escape

[Ryumon]

Re: escape

Does this make any more sense..?

Yep. Especially what you say about chronic pain. I wonder if there's some link in the brain between the way fear is processed and the way pain is felt. I have almost-chronic back pain, and it's quite surprising how it can hurt even when nothing is happening (of course, when I'm stressed, and muscles tighten on vertebrae, it gets worse too).

[Omoi Otoshi]

Re: escape

There sure is! I don't remember the exact pathways though. Pain is closely related to depression, anxiety and stress. One leads to the other and vice versa. Many patients go see their GP because of physical symtoms, like back pain, when the real problem is depression, work load, problems in a relationship etc. And as you say, when we feel stressed, we tighten the muscles in the shoulders, neck and back, which constricts bloodflow and leads to swelling and tenderness.

/Pontus

[Amelia]

Re: escape

Good to know, Pontus, thank you. It is interesting how our brain can manifest sensations to overcompensate for emotions that we may not even be aware of.

It seems to me that mindfulness practice would be useful for identifying the origins of our issues. Then, of course, we drop them and return to shikantaza.

It's helpful to have someone in the medical field here.

Gassho,

Amelia

[michaeljc]

Re: escape

i am a stay at home mom. lately i have found myself in the everyday stressful situations and using meditation as a form of escape from all that i'm feeling. the minute something goes wrong the first thing that goes through my mind is sit to forget. like using alcohol or a drug. since this feeling has started i have avoided sitting, for fear of zazen truly becoming a crutch. i'm not quite sure how to approach this. any advice would be greatly appreciated. peace and light

joanna

Firstly joanna I would be interested to know how many sits and for what average time is involved on each sit on a normal sort of day?

I unashamedly use Zazen as a life tool – along with other more minor reasons. If Zazen did not help me cope with my life I doubt that I would do it. However I do not believe that we should consider this an escape. I would more regard it as a return. Currently I am sitting 3 - 4 sits/day 30 - 45 m/sit. I sit without a timer.

Secondly, rightly or wrongly, I do address the things that are worrying me. I often make a point of this. However I would not consider I was meditating on them, but rather observing them - and in particular - the actual discomfort they are causing. Invariably it is these issues that dominate our mental state at a start of a sit. Therefore they get most attention at that stage. With observation they dissolve.

Furthermore, sitting is not a time waster. With regular sitting we are more productive and (especially) more compatible ( what sort of Mum do kids want?) . We also need less sleep.
Just my penny’s worth

Cheers

m