I was talking to a good friend of mine about how her anxiety has worsened since she stopped meditating, and that she needs to make time for it once again. She went on to tell me that she used to be on meds for anxiety/depression, but stopped the meds and turned to meditation instead. She would do it for at least 30 minutes a day and in turn was able to enjoy the present, worry less about the future, and feel a sense of calmness. I've never tried meditating, but now I'm thinking it may be worth a shot.
Do any of you meditate? What have your experiences been?
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@skipper2010: I used to!! It's hard - it's the same as going to the gym on day 1 and expecting to run a marathon. It's a "practice" in the sense that the rewards come after a lot of hard work (in my experience), but they are definitely there. At the beginning it can be super frustrating; our brain is not wired to sit in contemplation without thoughts or distraction. But it can be taught
With some practice and discipline I have definitely found it to help focus on the present and create space in my consciousness for insights, ideas, etc. Some day I'll get back to it!
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I agree with @JoJoGirl: that it requires practice and discipline. But it can be very helpful for a variety of issues, including anxiety, stress, insomnia, etc. You can find guided meditations online to listen to, and look around your area for local resources. In my area we have several mindfulness/meditation centers that offer lessons/ guided meditation which is the best way to start. Be sure to check local yoga studios- around here many of them offer free meditations!
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Also- there are lots of ways to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life if sitting down and meditating is too overwhelming to start with. For example, you can practice mindful walks- go for a walk, and try to focus on one sense at a time. When your mind wanders, gently redirect it. Another favorite of mine is an eating meditation. Take a bite of something delicious, and focus on tasting it, chewing it, moving it around your mouth very slowly. Or focus on a lit candle- this is a good one to start with, too.
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@Silva: Yes! Good point! Focusing on breathing is a good one too, especially during times when you'd likely distract yourself in other ways, ie listening to the radio while in the car, watching TV/using the internet while eating lunch, listening to an iPod while going for a walk/riding the subway.. - all opportunities to focus on your breath instead of outside stimuli.
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@JoJoGirl: I like the "going to the gym" analogy. I imagine it can be difficult to just find the time. The only good thing is you can essentially meditate anywhere so that must make it a little easier.
@Silva: I like the idea of mindful walks. I may have to try that one later. At least that I can do with my baby.
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I haven't ever done it by myself but at the end of every yoga class my instructor does a 10 minute guided meditation with us. It is definitely hard to keep your mind from wandering but I notice a significant difference in how I feel afterwards when I'm able to really focus on her voice/imagery vs. when I'm feeling lazy and just sit in my own thoughts. I probably haven't done it enough/long enough/well enough to get huge benefits from it, but even with just the short meditations we do I notice I feel very calm/relaxed afterwards.
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@Mae: You're right it's so hard to keep your mind from wandering! Yoga with a meditation at the end sounds super relaxing though.
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I started using Circle + Bloom's guided meditations when TTC was getting frustrating. It made me feel more calm and happy just about right away. But since every month is the same, eventually I couldn't get myself to lay down for it every day.
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I meditate and do acupressure most nights laying in bed before going to sleep. I'm not good enough at it to not require my medications but I did notice a difference when I started doing it consistently, particularly the acupressure points for insomnia.
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Meditation is the only thing that helps my anxiety about flying and being a passenger in cars. I've tried sleeping pills, xanax, and alcohol and none of those work for me.
I've been trying and failing to make it a daily habit though, it does take dedication. If you want to try, Oprah and Deepak Chopra do a free 21-day guided meditation challenge. I also meditated every day during my first trimester because I was a nervous wreck, I just did 5-10 minutes in the morning, this might sound a little out there but if you learn about chakras, I find that focusing on one of those , based on what area of my life I'm struggling in or want to focus on, it really helps.
With some practice and discipline I have definitely found it to help focus on the present and create space in my consciousness for insights, ideas, etc. Some day I'll get back to it!
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