Let`s talk about Bipolar

Finding a work-life balance is important @Shaz51 and I hope you find the change of pace suits you all. You might find your health qualifies you for some extra assistance. Keeping my fingers crossed that this is a good year for you.

Hi @Shaz51 @HenryX @eth @Mazarita @Appleblossom @frog @Olga @Bunniekins @Meowmy and all forumites here

Just wondering your experience with mindfulness and relaxation apps? It came up in another thread. I do Yoga Nidra sometimes. I've looked at a couple of well known mindfulness apps but they seemed to have expensive subscriptions. I'd appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.

Dimity

@Dimity Hey Dimity I did a course in mindfulness and totally crashed and burned. My mind couldnt focus on the instructions ....🤔

Bad luck there @Bunniekins . When I was much younger I tried zen meditation (zazen) with a former Japanese monk but it was soooo strict and uncomfortable and I was in tears every time.

@Dimity sorry to hear you were in tears with zen meditation.☹️

I am allergic to meditation apps, cos I have a highly tuned-spiritual emotional allergy to using tech in the wrong way. @Dimity Legacy of exhusband.

Good on you for trying zazen. I have heard a few people suffer back in the 70s and 80s who tried similar stuff, and the old gurus could play people off each other in competitive ways. I backed off as soon as they started imposing guilt trips and really weirded out on the symbology. However always glad I learned to meditate back then ... in a few traditions ...doubt I would be here without meditation.

Extremely allergic to any spiritual things that ask for money online. Make up your own ... Will be just as good without the money, and a bit of kudos for your own creativity.

Vipassana used to be run on a shoestring. I respected that.

@Bunniekins

Things must have been overwhelming in your life. Ie you had too much going on ... not that you could not meditate. The people running the mindfulness course should have figured that out.

@Appleblossom Apple that is so true. She was a average psychologist

That's interesting @Appleblossom . I've learnt several (offline) meditation approaches too but haven't established a long-term practice. Depending on my headspace I sometimes find the voiceover in guided mindfulness more helpful than the dissociation of proper meditation.

A constant mantra can be a turnoff sometimes too. The descriptions I've seen of "centring prayer" seem more inviting... losing oneself in silence.

Horses for courses I guess... at least we can pick and choose. The zazen was physically and mentally painful but I'm glad to have tried it - it somehow puts things in perspective.

In a way, poverty saved me, and being frugal, meant that I was careful with resources. When I was raising 3 kids, I was time poor as well so I only did the minimum or paid the minimum, but I found both Buddhist and Hindu traditions useful.

@Bunniekins

Tbh I am cross at psychologist pushing mindfulness like they invented it and charging too much money and now, I hear your story, another one, when they did not do due diligence.

Stamp Stamp. Apple Very Cross.

Tbh I first heard of mindfulness socially, only 10 years ago, from a school principal airily swanning about her weekend. I asked her to tell me about it, but she fobbed me off.

I was happy and am still happy with my earlier learnings in the practices. Yep from early 80s. However, my marriage messed me up totally, and it took about 10 years for my mind to calm down enough and get the benfits from meditation. When I am agitated and upset .... mediation will not help ...nor herbal tea ... horse tranquiliser might.