Mindfulness and migraine I did in August 2009 an 8-week course in MBSR occupied by Jon Kabat-Zinn, which is a so-called mindfulness training, which was originally invented for stress reduction (MBSR = Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction ). Over time it has been found that along the way also helps to Selbstheilungskäfte to activate. America in the country it is used by default already in many hospitals and has proven especially pain disorders, diseases of the cardiovascular system and stress-related disorders.
I would like to report my personal experience with this course and what I could deduce from it for me.
Man learns there three things: the so-called Body Scan - a meditative and mindful contemplation of the whole body and its functions (while lying down, about 25 minutes), in the classic meditation posture and mindfulness yoga. Meditation and Body Scan back to the Vipassana meditation. In addition to the exercises, there are always little mindfulness homework for everyday life at home.
I have occupied this course because all the drug, but also alternative treatment trials of "my" migraines were so far without lasting success. It was time to learn that I make my living, not the migraine.
Mind you all these techniques of mindfulness training is not in itself a therapy - it is rather a guide for a lifestyle change. And of course this is taking place slowly and from a long period of time. Who expected that one is freed after 8 weeks of his suffering is certainly not in this course in good hands. It is associated with work in itself and consistent daily practice - with no expectations. Just getting into it and see what happens.
I have found in the 8 weeks has never been so much about myself learned and I'm (me) infinitely grateful that I've gathered up actually, Duch pull this course - one is committed, namely, to practice daily at least 45 minutes.
Since then I meditate daily, at least half an hour, depending on the time I do yoga exercises in addition or the body scan or a deep relaxation on CD (Yoga Nidra).
I do not think I would have pulled through without the guidance and the weekly exchange in the group (the voice inside you, you know) - so I can only do each recommended as a basis.
I was also fortunate that we were only a small group, including three Migränikerinnen and we could confront us so specifically with the phenomenon of pain and awareness.
I would like to thank Holger, our instructor, - for many views and vistas and 9 wonderful and enriching day course! http://www.mbsr-nord.de/
After the course I have (thanks for the tips, dear Holger!) Procured plenty of literature and CDs to me regarding the mindfulness meditation as it were, to further develop: the Vipassana Meditation I feel sometimes be too severe, which are not counting mantra still "allowed" means the concentration on the breath alone is important.
I have now developed meditative in the direction of the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh and put his exercises for mindfulness as a model.
I go this way:
I sit on my meditation pillow (so that the posterior pelvis is slightly higher - because you can sit better) on the floor, straighten out and make me to stretch one or two yoga exercises while sitting. Then I take a meditation posture: sitting cross-legged (lotus position I can not) and superimposed his hands in his lap, so that the thumbs touch. The attitude should be given radiate a certain dignity. Then
I close my eyes and accept myself in:
I breathe and notice that I breathe.
I am breathing out and notice that I austame.
I breathe in and become quiet.
I exhale and feel light.
I breathe and notice my body.
I breathe out and smile at him.
I breathe in and smile.
I breathe out and let go.
I breathe and am completely in the here and now.
I breathe out and smile at that moment to.
[This exercise is also very pleasant evening prior to sleep!]
Then I count my breathing slowly and deliberately trains from 1 to 10 and backwards from 10.
focus from this moment I am not quite counting on the breath and that the nostrils where the breath flows and a. When the result of noise, thoughts or feelings, then I suppose they are true, but firmly believe they do not, but let them move.
meditate Sometimes I also have feelings or formulate a question or request in advance and see what rises during meditation. Without coercion and without specifically thinking about it. If
I am in pain, so I focus deliberately on the pain, breathe it in and out, bathe him with the breath and let him get a feeling of affection (I imagine I weigh him in the arm).
I breathe and notice the pain.
I breathe out and smile at him.
During the meditation, I never feel pain, and I am light and quiet at times (which is then close to the Trance) the feeling of weightlessness. It is also strange that come to mind during the meditation the dreams again last night ... explain why I have not, but it's kind of enlightening. After that, I'm
always very alert and mentally fit. What has changed
this course now?
