Spaced out

[Lost]

Hi guys, 

first post and I could really use some help if possible? 

I'm very concerned. I'm a regular guy who has always suffered some form of anxiety and for the last 15 years have been on anti anxiety meds. I was put on anafranil (chlomipromine) and diazepam when I finished university and had a bad break up. 

Im a happily married man with a lovely wife and 2 kids and live in London, UK.

over the last 2 years I have slowly been coming off my anti anxiety meds and am now nearly off them. I was looking for new ways to find calm and a peaceful mind so I thought that yoga/ meditation may be the best way of taking the next step. 

A mystic called Sadhguru visited London and I attended the 2 day course where he taught us the 'shambhavi mahamudra'.

one of the steps or asanas was 'the fluttering of the breath and holding a mild focus on the forehead. 

We were asked to practise this twice a day for the first 40days and once a day after. 

For the record and I must make this clear, there is nothing working with what he is teaching, it's just me that is the problem, not the yoga or the asanas or steps. On top of that there are also classes that one can attend to make sure the practises are being done correctly. 

 

I was very sceptical (as a newbie) and thought that 'I don't know want to go in too deep' as I am totally newbie and have never done any form of yoga, meditation or even mindfulness before. I just wanted to find some inner peace- that's all. 

 

I have practised the 'shambhavi mahamudra' about 20-25 times since April.

 

 I started meditating again a few weeks back (I have been doing it on and off) and completed the meditation 7 days on the trot . I did feel very peaceful and focussed to be fair, but then I suddenly started to experience a lot of head pressure on the top of my head and in the forehead also for a couple of weeks. The pain was persistent and never subsided. 

This has only just passed but I am now left feeling very spaced out, delicate, vulnerable, in the moment also, hearing sounds I never used to notice. 

I don't feel able to Concentrate on tasks and my memory is also pretty poor all of a sudden. 

I have ceased all forms of meditation and yoga and am now petrified of going any further and am so sort of stuck in the middle not knowing what to do. 

I spoke with the yoga teachers at 'isha yoga' and they thought my symptoms were unusual and asked me to attend the next 'satsang' so I can learn the techniques properly but to be completely honest I don't want to go any deeper and just want things to return to Normal like they were before I started doing meditation and yoga. Is this possible? 

Its very scary. 

I have searched the internet and have tried walks in nature, running on the treadmill, eating heavy food, socialising and walking on grass barefoot, burning sage, keeping busy etc 

I have been reassured that things will return to Normal but I can't seem to see that. 

 

I don't feel like myself at all.

any help will be really appreciated. 

I am just a regular person who has a family and a business to run and am feeling very disconnected, Lonely and have lost all concentration, and confidence. 

i don't want to keep turning to alcohol and diazepam. 

blessings and thanks so much in advance. 

 

[Marblehead]

Hello Lost, and welcome.

 

Your membership is approved and we're happy you found your way to us. We look forward to accompanying you on some of the way that you still have to go.

 

Please take the time to read the post pinned at the top of this Welcome page and take a look at the forum Terms and Rules.   This covers all you need to know when getting started.

 

For the first week you will be restricted to ten posts per day but after that you can post as much as you like. Also, until you’ve posted fifteen times in the forums, you’ll be a “Junior Bum” with somewhat restricted access and will be allowed only two private messages per day.

 

Good luck in your pursuits and best wishes to you,

 

Marblehead and the TDB team

 

 

Hi,  Well, you may be Lost but you are not at a loss for words.  Great intro and defining why you have come to join us.

 

There are many here who I am sure will offer you advice with your problem.  No, don't replace the drugs with alcohol.  That doesn't solve anything.  

 

You are welcome to jump right in ongoing discussions, revive an older thread, start a new thread of your own, or start a discussion in the "Newcomer Corner" sub-forms to expand on your introduction or ask general questions to help you get started.

 

May you enjoy your time here.

