Stress Center Peer Support

In the beginning stages of our cure we are so much in our heads that we can't see the forest for the trees. This includes having difficulty with relaxation. With daily practice, however, your mind begins to calm down and relaxation becomes possible. Meditation is really nothing more then watching your thoughts come and go without your attachment to them. No judgment. No criticism. Just watching. In time, again with practice, you'll notice more and more space inbetween the noise/chatter.

I would recommend that you meditate five minutes before each use of the relaxation tape. Just sit and watch your thoughts come and go. Doesn't matter what their content is. Just watch. Then use your relaxation tape. You can increase the meditation to 10 minutes if you wish or whatever time you have.

This is a reply to the original message. I have a similar problem with the relaxation tape. I just ignore the walking in the forest part, and focus on the breathing, and muscle tension parts. The breathing really works for me now. Sometimes after Im done, I'll still be anxious, but a little more relaxed than I was before. I also make fun of the people in the video tapes in the sessions, and I think "Oh man these guys are so stupid and geeky". I know its kind of mean. Now I try to listen to what they are saying because no matter what accent or personality they have, they have similar problems, and I really want to get better. I am getting much better knowing that other people have what I have. Hmm, maybe I am a geek.

In the beginning, I had the same problem with the tape. It just seemed too cheesy for me. It's been three or four years since I bought the program, and I still totally tune out the visualization part (the walking through the forest part). That has never worked for me, but it works for others. I love to do the breathing exercise and the muscle tension/relaxation part. So my advice is try the first two parts of the tape and don't do the rest if it's making you that antsy. Find what works for you.