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Mindfulness

Expecto_Patronum

Having just mentioned mindfulness in a response to somebody, it reminded me that I have big queries about mindfulness.

Recently I saw a video about it that described people going about their daily life noticing things. This I can believe. Their example of something people don't notice - the water in the shower. How can you possibly not notice water in the shower that is literally coming down on your head? 

It made me wonder whether this was the video somewhat exaggerating or whether it is part of my neurodivergency. I often find that I can't filter out things and it often amazes me what other people can filter out. I couldn't believe it one day when I was being driven mad by a very large flickering light and other people were saying well I didn't notice until you pointed it out. What do you mean you didn't notice? How can you possibly not have noticed? 

I wonder if this is why I strongly dislike mindfulness. It aims to make us more aware of what is happening in our bodies but I'm hyper aware. I can never block it out. Why would I want to become more aware and how would that help ground me?

I may well be after neurotypical answers for comparison but let's see what people think anyway. Is anyone unaware of the feel of the water when they have a shower? Those of you that like mindfulness - are you usually hyper aware and what is it that you like about it? Those of you that don't like mindfulness or haven't found it helpful - are you usually hyper aware and what is it you didn't like about it?

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  • I am wondering if the account in the video of not noticing water in the shower is the same sort of thing as people who drive  through traffic lights and afterwards suddenly wonder if they have driven through a red light. Apparently that’s a common phenomenon, and although people haven’t driven through a red light, they just haven’t taken ‘active’ note of the green traffic light because they are thinking of other things. I can’t imagine anyone not noticing water coming down on them in a shower, but it is plausible, especially if they were preoccupied with other things. I think it would be like people not being sure if they took their tablets or if they locked the door. People are on automatic pilot and muscle memory allows actions to be performed without much mental effort.

    I feel as if my mind is detached from my body for much of the time, yet at the same time, I am acutely aware of physical pain and the feeling of anxiety in my body. Meditation helps me intentionally focus on those physical feelings and thoughts, then let them go. That and other forms of mindfulness allow me to slow everything down and be ‘in the present’ rather than be worried about the future or dwelling in the past. That said, at times when anxiety overwhelms me, or if I have sensory overload, I can’t meditate, so something else like shutting myself in a darkened room or going for a walk in a quiet place to observe and note nature and wildlife is helpful. It also helps to watch and note the irregular pattern of my dog’s breathing when she is asleep. Intentionally focusing on something that doesn’t cause arousal is like giving your brain a holiday. Mindfulness can take many forms,  but it is a skill that needs practice and patience.

    Autism Guernsey has this to say about mindfulness. https://www.autismguernsey.org.gg/post/why-mindfulness-can-be-hard-for-autistic-people-and-how-to-make-it-work-for-you

  • in reply to ArchaeC

    You state some interesting examples here. Although for sounds, smells, unpleasant visual stimuli etc I very much cannot filter them out. Examples such as not remembering whether I locked the door or not are very much apart of my life. I think this is again because I cannot filter other things out, it does mean I'm never truly paying attention to one thing which does leave me unsure.

    I have tried mindfulness multiple times but it's never had a positive result.

  • in reply to Expecto_Patronum

    If it causes stress not being sure, carry a little notebook. Write down "locked door", then 2 minutes later when you wonder you can check. It might help.

    Rather than check 6 times and then spend 2 weeks on holiday wondering, like I did once.

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