Ulax

Just had a further read through the entirety of this post. I'd recommend IFS, and Do-Nothing meditation for you, bro. I think you'd really like them/ take to them. I resonated with a decent amount of what you wrote to.

@Raphael Wow! I'm going through a very similar process of my own at the moment. You usually gaslight yourself a lot?

@DManKee I agree pretty strongly with the school of life message. Its very stage green. Perhaps, with some stage yellow, as a lot of the theory is based on psychoanalysis which I'd put more into the yellow category. Its true that they will better the world. However, that can also be a form of gaining approval from their parental figure. I agree with @breakingthewall where they talk about 'improving the perfect does not make sense'.

I'm aligned with Gabor Mate, with a lot of my views. Addictions occur as a result of trauma, usually childhood related. However, I think a lot of people have a lot of structural obstacles that prevent them from changing as well. I.e. they feel very unsafe in the world because of their material circumstances (say treatment at a shitty job). And so there psychic system isn't so open to change.

You are the one you've been searching for - Schwartz

@Terell Kirby I'd disagree with the focus on forgiveness. Its important to acknowledge anger, and apportion blame to abusers before moving onto forgiveness.

@Mosess Learn marketing. Most spiritual types suck at it lol. So learning it is a great advantage.

@Spook17 Its a paradox. They came up. Follow your intuition.

@Ineedanswers What you want/ need at a given moment, is what you want/ need. For some 'body count' matters, for some it doesn't. Should it/ shouldn't it is besides the point. Whatever is, is whatever should have been, descriptively speaking. I really dislike the term 'body count', too.

@Yarco Don't be a dick. Its not commenter's responsibility to avoid that sort of thing. All the best OP.

@John Paul I'd look into critical theory, and literature theory, too.

Great! I wonder if you'd enjoy listening to, 'Bird set free' by Sia, too.

The best resources for me, were: - The method, by A.G. Avery (See 12 week plan section) - Atomic Habits Although, IFS will actually get you what you want, by getting your unconscious on side with you.

Nice dude! I really dislike the use of 'last minute resistance' in general though. Boundaries ought to be respected, particularly with lower self-esteem girls. Otherwise, you're falling into abuse territory. I get it is tough in the moment though. Sounds like your first meeting was fun, and went well! I'd send a text which shows your an empathetic/ caring human being, whilst having the boundary that other people's emotions are theirs' to deal with. Something like, 'Hey, was fun hanging with you the other night! I'd be up for a drink soon. What's your schedule like? (Hope your friend was okay in the end btw )'. Also, I'd say work on trusting your intuition with these things too. And, also if your mind's eye is developed, imagine the end of the evening as though you were her consciousness, and what the experience was like for her, i.e. what she must have thought when she decided to kiss you, at the end when she went for number instead of letting you in. I usually tend to find it a lot more positive than I'd imagined. Anyhow, good luck and hope this helps.

@RickyFitts An IFS perspective would that you have parts, rather than a single unconscious. Your pain in your head would be part that want your attention, and, perhaps, also, have something they want to tell you. So, you can just ask them, wait, and they might tell you. Re meditation, it may be that this is actually impeding the release of your emotions, depending on the type. Robert Schwartz (founder of IFS) says that traditional meditations that talk of a 'monkey mind', or 'mindless chatter', or thereabouts actually disrespect these parts and so can actually be damaging for us, and the parts won't feel safe to say release their burdens. I like 'Do nothing' meditation in that respect. No control and it seems to allow parts to speak more freely, and thereby feel more safe/ respected. Re the grief/ anger, I'd ask where you tend to cast blame. If you tend to cast it inwards then I'd suggest placing blame on other much more than you do, and if there is resistance to this, ask 'are there any parts restricting me from blaming others?'. If yes, perhaps, enquire why. It sounds like you've been doing a lot of hard, meaningful work on yourself. Respect/ kudos for that. I hope this helps!

Richard Schwartz (IFS Founder)

Why are personal attacks like this even entertained on here?

Depends what area of politics you're studying, and how you're studying it. Tbf learning systems theory would be more useful imo.

The world is so counter-intuitive, my god. Would be interested to hear an expansion on what is meant by 'precognition'.

Hi guys. For years and years, I've been trying to get over my issues with PTSD/ Depression/ ADHD/ anxiety. Have tried lots of techniques, but alike to the recent thread in this section, I keep just falling into this pit of despair. The only thing that helps is taking ADHD prescribed drugs. However, my dream has always been to overcome my affliction via natural means. I find Do-nothing meditation can help me a bit, but it doesn't stop my life from falling apart everyday. The thing that keeps me going is my mind's dissociation at the moment. My mind has been able to split my psyche, such that I cannot usually comprehend how everyday for the last four years has been a groundhog day of suffering. In brief moments where this illusion is lifted, I fall into utter despair. I love philosophy, psychology, and politics. And am a very smart guy. I say that not to brag, but just because its so frustrating not to be able to currently use my gift anywhere near the extent I want. I feel I know my purpose is around driving from political change in the world. However, currently I feel so held back from everything in life! I was wondering what people's perspectives on this were? Particularly, @Nahm. Thank you.

Thank you @LeoX8, and @Nahm.

An old friend of mine used this, and said it was way better for them than learning from a book: https://www.tandem.net/practice-speaking-french

Seems yet another example of mainstream Psychology not giving Trauma the prominence it deserves. "The Body keeps the Score" By Kolk, is an insightful read into how the research into Trauma is consistently not given the standing it may deserve and the devastating impacts of trauma upon us.

Beautiful

Hey man. At University myself, taken a year out. Experienced depression for many, many years. Personally, I decided to start prioritising. I was super into personal development but I realised, for myself, it was from a place of trying to feel good enough, so I was switched to working more on my self-acceptance. Therapy has been something I have been doing and has helped me.