Mindfulness mayhem - some questions

[lightsoutbyten]

I've been reading a lot about Mindfulness/ACT therapy, and tried a bit a while ago, but didn't really 'get' it.

I have a few questions about it and want to shout out for anyone who has had it/struggles with it, in case they can help?

Shout away, OP.

Superspeedy, thanks Stargirl!

Ok.

I get the 'you are not your thoughts' thing - detaching yourself from your thoughts/not taking them so seriously/seeing them just as a story you tell yourself.

That really makes sense regarding extreme/depressive thoughts, e.g. I am crazy/evil/unloveable.

I struggle with the 'true' thoughts. For example, I might have a persistent 'true' thought about a lost relationship - 'X doesn't love me any more'. Or about my situation - 'I can't keep people in my life'. These things may be true.

So how does mindfulness work with these 'truths'? What if the thoughts you're having, aren't just extreme products of depression but are in fact accurate assessments of your situation?

My only answer is that the fact might be real but you don't have to feel other things about the fact, e.g. shame, guilt etc.

I think even if you believe the thought to be a true though representing the truth of a situation, mindfulness allows you to 'see' it at a distance. You just exist in the moment. Right there, right now.

You need to be calm and at peace to process the 'true' thought. Either to accept it and use it as a catalyst for change or to reject it.

Is there really truth? I would suggest that we all perceive reality differently. I guess that's more philosophy though.

I use mindfulness for anxiety rather than depression - to ward off my ramblings about future worries. I can have very intrusive thoughts based on my anxiety about DD. Do you see a psychologist at all?

Thanks Stargirl. Aw, it's hard, I'm not sure I am getting it. I'm trying to but I'm not quite there.
I do see someone, yes. I think I might need to ask someone face to face because I'm struggling with it.

It is both simple and hard A simple concept but bloody hard to achieve! It gets easier with practise. I find yoga really helps too.

Have you looked at the videos on You Tube? The passengers on the bus really resonated with me but someone else I know clicked with the ship nearing the shore. Search ACT on You Tube.

have you looked at the John Kabbat Zin link on You tube, he is giving a talk at google (I think) and he explains it really well.

I've done the 8-week MBSR programme.
In a nutshell, you are just observing your thoughts. You are not getting caught up in the current of thinking, you are observing thoughts going through your mind, in much the same way as you would observe clouds passing through the sky.
Jon Kabat Zinn's books are excellent, but if you could find a good course it would help immensely. I found it fantastic.

Thanks everyone. You explain it very well.

I am going to look up JK (Zinn!) Maybe I need to hear someone talk about it rather than read about it. I get the concept, but my mind is tangled up with 'what if it's real, though?'

Stargirl I like your philosophical take on it - what is real, anyway?

Struggling, but grateful for your support.