Anxiety symptom

[hammill1969]

Hi,
this might seem strange but what triggers my anxiety is when i'm inside and the room feels warm I feel very uncomfortable and start to obsess about the feelings I have around feeling hot. It's like my body has a thermometer and the uncomfortable feelings begin when the room is warm. I don't get stressed when i'm outside and hot only when i'm inside. My anxiety centres around my breath and i feel like i have to get out of the room. I stay in the room and continue feeling uncomfortable. Should I just be with the sensations of feeling hot, i find this very difficult and try to cool down having a cold drink or putting a fan on instead. When i try to be with the breath I feel worse.

[JonW]

Hi hammill1969,
Does this only happen during formal meditation?
Jon

[hammill1969]

No its whenever i am in a room that i perceive to be hot. If i meditate in a room like that i usuallly calm down a bit.

[JonW]

OK. And what results have you got when bringing mindfulness to this?
Jon

[hammill1969]

I have tried some techniques like feet on the floor grounding which has helped but I find it difficult as i work in an office and am busy. I have tried mindful breathing but i get obsessive on that and that makes me feel worse in that situation. I also do mindful movement stretching in the bathroom which has also helped. What I struggle with is just being with the feeling of feeling hot.

[JonW]

Hi hammill1969,
I remember you saying that you'd been through a few mindfulness books including Full Catastrophe Living but have you ever followed the 8-week course, either with a teacher or via a book? Just trying to get a fuller picture here...
Cheers,,
Jon

[hammill1969]

I have the peace in a frantic world book and jkz book but I haven't followed them structurally in 8 week course. I have done most of the meditations but tend to stay away from turning towards difficulties meditation or soften soothe allow type meditations.
I think where i go wrong is I think about what i am sensing and panic regarding feeling hot. Maybe i need to feel the heat without thinking about it.

[JonW]

"I have done most of the meditations but tend to stay away from turning towards difficulties meditation or soften soothe allow type meditations."

Any particular reason?
For me, "turning towards difficulty" is the pivotal point of the 8-week course in that everything leads up to that point and then leads away.
By "soften soothe allow type meditations", do you mean the body scan?
Jon

[hammill1969]

Soften soothe allow is the same as turning towards difficulties meditation really. I need to practice those but I suppose my fear stops me from doing it. Instead I play safe with body scans,metta,breath and recently started doing sounds meditations. I have tried the soften ones a few times and they have been quite good but I play it safe and easy with the others instead.

I have tried identifying sensations in the body when at work and stressed with good results on a few occasions the anxiety seemed to melt away. But I find this hard to do at work as i'm busy.

[JonW]

Hi hammill1969 ,
It sounds like it's time to refreshen your practice. Maybe start doing some regular mindful movement - plenty of free guided meditations out there. Or some regular walking meditation.
My hunch, and it's only a hunch, is that there's a disconnect with body going on. But I'd be interested to hear what other members have to say.
Happy easter old chap,
Jon, Hove