Dealing with sounds

[Historian]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to discuss a difficulty that I am having at the moment.

I took up Mindfulness because I have long-running problems with insomnia. I have used the Sounds and Thoughts meditation from Mark Williams and Danny Penman's book/CD, and that has helped me to become more accepting of background noise, which naturally makes sleep a lot easier.

However, I still really struggle to cope with sudden, unpredictable noises. If I hear noises that I am not expecting then I find that, having carefully settled myself and allowed the ambient noise to be, that balance is shattered and anxious thoughts immediately come flooding back.

I just wondered whether others have had similar experiences, and how they have dealt with them?

[Gareth]

I 'm afraid that I don't have any advice than I can offer for your issue.

I'll put your topic out to Twitter, to see if any help can be found.

[piedwagtail91]

I've not personally had a problem like this.
I spent quite a bit of time meditating on buses and other noisy places which probably helped.
When you find your peace disturbed and anxiety kicking in my advice would be to stop the meditating on sounds and switch to your anxiety.
Noticing where you feel the sensations in your body, what do they feel like?
Bring, as best you can, a sense on curiosity as you explore them.
Noticing the shape , tracing the outline with your awareness.
Noticing any softening towardss the edges .
The thoughts causing this anxiety will obviously keep coming .but as best you can keep your awareness in your body ,letting the thoughts go.
When things do settle then return to sounds.
It'll take some practice , but eventually by starving the anxiety of thoughts it will fade.
It's a bit like putting logs on a fire.
If you keep putting them on, then the fire will burn indefinitely.
If you don't put the logs on it will go out.
Hope this may be of help.

[Historian]

I'll put your topic out to Twitter, to see if any help can be found.

Many thanks.

[Historian]

I've not personally had a problem like this.
I spent quite a bit of time meditating on buses and other noisy places which probably helped.
When you find your peace disturbed and anxiety kicking in my advice would be to stop the meditating on sounds and switch to your anxiety.
Noticing where you feel the sensations in your body, what do they feel like?
Bring, as best you can, a sense on curiosity as you explore them.
Noticing the shape , tracing the outline with your awareness.
Noticing any softening towardss the edges .
The thoughts causing this anxiety will obviously keep coming .but as best you can keep your awareness in your body ,letting the thoughts go.
When things do settle then return to sounds.
It'll take some practice , but eventually by starving the anxiety of thoughts it will fade.
It's a bit like putting logs on a fire.
If you keep putting them on, then the fire will burn indefinitely.
If you don't put the logs on it will go out.
Hope this may be of help.

Thanks for the advice. As you say, it will take practice, but hopefully in time it will help.

[piedwagtail91]

It will.
Remember that peace and calm is just at the other side of the anxiety.
You have to go through it to get there.
Life (your best teacher) is giving you a lesson in how to get there.
It's a hard teacher but the reward of peace and calm makes it worth it.
Once through this you'll be able to remain calm in pretty difficult situations.
It's not easy, I was once there, but being mindful and self compassionate will let you get there.
Good luck