Hello ~
I've been sick for almost a week now and finding I'm extremly anxious and cannot relax. I try to do deep breathing but it's not working. I've been vomiting and nauseated, so they give me "reglan". It states on there it "could" cause vomiting or nausea...wth!!
Anyone, help?
Frustrated
Deep breathing is good, of course, especially for sudden moments of panic or anxiety.
But the best non-medical method for long-term relaxation is deep meditation.
Take an hour a day to sit with your spine erect, eyes closed, mouth slightly open (relaxed jaw)... Maintaining that position, fully let-go of your body's tensions and watch your breath and/or thoughts. By watching, I mean letting the thoughts come and go without trying to change or direct them.
If your body is tense in that position, still with your eyes closed, try deliberately tightening up each part first, limb by limb, and then relaxing that part until you've gone through each part of your body.
Ideally, you'd take at least 20 minutes before you sit like this to fully exert your body.... go for a run, jump on a trampoline, dance vigorously or ride a bicycle first. Then, in full sweat, just sit as I said for an hour.
Do this every day in a locked room, phone off, no disturbance or interruptions and just keep breathing normally watching the rise and fall of your lower belly.
Takes time to have an effect, but it's the most healing thing in the world.
It's a commitment, but it can change your life!
Light has given us a splendid description of how to meditate. The only method I know is used to bring breathing under control and to lower blood pressure.
Sit and relax.
Breath in slowly, filling all of the lungs, upper as well as lower parts.
Hold for a couple of seconds
Breath out slowly through tightly pursed lips.
Repeat the cycle.ad lib
Couldn't agree more with your relaxing techniques. By locked door, do you mean street door....as myself I suffer cloistraphobia and HAVE to have all doors open and no drawn curtains, but that's just me! My late father took up Buddhism and practices relaxation (even standing on his head in the corner of the room...much to my mother's annoyance.(lol) .but it worked for him and I have tried to follow it over the years as I am an anxiety type person, but it does work "frustrated1" but not easy to train yourself, but well worth a go..!!
Regards to both, Val.
well i would stop taking that for a start.
i had a cough caused by an antidepresent i was pushed into trying before i was diognosesd with fibro. and i was sick everynight with it. took me a few weeks for the penny to drop. soon as i stopped the pills the symptoms stopped and my peak flow went back to 400 from 200 .basicly the pills had reduced my peak flow causing the coughing .
you can buy very good relaxtion cds of ebay they take a bit of work i found it hard at first but perserve with doing it it really pays of in the end.
hope iv helped a bit
Reglan is used to speed up the transfer of digested food from the stomach through the rest of the digestive tract, particularly the upper small intestine. As with almost every medication prescribed today the accompanying leaflet lists so many possible side effects a patient can be confused. However, if you feel it is not working for you then go back to your GP asap and get a replacement.
As for meditation that requires a lot of discipline. Maybe you could get a result by doing this:
Lie down in bed with loose coverings but sufficient to ensure you remain warm. Lie flat on your back with just a flatish pillow supporting your head. Give yourself time to feel comfortable and then concentrate on your toes. 'Make' your toes relax -just think about them relaxing. Then make your feet relax; followed by your ankles; then move on to your calves, knees, thighs, pelvis, adomen, chest, fingers, wrists, elbows and up into your neck. Do not rush this. Do not attempt to force any of this, just think your way through it.
Apart from being one method of learning how to get your whole body to relax in a comforting position often it can result in sending you to sleep during the process. But it does depend upon you concentrating on each part of your body in turn and not letting your mind wander during the process. Give yourself plenty of time and do not attempt to start this when you know that in, say, X hours you must be somewhere else.
No, you're right.... I was being a bit extreme there!
All I meant was, if the door is locked you're sure not to be disturbed.
The important thing is not the lock, of course, but the certaintly that no one will interrupt you.
And yes, Outhwaite, it does have its origins in Buddhist meditation, but it has no religious connections as such. It only seems that Buddhism was on the right track!
The other source is Osho, who suggested vigorous activity for the body before sitting down to watch the thoughts, because the modern mind is so hyperactive, it has a lot of difficulty allowing the body to just sit still.
I like the image of your late father standing on his head to your mother's annoyance. He was presumably doing a yoga headstand – another Indian-origin practice that helps silence the mind (but it probably wouldn't if your mother was fretting about it the other side of the room – hence the value of a locked door!)
Yes, I agree, going from each part of the body exactly as you describe is the very best way to relax.
But if that is hard to do, it's not a bad idea to delibrately tense that area first and then immediately relax it. Sometimes we can't know we've relaxed a part it until we've deliberately tensed it up first.
You describe it beautifully, but the only problem with the lying down technique is that, if it works, it will almost certainly send you to sleep.
This is actually why regular meditation is done sitting with an upright back... because when we truly relax, we tend to fall alseep.
On the other hand, if sleep is what's needed, then it's perfect!
This is just WONDERFUL. I have been finding it increasingly difficult over the past five years or so to get to sleep. Now, would you believe it, a side effect of my treatment is SLEEPING DIFFICULTIES. I shall try this method this evening and report back in the morning. ( that will help me with the needed discipline )
Very many thanks Light and Jaguar.
Hi. How horrible. I feel for you as i've been vomiting too. I have a remedy which really helped my stomach calm down. Boil half a cup of yellow lentils in 3 cups of water for 20 mins. the lentils should have turned very soft. Now drink the water on the top. That will stop the vomiting.