 

Marblehead

[rene]

Lost, hello and welcome.

 

Here is my suggestion.

 

STOP just STOP doing what you think you should be doing, or what others told you to do, to bring peace. Other peoples' practices may work for them - but that doesn't mean they work for everybody. Follow your instincts.

 

Write down 3 things (normal activities) you already do, that you enjoy, that is calming and/or brings you peace.

 

Could be anything: listening to music, painting the fence, whistling at birds in the park....doesn't matter, as long as it is what works for you.

 

Do one or more of your things, for at least an hours worth of time each day. During those times, life is less frenetic, calmer, peaceful....and eventually, that gentleness may carry over into the rest of your day. (-:

 

Warmest regards

[oak]

Been there Lost, know very well how it feels... not for many years now.

 

If it helps, your suffering has a reason to be as you will probably understand sometime in the future and...even be thankful for it.

WuDao's suggestion is a wise one STOP! Stop looking freneticaly for a way out of it, the answers you want may be in front of you but your anxiety won't let you notice them. Notice how you're struggling constantly inside yourself and try stopping that as much as you can.

 

Do much less and trust more.

 

You are never alone.

 

Best wishes.

 

 

 

Edited August 20, 2017 by oak
forgot something important

[cold]

1 hour ago, Marblehead said:

Hello Lost, and welcome.

 

 No, don't replace the drugs with alcohol.  That doesn't solve anything.  

 

 

May you enjoy your time here.

 

Marblehead

 

 

35 minutes ago, WuDao said:

Lost, hello and welcome.

 

Here is my suggestion.

 

STOP just STOP doing what you think you should be doing, or what others told you to do, to bring peace. Other peoples' practices may work for them - but that doesn't mean they work for everybody. Follow your instincts.

 

Write down 3 things (normal activities) you already do, that you enjoy, that is calming and/or brings you peace.

 

Could be anything: listening to music, painting the fence, whistling at birds in the park....doesn't matter, as long as it is what works for you.

 

Do one or more of your things, for at least an hours worth of time each day. During those times, life is less frenetic, calmer, peaceful....and eventually, that gentleness may carry over into the rest of your day. (-:

 

Warmest regards

 

What they stated and best wishes!

[Limahong]

7 hours ago, Lost said:

To be completely honest I don't want to go any deeper and just want things to return to Normal like they were before I started doing meditation and yoga. Is this possible? 

 

Hi Lost,

 

Heavens you are not lost.

Only disturbed - very most.

Return to Normal @ no cost.

Thank U for your post.

TDB a very good host.

 

 

2 hours ago, Marblehead said:

Well, you may be Lost but you are not at a loss for words.  Great intro and defining why you have come to join us.

 

My Dada is correct. You are not completely lost. Trust my Dada. Maybe you had seen a ghost - at most.

 

 

2 hours ago, WuDao said:

STOP just STOP doing what you think you should be doing, or what others told you to do, to bring peace.

 

Yes. STOP just STOP.

 

 

1 hour ago, oak said:

WuDao's suggestion is a wise one STOP!

 

Yes. STOP!

 

 

1 hour ago, oak said:

Stop looking freneticaly for a way out of it, the answers you want may be in front of you but your anxiety won't let you notice them.

 

Yes. Stop.

 

 

1 hour ago, cold said:

What they stated and best wishes!

 

Yes. STOP just STOP.

 

 

Now that you have stopped, what do you see in front of you Lost?

I am very sure you are seeing this:

 

7 hours ago, Lost said:

A happily married man with a lovely wife and 2 kids and live in London, UK.

 

 

Now can I stop here?

 

- LimA

Edited August 20, 2017 by Limahong
Correct typo error.

[Aletheia]

Don't concentrate on the head! If you're going to concentrate anywhere make sure it's the behind the belly button and make sure you drop your conscious awareness there first!

 

The direction of God is UP so if you start at the head you've forgotten about the rest of your body so that's no good.

