Because of all the amazing feedback I got from this video, I made a meditation for ADHD course and have gotten amazing feedback from that as well. You can read reviews and watch the first module for free here: beingintegrated.thinkific.com/courses/meditation-for-adhd You can also sign up for my newsletter/substack and get a free guided ADHD meditation here: beingintegrated.net/newsletter-signup/
"My mind was so active because my body was so restless and uncomfortable." This clicked. So much of this mental stress seems to stem from a physical discomfort and a CONSTANT ache to raise those dopamine levels. It seems that the letting be-the sitting with the feelings of discomfort while choosing not to act on them-is the work needed to slowly re-tune the body/mind to find and shift that dopamine baseline. Thanks Jude!!
Definitely felt this during the practice, especially on the second half, when my brain was SCREAMING at me to MOVE and do SOMETHING, but I had to persevere and gently let my brain go back to focusing on the body and finding the tense parts to try and relax. When I opened my eyes in the end I felt more awake and calm. Thank you this video was so helpful!
It really made sense to me. My husband ask, "what are you thinking about?" I told him am not thinking about anything and just restless and jumping from one thing to the other.
3.5 years of meditation later.... where I've listened to countless recordings telling me to return to my breath and observe my thoughts. I don't get to observe my thoughts, like a "train coming into the station", rather, I get constantly hit with a machine gun of random thoughts / fantasies /stories. The body discomfort thing surely makes sense, like fidgeting, touching your face, changing position. But it seems to me I do have an overactive mind, which then leads to the body discomfort. Then again I am more in the inattentive side. Thanks for this, made much sense, more than dozens of others. The life advices too, like stability, income and routine. Oh and PS guys: PRIORITIZE SLEEP WHATEVER IT TAKES 💤
Hey man, I was the EXACT SAME with the thoughts. To the point typical mindfulness meditation would stress me out. How could I "identify, acknowledge, and let go of a thought" if it's a cacaphony. I can't label it planning, worrying, or whatever because it's like an entire movie sometimes. (I call them reels, but it's the same as the fantasies/stories). So every thought would stress me out, also I have a perfectionism streak so that didn't help. If you don't mind, what ended up working for you? I am gonna give this guy a shot, and I have a Trancendental Meditation training lined up too.
Oh man, I had to stop 3 minutes just so I could comment! You are so right about the discomfort! The restlessness, the frustration, almost like there's a part going off inside me that's inconsolable. I'll try and think about what I need. "Do you need food? Do you want exercise? Do you want to participate in a hobby?" But the discomfort is so overwhelming, I sometimes become paralyzed. Then I get more frustrated and restless -- the cycle never ends! Thank you for providing this video and I'm looking forward to the practices!
Hey thanks for your comment and over the next few weeks I’m releasing practices that will help a lot with what’s coming up. I’m doing a whole module on nervous system health that will have many practices to help so stay tuned :)
i BAWLED. i never knew how much hatred and resentment i had towards my symptoms, and it really helped me understand they are a part of me. its what makes me, me. it truly shifted my perspective on my symptoms. im definitely coming back!!
Hello, I want to drop here because I just recently been diagnosed with ADHD and my therapist suggest mindfulness meditation but things rarely worked for me, moreover when my emotion is all over the place and I feel so restless. I found your channel and just applied this meditation technique. Instead of the chest and stomach, I feel like my restlessness is actually from my spine, so I tried to put my hand on my back and bam! I was hysterically sad one second and then I was not after I breathe with my hand on my center of restlessness. So thank you, thank you so much! I've been restless and anxious and sad for such a long time. My diagnosis and this video really helps me handling my most long lasting problem ever!
Amazing so glad to hear. We are all unique and hold our emotions differently. Amazing that you were able to find where the stuck emotion was and release it. ❤️✨🙏
This video caused such a profound emotional response for me I found myself crying as I went through it. I have never felt so understood and accepted. Thank you!!!
