Mindfullness

[JustBeyond]

Has anyone tried it, who has had unsuccesful CBT?

I'm a tad wary tbh, but dont want to go into it expecting it to be crap. All the "omg, mindfullness cured my 20 year treatment-resistant depression" propaganda that i have seen seems to be NT, so i was looking for a ND perspective?

I've had CBT that worked well for some components of my anxiety (largely talking to people in shops) but didn't touch my depression, and have found mindfulness very helpful to deal with upsetting thoughts, physical sensations and inability to relax. I did it as part of a course on Acceptance and Commitment therapy, which also involved some useful concepts like cognitive defusion, and have learnt to notice my thoughts and detach myself from them, using a process which involves reframing the thought as things that are happening. (In not perfect at it but it helps). I was taught to recognise that they are just thoughts, and not necessarily to be taken as facts or "bought into" in the psychologist's terminology - e.g. instead of "I'm stupid, and useless, and I'll never get a job" leading to feelings of self-hatred and despair, I'm supposed to notice that I'm having the thought that I'm stupid, and I'm having the thought that I'm useless, and I'm having the thought that I will never get a job. Not judge the truth of the thoughts or judge myself for having the thoughts or assume that the thoughts are true just because I'm having them, but just notice the thoughts as they pass through my head.

I struggle a lot with sensory problems and racing thoughts when I'm in bed at night, and mindfulness really helps me deal with my physical discomfort and mental processes.

BTW I have ASD and MH problems.

Sorry for all the typos.

I found CBT made me feel faulty for not being able to stop having the thoughts that made me feel bad, and constantly arguing with the thoughts seemed to make those thoughts stronger!

Like, I would start arguing with myself that no, the challenge to the thought was WRONG, I really AM stupid and useless and will never get a job, and the evidence for that is xyz. The more I thought about and tried to fight the thoughts the stronger they got.

To be honest I still get the physical and emotional symptoms of depression - the lethargy, the aching muscles and joints, the sinking sadness - and I still get the thoughts that I'm bad and useless and all the rest of it, but the thoughts don't bother me as much when I am simply noticing them, and I don't feel the need to berate myself or act upon them so much.

I'm still learning how to do all this and I'm not great at it.

Ah thank you gumble.

My big other concern is that it is a group thing. I'm gonna need to take dh but no idea how we will wangle that. Cant do a group thing on my own atm.

The one I did was a group thing but it wasn't too bad. I am okay with being in a group in my own, though. Perhaps mention "reasonable adjustments" to them if they get funny about you having someone in there with you?

will do. Wonder if i could get a creche out of 'reasonable ajustments' too...

I can be okay bearable if its just listening in a group
Participation is a big fat no though. Probably even if i have someone there.

I need to know the answers in advance (so eg, uni things can be okay), and i'm guessing i wont

Well, even if its group participation, i'll go to the first one and if i cant do it i will tell them so. I will give it a go. The psych offered psychotherapy if mindfullness doesnt work, so i'm not out of options :)

You can only give it a go and see how you get on; they can't ask more from you than that. I'm glad you have other options if the mindfulness one turns out not to be possible. And good luck.