Collecting your thoughts/Meditation

[leftace53]

I figure its time for me to seek advice among an anonymous leftist group.
So for the past four years or so, I found that I've become more "fidgety" for the lack of a better word. I can't stay in the same position for long, mentally or phsyically. It seems that there is always hundreds of thoughts floating around in my head at the same time. This has effected my sleeping patterns, my academics, reading, and so many areas of my life.
I recently tried some meditation on suggestion of my aunt, as she had mentioned that it can calm you down and give the ability to in a sense "control" my thoughts, rather than the other way around. Except I can't seem to focus, I just can't get my mind to calm down in a sense.
I've started excersizing vigorously and it seems to have helped a bit, but only during my runs can I actually concentrate on something other than my thoughts, and that too because well I'm pushing my body to its limits so muscle pain is more prevalent than whatever I would be thinking.
With the lack of a better analogy, I feel like I'm in Doctor Who, on Galifrey, and I'm looking into the time vortex thing, or the heart of the tardis, and everything is just there at once. And honestly its starting to drive me insane.

I guess what I'm trying to ask is that how do you guys calm your minds down? Or even do you have to? How do you form your thoughts so that they don't just all rush in at the same time?

[Widerstand]

I do Zazen (http://www.mro.org/zmm/teachings/meditation.php) from time to time. It's really simple, but not exactly easy. Which is what makes it great :)

[ellipsis]

Cannabis Indica might be what you need. Of course that illegal in most areas... Also it seems to be my answer to this type of post in mutual aid.

[kitsune]

Mindfulness meditation may be helpful. You focus on an object or, more commonly, your breath as you inhale and exhale. It helps to keep the mind from chattering too much, though it will wander. It will wander a lot, especially at first. Don't worry about it, just bring it back to the focus when you notice it. And don't push it. Ten minutes a couple times a day is good for a start. Also remember: it takes time to condition the mind to stop it's chatter chatter and flitting around. You won't notice much improvement for a couple weeks at minimum, and more likely a couple months of regular practice. Another thing many people find helpful is binaural beat meditation music. Brain Sync and Hemi Sync have a lot of recordings of this type. I like some of Dr. Jeffrey Thompson's music. Anything relaxing can be useful, though, from a shakuhachi player to sounds of nature recordings.

[leftace53]

Thanks guys, I'll try out both (all three) of the suggestions. I'm moving in a week so things are pretty hectic, but that will be over soon and hopefully I'll be able to put in ample amount of time for these. My friend's also talked me into hot yoga, and I hope that will also help.

[ellipsis]

hemi sync is awesome. def check it out.

[kitsune]

Yoga! Good idea. Tai chi or qigong would be great, as well.

[ellipsis]

isnt qigong banned in china!? counter-revolutionary!

[Reznov]

How old are you? I know I was like this a lot when I was in my first 2 years of high school. But as I got older things started to return to "normal". (Puberty probably.)

[leftace53]

How old are you? I know I was like this a lot when I was in my first 2 years of high school. But as I got older things started to return to "normal". (Puberty probably.)
19. Hit puberty pretty early, and I imagine I'm done that. I think it started some time around a time of increased realization of the world around me, and things like that really.

[Reznov]

19. Hit puberty pretty early, and I imagine I'm done that. I think it started some time around a time of increased realization of the world around me, and things like that really.

Ah, I know what you mean. (At least I think you do).

Me and you are around the same age and i am a little more curious, but when did you start getting into politics and becoming more aware of the world around you? 2-3 years ago about?

[leftace53]

Ah, I know what you mean. (At least I think you do).

Me and you are around the same age and i am a little more curious, but when did you start getting into politics and becoming more aware of the world around you? 2-3 years ago about?

About 4 years ago. I seem to just have a curiosity about like everything, and I guess when I started to look for, and recieve more amounts of information in a short period of time, is when it started. Like just a whirlwind of everything. Oddly enough, I can probably say my anxiety started around the same time (maybe a year after).

[777]

Throw yourself into politics, become a political soldier and organize on every level you can. Get down to some nitty gritty activism.

Failing that: exterminate all rational thought! Destroy the ego! These are the barriers to a fulfilling life.

I have spoken!

[Ele'ill]

Throw yourself into politics, become a political soldier and organize on every level you can. Get down to some nitty gritty activism.

Failing that: exterminate all rational thought! Destroy the ego! These are the barriers to a fulfilling life.

I have spoken!


This is good advice.


I go for a walk. Sometimes I will go for a run. When I used to run heavily I'd make up songs as I ran. Its common among runners apparently. I'd also really be able to think about issues that were bothering me.

Sitting and people watching can help.

[Nachie]

leftface the point in meditation isn't to get your mind to calm down, but to become aware that it is just your mind. instead of beating yourself up over all the little thoughts you are constantly having, try to just become aware that you are not the thoughts you are having, but the awareness in the background that allows you say "shit, look at all these thoughts that are keeping me from concentrating!" and accept it. whenever a new random thought pops up, just recognize it for what it is and let it pass. do not spend extra time thinking about it or beating yourself up for having it. just let it pass. allow yourself to acknowledge it and then just let it go. :)

[Os Cangaceiros]

I clean my house. Thoroughly. Like, for hours. It's weird that it relaxes me.

Or maybe not. Meditation basically just involves focusing the body on a mundane task so that the mind is free to wander. I get the same effect when I'm surfing.

[Invincible Summer]

I clean my house. Thoroughly. Like, for hours. It's weird that it relaxes me.

Or maybe not. Meditation basically just involves focusing the body on a mundane task so that the mind is free to wander. I get the same effect when I'm surfing.

It's funny that you say meditation allows the mind to wander, because I'm pretty sure that that's exactly what you're not supposed to let happen when you meditate.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Well, for me it's a solution for the specific problem of my thoughts being fixated on something and preoccupied...it frees my mind up to think objectively about certain situations.

In that sense it solves a problem of my mind not wandering enough, rather than vice versa.

[Omnia Sunt Communia]

I get the same effect when I'm surfing.

The board game go was originally practiced by Taoists as a form of meditation, I think activities such as surfing have a similar effect on one's consciousness and could easily be considered meditation.

My most crippling ailment is my restless mind. I know through personal experience that a restless mind can be a symptom of what is called a vatta dosha in Sanskrit or lung nyepa in Tibetan, in other words an 'airy' constitution. I have found mild success managing my 'airy' constitution with diet (hot food, high-protein, high-fat, etc.) and sedative herbs, (hops, mint, etc.) but if I don't get better at the art of meditation I am doomed.

Also from personal experience, I think if you have a highly 'airy' constitution it is not helpful to practice vegetarianism or take stimulant drugs such as cocaine and caffeine...it's also worth discussing how the Internet and other forms of electronic entertainment encourage a restless and distracted state of mind.

[Quail]

You should try writing stuff down. If my thoughts are on paper/online then it kind of feels like they don't need to be in my head anymore. If that makes any sense.

[Widerstand]

You should try writing stuff down. If my thoughts are on paper/online then it kind of feels like they don't need to be in my head anymore. If that makes any sense.

It does. Writing down things definitely is a good approach. Often though when I write down vague plans, I forget about the paper and when I find it again I'm like "why the fuck did I want to do that?".

Semi-related to this thread:

http://www.anxietyculture.com/worry.htm
http://www.anxietyculture.com/avoidres.htm
http://www.anxietyculture.com/mediafree.htm
http://www.anxietyculture.com/distract.htm