Regarding my migraine, I can say that did little in the first few weeks, and while I felt relief during meditation or body scans, but the pain came back. Since November 2009, my monthly attacks but are actually in decline, and I could have one or the other attack in the approach "wegmeditieren. It is also a success for me that will not take any migraine attack three days, but often only one day. That's what I was about 15 years no longer experienced.
And most importantly: I won a very different approach to pain. I've stopped me to identify with the migraine. It is no longer "my" migraines, but "a" migraine - migraine and I are not identical. I'm not the pain - because it hurts only a small part and not the whole body. And what is also important to live with pain: the disease is no longer my enemy, which must be fought.
had in the first weeks after the course at first I feel that while I get along well with the exercises, but the mindfulness in everyday life can not really put ... Today I realize that I have integrated these everyday mindfulness unconsciously and thus actually a day profit from the learned: I
recognize signals of my body earlier - say, more often in the right moment "STOP", turn down a walk, breathe deeply a few times, and or doing some yoga exercises.
falls while eating at me that I enjoy much more conscious and eat (that is along the lines of "what could be really on my plate - what was the time" This also includes the preparation of material).
Extreme emotions such as anger, fear, but also joy, I can handle better - once triggered something like from a migraine attack, and today I take them as they are, they look at me, do not increase me in, oppress them and not : sense and then to judge without can be drawn!
seems to me at all to be for every day the most important thing: to live in the present, taking each moment as it is to him not to slide into drawers (that's good or bad), but to enjoy it NOW and to be aware of its volatility.
is not permanent and can hold on to. Even anger distorted, noisy and joy, take some pain.
And so now I manage quite well to always be with full concentration on what I'm doing - and no matter how "unimportant" such as washing dishes or vegetables cut or snow shoveling.
Mindfulness has also taught me, in thought no longer dwell in the past or ruminate about what the future holds. Plans are ok - but always imagine what could have been done better or what will probably be bringing one's not really on - one we can not change, the other does not affect (barely).
What I have learned not to do a thousand things at once - although I was a master of multitasking, but it suits me much better, doing things in sequence. I would say my life has to decelerate.
I will definitely continue to practice - the daily meditation I would miss in no case more.
And a A few tips and more - this is to be noted: Books and manuals are very helpful - but it is above all a meditation practice or theory. The MBSR course is a good basis for a quasi tools that you get to see it his own way - as tread this path can be experienced every man for himself:
Jon Kabat-Zinn : health through meditation . (He also has good CDs with booklets introducing the MBSR - recommended for even novice)
Thich Nhat Hanh: enjoy every moment. Mindfulness exercises.
William Hart: The art of life. Vipassana Meditation by SN Goenka.
MBSR:
http://www.mbsr-verband.org/
http://www.mbsr-deutschland.de/
Mediation Centers of Thich Nhat Hanh has (also can
http://www.intersein.de/
http://www.plumvillage.org/
Vipassana meditation be learned here:: good CDs)
http: / / www.dvara.dhamma.org/index.php?id=dvara&L=1
http://www.vipassana-dhammacari.com/meditationskurse.html # info4
Mindfulness Yoga:
Boccio, Frank J.: Mindfulness Yoga.
courses and seminars on Aufrischen and new ideas:
- in the pages of the MBSR groups (see above) and here
eg
- http://www.hausderstille.org/index.html
- http://www.quelle-des-mitgefuehls.de/
Good CDs for practice (you can get from his teacher but even CDs, but as the saying goes: varietas delectat!)
http://www.intersein-zentrum.de/shop/shop.html
2 CDs: Jon Kabat-Zinn: Mindfulness and Meditation in Daily Life. With booklet.
1 CD with 6 guided meditations: Jack Kornfeld: Meditation for beginners. With booklet.
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background information on the specifications about MBSR, mindfulness, meditation be found in this category in the forum "Living with migraine headaches and ":
http://kopfschmerzforum.plusboard.de/meditation-mbsr-achtsamkeit-yoga-t1899.html # 44 177