Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0
Sugarcoat

INCREDIBLE story about overcoming pain using mindfulness

24 posts in this topic

Posted (edited)

This is truly incredible

I somehow found this video on YouTube of a man talking about how he overcame the physical pain of trigeminal neuralgia using large amount of mindfulness/meditation practice.
 

Trigeminal neuralgia is called the “suicide disease” because the pain is so severe it’s known as one of the most, like top two, most painful conditions that exist. It’s rated on McGill pain index higher than for example childbirth 
 

I only listened to the video once and it was kinda long so I don’t remember a lot of details of what he said. But basically he studied some of Shinzen Youngs work that talked about how pain + resistance = suffering. That pain is not inherently suffering (what I used to think). And one can learn how to not resist, something like that, and overcome the suffering.
 

The man already was spiritual and did practice, but he added this large amount of mindfulness to the pain and overcame it. He even mentioned doing invasive dental work without needing painkiller due to his mindfulness ability making him not suffer the pain.

I don’t know if this man is a genetic freak, he is very stubborn and has discipline which helps him, and his history of already doing spiritual practice helps too. But nonetheless it’s truly remarkable. To think that someone could overcome one of the most severe pain in the world using the mind (or deactivating the mind or whatever you wanna call it) is just incredible. 

What you guys think? Does this give hope for the many pain sufferers all over the world or is it just something a select few can accomplish because of the amount of determination needed?

 

Edited by Sugarcoat

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I don't know if this is exactly what it's about, but I noticed that I could increase my physical performance by "disconnecting," by realizing that pain is just information, by distancing myself from this egotistical data, if that makes sense.
At 18, I could run a half marathon after a few training sessions by doing this.
The same goes for insomnia; as long as you say "I'm an insomniac," it's part of your self-concept, and so you have to go through these exercises to gradually eliminate the condition.
Etcetc.


Nothing will prevent Willy.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
5 minutes ago, Schizophonia said:

I don't know if this is exactly what it's about, but I noticed that I could increase my physical performance by "disconnecting," by realizing that pain is just information, by distancing myself from this egotistical data, if that makes sense.
At 18, I could run a half marathon after a few training sessions by doing this.
The same goes for insomnia; as long as you say "I'm an insomniac," it's part of your self-concept, and so you have to go through these exercises to gradually eliminate the condition.
Etcetc.

I remember you mentioned this before. 
 

Did it make you suffer less because that’s ultimately what this was about?

Some people say they dissociate while in severe enough pain. It seems to be a protective/coping mechanism of the brain. I don’t know if it helps because I haven’t experienced that. But maybe it can block the experience a little I don’t know. But what he in the video is talking about if I remember correctly; is more so going into the pain with your attention so it’s the opposite of dissociation.

I remember in my far past when I would run on threadmill, if I kinda placed my attention in my chest where I felt the fatigue it seemed like it kinda helped. I haven’t done that since then so I don’t know if it works. Might try it out sometime. Because I don’t get pain luckily (yet, you never know, we all could get injured or develop disease) so there’s not many ways for me to test this out. But I could try when I workout very intensely

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Posted (edited)

1 hour ago, Sugarcoat said:

I remember you mentioned this before. 
 

Did it make you suffer less because that’s ultimately what this was about?

You mean about mindfullness ?

I would say yes, a priori.

Quote

Some people say they dissociate while in severe enough pain. It seems to be a protective/coping mechanism of the brain. I don’t know if it helps because I haven’t experienced that.

 

But maybe it can block the experience a little I don’t know. But what he in the video is talking about if I remember correctly; is more so going into the pain with your attention so it’s the opposite of dissociation.

Like you contemplate so much the pain that you "debunk" it ?

 

Quote

I remember in my far past when I would run on threadmill, if I kinda placed my attention in my chest

This far past where you had a chest 🤔

 

Ok jk

Quote

where I felt the fatigue it seemed like it kinda helped. I haven’t done that since then so I don’t know if it works. Might try it out sometime. Because I don’t get pain luckily (yet, you never know, we all could get injured or develop disease) so there’s not many ways for me to test this out. But I could try when I workout very intensely

Yeah, it's a kind of "dissociation by focusing attention".

Edited by Schizophonia

Nothing will prevent Willy.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Posted (edited)

18 hours ago, Schizophonia said:

You mean about mindfullness ?

I would say yes, a priori.

Quote

I meant the trick you did. 
 

That’s cool it helps. The thing is tho we have to put ourselves through suffering to be able to test it out

18 hours ago, Schizophonia said:

 

Like you contemplate so much the pain that you "debunk" it ?

 

Not contemplation. Some dissociate I can’t really describe it because I haven’t experienced it but it’s like “checking out”. The mindfulness method is not dissociation it’s having attention on pain if I remember correctly 

18 hours ago, Schizophonia said:

 

This far past where you had a chest 🤔

 

Ok jk

Yeah, it's a kind of "dissociation by focusing attention".

Lol

yea. I’d say it’s not dissociation tho

Edited by Sugarcoat

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've listened through the video. Incredible story. 


Freedom is love under all conditions. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Posted (edited)

30 minutes ago, Salvijus said:

I've listened through the video. Incredible story. 

