How would mindfulness benefit us?

[Weebster]

I don't see how it helps if your 'present' is awful.

 

[symphony]

I could be entirely missing the point of mindfulness here, I'm not an expert. But I absolutely agree. It's a fucking joke. Just about every "coping strategy" I've been taught operates on an implicit assumption that you're at least somewhat functional and not at a complete breaking point. But I practically live in a state of perpetual crisis. No, I'm not capable of going outside to take a walk, and I'm no more willing to "practice mindfulness", and for what? So I can be more acutely aware of how much distress I'm in? Give me a break.

 

[Weebster]

I could be entirely missing the point of mindfulness here, I'm not an expert. But I absolutely agree. It's a fucking joke. Just about every "coping strategy" I've been taught operates on an implicit assumption that you're at least somewhat functional and not at a complete breaking point. But I practically live in a state of perpetual crisis. No, I'm not capable of going outside to take a walk, and I'm no more willing to "practice mindfulness", and for what? So I can be more acutely aware of how much distress I'm in? Give me a break.

It sounds like, "Embrace your suffering. Be one with it." These neurotypicals are blessed to be so ignorant.

 

[symphony]

It sounds like, "Embrace your suffering. Be one with it." These neurotypicals are blessed to be so ignorant.

Hahaha, seriously. The way you phrased that reminds me of the Radical Acceptance "skill" in DBT.

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

I'm great at mindfulness. It's made it really easy to tell everyone that I'm a garbage, subhuman, corrupted piece of shit who deserves to die and that me feeling that way is only going to continue to make things worse for me which is fine because I no longer actually care about my own well-being.

Alternatively, I'm horrible at mindfulness because in order to do that I would first need to have a mind to be full…of… I guess I'm just far better at mindlessness.

 

[KimKevorkian]

Maybe replicate the Japanese tea ceremony with N?

Maybe replicate the Japanese tea ceremony with N?

You can sure as shit bet imminent death will focus your mind! Or should.

 

[Weebster]

Hahaha, seriously. The way you phrased that reminds me of the Radical Acceptance "skill" in DBT.

Does DBT help?

 

[symphony]

Does DBT help?

Hard to say, I guess. It was designed for BPD and I hear it's very effective for that, but it gets used to treat all sorts of mental illnesses beyond just borderline. It was recommended to me because of its track record for decreasing suicidality. However, I have read (although I don't remember any sources right now) that it tends to be more effective in short-term crises but its benefit decreases over time, and it's not as great for long-term symptom management. Some of the skills teach pretty obvious stuff (e.g. do things that make you happy to try to cope, respect yourself and others in communication) and some are pretty idealistic (e.g. when you feel a strong "negative" emotion just do the opposite of what it makes you want to do, accept your emotions, mindfulness), but there are some useful ideas in there too.

So I guess my verdict is it's not a silver bullet as it's frequently advertised, but it does have some value. Although others who've done DBT work may reasonably disagree.

 

[Weebster]

Hard to say, I guess. It was designed for BPD and I hear it's very effective for that, but it gets used to treat all sorts of mental illnesses beyond just borderline. It was recommended to me because of its track record for decreasing suicidality. However, I have read (although I don't remember any sources right now) that it tends to be more effective in short-term crises but its benefit decreases over time, and it's not as great for long-term symptom management. Some of the skills teach pretty obvious stuff (e.g. do things that make you happy to try to cope, respect yourself and others in communication) and some are pretty idealistic (e.g. when you feel a strong "negative" emotion just do the opposite of what it makes you want to do, accept your emotions, mindfulness), but there are some useful ideas in there too.

So I guess my verdict is it's not a silver bullet as it's frequently advertised, but it does have some value. Although others who've done DBT work may reasonably disagree.

A lot of that is common sense. I've heard great things about Ketamine infusions but the effect is temporary. It's expensive and no insurance backs it.

 

[symphony]

A lot of that is common sense. I've heard great things about Ketamine infusions but the effect is temporary. It's expensive and no insurance backs it.

Yeah, that pretty much describes my experience with ketamine, although it apparently can seriously help some people. Although esketamine (ketamine nasal spray) may also be promising? It's FDA approved and I think people can use it more long-term. Anyways,

 

[Weebster]

Yeah, that pretty much describes my experience with ketamine, although it apparently can seriously help some people. Although esketamine (ketamine nasal spray) may also be promising? It's FDA approved and I think people can use it more long-term. Anyways,

I'll ask for it but unfortunately my psych is treating my anxiety. It's more involved than that, but the meds available are shit. They won't prescribe benzodiazepines anymore

 

[BeansOfRequirement]

I can reliably use it to deal with (note: not necessarily remove) "emotional pain". But there are many different techniques and stuff. I think it's a mistake to write it off completely.

 

[whatevs]

It´s basically meditation and it should work. Mindfulness is just rebranding, which is very common in this Kali Yuga idiocratic era.

Meditation works, monks and the like that do it frequently are calm, cheerful and some can even endure great pain while obviously not really feeling it. I have been trying to get into it for years.

To be more specific, Mindfulness is a type of meditation, probably from Zen origins or something like that. But the underlying ideas are the same. Pure meditation is about not thinking about anything, mindfullness is about ONLY thinking in what you are doing, which almost results in not thinking either.

 

[DontplayGod]

Hahaha, seriously. The way you phrased that reminds me of the Radical Acceptance "skill" in DBT.

Oh my God I remember all that bullshit lol. Dearman, please and all those other stupid acronyms were definitely fan favorites

 

[symphony]

Oh my God I remember all that bullshit lol. Dearman, please and all those other stupid acronyms were definitely fan favorites

Dearman deserves a special place in hell lmao

 

[fox_wannabe]

Mindfulness works for me but only for physical pain, like cold, heat, hunger. All to certain extent. Never worked for psychological issues. Maybe in some states in which meditation caused dissociation and derealization, even depersoanlization. But It was very long meditation and very hard (1 hour sitting sessions without moving. Very painful after some time, so I practiced midfulness to pain and internal speach. Also very weird).

Lol, If you do not care and want to achieve buddhahood- sit in same position for one hour each day. Take meditation cushion or bench and just sit and observe your thoughts. Enlightenment guaranteed. But you might also loose yourself and your personality. Maybe have dark night of the soul and suffer even more after you come back to being a person. Not fun.

 

[myopybyproxy]

it helps boring tasks be less boring because of the meta aspect - stepping outside your mind in a way. doesn't really work with mental or emotional distress for me.

agree with what @symphony said. DBT will not solve all your problems but it does have some useful tidbits. take what you find helpful and leave the rest. just don't expect it to fix you wholly.