THERE SHOULD BE A BIG ARROW POINTING TO THIS FORUM
I've been reading a number of posts on other Forums about depression, anxiety, social skills, addiction etc. I've had them all, the worst for me being Social Phobia. Enter meditation... Enter meditation... Enter Meditation.. After some four months of meditating I no longer smoke cigarettes, giggle periodically throughout the day and fear no social situation. I'm scheduled to make an appearance at the Christmas party on the weekend. No worries. Won't be drinking. My point is meditation takes a backseat when it comes to solutions for peoples problems. Mention mediation as a possible solution to a problem and the eyes start rolling. Why do you think something as natural and harmless as meditation is still misunderstood? Never heard of anyone winding up in the hospital after an all night meditation session. :p

Manitoba here.

I'd like to think that having a receptive audience that's interested in implementing change was the default, but it's just not. Meditation has proved to be very effective for me in a general way. It addresses the foundation of myself. Thus, the results tend to be profound in my experience. It might not address what I want it to address, but it's always what seems to be best in retrospect.

I've used a very spartan Zen practise to good end. It has to be really simple for me to stick to it. How do you meditate? I'd love to hear all the details and then more about what's happened to you in the process.

My pet "fix" for the last year and a half has been physical activity. In this long standing thread (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?goto=lastpost&t=7714), I've come to a place where I'm much more resilient and level in my emotional experience. I'm physically more robust as well which is good too, but it's my moods that have benefited most. I'm lighter, happier, less likely to rage or take things personally. Frankly, I'm just better all round. I'm more tolerant, the list is long. I'm a huge fan of the process.

Meditation takes care of half of me and the running looks after the rest.
http://www.greatdreams.com/yin-yang.jpg

As you can see though, that thread is dead with no evidence that the merit of the process has a ground swell of support. Most are hard wired to resist change I believe. Take what you have and let the loved ones around you benefit from your willingness. The impact of my running has had a very profound effect on those that I interact with daily and I expect that as your efforts continue, your life and how people interact with you will be changed for the better. It's like a domino effect, but somehow the support factor seems to work somewhat in this format, but the message is diluted.

I've heard that only 7% of the message is delivered in words.
Cheers! Ian

Manitoba here.

Meditation has proved to be very effective for me in a general way. It addresses the foundation of myself. Cheers! Ian

That's sentence is right on the money. The foundation of myself. What is it people with anxiety disorders suffer from? Not being comfortable in general. Not being comfortable with themselves. I was that way for a long time. How do most people deal with it. Booze, drugs, avoidance. The stresses of everyday life just build and build. There has to be an outlet or we blow. Meditation is a natural relief valve. There doesn't have to be a philosophy behind it, although that is just as fascinating in my opinion. Six months ago I was a pill popping mess. I missed a lot of work, family get togethers, you name it. The doctors didn't know what to do. I was sent for psychiatric evaluations, EEG's. Luckily, for me I had taken transcendental meditation 30 years ago and decided to start again. In less than two weeks and I was back to normal. Better than normal now that I continue to meditate daily. I have to pinch myself sometimes. You're right about the exercise. It too is a natural depression buster. It takes a lot more will power however. They should teach meditation in the school system.

Wow!
That's amazing!
I have gone through the social/school anxienty crap a lot and I have found that while many of us like to contribute these factors to our ADD, they are actually created by the mind most of the times, and can be greatly imporved by just a change of thought. I think meditation brings a sort of presence with in our selves that kind of diminishes pain, this relief like you said, can subsitute bad pain releivers such as drinking etc., I think that is very powerful.
The only problem I suffer with, is actually completing the meditation process sucsessfully, with out having my thoughts wonder and get bored. What do you find helps the most with wondering thoughts, any advise for newbie meditators??

I agree whole heartedly,

The problem seems to be that few are willing to give them an honest try, especially in the case of meditation. Maybe it’s hard for people to understand how these activities can alter chemical activity in the brain?

”Exercise and meditation for MY problems, they are far to complex for such simple solutions! “

I've recently injured my arm which has taken a toll on my exercise routine and I’m already feeling negative effects. I've made an appointment with a chiropractitioner on thursday, I can't wait to be functional again!

As Ian said: "Most are hard wired to resist change I believe"

This is something that I "know", the path of least resistence has manifested its self in the majority of the biomass. It is the single most damaging aspect of modern man.

Yoga should also be mentioned here, as the whole system seems to revolve around meditation. My uncle has had wonderful results with yoga.

I believe there was a study at one point that prayer had the same effect. Though some who pray may not call it meditation, it has a similar effect, quieting and calming the mind, body and spirit.

(the "study" is vauge in my memory, I'll have to recheck)