Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Anxiety Headache

Question:
Hi, I'm interested in hearing from other people who use meditation to cope with chronic pain. My situation is chronic muscle pain due to chronic anxiety---headache, backache, neckache, and some RSI in my hands. I started practicing vipassana meditation, following the guidance of several teachers but Shinzen Young in particular, six months ago. I have experienced a lot of relief during this time. So I'd like to hear from other people on this topic: if you meditate, what form do you use? How much does it help? It what way does it help? Also if you would like more information on vipassana, write me.

Answer:
I have used meditation for years! I don't think I have a name for my particular kind of meditation, but the Magic Bubbles I used to be able to send where a part of that. In fact the help of some very good friends, one of which has not been heard of on the ng for a long time started the Magic Bubble part of it. I sincerely believe that, although we can not cure our pain, we can with much, much practice learn to rise above it, along with all the other problems life brings us. Each day we lose a part of our old self. In doesn't happen in one big bang. Although sometimes an accident can start it, but it comes on in little losses. The ability to lift a cuppa with ease. A creek in a shoulder, a nagging piece of discomfort in a leg that would go away. Not being able to make a bed without sitting down..see? In little pieces. So we MUST hang on tightly to all the good in our lives. The happy places, a holiday that was pure fun. A place that we once were in, for me, I use my times at Longboat Key....I can sit quietly for a bit of time, close my eyes and see in front of me, diamonds dancing across sunlit waters, dolphins leaping for pure joy, I can feel the velvety smooth , warm waters of the gulf wrapping around my feet, taking all the pain and the tenseness away. I can feel my muscles start to relax, and feel the calm wash over me. It isn't hard to learn, it just takes a willingness to truly want out of the cycle of pain, even for just s few minutes. I see, in my minds eye, my family, laughing so hard at some silliness, or the warm love from a hug that only an innocence child can give. I can see good friends, willing to give me a hand up, not a put down. Those are the things of my mediation. It goes by so many different names...mediation, imaging, even bio-feedback. All I know is...it works for the most part. For the times when the pain and the grief from yet another terrible loss is there....we must all, just tie that knot and wait for the pain and grief to finally wash over, around and away from us.