I've suffered from depression and had suicidal thoughts. Meditation and being in nature definitely helped me out.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherWay83 EDIT: thank you all for responding. dont know if any of you remember but years ago i tried 2 times to kill myself and ended up in the hospital both times, (only the old school peeps might remember, vivid boy might). since then i've been on anti-depressants and things got better, i guess the circumstances which were causing my depression didnt change, i had just learned to deal with it better. however now i think it's back =/ i've recently moved and things have been...up and down. the past few days were the worst, i would literally spend every single moment thinking and feeling like i'm in the worst hell imaginable. think of what its like to feel utterly lonely, completely lost, no one to talk to, feeling like nothing has any meaning or purpose, nothing can make you happy, and feeling that constantly in your mind, 24/7...thats how the last few days have been. i feel trapped as if i'm in some sort of prison with a life sentence all by myself on an island and just can't get out. it's really weird and hard to explain. i find that the more i think the worse i feel. my thoughts inevitably wander towards questions about life and meaning and all that deep shit i have no answers to, which just makes me feel that much more helpless. and thats the worst part...the helplessness to change my situation, to really change the way i feel. so today i decided that im just gonna shut off my mind...or at least spend as little time using it as possible. and i'm already feeling better my mind is my worst enemy i think, and the less i use it the better i feel. so for now thats the plan im sticking to. im just gonna feel what i feel and not try and dwell too much on shit that happened in the past, recent or distant. and i think i'll be ok. thank you all

the answer isn't to shut your mind off, but to turn it on to the right thinking. there is no point in dwelling on the past, the future, what could be, what should be, what others are thinking, or what is happening elsewhere. the most important time is here and now and far too often people forget that. what would be helpful to your situation is mindfulness. this is a thousand-year-old buddhist technique for fully absorbing your consciousness in the perfection of every moment as it unfolds. i'm going to paste an email i sent to one of my friends who was crumbling under intense stress a long time ago. read it, understand it, practice it... i try to live mindfully in as many moments as possible, and when i do, i find i am most happy, most centered, and most at peace with the world...

Mindfulness is commonly defined as the state of being attentive to and aware of what is taking place in the present. Mindfulness is the process of cultivating appreciation for the fullness of each moment we are alive. It is present-moment awareness. When we are mindful, we are paying attention, on purpose, non-judgmentally. It is an acceptance of present-moment reality. It is the waking up to the fact that our lives unfold only in moments.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder and director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, describes mindfulness as a conscious discipline that can be explained as the intentional cultivation of nonjudgmental moment-to-moment awareness. Mindfulness approaches are not considered relaxation techniques, but rather a form of mental training to reduce vulnerability to reactive modes of thinking that heighten stress and emotional distress. The result is that stress can be prevented through conscious living.

The focus of mindfulness is on the experience. Attitudinal qualities that facilitate mindfulness include the beginner's mind, non-judging, acceptance, non-attachment, and non-striving.

Rather than observing experiences through the filter of our beliefs, assumptions, expectations, and desires, the beginner's mind involves seeing things with an openess as if for the first time, without concern for "what if" and "if only".

The quality of non-judging represents detached observation. When we simply observe, without adding the mental analysis of the situation, we free ourselves to see things more accurately. We never can judge another person truly accurately. Because we cannot do this, we might as well release our need to judge. Non-judgment is the basis for accepting what is happening.

Acceptance is holistic and unconditional. Acceptance means we acknowledge experiences as they are. To bring our focus more into the present, we can simply turn off the mind chatter that is racing through our minds of what is not happening--about the future and past.

Non-attachment involves resisting the need to cling emotionally to anything--ideas, events, or periods of times to which we release our attachment.

Non-striving implies giving up our need to try to change anything. We simply give ourselves permission to allow this moment to be exactly as it is, and allow thing to be exactly as they are. For just a moment, we are no longer doing, we are just being.

When we live mindfully, focusing our attention on what is happening here and now, and allowing ourselves to be totally absorbed in the activity at hand, we become more effective and productive, whatever the task, be it skiing down a tricky ski slope or doing our best on a tough test. The extra mind chatter of future and past and the associated emotions of fear, worry, guilt and anger seem to diminish. As we do this, in as many moments as possible, we begin to understand that there is no other moment in time or point in space but that which is happening here and now.

Apart from those rare events of real danger, we live our present moments without any real threat or danger. The present moment usually involves no concern for stress. Stress occurs only when we allow our minds to think of things other than what is happening in our current experience. We focus our thoughts on potential future events, about the past, and about things that might be happening elsewhere. When we associate any kind of pain or discomfort with those thoughts of other times and places, we initiate the stress response as a natural reaction to the perception of false emergency. Mindfulness turns off the stress response and, as a result, facilitates relaxation, reduces stress hormones, and boosts the immune system.

Thought-stopping means stopping negative thoughts when they enter your stream of consciousness. When an unconstructive thought creeps into your mind, you can recognize your choice to think, and say "Stop!" In doing so, you replace the stress-producing, negative statement with a positive statement. Although this may take some practice, you actually can change the way you think.

