Joel3102

https://www.goodlookingloser.com/anxiety/program You could try GLLs approach anxiety buster program. It gives you weekly challenges that start off pretty damn easy, like just asking directions, and then you're allowed to leave. It gradually builds up until you have no approach anxiety in around 3 months. Will take daily commitment though. I haven't tried this yet, but would like to when I get into cold approach.

Yeah 100% get it. Love the audio reviews, the categorisation, and the rating system. Plus by purchasing you're kind 'buying in' which will motivate you to read more stuff!

Rewatch it mate, he says 5,000 years That's a more interesting question to speculate I think

How would anathsesia be different to deep sleep?

Very excited to order this book! Also interested in his other book "More than Allegory"

@Serotoninluv Yeah I've experienced both and can say they're nearly opposites. People and places feel extremely alien and unfamiliar when DP, whereas they feel a part of you with enlightenment. @Coraline Sounds to me like if you were to develop the disorder you probably would have by now, but still be careful. Educate yourself, Harris Harrington has a good YouTube channel that explain some of the childhood issues that can lead to dissociative problems.

Depersonalisation is a completely different thing to ego death. The sound similar on the surface but it's actually a form of dissociation, not one-ness. I've had it for years at a time, being like you, it tends to afflict people who are more introverted, or anxious. You're lucky it only lasted 4-5 hours... Becoming more conscious helped me with depersonalisation, as it decreases anxiety. I think you should be okay if you've been able to handle two 10 day retreats without getting depersonalised for a long period of time. If you ever do experience it again through your inquiry, reminds yourself that it only persists when you worry about it and it will dissipate in time, if you don't enter into an obsessive thought cycle. One of the most common DPD triggers is drugs, especially weed in my case so avoid that because it will make it 10000X worse trust me.

https://boldanddetermined.com/why-meditation-doesnt-work/ Think that article was bad? Check out this cring-worthy article from a 'self improvement' website.

I too have also been through horrible DP/DR. It really fucking sucks and is really underappreciated in the medical community. I know it feels like it's impossible to recover while you're in DP/DR but it can go away with persistence. Plenty of people on the forums have recovered from it. I know while you're in the midst of it, it is so hard, but keep doing little things to distract yourself and calm yourself down to lessen the anxiety. Eventually it fades away without you even realising it. Also keep in mind the sharp distinction between DP/DR and enlightenment or ego death, they are not the same thing at all, quite the opposite in my experience.

@starsofclay Thanks!

@starsofclay any tips? It's been two months lol and I still feel a bit funny... Holosync takes you from Alpha to theta to delta and keeps you there for half an hour.

I tried it for a couple of months however I stopped a couple of months ago. It made me feel quite numb and disconnected from reality. Calmer and more measured, sure , didn't actually feel more present or more vibrancy. I can still feel these after effects and they're taking a long time to wear off for myself. So it 100% does something, lol. Having said that, this was just my experience. A lot of people love it and swear by it, however I'm going to just stick to regular meditation as it didn't mesh well with my particular body/mind. Could give it a try and see how you feel. Just don't buy too much into Bill Harris' uptopian marketing.

https://joeroganpodcast.wordpress.com/guest-request/ Let's all vote for Leo here then

I recall Ken Wilber explaining in one of his audiobooks that advanced practitioners can maintain perfect awareness during all three states that we go through. Not exactly sure what an experience of deep sleep would be like...but I'm open to the possibility to maintain your awareness of being aware in deep sleep. Rupert Spira has some amazing videos on deep sleep and dreams if you haven't come across them already.

I love this forums obsession with Sam Harris

I'm in the same condundum lol. I think do it for a while if you really suck and get it out of your system. It will give you long term perks other than just sex, such as social freedom that will stay with you, and the abundance to find a partner that you actually pick, rather than just sticking with the first female that likes you (if you were ever planning on getting into a relationship)

Lots of meditation

This shit happens to me too. Have you seen Leo's video on the Dark Side of Meditation? He calls it ego backlash. Basically try to avoid the worst of the behaviours that your're feeling compelled to do, and realise it's a journey up and down and that the long term trend should be upwards given that you're consistent with the practice.

I've had some success with social circle through uni. However, a lot of them aren't of the highest quality that I would necessarily commit to, plus they involved lots of alcohol which I'm not about anymore. I'd agree with you, if you live in a decently sized city there's more than enough fish in the sea for cold approach. The fact that you're approaching cold automatically conveys higher value than warm approach, cause who the fuck would have the bald to do that? Plus it grows you more in the long run because it's harder. Haven't done much cold approach myself but once I sort out my living situations I'll give it a crack. Have you found you have made decent progress?

It's a shame so many of the smartest minds go to just more success, progress, technology, rationalism etc. Seems to be that way because they have a blind spot from realising the limits of thinking and concepts. Imagine a world where the default for the most brilliant was consciousness and not success, it would be such a better place.

I haven't yet lol. How long you been using it for? I've been doing it recently and the upheaval is kicking my ass, lots of fear, ego backlash and crazy mind coming up. Plus horrible insomnia

Advaitan?

I get this from time to time in varying degrees. I think it's a process of your mind reorganizing itself and reevaluating it's priorities when you start the spiritual path. You've seen through the facade that particular experiences and acquisitions can give you satisfaction, which is actually a positive step. It's only been two months, but hopefully if you stay on path you will start to experience more authentic motivation and joy in life.

Taking action is more powerful than just contemplating with this kind of thing. Contemplating can help, but you need real world action to prove to your brain you social fears are irrational. Something lik RSD might help you