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Wondering if anyone has any experience with mindfulness meditation?
A counselor at my school's counseling center runs a mindfulness stress reduction group every semester and today was the first session of this semester. I signed up and went to it, but I'm unsure about it. The group was small. There were two other girls and the counselor, but I guess usually there will be four other girls plus the counselor. I don't know any of the other girls or the counselor.
I went to the group because the counselor who I see suggested that it would be beneficial for me. She said that it would help me to learn techniques to be more relaxed. The problem that I found today though was that it was an anxiety provoking experience. The counselor explained that the point of mindfulness is to be totally in the present. To focus on and accept the environment, thoughts, feelings, emotions, etc. that are in the "right now". She explained that it may not always be a relaxed and stress-free feeling that arises. She also explained that it is completely voluntary as to whether or not we want to participate and share our thoughts, feelings, or reactions to the exercises that we do. I feel like it would be more beneficial to share these things, but I did not feel comfortable doing so. It is hard for me to be open about my personal thoughts and feelings with other people. Sitting in a room in a therapy-like setting with random people was uncomfortable for me. I felt more stressed in the session than I did before. It just made me feel nervous, uncomfortable, and full of anxiety.
I spoke privately with the counselor after the session about how the group made me feel. I explained some of my anxiety problems to her and I explained how I felt anxious and uncomfortable in the group. I told her I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue going to meetings. She explained to me that it is normal to feel uncomfortable in these situations. She also explained that the exercises may not always result in positive, relaxed, stress-free feelings and that other other feelings that come up are okay. She told me that maybe sitting with the anxiety in the group and dealing with it would be beneficial. She told me to consider coming back to the next meeting for this reason. I'm just unsure about it. I don't know that putting myself in a situation that brings about anxiety is going to be helpful. I feel like I may end up learning some useful techniques from the group, but it just makes me uncomfortable to actually go to the meetings. I'm going to talk to the counselor who I see regularly about this next time I see her, but the next group meeting is before that so I just looking to get some thoughts about this situation from some other people.
Does anyone have any experience with or thoughts about mindfulness meditation? Do you think that in the end it will be beneficial to keep going to the meetings if I can get past the nervousness and anxiety that I feel like it causes?
A counselor at my school's counseling center runs a mindfulness stress reduction group every semester and today was the first session of this semester. I signed up and went to it, but I'm unsure about it. The group was small. There were two other girls and the counselor, but I guess usually there will be four other girls plus the counselor. I don't know any of the other girls or the counselor.
I went to the group because the counselor who I see suggested that it would be beneficial for me. She said that it would help me to learn techniques to be more relaxed. The problem that I found today though was that it was an anxiety provoking experience. The counselor explained that the point of mindfulness is to be totally in the present. To focus on and accept the environment, thoughts, feelings, emotions, etc. that are in the "right now". She explained that it may not always be a relaxed and stress-free feeling that arises. She also explained that it is completely voluntary as to whether or not we want to participate and share our thoughts, feelings, or reactions to the exercises that we do. I feel like it would be more beneficial to share these things, but I did not feel comfortable doing so. It is hard for me to be open about my personal thoughts and feelings with other people. Sitting in a room in a therapy-like setting with random people was uncomfortable for me. I felt more stressed in the session than I did before. It just made me feel nervous, uncomfortable, and full of anxiety.
I spoke privately with the counselor after the session about how the group made me feel. I explained some of my anxiety problems to her and I explained how I felt anxious and uncomfortable in the group. I told her I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue going to meetings. She explained to me that it is normal to feel uncomfortable in these situations. She also explained that the exercises may not always result in positive, relaxed, stress-free feelings and that other other feelings that come up are okay. She told me that maybe sitting with the anxiety in the group and dealing with it would be beneficial. She told me to consider coming back to the next meeting for this reason. I'm just unsure about it. I don't know that putting myself in a situation that brings about anxiety is going to be helpful. I feel like I may end up learning some useful techniques from the group, but it just makes me uncomfortable to actually go to the meetings. I'm going to talk to the counselor who I see regularly about this next time I see her, but the next group meeting is before that so I just looking to get some thoughts about this situation from some other people.
Does anyone have any experience with or thoughts about mindfulness meditation? Do you think that in the end it will be beneficial to keep going to the meetings if I can get past the nervousness and anxiety that I feel like it causes?
Tom77
Hi Mae. I am Tom. I have had experience with stuff like you went through. I am presently going through the same thing. Things that need to be brought to the surface will eventually come in there due time. That means do not rush anything. I have the same difficulty as you with new situations. I see a therapist. I have made my own tool for dealing with the stress that comes with a new situation and this is without the therapist coaching or help. I do visualizing of certain things. First I started out with objects to help soothe and calm and now I visualize with colors. I pick a color and put it around the situation that is distressing to me. I do not focus on the situation at all. The color I choose is attracting enough so that it looks better than the situation. I pick any color I want. One thing, you can try this out and see what happens with it. You don't have to have anybody there to coach you. You do it yourself. okay the idea I have with the color is like it is being surrounded by a good thing instead of the thing that makes you nervous. There is more on this that I can tell you if you want to hear some but see what you think of what I said so far for you. You can try it and see how it is. In situations it has helped me from having panic, anxiety and seizures. If you want to talk more about it that is okay. I will listen no matter what. I will see you. Have a good day for yourself.
mae2014
Wow thats a really interesting idea. I never thought about doing anything like that. It seems like it could be very helpful thoigh. I'm definitely going to try that when I go to the next meeting this week. Thanks for the advice and support! Have a great day :)
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