Mindfulness and tapping...im struggling to do this.

[Mimi1979]

Hi everyone, so...my psychologists has suggested i practice mindfulness. I find this really really hard.

I've tried...even downloading an app for helping me. 

I find it really hard to 'be in the moment '. Does anyone else have this problem or have tips for me?. 

Also, a friend of mine suggested 'tapping'. I also find this 'weird '. She swears by it. 

I.Just.cant.do.it!!! 😭😭😭

Does anyone feel my pain? 

[Guest_5218]

Yes Mimi I do feel your frustration.  I have also tried to practice Mindfulness at the instigation of my psychologist. But unfortunately without any real success.  Just dont seem to be able to get my head around the concept.  So although I am unable to offer any tips or advise to help you, I do know the frustration of not being able to do it.  So I will be following this thread for tips as well.  I hope someone can help us both.

Sherie x

[Durras]

Hi Mimi1979 and Sherie,

I bought a book on line called Managing depression with mindfulness for dummies. I haven't received it as yet but it sounded really good. I ordered it on 17th Dec so I hope it arrives soon. Just want to let you know about the book as sometimes I find they also can help, and doing the programs/tasks in the book in your own time too.

I will keep an eye on this thread too for helpful tips and advice.

Sorry Mimi1979 I couldn't be much more of a help.

Durras x

[VictoriasPlace]

Hi Mimi, Sherie and Durras

it's great that you have been recommended mindfulness, although I understand your struggle with it, I had this too, it's a bit of a journey. Just start small, just 1 minute, then 2 then 3 etc. The HeadSpace App is very good. You can also bring mindfulness into your everyday life. Think about mindfully eating, mindfully drinking, mindfully breathing. All of the times you stop your thoughts from taking over, you are being mindful.

Tapping is a word for EFT, which is Emotional Freedom Technique. It works on lightly tapping certain on your body, like acupuncture, without the needles. It starts with a sentence or word that brings up an unpleasant thought or memory. Then you tap on the points, saying the thought/memory and also saying 'but I love and accept myself completely'. After doing a few rounds, the feelings seem to not be so negative, and when you have that feeling again, the physical reaction to that memory isn't so harsh. 

With both mindfulness and EFT it's best to do them with someone who has had experience in these methods, so they can explain them to you properly. 

I hope that's helped?

Victoria 

[Guest_5218]

Hello Victoria.  Thanks very much for that explanation.  I had never heard of the tapping or EFT thing before.  You seem to have explained it very well.  It sounds interesting and I will try to remember to ask my psych about it next time I see her.  Regarding the Mindfulness, perhaps I have been a little too impatient in the past by trying to start too big.  I will try to start small as you suggest and see how that goes.

I notice that this is your first post, so you are new to the Forums.  Welcome and thankyou for your advice.

Sherie xx

[Jay-Kay]

Mimi - and others here: hi. yeah, Mindfulness is tricky. some really great suggestions on this thread, and I thought I would add this; go on you-tube and type in "breathing space" and /or 3 minute mindfulness and you can get quick, guided ones: I think the idea is to keep practising, once or twice a day, regularly, till your brain begins to "get it"   - at the moment I am flooded by thoughts (mostly negative) in my mini-practises, but I remember doing this some years ago and I know persistence and patience with that will pay off. your mind learns to shhhhhh for a well and you can sometimes get a few moments peace from mental torment. 

also re EFT: I qualified at level two practitioner, with this technique, a few years ago; just before I had a breakdown and I believe why I broke down: I brought up too many difficult memories and was flooded and unable to get support to understand what was happening to me.....   this is NOT to dismiss EFT: I still use it, but I stop, and self-soothe, if it is feeling too intense. I use it more just to shift nagging thoughts and shift my energy when I feel stuck. so my caution is - go gently with it. many other practitioners would not like what I have to say here - and insist that it is being used effectively to heal trauma. great, if that's happened for some clients; but not for me, and I DO think it is really useful - but I also think, if you are currently not too stable then be careful

this is speaking from a trauma perspective, and I no longer believe that trauma/anxiety/depression are interchangeable terms and require same approaches: we are speaking of very different human processes.......   just my take

self-help is great, though, but you need to be safe; best of luck and good healing to all!