[dwfieldjr]

Last session with my t she noticed I was very fidgety. She wants me to become aware when I'm like this. I tend to play with my hair and talk to myself. I'm not doing it right now because I am thinking about what I am doing.

My T never says anything like practice mindfulness or other new age things of the sort....if this is considered new age.

My T has her own way of doing things in my sessions. I'm out walking on my days off. Sometimes twice in the three days I'm off. I'm becoming more verbal/vocal as well. This November will be one full year I have been seeing my T. I already have my own house, a new pdoc....I don't have to rely on the va anymore. I stayed with the va for a long time and I wasn't very happy with them.

How do you guys become self aware or practice mindfulness? Are there any short reads about self awareness/mindfulness that someone can suggest? Sometimes I have a problem being here and now. I have been catching myself better lately.

[dwfieldjr]

I have to become more aware. More aware of the world around me, my thoughts, and my emotions. I have to set this goal. I think it's the key to my problems.

[AllHeart]

I got started with a free guided meditation app. There are lots out there.

[dwfieldjr]

Originally Posted by AllHeart

I got started with a free guided meditation app. There are lots out there.

Which one do you use?

[mostlylurking]

If you use a progressive relaxation YouTube video to go to sleep, those usually ask you to focus on various parts of your body, in sequence, both to notice any tension and then to relax any muscles there. I'm wondering if that would help you notice your sensations / feelings more, over the long run? This would be more about physical tension, but then, physical tension is an indicator of your emotional state, too.

[Out There]

The " My calm beat " app is a good one

[MobiusPsyche]

I used Headspace for the first 30 days free. It was very helpful even if you don't decide to pay for it after that.

[AllHeart]

Originally Posted by dwfieldjr

Which one do you use?

I wish I could remember. It's been a while and they were on my old cell phone. I don't use them anymore as I no longer need the guide. Sorry!

[SoupDragon]

If you do an internet search for mindfulness, there's loads of articles about it that you might find helpful.

[Daisy Dead Petals]

My T recommends Calm to her clients. It's available for Android and iOS. I've used it, and their free exercises are good.

Take a look at books out there. DBT workbooks have some great exercises that help.

Myself, I turn my tv onto nature or spa music, light a bunch of candles and concentrate on the things around me - like counting the circles in my carpet or the tiles on the floor. Gradually I move that 'awareness' to myself and my body - like how I am breathing, my pulse, my toes, etc.

This is usually good to forget Anxiety during this process. And, when Anxiety does pop up, thinking about my breath and body is easier to do and things are less overwhelming.