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,IDEALING WITH MENTAL AGITATION
From the book
NATURAL BREATHING: THE FIRST REQUISITE
By Paul Colver author of The Aging Reversal Course: An Ayurvedic Approach to Wellness and Vitality
 www.vedicvitality.com
An Excerpt from Chapter 4 – Dealing with Mental Agitation
 
(The book is currently undergoing a preread, then an edit, and then will be available both as an ebook and print on demand paperback.)
 
DEALING WITH MENTAL AGITATION
From the book
NATURAL BREATHING: THE FIRST REQUISITE
By Paul Colver author of The Aging Reversal Course: An Ayurvedic Approach to Wellness and Vitality
 www.vedicvitality.com
An Excerpt from Chapter 4 – Dealing with Mental Agitation
 
(The book is currently undergoing a preread, then an edit, and then will be available both as an ebook and print on demand paperback.)
The usual approach to mental agitation is an attempt to deal with the mind. A typical response to worry might be: ‘Why am I worrying? This is silly - quit worrying.’ Sometimes the approach is to seek out the root cause of the problem, or to resort to pharmaceuticals – prescription or otherwise. Or to escape through work, sex, drama, exercise or the misuse of any number of otherwise normally benign activities. Avoiding the problem, and/or telling the mind what to do begs the question: has there ever been an instance where these approaches have been successful?
Though mental agitation is considered to be ‘from the mind’ it must have a physical component. All emotions and thoughts result in changes in physiology. Worry and anxiety; anger, hatred and rage; greed, sloth and similar disturbances to peace of mind each have a physical correlate. Ayurveda thinks of these as substances to be loosened from wherever they are lodged within physiology, and excreted.
To deal with worry or any other agitation, the principle of using attention to heal (See Session 3 of The Aging Reversal Course) is considered to be a most effective approach. Physical pain draws the attention in order to promote healing. ‘Emotional’ pain has this same function.
The approach is:
  • When overshadowed with agitation, scan the body for a physical sensation.
  • Attend to – put the attention on – the sensation.
  • Breathe naturally – this results in breathing deeply – during this time of focus .
  • Be with the physical sensation that accompanies the mental agitation only while it is available. Don’t try to avoid it; don’t try to hold on to it.
During the scanning, practice natural breathing as outlined in Chapter 3. Exhale through the nose, and after a pause – there will be a gap between the breaths - breath in through the nose. Continue breathing normally in and out through the nose while easily focusing on the physical sensation.
Is there a need for the intellect in this process?
I wonder if I’m focused on the right sensation?
What if this sensation is related to something else?
Oh I just know I’ve got the wrong sensation!
Oh my ego is at work again?
Why do we have egos?
This Vedic approach to dealing with emotional agitation does not rely on the intellect. It is about attending to the agitation – feeling the feeling(s) accompanying the agitation. Save the intellectual work for later - if there is some need for it.
Will the agitation dissipate?
It may.
Will it return?
It may.
Will it dissipate completely never to return?
It may, though a number of visits of visits may be required. (‘You’ do not need to arrange the visits. As surely as the Sun rises the physiology will set up the necessary appointments.)
Cautions
Apply the following cautions
  • Do not wallow in the feeling. Neither hold on to the feeling, nor attempt to be rid of it.
  •  ‘Take it as it comes,’ is the Vedic dictum. The body knows what it is doing in terms of presenting things to be dealt with – usually. Trust it – usually.
  • Don’t allow the intellect to ruminate on a traumatic memory.
  • Only upon noticing agitation: scan the physiology, locate a sensation within physiology, and then easily focus on that area of physiology. Do not strain.
  • Be the silent witness.
  • Breathe.
  • If the agitation seems to ‘overwhelm’ engage a health care professional who understands the mind-body connection.
  • If the attention wanders then gently bring it back to the sensation. If the wandering elicits rage or some other agitation then consider this an additional opportunity to heal.
This chapter has presented the Vedic approach to dealing with agitation. This very effective approach is described in various Ayurvedic based writing. (fn Vasant Lad’s xxx title, among them) The commentators do not say the following: By allowing the mind to wandering about at the whimsy of the intellect; by avoiding the practice of focusing, and proper breathing which removes toxicity, the body, driven by its desire to be free of impediment, will present the agitation over and over and over again until healing takes place. Good luck.
 
 (The book is currently undergoing a preread, then an edit, and then will be available both as an ebook and print on demand paperback.)
DEALING WITH MENTAL AGITATION
From the book
NATURAL BREATHING: THE FIRST REQUISITE
By Paul Colver www.vedicvitality.com
An Excerpt from Chapter 4 – Dealing with Mental Agitation

 
 
 
Copyright © 2014 Paul Colver, All rights reserved.
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