Yea I know right. I am lucky to not deal with pain yet in my life but you never know what happens we all could get affected at some point so it’s good to know there is alternative route even if it’s hard

Edited by Sugarcoat

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
16 minutes ago, Sugarcoat said:

Yea I know right. I am lucky to not deal with pain yet in my life but you never know what happens we all could get affected at some point so it’s good to know there is alternative route even if it’s hard

I myself wonder if that's something everyone who aspires for spiritual ideals have to go through. He did hint in the video by sharing his thoughts on being a bodisattva and then saying be careful what you wish for. In shamanism they call it "shamanic illness" where a person has to go through a period of intense illness, psychosis, near death type of event or an actual death itself, as an initiation or preparation of being a shaman. That's where my mind went as I was listening to his story. He did mention visions of a shaman and the suffering of indeginous people aswell. Kinda interesting. 

 


Freedom is love under all conditions. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ralston also claims to have ways of removing pain.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Posted (edited)

4 hours ago, Sugarcoat said:

I meant the trick you did. 

Yes.

I dissociate myself, like becoming more like of a robot; by moving my attention toward the "self", which perceives the illusion without being it if what I say makes sense.

Quote


 

That’s cool it helps. The thing is tho we have to put ourselves through suffering to be able to test it out

During your workouts ? 

Quote

Not contemplation. Some dissociate I can’t really describe it because I haven’t experienced it but it’s like “checking out”. The mindfulness method is not dissociation it’s having attention on pain if I remember correctly 

Yea it's a kind of opposite coping so

Quote

Lol

🍒  🤏👀🤏

Quote

yea. I’d say it’s not dissociation tho

 

Edited by Schizophonia

Nothing will prevent Willy.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
18 hours ago, Schizophonia said:

Yes.

I dissociate myself, like becoming more like of a robot; by moving my attention toward the "self", which perceives the illusion without being it if what I say makes sense.

Quote

Ok cool. I might experiment 

18 hours ago, Schizophonia said:

 

During your workouts ? 

18 hours ago, Schizophonia said:

 

During your workouts ? 

 

 

Workouts is the only way I suffer so might as well experiment with it

18 hours ago, Schizophonia said:

Yea it's a kind of opposite coping so

🍒  🤏👀🤏

 

Yea 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
19 hours ago, Wilhelm44 said:

Ralston also claims to have ways of removing pain.

It’s hard to stomach but I’m open to it

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
21 hours ago, Salvijus said:

I myself wonder if that's something everyone who aspires for spiritual ideals have to go through. He did hint in the video by sharing his thoughts on being a bodisattva and then saying be careful what you wish for. In shamanism they call it "shamanic illness" where a person has to go through a period of intense illness, psychosis, near death type of event or an actual death itself, as an initiation or preparation of being a shaman. That's where my mind went as I was listening to his story. He did mention visions of a shaman and the suffering of indeginous people aswell. Kinda interesting. 

 

I am fascinated by people who have suffered a lot, what has kept them going because I notice I tend to resort sometimes to suicidal thinking when I face challenges so I’m confused about what keeps other people going.

Theres something respectable about someone who has suffered a lot. It’s like there comes something deep from it, some kind of wisdom sometimes

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Posted (edited)

1 hour ago, Sugarcoat said:

It’s hard to stomach but I’m open to it

Yeah, Ralston doesnt give that much away on youtube, probably something he teaches in his courses. (Matt Kahn once mentioned that his laptop fell, and the corner of it hit the top of his foot, something which should have been quite painful, but he felt nothing. My sense is that there are certain states/dimensions of consciousness where pain is somehow not really possible.)

Edited by Wilhelm44

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, Sugarcoat said:

I’m confused about what keeps other people going.

Probably their proximity and relationship with the Spirit I would imagine. 


Freedom is love under all conditions. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 minutes ago, Salvijus said:

Probably their proximity and relationship with the Spirit I would imagine. 

Too perched/complicated people are just afraid to die.

Even after you die you will probably suffer again from the same karma or worst; in the meantime, there is always a way to escape from suffering; especially in this maya where we are in rich countries, with easy access to healthcare, etc.


Nothing will prevent Willy.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, Wilhelm44 said:

Yeah, Ralston doesnt give that much away on youtube, probably something he teaches in his courses. (Matt Kahn once mentioned that his laptop fell, and the corner of it hit the top of his foot, something which should have been quite painful, but he felt nothing. My sense is that there are certain states/dimensions of consciousness where pain is somehow not really possible.)

It’s like hidden gems…

Its crazy to me how someone could feel pain without suffering it

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Salvijus said:

Probably their proximity and relationship with the Spirit I would imagine. 

There is a group of people who gain hope from religion 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Posted (edited)

48 minutes ago, Sugarcoat said:

There is a group of people who gain hope from religion 

Well the Spirit is the only thing that can inspirit someone to live in general. So it makes sense. 

Edited by Salvijus

Freedom is love under all conditions. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, Salvijus said:

Well the Spirit is the only thing that can inspirit someone to live in general. So it makes sense. 

Then what about atheists that keep on living

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!


Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.


Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0