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I developed an anxiety condition from extensive periods of deep meditation. In my viewpoint it had been there all along and I had mostly just covered it up with

I developed an anxiety condition from extensive periods of deep meditation. In my viewpoint it had been there all along and I had mostly just covered it up with other emotions - but the meditation amplified things a lot, I went through a crisis lasting months about a decade ago. I still get anxiety attacks sometimes and had never had them before. I don’t know if your trip caused something new or just uncovered something that was already there, I think either are possible.

deleted 4y ago
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Trasmatta 4y ago
I feel similarly to meditation as I do to psychedelics. I think it has more risks than people want to admit. Have you looked into Internal Family Systems? Your experience seems to match pretty closely to the idea of protectors and exiles in IFS. I think meditation sometimes bypasses protectors, which can result in extreme pain.
estevaoam 4y ago
I am sorry to hear that. You might find very useful this EP about meditation from Andrew Huberman: https://youtu.be/wTBSGgbIvsY https://youtu.be/wTBSGgbIvsY It’s the first time I saw someone differentiating different types of meditation and it seems to match your experience. Basically, we can either exercise and build up our focus to our internal state and bodily sensations OR do the same but focusing externally. The interesting thing is that some people are biased to one or another, and if you have issues like anxiety then you should probably practice meditation to strengthen your focus and attention less on your body and more externally. Really recommend the whole EP, I think you’ll find particularly interesting given your story.
- 8note 4y ago
  The alternative is: now that you've found this anxiety you have, you should challenge it, and work on root causing, mitigating, and resolving it. I get super anxious about doing anything I haven't done in a while, but falling off the bike solves the fear of falling off the bike real fast. For me, at least
  - nikisweeting 4y ago
    This is a beautiful quote: "falling off the bike solves the fear of falling off the bike real fast". Thanks!
- ostenning 4y ago
  I stumbled onto Huberman some weeks ago. He is a really great podcaster and exceptionally intelligent. I really enjoyed his talk about dopamine and addiction. Highly recommended!
Encrust6221 4y ago
I'd agree with the uncovering sentiment, I had been very good at ignoring and repressing anxieties up to that point. Maybe the trip just permanently ruined that illusion, since then I haven't really been able to handle anxiety well at all.
curryberto 4y ago
I mean you went from not having a problem to having a problem. Whether it "was there before" just seems like semantics to me.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

Trasmatta 4y ago

I feel similarly to meditation as I do to psychedelics. I think it has more risks than people want to admit. Have you looked into Internal Family Systems? Your experience seems to match pretty closely to the idea of protectors and exiles in IFS. I think meditation sometimes bypasses protectors, which can result in extreme pain.

estevaoam 4y ago

I am sorry to hear that. You might find very useful this EP about meditation from Andrew Huberman: https://youtu.be/wTBSGgbIvsY https://youtu.be/wTBSGgbIvsY It’s the first time I saw someone differentiating different types of meditation and it seems to match your experience. Basically, we can either exercise and build up our focus to our internal state and bodily sensations OR do the same but focusing externally. The interesting thing is that some people are biased to one or another, and if you have issues like anxiety then you should probably practice meditation to strengthen your focus and attention less on your body and more externally. Really recommend the whole EP, I think you’ll find particularly interesting given your story.

8note 4y ago
The alternative is: now that you've found this anxiety you have, you should challenge it, and work on root causing, mitigating, and resolving it. I get super anxious about doing anything I haven't done in a while, but falling off the bike solves the fear of falling off the bike real fast. For me, at least
- nikisweeting 4y ago
  This is a beautiful quote: "falling off the bike solves the fear of falling off the bike real fast". Thanks!
ostenning 4y ago
I stumbled onto Huberman some weeks ago. He is a really great podcaster and exceptionally intelligent. I really enjoyed his talk about dopamine and addiction. Highly recommended!

Encrust6221 4y ago

I'd agree with the uncovering sentiment, I had been very good at ignoring and repressing anxieties up to that point. Maybe the trip just permanently ruined that illusion, since then I haven't really been able to handle anxiety well at all.

curryberto 4y ago

I mean you went from not having a problem to having a problem. Whether it "was there before" just seems like semantics to me.