Stress and Meditation

[Guest guest]

Hello Friends,

I've been reading a few posts on stress and anxiety and wanted to

share not only a technique, but a personal story with you all

regarding meditation.

I have always been slightly hyperactive and have found it extremely

hard to clear my brain and just exist like I would like to. My

anxiety has been through the roof in times past, and as I am finally

off of the Effexor (and side-effect/withdrawal free!) I am taking

some natural cues to help combat it. Acupuncture has been helping

IMMENSELY, as has some Cranio-Sacral therapy that my co-worker

practices. But seriously, ACUPUNCUTRE if you can find someone that

you trust and can afford it. (I will also say that from experience

with my co-workers, if cost is a factor, they would rather have you

healthy and will often work out payment that will work for you,

don't be hesitant but ASK!)

The other thing, besides cutting coffee and caffeine, has been

something my boyfriend calls Mokso. He is a fairly accomplished man

in karate here in Canada, and has lots of techniques to clear the

mind. One night my mind was racing so fast that I couldn't stop it

and I burst into restless tears. Just everything started spilling

out. He curled up and held me, and asked me to do something for

him. What it was is as follows:

Count from 1-10, inhale on 1, exhale on 2 and so-on. When you get

to ten, count back down to one. With each count, try to visualize

the brush strokes it would take to form that number. Mokso in

Japanese means " focused mind " and this technique is how they get the

children in the dojo to begin to learn to meditate. I truly believe

that the light touches, as well as this calming technique, have

really helped me learn to clear my mind or to at least let things go.

I am nowhere NEAR perfectly able to clear my mind, but I do this

each night and several times during the day just if I notice my mind

is going crazy.

If someone finds that they are really nervous as well, full of

nervous energy...millet, soaked in hot water will help with that.

My acupuncturist/TCM practitioner suggested it and it has helped a

bit in the mnornings.

My best, and thanks to all who got down this far I ramble!