Ashok Gupta Amygdala Retraining Program

My goal (so far I have failed in this goal because I get sidetracked every two minutes) is to apply myself to this program every day for an hour. So far, I have learned the STOP STOP STOP technique which isn't new to me. When you have a symptom thought, fear thought, powerfully stand up and say STOP STOP STOP. Visualize yourself on the road to health and happiness and forcefully direct your hands away from the powerful negative thought you are having.  The next piece of this work is meditation. He gains some of this work from guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. I looked him up and he seemed to be a cheerful guru. I laughed when one person in the audience asked about their spouse who had a big ego and what to do about it. He said, just tell him how great he is for a month. Ha. I guess that's one way of dealing with a narcissistic personality. Probably the best way. Why fight it, just accept it or divorce the fucker. 

Anyway, back to the amygdala retraining. The second piece of the work is a soften and flow meditation and a specific pranic breathing technique for 7 minutes. Accept whatever physical symptoms or anxious thought you are having. For me, currently it's this burning chest pain that literally kills. It feels like my heart and chest are shattered. Which they probably are given the other things happening in my life. So, I first accept this symptom, really really deeply accept it. I don't panic because of it, just observe it. Hmm look at you, you tight vice grip on my heart. No biggie. Then go into a deep meditation after 7 minutes of pranic breathing. This can be used for physical sensations, for anxious thoughts about whatever is generally making you anxious. Look, I realize those of you in acute withdrawal literally cannot even think straight or talk. But when you are on your taper it might be good to fortify yourself with these tools so when and IF acute meets you at the end you are somewhat prepared.

I took a hypno-birthing class, but when it came time to actually giving birth all that went out the WINDOW. But, this is worth trying. The only way to endure these symptoms is to deeply accept them Breathing from the belly, with one hand on the heart and one hand on your abdomen. Imagine saying Slow and Flow and Let Go on the out breath. I am going to work on it now. This program was designed for CFS which is according to Ashok is a brain injury in the limbic system. I really think he is onto something. Those of you who have tried getting off benzos before or are just having a rough go of it and traumatized about the fallout from this crazy process might have some PTSD. This program can be very useful in calming the stress response down I hope. I notice once my stress response is ON it takes about 5 days to calm down and some pain still remains. 
Sending love and light to all those on this journey and any other journey that feels relentless and unending. It will end. It will pass. Let's hope for better days.

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