Thank you❤❤❤❤ I am 36, and my ADHD symptoms have been going into full swing, it’s been so intense that I have literally started to believe that I don’t belong and that my family would be better off without me. I have felt like an imposter no matter how much I achieve. I can’t explain this to other without stirring up their survival instincts. And yes, I haven’t felt very secure so it’s WAY worse. I need to heal and know how to live with this. I want to create a healthy relationship with my ADHD. I found your video this morning around 1:30 am. I couldn’t manage the restlessness in my body so I gave myself permission to drink some warm green tea with matcha. My reason for exercising now has completely shifted to manage my ADHD and the discomfort in my body. I found my “why” all the other reasons weren’t enough. Thank you again, I’ll be back ❤
Hey great to hear and thanks so much for your comment. Right now I’m really focused on making more content for RUclips and I’ve also got a lot of other videos you may find helpful too. So definitely stick around. I hope to continue to hear from you :)
I feel you! I'm 36 too and your comment was exactly like my life now. I'm not diagnosed yet, I'm still waiting for it but it was huge step to admit it to myself and to start a process of getting diagnosed. You are not alone there. ❤️ I made this practice, I raised my hand immediatelly on my chest when asked where do you feel your restlessness. I started to cry and weep like a baby when asked to welcome these sensations. As a person who's been rejected so many times because of "being too much", being loud, restless and impulsive, it really hit home to accept my body restlessness and welcome it by myself because many people don't accept those things in me. Thanks for this person who made this video, definitelly going to subscribe and try your other practises!
Eye opening every stresser in my life I understand now. My mid is so bad at try to force me towards my thoughts and out side stimuli to ignore my feelings. I'm going to try and start using this everytime I have issues. Start feeling the feelings in the moment instead of it keeping me up at might. Practice Practice Practice. I hope it'll help me truly feel more.
The first time I tried meditation in a group, I cried at the end of it. My friend said she could feel me shaking even though we were sat apart. I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until recently so I didn't understand why I was struggling at the time. This video is so helpful and has really helped me this morning to overcome some overwhelming thoughts. Thank you.
Thank you for this video. I've been meditating every morning for several months now. I've found that guided meditation is easier for me because the words and directions give me some to focus on. When I meditate with music, my mind still runs wild. Trying to focus on my breath, as you mentioned, isn't easy at all. But focusing on where I felt the energy or the agitation in my body WAS easier to maintain. That really surprised me. Maybe doing THAT while listening to music or white noise will help. So thank you again for this video. I'll check out your other videos and the other channel you mentioned as well. 🙏🙏🙏
This is definitely what I have been looking for! I find the breathing meditations to increase my anxiety and this was simple and has me thinking more about what I want meditation to help with.
Adding another comment here: you mentioned how stress factors into the intensity of ADHD symptoms. Absolutely. Since the pandemic began my ADHD has ramped up to what I feel are "impossible* levels. It feels like I'm a walking emergency. I don't feel safe and I've been experiencing rising panic (emotions harder to control) and my interpersonal boundaries are much weaker. Thank you so much for pointing this out.
I'm not sure if I have ADHD or not, I suspect I might. I've had a lot of trouble with other kinds of meditation because my mind keeps wandering or I guess trying to "win" the meditation, but this was the first kind of meditation where I didn't feel that pressure, and the first kind of meditation that actually made me feel at some sort of peace during the meditation. Thank you for that.
Just seen this video, I've been struggling so much to do this meditation stuff for quite a while, I have adhd and with other techniques I either felt silly doing it or my mind just exploded and I couldn't sit still ! I can honestly say this gave me an experience I can't explain and I never felt so relaxed when I finished, your very honest with your adhd and easy to listen to thankyou for this ! I will try get my girlfriend to have a go
I found this video while searching for meditation with autism. Meditation is normally hell for me, I spend the entire thing feeling like I'm doing something wrong. This felt pretty different so I'm going to give it a go. Cheers!
Hi I also wanted to say I have ADD and Shinzen Young’s Do Meditation works so well for me. He also made a video as another ADD’er asked him about it specifically with ADD. Another good one to add! I find it is so natural to me
The problem is when i actually get relaxed, i don't have my usual intelligence anymore,i can't give witty replies or participate in discussions i would otherwise destroy. I mean, i cant win with this condition.
This is great. So many say bring your attention to your breath. Well I can't because the tension is too great and pulling my attention away. It is perfect to actually focus on the tension, you become more aware of it and that helps to relax it. I have an easier time keeping my mind clear focusing on the tension than I do focusing on the breath.
