Anyone use meditation?

Nurses Stress 101

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Specializes in ICU.

I'm starting nursing school on Monday, so needless to say, I'm feeling some tension (I say this after cleaning and organizing for the last two hours.) I just tried my free demo CD from Holosync (Centerpointe.com) I am actually surprised at how calm I feel but the real thing is like, $200. I have never meditated and actually consider myself "too hyper" for that kind of thing. Yoga never really worked for me for that reason. Basically, nothing but a drug-induced coma can keep me still for more than about five minutes. My husband says I even fidget in my sleep, but I admit, I actually got all floaty and tingly with this demo CD. Anyone had any success with meditation, and in particular, the Holosync program?

Specializes in RN in LTC.
I'm starting nursing school on Monday, so needless to say, I'm feeling some tension (I say this after cleaning and organizing for the last two hours.) I just tried my free demo CD from Holosync (Centerpointe.com) I am actually surprised at how calm I feel but the real thing is like, $200. I have never meditated and actually consider myself "too hyper" for that kind of thing. Yoga never really worked for me for that reason. Basically, nothing but a drug-induced coma can keep me still for more than about five minutes. My husband says I even fidget in my sleep, but I admit, I actually got all floaty and tingly with this demo CD. Anyone had any success with meditation, and in particular, the Holosync program?

I have meditated for many years. I would say we have alot in common. I also have a hard time sitting still. I had a friend show me how to meditate and have loved it ever since. It is very calming. I have never used the Holosync program. I can meditate to any calming music and don't really even need that anymore. I can meditate in the middle of my classroom right before a test. I have gotten really good at tuning out the noise when I need to. The more you practice the better you will become. You will also get faster at reaching that calming stage.

Specializes in critical care, med/surg.

I am so glad someone brought this modality to the forum. For years I have meditated but not really in any formal sense. However the last couple of years has brought significant stress to my life so I decided to do it more regularly and formally. A dear friend of mind had started a "new age" store where she offers meditation, reiki, guided imagery etc. to nurses. Along with her ideas and my need to find a suitable masters practicum topic I chose to write an article for publication about the benefits of meditation for nurses. I am currently awaiting a reply from the journal as to whether they will publish it or not. Nurse are under such pressures to save lives, prevent deterioration of their pt, satisfy regulations, provide a nurturing home life for their family and any number of unique stresses that there has to be an outlet. My paper suggests that nurses begin a meditative practice that teaches them how to take control over their life and use the innate healing qualiites that we all possess. :idea:

I'm starting nursing school on Monday, so needless to say, I'm feeling some tension (I say this after cleaning and organizing for the last two hours.) I just tried my free demo CD from Holosync (Centerpointe.com) I am actually surprised at how calm I feel but the real thing is like, $200. I have never meditated and actually consider myself "too hyper" for that kind of thing. Yoga never really worked for me for that reason. Basically, nothing but a drug-induced coma can keep me still for more than about five minutes. My husband says I even fidget in my sleep, but I admit, I actually got all floaty and tingly with this demo CD. Anyone had any success with meditation, and in particular, the Holosync program?

Wow!

Yes!

You don't need a CD or DVD to meditate. Save your money and find a soothing place, and DIY (do-it-yourself)!

Here are a few websites that you may find helpful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation

http://www.learningmeditation.com/

http://www.project-meditation.org/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/HQ01070

Those are just a few that I've read in the past. If you Google "meditation" you will find tons of free websites with meditations you can focus on while meditating, instructions on the basic how-to's, etc. Even some (including project-meditation.org) have audio downloads for free to help you. You can even incorporate some simple yoga asanas (postures) into your meditation, or other postures that fit your personal preference.

What else? If you have any questions feel free to PM me. (You can Google "yoga" or "yoga postures" or "yoga asanas" for free images and instructions for yoga as well.)

Good luck! Meditation is such a powerful form of spiritual growth... and has SO many uses -- definitely a valuable practice to maintain health!

**I know EXACTLY what you mean by the "floaty and tingly" thing. There's something about alternative medicine that makes me feel the same way. Meditating, getting massage, acupuncture.. actually, if I get involved and focused on reading something about relaxation, massage, meditation, inner peace, etc on the internet, I feel that way -- like I'm in a calm bubble, light-headed (in a comfortable way), and my skin tingles, feels super sensitive and I just relax in a way I don't any other time... LOL. So weird.

Again good luck and let me know if I can help you in any way!

-A

Specializes in critical care, med/surg.

I am so glad to hear that people are using meditation for their well-being. Nurses focus so intensely on their pt that at times we neglect our own health which leads to burnout and leaving the profession. Not only has the nursing shortage increased our day to day stress, the age old stressors remain such as providing care for those dying and working in a medical ie. doctor controlled environment. I had not heard of Holosync, but Jon Kabat Zinn from the University of Massachusetts has a book titled "Full Catastrophe Living" that describes the meditation program he started there back in 1990. It is a life changing program I guarantee it! He combines meditation with yoga and it is based on the Buddhist tradition which has brought the world the greatest practitioners of meditation. Namaste...

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I dabble in mindfulness meditationi and promised myself to develop a regular practice when school ended. Good luck with that.

Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry, Hospice, Home Health.

My partner is very involved in some buddhist practices. I just signed up for a mindfulness meditation workshop based on John Kabbott-Zinn's work. I am excited and nervous. It calls for a committment of 1 hour a day to practice. I don't have a hard time staying still - physically - but I do have a hard time being in that place of stillness. I have avoided it and now I want to embrace it. In nursing I cannot afford to operate outside of my center.

Specializes in critical care, med/surg.

Hello suninmyeyes,

Meditation will not only enhance your ability to care for your pts, it will change your ability to exist in this chaotic world we live and work in. Jon Kabat-Zinn is a true visionary in the area of becoming our real selves, through mindfulness. I had an article published in the Jan/Feb issue of Holistic Nursing Practice which outlines the current state of meditation as used by nurses to enhance their strass management skills. There is nothing really new in there but it helped me realize that my own meditation practice was key to me completing my masters in nursing education while working fulltime in an ICU. Being centered and exuding positive energy in the midst of chaos, is what meditation will bring to your life. Good luck with your nursing career...Namaste.

Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry, Hospice, Home Health.

Thank you.

Moving into nursing as a vocation has done more to inspire me to strive for wellness then many other decisions I have made in my life. I feel so much satisfaction when I am able to connect and make a difference that I begin to wonder about who is benefiting who, the nurse - me, or the patient? That is the beauty of being in nursing and practicing holistically - it becomes transcending for all of us involved. I am excited about this workshop and bringing meditation into my life, and I know it will only enrich my role as a nurse.

...with two hands together..Namaste

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