benjamin
USA
5 Posts
Posted - Sep 26 2018 : 8:03:42 PM Show Profile Email Poster Edit Topic Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Message Delete Topic
Deep breathing is okay but meditation is worsening my anxiety
Hi all,
I have the generalized anxiety disorder and had accumulated stress over the past many years.
Now I am trying yoga to get relief from anxiety.
If I meditate (mantra meditation) for 10 minutes, the immediate effect is calmness and peace. Very enjoyable state. But the problem is after a few hours, my anxiety hits back with more intensity. My situation actually becomes worse than the pre-meditation state. I also tried the mindfulness meditation but the result was the same.
On the other hand, if do deep breathing (nadi shodhana or deep and slow breathing with both nostrils), I get some relief. But this relief is nowhere close to the peace and happiness I experience immediately after meditation. But my situation does not get worse after a few hours like with meditation.
I must admit that I am kind of addicted to the peace and happiness I experience after meditation and as such I am biased towards it. But I must be ready to suffer from more anxiety after a few hours.
Also, because I get only a little bit of relief after pranayama, I don't know if it is going to have any long-term benefits.
What should I do? I am confused. Should I do meditation or pranayama?
Please advise.
BlueRaincoat
United Kingdom
1486 Posts
Posted - Sep 27 2018 : 03:51:14 AM Show Profile Email Poster Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Reply Delete Reply
hi benjamin
As you were already advised on your other thread, it is not a good idea to do pranayama without meditation. Yogani explains the reason in Lesson 43 - see the last paragraph.
There is a possibility that either the mantra or the meditation procedure that you have been using is causing you problems. If you want to rule that out, give AYP mantra meditation a go. See Lesson 13 for instructions. Do not practice I AM meditation for more than 10 minutes once a day till you find out how it compares to your previous meditation.
If I AM meditation is too strong, then you will need to switch to breath meditation.
quote:
Originally posted by benjamin
I tried to replace mantra with breath, but (just my experience) breath meditation was so bland compared to mantra meditation.
That is the very attitude to land you in a pickle.
Yes, it is very tempting to pile up the excitement, but so the overload can pile up. So we have to apply some judgement ant restraint. And remind ourselves that we do not do practices for immediate excitement. We must choose and self-pace our practices so that we get a steady amount of purification over time. Yoga practice is a long term cleansing process, not an instant entertainment routine.
Good luck!
Edited by - BlueRaincoat on Sep 27 2018 05:02:38 AM
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benjamin
USA
5 Posts
Posted - Sep 27 2018 : 12:19:43 PM Show Profile Email Poster Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Reply Delete Reply
quote:
Originally posted by BlueRaincoat
hi benjamin
As you were already advised on your other thread, it is not a good idea to do pranayama without meditation. Yogani explains the reason in Lesson 43 - see the last paragraph.
There is a possibility that either the mantra or the meditation procedure that you have been using is causing you problems. If you want to rule that out, give AYP mantra meditation a go. See Lesson 13 for instructions. Do not practice I AM meditation for more than 10 minutes once a day till you find out how it compares to your previous meditation.
If I AM meditation is too strong, then you will need to switch to breath meditation.
quote:
Originally posted by benjamin
I tried to replace mantra with breath, but (just my experience) breath meditation was so bland compared to mantra meditation.
That is the very attitude to land you in a pickle.
Yes, it is very tempting to pile up the excitement, but so the overload can pile up. So we have to apply some judgement ant restraint. And remind ourselves that we do not do practices for immediate excitement. We must choose and self-pace our practices so that we get a steady amount of purification over time. Yoga practice is a long term cleansing process, not an instant entertainment routine.
Good luck!
Thank you again for your response. I think I am being tempted to follow the excitement as you mentioned. And in that process, I might be ignoring self-pacing. I will try your suggestions. Will let you know how it went.
