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How a Meditation Technique Just Helped Me
ThailandTom
Veteran
So most of you know I am on medication for social anxiety, recently switched from valium to clonazepam (klonpin). It is a much better choice and I am happy with the results. Anyway, I cut my leg open at the start of the week and had several stiches and was given tramadol, a synthetic opiate for pain. I am not ignorant to this drug and have taken it before. Earlier however in my stupor I took a little too much along with my clonazepam. I basically overdosed, a lot of people think when you overdose you need to go to hopsital but it can be quite tame. I felt very nauseous, cold sweats, blurred vision with some halucinations and confusion. I knew what was going on and I was pretty sure I would be fine, just had to ride out the storm. I could not move and was on my sofa and remembered the simple breathing technique where you focus on the nose and navel. I continued to observe my breath as it arised and dissolved. After 2 hours I have come back around and I think knowing this technique helped a lot. Meditation sometimes can be used in quite the uncommon situations :P
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Comments
Tom, I hope you are okay, Jesus christ!
Meditation can used in a lot of ways beyond literal "Buddhist meditation." There is a strong connection between mind and body. I suffer from chronic pain, and when it acts up, breathing techniques are really helpful.
I'm glad you're ok now.
I hope that the klonopin works out better for you. Is it as addictive as valium?
That said, your heart could have stopped and no amount of meditation would have prevented that - take care with you medication and seek medical assistance if there is an issue, if you delay, you may lose all cognative ability and if there is noone around you, it could be a serious health risk - wouldnt want to lose you early bigman...
Breathing also helps when you have teenagers or otherwise are homicidal.
@zombiegirl yes it is as addictive, but the point is, the duration of the effects are longer and it is not as hypnotic as valium is. So I don't end up into some kind of zombie
Be be wise and don't take it when you don't have to please.
According to my new doctor its a horrible drug. (family doctor, psychiatrist and buddhist)
Be wise with it. I have social anxiety myself man. ALOT lately. Lorazepam can make you so tranq'd out and blissful its easy to do anything.
Why did you take too much? Did they not give you a dose?
I don't have the authority to give you medical advice either.
Doctors ARE considered as an authority on these medications. I don't understand why they didn't give you a _safe_ dose or why you didn't take it bro.
I am very anxious when it comes to driving - have been ever since I was in a horrible accident. Every time I drive, I always pay attention to my breathing and try to use both meditative breathing techniques and breathing/pranayama techniques from the Kundalini yoga practice. It definitely helps when one is anxious or stressed or fearful.
And as in another thread, @Vastminds has even shared a washing dishes meditation/mindfulness technique. So we should realize that our practice is not just on our zafus but extends into everything that we do.
@zero yes I know the symptoms of overdose, my breathing was pretty shallow which is what got my worried and started the meditation techniques, but of course meditation is not the super cure to every problem. The worse part was the feeling of nauseous where normally being sick makes you feel better, but the vomit never comes. Like I said, human error and I just had to ride it out. I did not feel that I overdosed to the extent of medical attention, I feel that I know my limits etc.
Like many people have posted from problems with menstural cycles to anxiety when driving, meditational breathing techniques can be used if taught and practiced on the cushion. I remember seeing a documentary about a woman who was in a rural part of africa sat in a parked car. Another car crashed into it and she was torn to bits. The others did not survive. She was bleeding heavily on the side of the road until some guy picked up. He took her to a room, stiched her up and she said it was not very clean. Eventualy after a few days someone from the redcross came and took her somewhere better. She said that she thinks she only got through it all because of meditation technique she learnt in India that she used thrughout the ordeal.
Both my girls have been cutters
ass -u-me......
tom didn't deliberately cut himself.
I'm sure - and frankly, i immediately assumed - he had an accident.....
@AHeeerdt. Yes I think there is some stigma, some criticism.... cutting is so visibly damaging, and many people are horrified that someone - usually young, usually female - can damage themselves to the point of making themselves bleed and become scarred for life, at times.
You can't 'see' social anxiety.... and that, unfortunately, isn't regarded seriously, because people misunderstand it.... but cutting..."Are you quite mad?!?" is the usual reaction....
:-/
@Tom, what do you think is the root problem of you social anxiety?
You may have social anxiety but on this forum, your personality pops out.
Maybe you are emotionally masturbating too much, maybe indulging tha sideof you too much.
Idk...I just think you wouldn't treat a friend like you treat yourself.
Love you..alison
When did you start to feel better? After 10-15 minutes or longer? Were there incremental benefits to breathing longer? How did you manage to discipline yourself to stay for 2 hours in a breathing mode?
Also, do breathing techniques have the same/similiar effect to antidepressants? what is the difference and similiarity?
You are articulate and wonderful on one side but then you say things like "I'm the black sheep, my father called me ugly, but I use to bea druggy...etc."
Things you drag up from the past, that you don't need anymore because you are not the same person you were 5 years ago, last year or even yesterday.
Does this make sense
But the tom that says silly things,jokes, laughs, talks about his new language and life, his mum and the book, the possible job interview you didn't go too. . .etc...that one I like.
I don't like the drugs either but i think you are weaning off...I hope.
@peace um well at first of all the overdose feeling was not a sudden thing. It was a gradual process and I knew what was coming. When it got to the point where I good not focus on anything or move then I started using the breathing techniques as I am aware of heart failiure with that combination of drugs. So I did not have to use the techique for 2 hours, that would be quite a task. I simple found comfort and focus on the breath and that kept me calm through the situation.
Antidepressents is a broad term to use as they are so many and so many different effects, along with that there is the fact that everybody reacts differently to a drug. Obviiusly though drugs and breathing techqiues are different, my social anxiety most of the time is too great for a breathing technique to allow me to go out.