Stress and a Busy Mind...

Can my ADHD, anxious brain practice Mindfulness... and will it help with the stress?

The short answer is YES! And the standard response is

"But you have no idea how busy (distressed, neurodivergent) 

MY mind/body is!" 

So here we are, at the biggest myth (and the coolest paradox) when it comes to managing and reducing stress with mindfulness.

BIG MYTH: Mindfulness Practice asks you to stop, still or quiet your busy mind. The truth? NO, it simply asks you to become compassionately aware of your busy mind exactly as it is. This turns out to be magic.

COOL PARADOX: Quite often, simple compassionate awareness ends up quieting even the busiest mind even when (and especially if) you stop TRYING. And even when it doesn't slow your mind down, mindfulness practice reduces the stress associated with the busy-ness. Yes. This is just as true for anxious and neurodivergent minds as it is for neurotypical minds. 

But the way mindfulness is most commonly taught makes it

nearly impossible for folks with especially busy

and/or distressed minds to practice.

Any mindfulness practice invites you to bring your kind attention to something neutral in the present moment. Very often this looks like sitting still and noticing the subtle sensations of something like the breath or perhaps the body. 

If you live with Anxiety and/or ADHD, sitting still and trying to pay attention to barely perceptible sensations can be far more frustrating than soothing. Which often just kicks up the barely under the surface sense of shame and feeling that something is wrong. 

Enter Mindfulness Practice Adapted for Busy Minds

Just like there is no need for your mind to be silent and still in order to bring compassionate awareness to the present moment - neither is there a need for your body to be silent and still in order to bring compassionate awareness to the present moment.

The practice of Mindfulness is deceptively simple - but maddeningly difficult, especially if you have a very busy mind. Adaptations allow even the busiest, most distracted minds to cultivate the peace and ease that comes with practice.

Some options include: 

• Sit, stand, lie down, walk... your choice

• Shorter (or no) periods of sitting still

• Bring your fidget to class

• Tune into that bouncing leg

• Using sound by making noise

Stay tuned for an announcement about a 4 week "Mindfulness For Busy Minds" class

COMING SOON!