Using Mindfulness for Relief
I have been learning about the use of mindfulness for treating the symptoms of anxiety and depression. I would love to hear about resources you have found for ways to practice this. I recently wrote a blog post about this topic called "Being Mindful". I had already been thinking of posting a discussion here, and then Ellen replied to the post asking about resources or communities devoted to mindfulness, so here I am looking for the answers. Do you know of resources? Do you find mindfulness helpful personally? Do you see it being discussed in your community? Do you see improvement with all of your symptoms when practicing mindfulness or certain symptoms in particular?
Tags: anxiety, chronic, coping, depression, mechanisms, mindfulness, pain, practicing, stress
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by RonPrice on
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In all the discussion of mindfulness it is important for me that, however much science can quantify neurotransmitters, nerve pathways, cellular processes, complex amino acid structures and brain chemistry, it cannot weigh or dissect a mind. Some modern writers use the word ‘mind’ because they don't want to use the word soul or they consider the mind as a property of the soul. Many scientists loosely use the word ‘nature,’ that is the mechanisms of the physical universe, where others might be inclined to say ‘creation’ of which nature is just the evanescent part. These philosophico-psychologico-religious issues I do not deal with in my written account of my experience of bipolar disorder. However interesting these issues may be to some readers, they are tangential to the central focus I try to maintain throughout my statement.
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People have little idea of the physical problems I face and much more of an idea of my wife’s problems. I don’t mind this for I am not particularly interested in talking about my disability. After 66 years, or perhaps 40 years, depending on how the aetiology of my illness and the onset of its major symptoms, is defined and described, it has become somewhat tedious in the telling and the thinking. I think this has been part of my motivation for writing this account: to put the story on paper and, in part, to put the narrative to bed given the fact that, for the most part, it is so difficult to express in the social domain. It is well-known that people with BPD are disinclined to talk about their problem in public. Such a situation has the disadvantage that people have little idea of the battles faced by sufferers of BPD. When all is said and done in life anyway, we all face our battles alone—hopefully with a little help from our friends as John Lennon and Paul McArtney, as well as the inimitable Joe Cocker and others, used to sing over forty years ago.
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Permalink Reply by A. James Hillelson (Jim) on -
Amy, this is a great post and I so enjoyed Ron's comment. Being in my teens in the 60's, I was definitely influence by the concept of what was called, "consciousness," or being aware or focused on the thoughts of the mind in striving toward spiritual maturation. Then, at some point, the term, "Mindfulness" was coined and it took off. I prefer it, myself. I think it is a more specific concept and easier to understand than the greater concept of consciousness. I have found that activating
'mindfulness' in my daily life, specifically, in managing the PTSD and Depression that I have been challenged with so much of my life, has been extremely productive. It, certainly, isn't an instant fix.
Practicing mindfulness on a daily basis took several years to produce what I could state was successful movement forward that was significant. Although, I might add that it is always difficult to see positive movement when we are in the process of striving forward. Yet, the journey of being mindful to lessen the extremes of depression, anxiety and panic had many benefits in my life. My spiritual life expanded greatly and the relationship with The Christ advanced far sooner than when I could see definitive positive response in the decrease of my symptoms.
Let me add, as I am running out of space, that over the years, my life has been enriched as my spiritual life continues to mature and therefore, I believe is the only reason that utilizing the concept in practice of mindfulness has completed so much healing in my life. The outcome has been that my anxiety and panic episodes have gone from several times a day to a mind generalized anxiety and depression with only 1-3 panic attacks a year. Amzing! I am most grateful!
There is considerable hope and continued positive management of the horrir of symptoms in the practice of mindfulness that I once lived on a daily basis. Remember this. A major form of mindfulness is prayer!
Love!
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Permalink Reply by Amy K on -
Thank you to both of you for your comments. There are a great variety of ways to practice mindfulness, and I agree that prayer is most definitely one of them. I also like the term "mindfulness" as it describes to me the act of being more aware of our thoughts, our state of being and our surroundings. It has a different kind of feel or connotation from the word "consciousness".
I find hope, too, in knowing this practice can benefit, not alleviate, but help, with these symptoms related to depression, PTSD, anxiety, chronic pain and so many other things.
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Permalink Reply by A. James Hillelson (Jim) on
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My apologies for the typo's. In the last paragraph, I meant to type 'MILD,' not "MIND.' OOOPS!
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Permalink Reply by LOL on -
Being mindful opens the door to experiencing life (every moment) in a new way! Along with constantly making mindfulness present in my day I try to begin each day emptying my mind, thinking of nothing but the sound of my breathing for about 5 or 6 minutes; then I imagine all my worries (one by one) leaving. I then tell myself that I will see the good in people in my day and will greet each interaction as a welcomed experience. It unclutters my brain. If we BELIEVE we do create change. "The Biology of Belief" is a book that talks about this. Additionally, I tell myself ,"You are amazing." I listen to Gary Go singing "Wonderful." I try to only do things that are good to and for me. I wear LIFE is GOOD stuff. :)
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