Suppose you start to think, "I'll never be able to learn how to use this computer. I'm too old." Say, "Stop!" and replace the negative, stress-producing thought with, "I've learned difficult things before. I can do this." This simple technique works in part because it increases awareness. Consciously analyzing the thoughts that pass through your mind brings greater awareness to the messages those thoughts contain. Thought-stopping also brings an immediate end to negative messages and the resulting emotions that follow faulty thinking. The outcome of positive self-talk and thought-stopping is learned optimism. We have a choice about how we think. Optimism is a learned set of skills. Once learned, these skills persist because they feel so good to use.

___________________

dude, jenny will murder you

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by bas we're just rolling in that sweet sweet Beatport chedda SON. I PUT DIAMONDS IN MY SALT SHAKER SO I CAN HAVE CRUSHED DIAMONDS ON MY FOOD...it makes my dookie twinkle!!!

then she'll make a thread about it so everyone knows how pointless it is to challenge her perfect knowledge

___________________

therefore sending you into depression

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by bas we're just rolling in that sweet sweet Beatport chedda SON. I PUT DIAMONDS IN MY SALT SHAKER SO I CAN HAVE CRUSHED DIAMONDS ON MY FOOD...it makes my dookie twinkle!!!

quote:

Originally posted by R!CH the answer isn't to shut your mind off, but to turn it on to the right thinking. there is no point in dwelling on the past, the future, what could be, what should be, what others are thinking, or what is happening elsewhere. the most important time is here and now and far too often people forget that. what would be helpful to your situation is mindfulness. this is a thousand-year-old buddhist technique for fully absorbing your consciousness in the perfection of every moment as it unfolds. i'm going to paste an email i sent to one of my friends who was crumbling under intense stress a long time ago. read it, understand it, practice it... i try to live mindfully in as many moments as possible, and when i do, i find i am most happy, most centered, and most at peace with the world... Mindfulness is commonly defined as the state of being attentive to and aware of what is taking place in the present. Mindfulness is the process of cultivating appreciation for the fullness of each moment we are alive. It is present-moment awareness. When we are mindful, we are paying attention, on purpose, non-judgmentally. It is an acceptance of present-moment reality. It is the waking up to the fact that our lives unfold only in moments. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder and director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, describes mindfulness as a conscious discipline that can be explained as the intentional cultivation of nonjudgmental moment-to-moment awareness. Mindfulness approaches are not considered relaxation techniques, but rather a form of mental training to reduce vulnerability to reactive modes of thinking that heighten stress and emotional distress. The result is that stress can be prevented through conscious living. The focus of mindfulness is on the experience. Attitudinal qualities that facilitate mindfulness include the beginner's mind, non-judging, acceptance, non-attachment, and non-striving. Rather than observing experiences through the filter of our beliefs, assumptions, expectations, and desires, the beginner's mind involves seeing things with an openess as if for the first time, without concern for "what if" and "if only". The quality of non-judging represents detached observation. When we simply observe, without adding the mental analysis of the situation, we free ourselves to see things more accurately. We never can judge another person truly accurately. Because we cannot do this, we might as well release our need to judge. Non-judgment is the basis for accepting what is happening. Acceptance is holistic and unconditional. Acceptance means we acknowledge experiences as they are. To bring our focus more into the present, we can simply turn off the mind chatter that is racing through our minds of what is not happening--about the future and past. Non-attachment involves resisting the need to cling emotionally to anything--ideas, events, or periods of times to which we release our attachment. Non-striving implies giving up our need to try to change anything. We simply give ourselves permission to allow this moment to be exactly as it is, and allow thing to be exactly as they are. For just a moment, we are no longer doing, we are just being. When we live mindfully, focusing our attention on what is happening here and now, and allowing ourselves to be totally absorbed in the activity at hand, we become more effective and productive, whatever the task, be it skiing down a tricky ski slope or doing our best on a tough test. The extra mind chatter of future and past and the associated emotions of fear, worry, guilt and anger seem to diminish. As we do this, in as many moments as possible, we begin to understand that there is no other moment in time or point in space but that which is happening here and now. Apart from those rare events of real danger, we live our present moments without any real threat or danger. The present moment usually involves no concern for stress. Stress occurs only when we allow our minds to think of things other than what is happening in our current experience. We focus our thoughts on potential future events, about the past, and about things that might be happening elsewhere. When we associate any kind of pain or discomfort with those thoughts of other times and places, we initiate the stress response as a natural reaction to the perception of false emergency. Mindfulness turns off the stress response and, as a result, facilitates relaxation, reduces stress hormones, and boosts the immune system. Thought-stopping means stopping negative thoughts when they enter your stream of consciousness. When an unconstructive thought creeps into your mind, you can recognize your choice to think, and say "Stop!" In doing so, you replace the stress-producing, negative statement with a positive statement. Although this may take some practice, you actually can change the way you think. Suppose you start to think, "I'll never be able to learn how to use this computer. I'm too old." Say, "Stop!" and replace the negative, stress-producing thought with, "I've learned difficult things before. I can do this." This simple technique works in part because it increases awareness. Consciously analyzing the thoughts that pass through your mind brings greater awareness to the messages those thoughts contain. Thought-stopping also brings an immediate end to negative messages and the resulting emotions that follow faulty thinking. The outcome of positive self-talk and thought-stopping is learned optimism. We have a choice about how we think. Optimism is a learned set of skills. Once learned, these skills persist because they feel so good to use.

love it.

