.

Having completed this and trying to use this to control my anxiety it seems the effect (or may be my capability) is just not there. I am beating myself up about it because it worked so well in the past but now it is becoming a little overbearing. Sigh! I guess its another trip to the GP but am seeking any stories or help before I do so.

Annie

[SecretBipolar]

Greetings

I would say first of all not to beat yourself up about it. Part of the art of mindfulness is acceptance that distractions are inevitable - its just about coming back to the medication,

Oh OK, I got distracted - never-mind - back to it

I think that would be my first point - certainly not to be beat yourself about the above scenario.

My second point would be it takes time. Its not easy to do mindfulness and I bet your course took you a decent number of sessions before it ends - I am going to guess around the 8-10 mark.

My last point would be - its not always possible to meditate. And I mean that in two ways.

1. You need to do it at the right time during the day - certainly not when the kids are going to school etc... you need a quiet place with time dedicated to your meditation.
2. Sometimes the mind is just to busy or distracted, the ability to do mindfulness is just prohibited - you just cant do it. This is where medication helped me - it stopped the noise. I still have anxiety but the noise is quieter meaning I am able to practise techniques (and accept im not always successful). Its hard and frustrating - I get your point.

Hope the above helps - its just my views anyway.

[Pikachu]

I try to practise mindfulness each day....its part of managing my depression....i do a lot of breathing exercises to help ground me....one technique I do is box breathing....the main benefit i get from it is that it lowers my stress and I feel less tense after I have done it....

basically you 1) inhale for 4 ..... 2) hold for 4 ..... 3) exhale for 4 ..... 4) hold for 4 ..... then you are back at step 1 again..... it might be worth a shot if you haven't already xxxx

[SecretBipolar]

Greetings

Pikachu is right with regards to the breathing and grounding in the anxiety forum.

There is a recent post that gives some further guidance on the breathing exercises.

Hopefully you'll find that of use?

Let us know how you get on

[Mad Max]

Greetings

Pikachu is right with regards to the breathing and grounding in the anxiety forum.

There is a recent post that gives some further guidance on the breathing exercises.

Hopefully you'll find that of use?

Let us know how you get on

Thank you for this, that post really helps - it even helps with some anger

Mad Max

[Anxious Annie]

Greetings

Pikachu is right with regards to the breathing and grounding in the anxiety forum.

There is a recent post that gives some further guidance on the breathing exercises.

Hopefully you'll find that of use?

Let us know how you get on

Great post too - thank you! I can actually visualise a square now, which I know it sounds stupid but I could not envisage how the breath was a square

Annie

[Blue Monday]

Annie if it helps have you checked out Headspace? It is an app (that you have to pay for monthly) but contains a great regime of entering you into Mindfulness and meditation. When I tried it, there were beginner courses to really learn the art of it. It is a compassionate app too - if you find your mind wondering off, it forgives you and guides you back to your meditation. This is all when I had the app anyway.

Cheers!

[SecretBipolar]

Annie if it helps have you checked out Headspace? It is an app (that you have to pay for monthly) but contains a great regime of entering you into Mindfulness and meditation. When I tried it, there were beginner courses to really learn the art of it. It is a compassionate app too - if you find your mind wondering off, it forgives you and guides you back to your meditation. This is all when I had the app anyway.

Cheers!

Greetings

I can second Headspace, a great idea Blue Monday. I did unfortunately have to drop it in favour of a mood tracking app as I could not afford to have both of them.

[Mad Max]

Hi Secret Bipolar. Your link to getting more info on grounding is broken. Can you fix it please?

Mad Max

[Anxious Annie]

Hi

Just to let you know I am getting on much better with Mindfulness now, thank you mainly because I am being kind to myself and not trying to do it to 100% effectiveness. I will keep you posted.

Annie