kag101

Simplify your practice! Meditation should not be a complicated airy-fairy thing. I'd suggest you practice focusing on your breath.

Thank you! Unfortunately, after more than 6 months, I have been feeling depressed over the last 2 days. I feel like a zombie. It's not extremely intense, but it is present. And I just want to get rid of it as soon as possible. I think I know what might have caused it (lack of sleep). I'll make sure I sleep well the next few days, and hopefully I will feel good again.

• I am interesting in small changes that create big results. That strategic and exact change that will have a domino effect in my life. One of those changes was being on medication. I had so many preconceived notions about psychiatry. I thought it was ineffective. But the thing is, whatever field that uses the scientific method is the one that gives the best concrete results. • I was able to ween off of my sleep pills. Thank god... that was the last "dependence" I had. It wasn't a strong med, but nevertheless it's much better to be able to sleep without it. I think I will only use it as an SOS, in very specific situations. • I started reading Harry Potter The Sorcerer's Stone. Finally, lol. I remember when I was 7, some kids in my class were reading that book. It is very impressive for someone that age to read a book like that. While they were reading that, I was reading Captain Underpants, lol. • I am somewhat confident that I will successfully get back to teaching language classes. This month (May), my goal is to focus on creating interesting activities. I want to remind myself that I should do it imperfectly. I oftentimes start focus on minute details, and that's a waste of time. • I have met a guy on Tinder who is very interesting. He is very similar to someone else I used to have a crush on. It's kinda creepy, tbh. Lol... a lot of similarities. I am trying my best to have realistic expectations this time. I don't want to get all excited, without sufficient evidence that it will be something that will last. I started talking with him 4 days ago. It is very recent, but I feel a very strong connection with him. The last two days, we talked on the phone for more than 3 hours. Lol... I was telling him about my life story. He is a great listener. He is a pretty chilled guy. It's very nice to talk with him. He is not the most "beautiful" guy, but he has a natural beauty, and he has a great personality. • I have come up with a great morning routine. Its main focus is on affirmations. > I have come up with a list of "reminders" that are tailored insights to counterbalance my weaknesses, such as perfectionism. I repeat each affirmation 3x. My life purpose is included. This takes about 10-15 minutes. Then, I do some basic breathing techniques, visualize for 1 min, and stay in silence for another minute. • It's important that I be extra patient with myself. Because I suffered depression for 15 years, there are a lot of areas in my life in which I am underdeveloped. I know that I will catch up with my potential. But it takes time... • I had the difficult talk about money with my dad. I mentioned that some posts ago. I still need to have a third conversation, though, and I hope to have it done by Friday.

That's interesting! Are there any books you recommend about this topic? I've been thinking quite a bit about marketing, especially personal marketing. I'm not very good at selling myself... Cool! I'll check this video out.

A video that preferably: • You think people have forgotten about it, but that has made a big impact on your life. • Doesn't have many views. • Is not that recent.

That's good. How are your relationships? (Not necessarily romantic ones). how long has it been since this family member passed away? do you feel like the emotional pain is proportional to what happened? Or is it too much? Why do you meditate?

That's great! Ok, externally your life is going "really well", but how is it internally?

I wouldn't say "unprepared mind". There are people who should not take it because of, for example, genetics. These substances can trigger the genes that cause schizophrenia or bipolar, for example. I don't care who he is. I simply think that the points that he makes on the video are very valid. I am not focusing on the person, but on his arguments. The only cases of healthy usage that I have seen is on an organization called UDV. Using them by oneself is very dangerous. Without the guidance of someone who is truly experienced with those substances, the odds of going on a wrong track is too high.

I have a very similar experience and opinion as he does. EDIT: My intention is to simply point out that those substances are often promoted in some spiritual circles as the ultimate solution to all life's problems, especially psychological ones. But on many individuals -- myself included -- it has an opposite effect long-term. It took me years to wake up out of my addiction for tripping. I was actually indirectly trying to cure my depression and social anxiety through those substances. And the most dangerous thing is that it is so easy to rationalize excessive usage by saying: "Oh... I am working on my spirituality. I am exploring other realms of consciousness. I am dissolving my ego. I am releasing trauma, etc." I was simply deluding myself.

Let's see how long this "coming out of depression" will last. I am skeptical about the long-term benefits of psychedelics with depression. In my case, it worked like this: I'd trip. Life had color once again. Eventually, I would come back to my "depressed self". Then, I would trip again. And that became a cycle. I can't believe I read this. You know... there are other tools for healing besides psychedelics. ??‍♂️ Whoooooah... I got teared down! Omg... I won't sleep tonight. Lol. And btw, it is not a clickbait. It's the title of the video, and I myself don't plan to use psychedelics again in my life. I should've written more about my own experience, so I edited the original post.

Can you give some examples of things you do in that regards?

I just rewatched this one after a long time, and man... this is gold. This is the most important episode for me personally. Truly inspirational.

Nah... you're probably just making a fool out of yourself...

@Rilles Keep us posted =)

I suggest you search the definition of "hallucination". The plural of anecdote is not evidence.

Hold your horses! I have tried in the past to be "radically honest". It is very common for someone who cares too much about the opinion of others to swing to the other side of the spectrum. That is, to become completely careless and, in essence, an asshole. That was my case. I destroyed a lot of relationships, and I also did a lot of excessively cringey stuff. If you do want to practice giving your honest opinion about controversial topics, remember to do that in small dosages. Expanding your comfort zone is like a rubber. If you stretch it too much, it will break. Imo, sometimes he overexposures himself.

@samedm9 Don't trust everything you "experience". The brain is highly susceptible to hallucinations.

@Rilles sure, man <3 i know how much it sucks to have social anxiety. so i really hope you can get better. And btw, don't underestimate the power of free-association therapy. it seems like "you're just talking", but it is actually much deeper than that. Counterintuitvely, this type of "freer" approach helps me more than "goal-oriented" therapy. I really hope you do ask her that. This can be a game-changer.

But does he smoke weed or take psychedelics?

Apart from work, how's your life in general? Are "meaninglessness" and "lack of interest" also present in other areas of your life?

Is feeling "absolutely drained and depressed" after your session a good thing? I know that purging is important sometimes and everything, but I don't think it's a good sign if it happens every single time. In my case, I always leave psychotherapy with a sense of relief and optimism. I personally don't find cathartic experiences to be effective. in my experience, the best psychotherapy is subtle. Have you asked her if she thinks that it is a good idea to see a psychiatrist? Maybe you're feeling things so intensely because you might have a chemical unbalance...

From your description, I don't think your healthy nor balanced. Ponder if you're on the right path.

Were you two high on psychedelics?

Congrats on the “awakening”. Self-help and spiritual stuff promise a lot of results, but doesn’t deliver any substantial and long-term results. In my case, it took me 14-fucking-years of suffering to finally let go of all my hopes on the alternative methods; and simply gave the traditional methods a chance. I had read a lot about it, but didn’t really have a direct experience with it. Only if I sought scientifically-based methods sooner, I wouldn’t have suffered so much. But in a way, I feel like living in hell for more than a decade gave me a deeper understanding of human pain. Because of that, I feel like I have much more true compassion than most people. That being said, I never want to go back there again. And if that does happen, I know I have professional support. Don’t rely your mental health to self-help or gurus. “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” — Elisabeth Kübler-Ross PSYCHIATRIST, AUTHOR

Well, if you consider that: Your subconscious = God Then, yes. Otherwise, no.