Every basilisk is different. My current personal basilisk pertains measuring my blood pressure. I have recently been hospitalized as a result of dangerously high blood pressure (220 systolic, mmHg / 120 diastolic, mmHg). Since I left the hospital I am advised to measure my blood pressure.
The problem I have is that measuring causes panic about the expected result, which increases the blood pressure. Then if the result turns out to be very high, as expected, the panic increases and the next measurement turns out even higher.
Should I stop measuring my blood pressure because the knowledge hurts me or should I measure anyway because knowing it means that I know when it reaches a dangerous level and thus requires me to visit the hospital?
The problem I have is that measuring causes panic about the expected result, which increases the blood pressure. Then if the result turns out to be very high, as expected, the panic increases and the next measurement turns out even higher.
Measure every hour. Or every ten minutes. Your hormonal system can’t sustain the panic state for long, plus seeing high values and realizing that you are not dead yet will desensitize you to these high values.
No. Do you have any recommendations on what to read/try? Given the side effects of anxiety disorder medications such as pregabalin, meditation was one of the alternatives I thought about besides marijuana.
I have a bunch of recommendations, but I’m no expert.
Generic advice: sit or stand with your back straight and unsupported. If sitting, your knees should be below your hips. This means straight chair (soles of feet on the ground), cross-legged on a cushion, or full lotus.
Pay attention to something low-stress. Your breath (possibly just the feeling of it going in and out of your nostrils), a candle flame, your heart beat (if low stress), counting from one to four and back again.
20 minutes is commonly recommended, but I don’t think it’s crazy to work up from 5 or 10 minutes if 20 is intolerable.
Meditation isn’t easy. One of the useful parts of the training is gently putting your attention back where you want it when you notice you’re thinking about something else. It may help to have a few simple categories like thought, memory, imagination, sensation to just label thoughts as they go by.
I recommend The Way of Energy by Lam Kam Chuen—it’s an introduction to Daoist meditation (mosly standing). I’m not going to say it’s the best ever (I haven’t investigated the field), but it’s got a good reputation and I’ve gotten good results from it.
There. Now that I’ve said some things, I predict that other meditators will come in with more advice.
One more thing: Only do 70% as much as you think you can. I think this applies to meditation as well as (non-emergency) physical activities. It improves the odds that you won’t make yourself sick of it.
That advice is reasonable. The hospital/Doctor may be able to refer you to a local Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course. Many people find the social support of meditating in a group, helpful.
I hope you make a speedy recovery to full health, XiXiDu.
How should I fight a basilisk?
Every basilisk is different. My current personal basilisk pertains measuring my blood pressure. I have recently been hospitalized as a result of dangerously high blood pressure (220 systolic, mmHg / 120 diastolic, mmHg). Since I left the hospital I am advised to measure my blood pressure.
The problem I have is that measuring causes panic about the expected result, which increases the blood pressure. Then if the result turns out to be very high, as expected, the panic increases and the next measurement turns out even higher.
Should I stop measuring my blood pressure because the knowledge hurts me or should I measure anyway because knowing it means that I know when it reaches a dangerous level and thus requires me to visit the hospital?
Measure every hour. Or every ten minutes. Your hormonal system can’t sustain the panic state for long, plus seeing high values and realizing that you are not dead yet will desensitize you to these high values.
As someone who’s had both high blood pressure and excessive worrying — I second this advice.
Do you do any sort of meditation?
No. Do you have any recommendations on what to read/try? Given the side effects of anxiety disorder medications such as pregabalin, meditation was one of the alternatives I thought about besides marijuana.
I have a bunch of recommendations, but I’m no expert.
Generic advice: sit or stand with your back straight and unsupported. If sitting, your knees should be below your hips. This means straight chair (soles of feet on the ground), cross-legged on a cushion, or full lotus.
Pay attention to something low-stress. Your breath (possibly just the feeling of it going in and out of your nostrils), a candle flame, your heart beat (if low stress), counting from one to four and back again.
20 minutes is commonly recommended, but I don’t think it’s crazy to work up from 5 or 10 minutes if 20 is intolerable.
Meditation isn’t easy. One of the useful parts of the training is gently putting your attention back where you want it when you notice you’re thinking about something else. It may help to have a few simple categories like thought, memory, imagination, sensation to just label thoughts as they go by.
I recommend The Way of Energy by Lam Kam Chuen—it’s an introduction to Daoist meditation (mosly standing). I’m not going to say it’s the best ever (I haven’t investigated the field), but it’s got a good reputation and I’ve gotten good results from it.
There. Now that I’ve said some things, I predict that other meditators will come in with more advice.
One more thing: Only do 70% as much as you think you can. I think this applies to meditation as well as (non-emergency) physical activities. It improves the odds that you won’t make yourself sick of it.
Looks like I was wrong about getting replies.
That advice is reasonable. The hospital/Doctor may be able to refer you to a local Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course. Many people find the social support of meditating in a group, helpful.
I hope you make a speedy recovery to full health, XiXiDu.