Published on 12, July, 2020
I don't think I know how to relax. I don't know that I've ever been relaxed. I have been very stressed for a long time. There's no one big obvious cause right now. But it has built to a level where its causing me physical problems, like digestive issues, joint and muscle pain, headaches, palpitations, all of which can make me feel exhausted and mentally low.
Doctors have recommended things over the years to try and help relax - exercise, meditation, mindfulness, yoga - and I have dutifully tried them all. But they either don't seem to work for me, like mindfulness, or they do start to work and I suddenly get ill. Exercise, for example, I've tried a few times. I start doing small amounts every morning and evening. I keep it very gentle and only progress slowly, and I started to feel the benefit. But then as soon as that happens I end up with extreme muscle pains all over, or a cluster of migraines, or sudden terrible stomach problems. Some of these are so bad they put me in bed for days, several has necessitated a trip to the doctor and one landed me in hospital. They can last days or weeks, but they all derail the exercising (or yoga or meditation etc) and make it difficult to return to it for some time afterwards. This cycle, of cause, only serves to make the stress and anxiety worse.
Has anyone else experienced this? Could this be related to ASD or ADHD? Any advice on what to do? How does everyone else manage to relax without getting ill?
Any advice or thoughts welcome. Thanks.
I have no idea how to relax and find when I try I just get more anxious. I've read tips online but when I try them I feel myself getting more tense.
Same as above comment... let go
I find that's easier said than done. It's like letting go of the past and when someone dies I have no idea how to do that.
I try to meditate once a day. I find I deal with things differently now and am less phased or reactionary to stuff. I also find I have more time. It's hard to explain but I think it's because im more present. It's quite hard to put my finger on but there's definitely an improvement. Yes "practice". The improvements are from accumulated meditation and I had to commit myself. Like exercising a body muscle in the gym, we have to do it regularly with our brains too for good effect.
Also very true. And thank you, it's on my list of things to try and do/get better at in the near future. Just have a few other things to try and sort in my life first.
Practice makes perfect.
Very true. But again, like meditation ...which is why it's called 'practice'... you need to do it every day and slowly you'll begin to observe these moments rather than react.
I'm guessing your current reactions have developed over time, so you've learned to do that through practice ...so goes the way to undo that by adopting new practices
Good luck, it takes work, but is worth it