Some asked a few weeks ago for examples of research into the MBCTs I regularly list on my posts here. I was too busy at the time to go hunting for it, not realizing then that I could pretty much find it all neatly gathered together in one place. The link immediately below takes one to the first of five pages of listings of such research, however.
There are about 100 cited studies, the vast majority of which suggest anywhere from moderate to high effectiveness for a wide variety of psych problems via the following psychotherapies and/or vipassana-style awareness training.
One question I have and itās about lowering dosage. You have said that meds can be reduced with this and Iām willing to give it a try in future when the times right but how are symptoms on reduction because iāve heard of people going full blown on slight decreases.
We all know what happens when you mess with meds. Weāve all already tried it. Maybe so long as you donāt go below the therapeutic dose. @notmoses has a history of trying to get people to lower their doses, by posting stuff that belongs in the āunusual beliefsā section.
I have done all of these therapies myself. I have had formal training, as well, in how to administer most of them. They not only shook me loose from my anxiety, mania and depression; they woke me up from the āconsensus tranceā (see http://www.cantrip.org/charles_tart.html).
I use the skills I obtained from these therapies in a meta-therapy called the 10 StEPs to keep my mind sharp on a daily basis, as well as whenever I catch myself wrenching up into hypomaniaā¦ or slipping down into depression and/or anxiety. It works every time.
But as I have stated here before, it seems to me from experience that one has to acquire the mindfulness skills in two or more of the methods I listed in my first post before one can reliably use those 10 StEPs.
It varies from one patient to another. Most p-docs eyeball patients very assertively before reducing dosage levels. Those who show signs of having fewer and/or less egregious symptoms are those who get to go on lower meds dosages.
But mindfulness itās not something you learn in a week or a month or a year, itās something that helps maybe on a long run with other therapies as well, and on the right mindset, recovery oriented.
Do you say mindfulness on its own is as helpful as itās stated?
Who cares what =I= say? Look at the research, and either try the therapies or donāt. They have changed my life so much that I am waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay ahead of where I was before I was symptomatic. So I stick with them and take a tiny dose of Seroquel at night. Thatās it.
Facing symptoms seems to be the only way to avoid living a life in which your not happy with. Most of us are just shutting our mouths, being told what to do and madness is just a part which will always be here. Letās face it are most of us happy??? We get told āoh your depressed, the number one side effectā here take these antidepressants they have more side effects and they do bugger all. After that itās all your own fault.