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XiXiDu comments on AALWA: Ask any LessWronger anything - Less Wrong
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Do you do any sort of meditation?
No. Do you have any recommendations on what to read/try? Given the side effects of anxiety disorder medications such as pregabalin, meditation was one of the alternatives I thought about besides marijuana.
I have a bunch of recommendations, but I'm no expert.
Generic advice: sit or stand with your back straight and unsupported. If sitting, your knees should be below your hips. This means straight chair (soles of feet on the ground), cross-legged on a cushion, or full lotus.
Pay attention to something low-stress. Your breath (possibly just the feeling of it going in and out of your nostrils), a candle flame, your heart beat (if low stress), counting from one to four and back again.
20 minutes is commonly recommended, but I don't think it's crazy to work up from 5 or 10 minutes if 20 is intolerable.
Meditation isn't easy. One of the useful parts of the training is gently putting your attention back where you want it when you notice you're thinking about something else. It may help to have a few simple categories like thought, memory, imagination, sensation to just label thoughts as they go by.
I recommend The Way of Energy by Lam Kam Chuen-- it's an introduction to Daoist meditation (mosly standing). I'm not going to say it's the best ever (I haven't investigated the field), but it's got a good reputation and I've gotten good results from it.
There. Now that I've said some things, I predict that other meditators will come in with more advice.
One more thing: Only do 70% as much as you think you can. I think this applies to meditation as well as (non-emergency) physical activities. It improves the odds that you won't make yourself sick of it.
Looks like I was wrong about getting replies.
That advice is reasonable. The hospital/Doctor may be able to refer you to a local Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course. Many people find the social support of meditating in a group, helpful.
I hope you make a speedy recovery to full health, XiXiDu.