[KazzaX]

I'm just wondering about mindfulness. I have gotten approved for the 10 free (govt paid) sessions of therapy scheme. I saw the psych the first time and she seems ok to me. But straight away she told me we are going to do mindfulness.

The last 3 therapists I had, we did mindfulness. The first time it was for 3.5 years, the second for 6 months and the third for 6 months (so I gave it a good crack). It has never helped me or done anything at all, to be honest (other than make me angry). So I'm just wondering, is it worth me doing it all over again? The last therapist said I had no mind/body connection or something to that effect, and thats why it does nothing for me. Not sure if she was just saying that to save face or if she was for real.. no idea. I am so fed up with the mindfulness thing and even hearing that word pisses me off because I am reminded of the years and therapy sessions i wasted on it.

I only have 10 sessions with this woman so I don't want to be wasting them on things that don't work for me. What do you think? Give it another go or maybe focus on something else?

[SoupDragon]

Wonder if it would be useful to explore the "anger" thing before starting the sessions. I know for me if I am p.d off, it is a real battle to engage in anything, particularly the thing that is leading to me feeling angry.

I don't know if midfulness can work for everyone, but it does for me with lots and lots of practice.

[KazzaX]

The only reason I was angry was because I spent years practicing it and nothing happened whatsoever. So whenever i would do it, I got angry. Nothing to explore there, hehe

[lostmyway21]

Originally Posted by KazzaX

The only reason I was angry was because I spent years practicing it and nothing happened whatsoever. So whenever i would do it, I got angry. Nothing to explore there, hehe

If you already spent years giving mindfullness a go and it didn't work I say don't waste your sessions on it again. Is she willing to try a different technique with you? Did you bring up your concern about it with T yet? Not all types of T is right for everyone, I say give something else a try if you can.

[KazzaX]

Thanks. She seemed pretty chill so I think she might be open to something else. I will ask next session.

[Perna]

I don't know, it sounds like an Australian thing? http://www.psychology.org.au/medicare/fact_sheet/

Here in the US they are into CBT, which is a little bit like mindfulness.

http://makingaustraliahappy.abc.net.au/mindfulness.php

For only 10 free sessions, they checking up on you after 6, I would give it another try but concentrate on doing something different than the last zillion tries, see if you can understand it better for yourself, get better examples or something, rather than just go along. I don't know what you are trying to treat but I'd come up with a few specific ways mindfulness could help what you are trying to treat (it apparently helps depression and/or anxiety) and concentrate on as specific a goal as possible, since the time is short. What do you want?

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by KazzaX

The last 3 therapists I had, we did mindfulness. The first time it was for 3.5 years, the second for 6 months and the third for 6 months (so I gave it a good crack). It has never helped me or done anything at all, to be honest (other than make me angry).

What has been your therapists' idea of mindfulness -- or yours? When I read about what people mean by mindfulness, it differs sometimes quite a bit from my idea of it.

[KazzaX]

I don't know, it sounds like an Australian thing?

Remember back in the days where if there was anything wrong with your child (behaviour wise) they would diagnose them ADHD and put them on ritalin? its like that here with mindfulness. Every therapist i have ever been to has wanted to do it hehe. Its the new fad.

For only 10 free sessions, they checking up on you after 6, I would give it another try but concentrate on doing something different than the last zillion tries, see if you can understand it better for yourself, get better examples or something, rather than just go along.

There isn't really anything you CAN do different. Its all the same. It's a set thing that you do.

I don't know what you are trying to treat but I'd come up with a few specific ways mindfulness could help what you are trying to treat (it apparently helps depression and/or anxiety) and concentrate on as specific a goal as possible, since the time is short. What do you want?

Im trying to treat refractory (treatment resistant) depression. I have no idea how mindfulness relates to it though. They say it makes you live in the moment. But if you have long term depression, being in the moment is just as bad as being in the past or the future. I just want something that will lessen the depression. No idea how though, I'm not a psychologist.

[KazzaX]

Originally Posted by pachyderm

What has been your therapists' idea of mindfulness -- or yours? When I read about what people mean by mindfulness, it differs sometimes quite a bit from my idea of it.

They use a lot of fancy, unnecessary words but to cut to the chase, it means "living in the now". It is believed that people who are mentally ill are living in the past, or living in the future (ie expectations). My past felt a lot better than I feel in the now, so I wonder if she could help me to live in the past? Not sure if they can do that, lol. A time machine maybe.