 

Westerners are already inside their heads so compounding the fact is going to get you nowhere very fast.

 

Did you know that prior to Plato the soul or the mind was not actually inside the body at all?

 

In fact the soul was both inside and outside the body as the same time just like the air that we breath. Now it's stuck in the head so if you concentrate there you are making a big error!

 

Have you tried wim hof breathing? I would try doing that and you'll feel better in no time at all!

 

 

The simple explanation is the breathing charges the vagus nerve and it's that charging which is how the blood-brain barrier is crossed. I think it's pretty much unknown to Western science. The VN connects the stomach, which is where serotonin is produced, to the brain and it's the ionized vagus that shoots the serotonin into the brain.

 

These are very advanced yogic techniques that I personally use in my own practice and I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but I've got all kinds of superhuman abilities too lol.

 

 

Here you go do 5 rounds one after another 2 times a day for the rest of your life!

 

 

 

 

Edited August 20, 2017 by Aletheia

[RiverSnake]

Welcome to TDB. Spiritual practices are about transformation....deep, powerful and fundamental changes. You went in just wanting relaxation and got a bit more than you bargained for. I may be able to help, PM me if you like. 

Edited August 20, 2017 by WayofChi

[Aletheia]

wim hof you hold the breath on the last EXHALE.

 

30 big breaths in with the effort on the in breath and then just relax without letting all the breath out. Like all the effort starting a chainsaw is when you're pulling the cord. And the energy is below the rips so your chest goes up and your stomach goes in and that movement ribs the kidneys and warms them up.

 

Then I would just learn the deep breathing and do that during the day without thinking about it.

 

 

[Mo Tzu]

Hi Lost, I am a practitioner of Dr. Stephen T. Chang and live in the UK. My website is www.northstarmeditation.co.uk. You may also enjoy his website as well www.thegreattao.com. Have a read through and if you have any questions about this system I would be happy to answer to the best of my ability. Taobums is a great place for support. And as Aletheia says earlier in this thread, "bringing the energy back to the stomach" (lower Dantien) should always be performed when doing energy work. All the best on your unfolding journey:)

Edited August 21, 2017 by Mo Tzu
Hypertext missing

[Limahong]

51 minutes ago, Mo Tzu said:

"bringing the energy back to the stomach" (lower Dantien)

 

Hi Mo Tzu,

 

I second that. I have been advised that it is the safest place to store my chi  when I am energised.

Have been doing it for quite a while and now I can feel some stirring when I focus my mind there.

It took me quite a while to be where I am at the moment. I feel blessed.

 

 

On 8/20/2017 at 10:07 PM, Lost said:

I don't feel like myself at all.

any help will be really appreciated. 

I am just a regular person who has a family and a business to run and am feeling very disconnected, Lonely and have lost all concentration, and confidence. 

i don't want to keep turning to alcohol and diazepam. 

blessings and thanks so much in advance. 

 

Hi Lost,

 

It will be nice to know where/how you are now. Why?

So that others reading this thread can learn something from the advice given by some others.

 

- LimA

[Limahong]

Hi All.

 

I feel ill at ease to see 'Limahong' (as a poster) appearing one time too many. I am just a new kid on the TDB block.

 

I am very sure that there are many Bummies with great experiential stuff below their belts.

 

Can I request for more sharing? Let us move from EGO to ECO (google 'Presencing').

 

Let us not allow great experiential knowledge to leave this world with us when we say goodbye.

 

Can we space out? Lost and many others have provided us with threads for great tapestries to be woven.

 

Perhaps such interlaced knowledge can be valuable to generations after us.

 

And what is it for our generation? Well we are given the privilege to be here. Yes/no?

 

And we have not lived in vain. Yes/no?

 

- LimA

Edited August 21, 2017 by Limahong
Correct typo error.

[Marblehead]

Nope, I have never been to Vain but I have been to Spain.