@rich - great post man, thanks for sharing

quote:

Originally posted by R!CH the answer isn't to shut your mind off, but to turn it on to the right thinking. there is no point in dwelling on the past, the future, what could be, what should be, what others are thinking, or what is happening elsewhere. the most important time is here and now and far too often people forget that. what would be helpful to your situation is mindfulness. this is a thousand-year-old buddhist technique for fully absorbing your consciousness in the perfection of every moment as it unfolds. i'm going to paste an email i sent to one of my friends who was crumbling under intense stress a long time ago. read it, understand it, practice it... i try to live mindfully in as many moments as possible, and when i do, i find i am most happy, most centered, and most at peace with the world... Mindfulness is commonly defined as the state of being attentive to and aware of what is taking place in the present. Mindfulness is the process of cultivating appreciation for the fullness of each moment we are alive. It is present-moment awareness. When we are mindful, we are paying attention, on purpose, non-judgmentally. It is an acceptance of present-moment reality. It is the waking up to the fact that our lives unfold only in moments. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder and director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, describes mindfulness as a conscious discipline that can be explained as the intentional cultivation of nonjudgmental moment-to-moment awareness. Mindfulness approaches are not considered relaxation techniques, but rather a form of mental training to reduce vulnerability to reactive modes of thinking that heighten stress and emotional distress. The result is that stress can be prevented through conscious living. The focus of mindfulness is on the experience. Attitudinal qualities that facilitate mindfulness include the beginner's mind, non-judging, acceptance, non-attachment, and non-striving. Rather than observing experiences through the filter of our beliefs, assumptions, expectations, and desires, the beginner's mind involves seeing things with an openess as if for the first time, without concern for "what if" and "if only". The quality of non-judging represents detached observation. When we simply observe, without adding the mental analysis of the situation, we free ourselves to see things more accurately. We never can judge another person truly accurately. Because we cannot do this, we might as well release our need to judge. Non-judgment is the basis for accepting what is happening. Acceptance is holistic and unconditional. Acceptance means we acknowledge experiences as they are. To bring our focus more into the present, we can simply turn off the mind chatter that is racing through our minds of what is not happening--about the future and past. Non-attachment involves resisting the need to cling emotionally to anything--ideas, events, or periods of times to which we release our attachment. Non-striving implies giving up our need to try to change anything. We simply give ourselves permission to allow this moment to be exactly as it is, and allow thing to be exactly as they are. For just a moment, we are no longer doing, we are just being. When we live mindfully, focusing our attention on what is happening here and now, and allowing ourselves to be totally absorbed in the activity at hand, we become more effective and productive, whatever the task, be it skiing down a tricky ski slope or doing our best on a tough test. The extra mind chatter of future and past and the associated emotions of fear, worry, guilt and anger seem to diminish. As we do this, in as many moments as possible, we begin to understand that there is no other moment in time or point in space but that which is happening here and now. Apart from those rare events of real danger, we live our present moments without any real threat or danger. The present moment usually involves no concern for stress. Stress occurs only when we allow our minds to think of things other than what is happening in our current experience. We focus our thoughts on potential future events, about the past, and about things that might be happening elsewhere. When we associate any kind of pain or discomfort with those thoughts of other times and places, we initiate the stress response as a natural reaction to the perception of false emergency. Mindfulness turns off the stress response and, as a result, facilitates relaxation, reduces stress hormones, and boosts the immune system. Thought-stopping means stopping negative thoughts when they enter your stream of consciousness. When an unconstructive thought creeps into your mind, you can recognize your choice to think, and say "Stop!" In doing so, you replace the stress-producing, negative statement with a positive statement. Although this may take some practice, you actually can change the way you think. Suppose you start to think, "I'll never be able to learn how to use this computer. I'm too old." Say, "Stop!" and replace the negative, stress-producing thought with, "I've learned difficult things before. I can do this." This simple technique works in part because it increases awareness. Consciously analyzing the thoughts that pass through your mind brings greater awareness to the messages those thoughts contain. Thought-stopping also brings an immediate end to negative messages and the resulting emotions that follow faulty thinking. The outcome of positive self-talk and thought-stopping is learned optimism. We have a choice about how we think. Optimism is a learned set of skills. Once learned, these skills persist because they feel so good to use.

Excellent. The present moment is where it's at :P

go kill yourself pussy. nobody cares.

___________________
Check out my Mashups on Soundcloud

quote:

Originally posted by R!CH For just a moment, we are no longer doing, we are just being.

this reminded me of Brand Goodman;

Brad: You see, folks, we're all trying to please someone else. And as
soon as you're not a human being, you're a human doing. Then
what comes next?

Bart: A human going!




but seriously thats a wonderful mind-set and I agree to it to the fullest extent. if only more of us lived in the moment

weee

___________________
Check out my Mashups on Soundcloud