Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello everyone
Just wondering if anyone could share any links or info on meditation please?
I am struggling a little atm as my boy is struggling going back to school after half term and I’ve had a long night with little sleep and pretty much watched YouTube videos on autism. Also my parents are on holiday which always makes me really anxious as a few years ago while on holiday he had an aneurysm and a stroke which was probably one of the worst times in my life.
Thanks for listening
Hello Take5.
I'm sorry you're struggling at the moment. Hats off to you with parenting, that's something I would likely be unable to do because at the best of times I struggle to take care of myself let alone a child!
Meditation is a great thing to do and it can improve your life in many different ways from feeling happier and calmer to better understanding and controlling your emotions.
There's a few different types of meditation and it might take you a while to find one that works for you but once you do I think you will be feeling better in yourself sooner rather than later.
I do meditation and it has made such a big positive difference to my life.
Here's some links to a few different sites about meditation studies and the positive effects they can have.
I have read through each of these. There's a lot to go through but it is all positive and an intriguing read.
https://journals.lww.com/psychosomaticmedicine/abstract/2003/07000/alterations_in_brain_and_immune_function_produced.14.aspx
Inflammation reduction - this is something I found has improved massively for me! I'm in a lot less pain now.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889159112004758
Decreases depression.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/B:COTR.0000045557.15923.96
Decreases anxiety.
https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/ajp.149.7.936
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/016383439500025M
Memory improvement.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1053810010000681
Better improvement of multitasking abilities.
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1979742.1979862
Improved cognitive function.
Increases grey matter.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1053811909000044
And here's some YouTube videos on meditation as well which I thought you might find useful.
"How Meditation Can Reshape Our Brains" Neuroscientist Sara Lazar.
https://youtu.be/m8rRzTtP7Tc?si=_QI-E_FPBclpty_H
"Meditation: Change Your Mind, Change Your Life:" Bodhin.
https://youtu.be/upNONoxskiw?si=3xO222Fkv_A_asRV
"All it takes is 10 mindful minutes" Andy Puddicombe.
https://youtu.be/qzR62JJCMBQ?si=UYoC8CGlEUYP70t9
.
I realise this is a lot for one post - sorry about that! But at your leisure read some of this and watch some of the videos and I think it will help you better understand meditation and what it might be able to help you with.
It can be a slow path to walk but it is normally a rewarding journey that ends with you feeling so much better in body, mind and soul, more so than you probably think is possible.
I never used to do meditation. I had heard about it but always thought it was nonsense, and then my sister died, I hit rock bottom and felt the worst I ever felt. And then I started doing mindfulness and I feel so much better. I'm happy again - so happy I almost feel like my heart and soul are dancing.
I sleep better too, this is something I hope you will find for yourself if you give it a go.
No pressure though. Read up on it when you want to. Watch the videos, listen and read of other people's experiences with meditation and see if it is for you.
From my own personal perspective, like me originally, you have nothing to lose by trying it and a hell of a lot to gain!
Take care and I really do hope this helps and you will be feeling more like it again soon
Wow Billy and Inula
Reading up on this will give me a bit of a break on educating myself on Autism which is what I have done for the last 6 months. In the day at work I spend time researching and every evening before bed which may not be helping the sleep issue. I’m totally on board with mindfulness and meditation even though it’s not something I have tried. I have conditioned myself to be mindful to others particularly my youngest son but maybe have been overlooking myself. It’s just been a rough few years for me really and given my son and then me realising I’m neurodivergent has taken its toll. Really kind of you both to take the time for your advice and recommendations and I will start tonight and work through the links.
Just to answer the question about being a parent, I only realised this 6 months ago so really had no choice. But trust me it does give you something to focus on and takes away how bad I can feel, it also makes me socialise even though I find it quite tough. I suppose I could say that my children are one of my special interests!!
Thank you both again and I’ll remember to post back on here and let you know how I am finding things.