 

[Limahong]

43 minutes ago, Marblehead said:

Have been to Spain.

 

Hi Dada.

 

To see the Spanish rain.

Fall on their very plains.

You went by small aeroplane.

Touched down - in great pain.

You touched Spanish dames.

Got slapped - only little pain.

No pain, no gain.

JOY is the main.

 

- LimA

Edited August 22, 2017 by Limahong
Correct typo error.

[Marblehead]

9 hours ago, Limahong said:

 

Hi Dada.

 

To see the Spanish rain.

Fall on their very plains.

You went by small aeroplane.

Touched down - in great pain.

You touched Spanish dames.

Got slapped - only little pain.

No pain, no gain.

JOY is the main.

 

- LimA

Actually it's a different story.

 

I was married at the time stationed in Germany.  Took a vacation to Spain.  Drove my car from Germany to Spain.  My wife was with me.

 

But it was a lovely vacation just the same.

 

[Brian]

13 hours ago, Marblehead said:

Nope, I have never been to Vain but I have been to Spain.

 

Spoiler

 

 

[Limahong]

35 minutes ago, Brian said:

Three Dog Night - Never been to Spain

 

Hi Brian,

 

You use 'doggy night' to explain.

You have never been to Spain.

It is best to go there by train.

Especially when there's rain.

Why? Save $ down the drain.

I have never been to X Y Z.

But now very happy at TDB.

 

Don't be naughty.

 

- LimA

[Brian]

Just now, Limahong said:

 

Hi Brian,

 

You use 'doggy night' to explain.

You have never been to Spain.

It is best to go there by train.

Especially when there's rain.

Why? Save $ down the drain.

I have never been to X Y Z.

But now very happy at TDB.

 

Don't be naughty.

 

- LimA

Spent a week in a town just outside of Madrid, actually...

 

[Marblehead]

Yeah, and I've been to Needles.  If you never make it there you will not have missed anything.

 

 

[Limahong]

2 hours ago, Marblehead said:

Yeah, and I've been to Needles.  If you never make it there you will not have missed anything.

 

Hi Dada,

 

(i) If never make it there and yet (ii) have not miss anything; so in the net (iii) pointless to go to Needles?

 

(iv) Can I throw in Pins?

 

(v) Try Needles and Pins:

 

 

Where do you want me to poke them on you?

I am a budding accupuncturist.

 

You will not be punctured - no pain and everything to gain.

 

Waiting in anticipation,

- LimA

Edited August 22, 2017 by Limahong
Enhancement of sentence.

[Limahong]

7 hours ago, Marblehead said:

But it was a lovely vacation just the same.

 

Hi Dada,

 

Walking back to happiness?

 

 

 

- LimA

[Marblehead]

6 hours ago, Limahong said:

 

Hi Dada,

 

(i) If never make it there and yet (ii) have not miss anything; so in the net (iii) pointless to go to Needles?

 

(iv) Can I throw in Pins?

 

(v) Try Needles and Pins:

 

 

Where do you want me to poke them on you?

I am a budding accupuncturist.

 

You will not be punctured - no pain and everything to gain.

 

Waiting in anticipation,

- LimA

 

I just yesterday edited that song for addition to my collection.

 

Don't hold your breath waiting for a positive response from me regarding the needles.

 

[Limahong]

1 hour ago, Marblehead said:

I just yesterday edited that song for addition to my collection.

 

Good morning Dada,

 

Great tastes appreciate alike,

Like great minds think alike?

 

1 hour ago, Marblehead said:

Don't hold your breath waiting for a positive response from me regarding the needles

 

I am breathing eazy. I have spiritual needles. Will meditate and poke you. 

 

- LimA

[CedarTree]

Welcome :)!

[Limahong]

10 hours ago, Limahong said:

Will meditate and poke you.

 

Hi Dada,

 

You thank me in wanting to poke you with needles?

 

- LimA