anxiety is often a straight up neurological disorder. telling someone with that to meditate is analogous to telling someone with adhd to just buy a planner.
of course it’s possible to get good at meditating with anxiety, but it’s a very uphill battle that’s done despite one’s anxiety and not because of it. It’s definitely something you would pursue for other reasons and have to overcome anxiety for, not a form of (generalized) self medication. I’m also sure it works for some people with anxiety but I’m sick of a few people managing to “fix” their own disorders being touted as role models.
I’m pretty anxious myself. Meditation helps a lot. It’s not the only thing, but I do it everyday and feel less anxious than I otherwise would. I don’t think I’ve “fixed” myself, I don’t see anything wrong with myself. Meditation helps living with anxiety (and ironically ADHD). Meditation is not a panacea, but while it takes effort, it can help many things. There are many forms of meditation and everyone is capable if they put in effort. OCD specifically (like what the person I replied to is talking about maybe) in has reputable mindful methods of helping. I recommend ‘Mindfulness OCD workbook’ and ‘You are not a rock.’ I fought the urge to be hostile because I’m annoyed with people saying “it’s privileged to give any advice” when people’s actions have consequences for themselves. I don’t blame anyone for anything because we are products of our material conditions, but I try to be a good influence.
sorry it’s hard to tell tone over the internet so it’s hard to tell if someone is recommending something in a “this can help” way or a “you need to do this or else you’re not even trying” kind of way.
Of course. I meant recommending as in “if either you or the person I was replying to are interested in actually learning about meditation for people with mental illness then here’s some good sources.”
O wait, you meant in the initial message. I didn’t mean “you fool, you should be meditating if you don’t want to have those thoughts rather than using them as an excuse,” but “ya know, despite being a little counterintuitive it might actually help.”
No problem, just everyday neurodivergent overclarification for fear of being misunderstood. Big fan of good faith discussion for that and other reasons.
I don’t want to be left alone with my thoughts because I’ve got shitty/disturbing/problematic thoughts
All the more need for meditation.
anxiety is often a straight up neurological disorder. telling someone with that to meditate is analogous to telling someone with adhd to just buy a planner.
of course it’s possible to get good at meditating with anxiety, but it’s a very uphill battle that’s done despite one’s anxiety and not because of it. It’s definitely something you would pursue for other reasons and have to overcome anxiety for, not a form of (generalized) self medication. I’m also sure it works for some people with anxiety but I’m sick of a few people managing to “fix” their own disorders being touted as role models.
I’m pretty anxious myself. Meditation helps a lot. It’s not the only thing, but I do it everyday and feel less anxious than I otherwise would. I don’t think I’ve “fixed” myself, I don’t see anything wrong with myself. Meditation helps living with anxiety (and ironically ADHD). Meditation is not a panacea, but while it takes effort, it can help many things. There are many forms of meditation and everyone is capable if they put in effort. OCD specifically (like what the person I replied to is talking about maybe) in has reputable mindful methods of helping. I recommend ‘Mindfulness OCD workbook’ and ‘You are not a rock.’ I fought the urge to be hostile because I’m annoyed with people saying “it’s privileged to give any advice” when people’s actions have consequences for themselves. I don’t blame anyone for anything because we are products of our material conditions, but I try to be a good influence.
sorry it’s hard to tell tone over the internet so it’s hard to tell if someone is recommending something in a “this can help” way or a “you need to do this or else you’re not even trying” kind of way.
Of course. I meant recommending as in “if either you or the person I was replying to are interested in actually learning about meditation for people with mental illness then here’s some good sources.”
O wait, you meant in the initial message. I didn’t mean “you fool, you should be meditating if you don’t want to have those thoughts rather than using them as an excuse,” but “ya know, despite being a little counterintuitive it might actually help.”
thank you for clarifying, based rare patient internet user
No problem, just everyday neurodivergent overclarification for fear of being misunderstood. Big fan of good faith discussion for that and other reasons.
yes same