Mindfulness

[nailit]

A New Age fad, or is there something in it? (if there is I'm failing to see it)

For the past couple of months Ive been attending a course run by the local mental health services, once a week. The main focus seems to be on 'mindfulness'. Every session incorporates some time on 'focusing on the breath' and 'being here now'.
We get shown YouTube vids week after week about being 'present in the moment' etc and having 'practice sessions' and been asked how we feel now!.

Amongst a group, who various in size each week, Ive been a constant attender. I seem to be the only one who has said that I DONT find it helpful or useful but am willing to persevere. I find it all a bit puerile and not actually attending to the individuals needs, circumstances, or mental health...a panacea.
Ive asked how is this supposed to help me when faced with very real problems such as the fact that I could lose my flat due to government sanctions etc and basically been met with a blank stare. I once asked how 'mindfulness' could help a cold and hungry homeless person? Still don't know.

Mindfulness, fad or fact?

Damned if I can see anything in it....Though God knows Ive tried to!

[aelmpvw]

//Damned if I can see anything in it//
me neither but i admire your perseverance

[jackthehat]

It is supposed to help you achieve a level of calm so that you can deal with your own problems, or see how you are adding to them.

Why are you in danger of losing your home?

[nailit]

aelmpvw
Almost tempted to give you Ba, just because I know that I am not on my own in this wooley way of thinking....

[Patsy33]

Just go along with it you troublemaker!... :-)
(Only joking).x

[NoMercy]

I'm guessing it's not meant to solve your problems but rather to help give you the strength of mind to cope with them and not let them swallow you whole.

[nailit]

JTH,
Another thread for another time, just want to clear this thing up at the moment as to why mental health services think that 'mindfulness' is the answer to everything. Thanks for reply

[jackthehat]

I'm surprised you agreed to go back....

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Question1398945.html

I don't think they see it as the answer to everything. It's just another tool to enable some people to cope better.

[nailit]

//I'm guessing it's not meant to solve your problems but rather to help give you the strength of mind to cope with them and not let them swallow you whole.//

My problems ARE swallowing me whole tho. been 'mindful' of them aren't helping.

[woofgang]

haven't you posted something similar to this before?

[nailit]

jack,
thought it might have been a bit different this time around. Apparently not. Same shi different day.

[Kidas]

"Answer to everything?" Perhaps because it's relatively cheap?

That's a bit trite, but as I understand it, mindfulness is a bit similar to meditation.

Teaches people to focus on the important thing(s) without becoming overwhelmed by extraneous thoughts.

The aim is to encourage people to think about one (or maybe two or three) important thing(s), and ignore distractions from a thousand other small things.

It's more of a mind-focus thing. It can be useful to some people. But if you've been at it 8 weeks or so and still not found it helpful, I suspect you will never benefit from the technique as it is currently being taught.

[Old_Geezer]

Sounds like you're approaching it with a cynical attitude that defeats the object. No expert but isn't it a form of relexation that should allow you to avoid overstressing on the concerns you'd otherwise get uptight about ?

[Old_Geezer]

RELAXATION !

[nailit]

Just to be clear, (cross posting and stuff)
This course wasn't 'sold' to me as a mindfulness course by my care co-ordinator. But its still the same thing.

[nailit]

//Sounds like you're approaching it with a cynical attitude that defeats the object//
NO, NO and NO. Been there a million times, not ONCE has it ever helped.
Try sleeping in the cold on the streets with a hungry belly and then tell me that I need to be mindful.

[nailit]

Is there anyone here, who is replying, who actually practices mindfulness?
That would be a good place to start!

[Old_Geezer]

You don't need to do it, but you have the option to. Whatever is thwarting any benefit seems to be present each time. Give it up if it riles you so.

[jackthehat]

What has that got to do with anything?

The Mindfulness course isn't working for you but that doesn't mean it has absolutely no merit.

[nailit]

//The Mindfulness course isn't working for you but that doesn't mean it has absolutely no merit//
And I'm prepared to say *yet*. (and I continue my course in the meantime)
I'm also asking if anyone here has had any benefit from it?

[kvalidir]

Yes I practice mindfulness, and yes it works, but only if you actually do it. It's no good just going and saying oh I have problems and this isn't helping. It's not supposed to help in itself, it's a took to help you exist more efficiently, more in the moment and more focusedly. It won't help you not have court proceedings or not have your partner leave you, but it will help you be able to deal more effectively with those things when they do happen, but only if you actually do it, and sorry to say Old Geezer is right, you're not approaching it correctly for it to help.