After vomiting the body feels so week. Try to get someone to massage the arches of your feet. That will put you into a deep sleep. Also getting someone to rub the tips of your fingers will help. My mum was kind enough to do this. Awoke feeking lighter.
The advice may sound kooky, but it worked for me.
Hi Ang ~
Anything that works well oftentimes seem quirky but I'm willing to try anything. Yellow lentils and the top water. Do you eat the lentils too?
The massage part I get that! My husband is always rubbing my feet but now I'll have to just ask if he'd massage the arches. Like acupressure point, right? I could really go for a good nights sleep and a deep one at that! Why the fingertips? HAs anyone explained this to you? If you find out, please let me know?
Thank you Ang for your post as I believe it will be helpful. I will let you know how things come along. Again, thank you
Frustrated
Hi L ight ~
While I cannot exercise or run or do the things I was able to one time in my life, I can, meditate! That position will seemingly help because just by sitting like that, it seems to send out excess stresses. I am going to try this as well. Life changes are exactly what I need. Being ill for some many days the past 3 months and I know a lot has to do with stresses. Hospitalized 3 times in the 3 months plus numerous times 3-5 days of vomiting. I know w/o an immune system I'm readily available for anything to take over but I cannot believe I've had the "flu" this many times.
I am looking forward to trying your remedies and will let you know what transpires afterwards. Thank you, Light for your detailed instructions!
Warm regards,
Frustrated
Hi Val ~
Thank you for your response. My late father in law was one who studied yoga, other relaxation techniques and yes, he would stand on his head in the corner and hum "Ahhhh Ummmm" lol first time I heard that was about 4 in the morning and I was shocked when i followed the humm'g and saw him on his head! He lived to be 98 and was a picture of health for all but the finall year of his life. So, there's something to be said about the hand stands, head stands etc! I won't be able to do that but I can try the relaxing techniques.
Again, thank you for your post and I will update as time goes on.
Warmly,
Frustrated
HI Doc~
I agree with you there. I am going to try many of the techniques the people have presented to me. My problem is that I can't even get calm enough to breathe in deep. I think by following the technique Light presented which was sitting erect moreor less stretching the spine that in itself feels a sense of calm. I'm happy that all have responded as this (as Doc can attest to) is my biggest headache ever. I've always been very active yoga, walking 20 miles a week, jazzercise plus usual homelife duties, housework, cooking, gardening (5 gardens) working fulltime, raising 2 children and going to and from their after school activities...I also did more but you get the idea, after the auto accidents, all that stopped, all of it! So not only my mental health was at risk, my physical health is as well. I believe I have all the time in the world to make these techniques work and to be able to stick to a program!
Thank you, Doc for posting! Love you much!
Frustrated
hi Tina ~
Yes, I did stop the medicine, I was flommoxed with the fact that the medical field knew I was suffereing from vomiting and headaches and nausea then prescribe something that would cause this kind of reaction. What gives there!
Relaxtion cd's! why didn't I think of that! Sometimes things are so close to your face, you cannot actually see it. I have several that I will do in conjunction with the relaxing techniques.
Thank you, Tina, you have helped a lot! Everyone on here has and I thank all of you for that!
I will update you to let you know how those drops worked and how the cd's helped.
Again, thank you,
Frustrated
Hi Jaguar!
Thank you for your helpful response! I have an old yoga "tape" lol that has one of my favorite instructors (local) who did this "final relaxation" technique similar to what you described and I always, always w/o fail fell asleep! I believe I could do Light's in the AM to start my day with a little jolt and mild stretch and your technique at nighttime while unwinding in bed! Great Idea! and GREAT IDEAS! everyone!
I am so very happy I put this topic up because everyone of you heard my plea and desperate cry for help!
Thank all of you. Jaguar, thank you for your post. Most helpful with the others. Also, to let you know, while you described the concentration of the toes to the neck, I actually did this while I read it and it does work! Can't wait!
Again, thank you so much,
Frustrated
Light ~
I agree with what you said. I will do your techniques in the AM and Jaguars in the PM. And a good idea to toss in that deliberately tense up...great idea!
Again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Frustrated
Yes, Doc~
I agree, many thanks to everyone. Very much appreciated! Can't wait to try the techniques with the broth of yellow lentils for my stomach and the drops to take along with me for helping my anxious stomach.
All of you, thank you!
Frustrated
Hi F,
Great. Please give the lentil water a go. Only drink the water on top at first. When your stomach is settled you can finish the remaining lentils. But there is no requirement to do so in terms of helping your symptoms. When boiling add salt to taste. It also helps with the sickness. Also adding a little salt to say a glass of ribena helps balance yours system post vomiting.
If you have any associated indigestion, have a table spoon of vinegar with a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar. If you have acid indigestion this will calm it, if you have eaten something that is not suitable, this will bring it out. Either way you will feel much better. These are tips from my nan. I have grown up on such remedies and shared them and have been thanked.
Yes re arches,this relates to accu pressure. I had this done in China. The next day I slept the whole day and missed sight seeing! The arches need to be repeatedly stroked and pressed in.
re fingers, my mum always strokes ours finger tips to relax us when we are stressed out. so ask your other half to lightly stroke the tops of you fingertips.
please let me know how you get on.
ps most of all, believe in your bodies ability to return to your centre. X
Oops! hit that "Reply to ..." button without thinking. Bowled over by your "Love you much." It's a great forum when you get a reply like that. Makes you glad to be here even if the original reason sucks. Yeh! love you much too, frustrated. Fancy that, being made glad to be on this forum, me with cancer and all.