~Can You Switch Your Brain Off?~

racheH · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 5:34 pm Post subject:

The more anxious I get, over anything, the more random, irrelevant thoughts pass through my mind. I think it's because I've practised that defense mechanism of 'going somewhere else' for so long that it happens automatically now, even when not thinking about a problem actually makes it worse. In my mock exams last year, I found that as much as I cared about an exam, I couldn't concentrate. My imagination took over instead. My reaction was to try to scare myself into paying attention, but eventually I realised that it was happening because I was so scared in the first place. When I stayed calm, it stopped.

_________________
'Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else' ~ Liza Minnelli

racheH · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 6:02 pm Post subject:

I'll try that tonight grumblina, thanks Smile

I normally find a technique my grandad told me about useful.
Starting with my feet and working upwards, never going back, I tell each part of me to 'go to sleep'. You should end up completely unaware of any part of your body, which cuts out most distractions. Some people even lose all their other sensations, including hearing. If you do this, with your body asleep and mind awake, you are actually in the state some people think is necessary for astral projection. From here it at least it should be easy to sleep Wink

_________________
'Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else' ~ Liza Minnelli

zyxockjm · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:38 pm Post subject:

black_mamba, I used to have the same problem you did until I got this book on how to meditate properly. It's similar to what someone posted above me, put all your focus on something else, like your breathing. I can not meditate well at all but I can atleast turn my 'brain switch' off. It has helped me a lot and I really suggest you to read the book I read. It's called "Turning the mind into an ally" by "sakyong mipham".

black_mamba · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:07 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the recommendation zyxockjm! I've never really meditated properly before. My only experience of it was of being forced to lie down on a dusty classroom floor and do exactly what racheH described (it was a personal education style lesson). It was the only time my tension headache completely dissappeared and I felt like a changed teenager.

Very Happy

black_mamba · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:43 am Post subject:

Hey masterpiece Smile

Your post made me think about the negatve side of being switched off mentally. To be honest I think I'd rather stay alert even if it meant less sleep. I couldn't cope without my imagination ... (sundays are for sleeping anyway). Very Happy

Loopy_Lil · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:43 pm Post subject:

I do that as well
I lie in bed awake just thinking yet wanting to sleep
It doesn't happen every night thankfully but often enough to be a pain
I never connected it with my anxiety before thanks Black Mamba
I've done a kind of meditation where you relax your muscles from the toes up to the head
you breathe in and then tense that muscle group hold it tense for a few seconds then release and breathe out
it works a bit for me (scrunching up my face so it's tense then releasing it is really good its so freeing)
I hope this helps
Lil

_________________
A champion is one who gets up when he/she can’t.

Jack7

black_mamba · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 1:07 pm Post subject:

Yup me too. I'd love to have a book to my name but I can't think of any one subject to devote to. (Actually I once wanted to do one on popular culture, although a new book I see may have covered some of my views; its here)

I've decided to put away all my sketchbooks. Out of sight out of mind - I can now feel my brain relaxing. I just keep one mini sketchbook in my backpack now because don't you just hate it when a good idea hits you and you're stranded with no paper! Shocked

Jack7 · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 1:21 pm Post subject:

black_mamba · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 1:29 pm Post subject:

But then again paper can always be salvaged...old newspapers on the train, receipts, cigarette packaging etc. Next problem, who looks unintimidating enough to approach for a pen? Very Happy