I didnt vote, cause I never meditated for a long time.
I meditated for a shorter time when i was not psychotic or depressed, and it benefitted me majorly. I also meditated this summer for a shorter time (silent retreat in monastery). I wasnt well at the time and it made me worse majorly. I couldnt handle the things coming into awareness at that moment.
I think - if you feel good, continue. When it made me worse, that was obvious right away, i was unwell and declining. No good feelings from the start.
I think you should stay aware of what it does to YOU.
Hmmm. Then be careful and discuss it with a pdoc. Here they have meditation centers, with people very experienced in meditation. Perhaps you can join something like that and ask their guidance, if you dare?
Just be aware of what it does to you and stop if you feel it heads the wrong way…I hope you keep benefitting.
I was thinking a bit more…at the monastery it was 10 days of (near) silence. Arent the bad studies about retreats? Retreats are tougher!
Recently i had to do a body scan meditation somewhere for 20 minutes and felt good. There were people around to talk before and after. That was a totally different experience.
I have been meditating for quite awhile now. Over 2 and a half years, 3x30 minutes a day.
I have been using mantra meditation mostly, but recently have been mixing up my meditation with holotropic breathing, This cycle of rapid breathing and then stopping gets me into the zone from where I spend my time in bliss.
I love meditation and find it thoroughly enjoyable and pleasurable for the most part. When uncomfortable memories arise, which they inevitably do you have to ride it. I find taking NAC 20 minutes before a meditation session increases the pleasure of it.
I am one of the people who has become calmer, less reactive to stress and less depressed from meditation. I am not plagued with voices, so it is easier for me than others.
Meditation will always be part of my life. I love it!
They are about intensive meditation. I read two expreriences from others and one bouth was at retreats and with intensive meditation (hours a day, days at a time)
I usually do a few minutes until my body feels like it’s to much (4-7 minutes) two-three times a day.
I guess when my body feels uncomfortable it’s time to stop
@labratmat it was always enjoyable? Because when I’ve tried before I was stable. For three times I always end up worse. Now I feel good less anxious less depressed thoughts and more sharp. Even if I do it for only 6 days.
not at the very beginning. 20 minutes was all i could manage. Then I learned about mantra meditation and it became considerably easier. The Transcendental Meditation is based on this technique where you simply repeat a word in your inner dialogue over and over again. It keeps the mind from wandering when you return to it. I simply repeat “compassion” over an in and out breath.
Now i have learned other mantras to use.
I loved it so much that I increased it to an hour and half a day., plus I have nothing much else to do.
I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to get worse immediately if it does make you worse. Personally, it has never made my symptoms worse. Not sure I could say the same thing if I wasn’t well-medicated.
