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.

Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation

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.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1053810010000681

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. 

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.