Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

[nollie]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

That's what I love about this place, we can all help each other. I'm going to go and look up Yoga Nidra now. What mindfulness CDs are you doing Lilla? It sounds very flakey but I can define a precise moment when I felt spiritually compelled to stop drinking and make a lot of other changes in my life, it was so strong I felt it as a physical sensation (now everyone is going to think I'm barking mad). I'm not saying this ride is going to be easy, but I feel certain that I'm not on my own and that there's a far better high than the kick you get from AL.

[MinStar]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

I agree Nollie- Did you get anything on Yoga Nidra?

[lilla]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Hi all. The CDs are made up by the hypnotherapist I went to, but all about staying in the present and stepping away from the "mind chatter" and observing the issues rather than being swept up in them.
No Nollie, I don't think you are barking mad at all. That session I had all the physical sensations of having drunk a skinful even though it was early afternoon and I hadn't. As soon as he brought me round, all of them disappeared and I had a spiritual moment, seeing A differently. Since that day I was able to cut back and now, with the help of this site, got four AF days, which has never happened in years and years.
So I am wanting to explore a holistic approach more, thanks for all your tips.

[MinStar]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Lilla and Nollie- I hope we can walk this together. I do believe in Holistic methods. I will tell you my little Miracle story one day It sounds like the Yoga Nidra is kind of similar to the Hypno CD's you have Lilla. The goal of Yoga is to stop all the mind chatter. "chitta vritti nirodhah"
Hope you are all well!

[Unwasted]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Hi Everyone,

Thought I'd jump in here because I've also decided to learn about a spiritual path that might help me (not only with alcohol but in general). I've never been religious but definitely feel the "God void."

I just started reading the book A Burning Desire: Dharma God and the Path of Recovery by Kevin Griffin. He is a teacher of Buddhism (and recovering alcoholic) who correlates the steps of AA to Buddhist teachings in this book.

I think a lot of us are trying to fill the God void when we drink; do you guys feel that way? I think it's time for me to develop coping skills that don't center on alcohol. I posted this on another thread, but in Buddhism, there is a precept not to drink alcohol because it takes us away from mindfulness (which he goes into great detail about in the book).

I'd like to naturally be able to move onto a spiritual path that made me choose not to drink. I'm also considering going to a Meetup in my area called "Buddhism 101." I like the idea of Buddhism because it's not a blind faith religion - more of a way to live one's life that can be learned by observing reality rather than believing in the "white bearded guy in the sky."

[lilla]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

I'm no expert but it is an interesting thought that drink fills the spiritual void and probably very true. I remember once reading a paper about the sense of "empty self" that contemporary society has caused and how it leads to psychological problems and addiction issues. I don't know enough about Buddhism, but the more I read about mindfulness, the more I want to know about it. Great to hear from you all and value the support.

[Bruunhilde]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Lilla, I'd love to know about your hypnotist's techniques. I have used the cds on this site as well as had some made personally for me, never did I experience what you describe. I would like to!

[Unwasted]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

I also just bought a book on self-hypnosis but haven't started it yet.

[MinStar]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Hi all,
Unwasted, I also believe mine is a sense of emptyness or void of god. I spent alot of time questioning why we are here and the meaning of it all. I have no major answers but when I have the time and focus on Yoga it starts to make more sense. Bhuddism and Yoga are similar in some aspects. I am going to read some more stuff and post my findings. Your book sounds good too so I hope to hear more about it.
Never tried hypnosis or self hypnosis but am interested to hear your stories and perhaps add it to my tools.

[Unwasted]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Min Star - you're right about the similarity between Yoga and Buddhism (meditation). I'm obviously just learning, but both definitely have the connection of learning how to quiet the mind. I'll post as I learn more!

I got the idea of self-hypnosis from Supercrew - he had success with it. So much to read and learn!

[MinStar]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Unwasted- It will be good to learn from each other. I would love to do self hypnosis. i read Supercrews story last night and like the visualisation of booze as urine. I just have to remember to do that. At the time of reading it made me heave but this evening when I was craving I managed to fend the 'witch' off by other methods. At least we have the Urine smell in our tool box! Ha there's a line I never thought I would write!
x

[Anthony66]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Dharma Punx by Noah Levine is an awesome autobiographical novel about the authors journey through addiction and recovery with help from meditation and Buddhism.

[Bruunhilde]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Cool, thanks for the recommendation of the book!

[Unwasted]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

All, just finished A Burning Desire: Dharma God and the Path of Recovery by Kevin Griffin. I would recommend it and Tao of Sobriety.

Min, I'm still reading the Tao book, so it will be a little while before I get to the self hypnosis one. What I do know, though, is that the book actually gives you instructions on how to do the hypnosis - you know, more than just "visualize the urine" as an instruction. I'll let you know when I find out more.

[one2many]

Meditation, Spirituality Mindful Stuff

Great thread, will be following with interest! x