I've done a lot of different sorts of meditation, but this video still had something unique to give me. It was fascinating to realize that there is such strong restlessness in my hands. It will be interesting to continue looking at this and see how it changes day to day.
I was Dxed with Hyperkinesia. Smooth music. Native American Flute Music. or something to distract and breathe in coordination to the music or distraction. Concentrating on one thing at a time.
Hey so if you sign up for my newsletter (link in description) you get a guided meditation like this. I’m also in the process of uploading new practices and so far there are a few in this vein (Practicing mindfulness: welcoming our experience, and Feeling: mastery is not control). I also made a whole course on this topic (link in description) and I’m uploading new content every few days now and over the next few weeks more practices will be going up like this one.
Hey Jude So funny that I came across your site. We use to party with the same people back in Toronto with Charlie. However I don't think we knew each other. I'm Diana and now working with young people with ADHD. Would love to discuss a programme development with you
The feeling in my abdomen is crazy strong, especially when i'm slowly putting my hand closer to it. There's just this really uncomfortable energy coming, sometimes it's so intense that my body starts twitching a little. Afterwards, for a moment, my mind feels different, more calm. Was it the same for you? After a while of doing this practice did this feeling in abdomen go away/change? Thanks, great video btw :)
Restlessness is the symptom, the problem is the lack of focus and high frequency of committing mistakes , i don't think this is helping but thank you anyway .
Fellow sufferer here. What helped me was making checklists for every recurring send-- e-mails, reports, ppts, data entry for excel dashboards. Everything has a checklist that contains all the steps at which errors are possible. An example of email checklist before clicking 'send': 1. Check Recipient (Correct?) 2. Any missing people in Cc? 3. Spelling (grammarly changes) 4. Accuracy of dates if mentioned 5. Missing attachments? 6. Additional info if needed. This keeps me from being overwhelmed, which would have happened if I were constantly thinking "did I miss checking the attachme..oh no there it is...but hey I guess I still need to Cc Stacy". Instead of this chaos, the self-talk becomes more organised and errors can be avoided. I also maintain an error log in Excel and revise it everyday so the mistakes burn into my brain.
More people need to watch these videos! Another very informative and helpful video. Keep up the great work my friend, it’s really helping me fine-tune my practices.
The feeling is centered in my temples how do I make it go away or to somewhere else. did this for the first time it went from my temples to my left arm starting from the hand up and back to my head, again centered around both sides of temples I don’t like this anybody have a similar experience?
The key is to not try to make it go away. The resilience just makes more reactivity. The more you can embrace the experience and the feelings, the sooner they will subside. The key is to welcome them fully, without wanting them to go away.
I can't explain properly but after 11 years of my spiritual journey, after trying thousand types of meditation, after diagnosing my ADHD.... THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I FELT UNDERSTOOD, SEEN, FELT. Sooo very grateful to you. I was searching ADHD meditation and accidentally stumbled upon on your video. Feeling safe and sound 🥺🥺🥺 Beautiful meditation, tons of gratitude, love and blessings sweet soul🌼🌻🌷
I can’t fully explain it, but out of the literal thousands of guided meditations I have listened to, as someone who has discovered they might have adhd and is in the process of getting diagnosed, it feels genuinely strange for each point he made to just hit home and relate to me so much. That in itself was such a relief. I felt like it was addressing the thousands of elephants in the room in my brain that other meditations either gloss over or ignore entirely. I hope this made sense. Essentially this meditation is fantastic.
As someone who also just discovered I have ADHD, it's "strange" because we've become accustomed to seeing/feeling differently from most people. For me suddenly ALLLL the pieces fit, and yes, definitely a sense of relief! I'm sure you're well past a diagnosis now but I just wanted to affirm your comments for anyone else that might come along in a similar place.
I literally felt like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I’ve been exploring the mind and never knew the way to explain how I feel. This video explains point for point exactly how I feel. Your video has answered questions that I’ve struggled to understand or locate myself. Thank you so much for this video!
Who else is multitasking while watching this video because ADHD?? As a fellow therapist with ADHD (inattentive subtype), I find this so validating. This mirrors my experiences with meditation & medication. This craving & avoiding body discomfort really hits home. I enjoy using mudras during meditation, giving permission to have my mind wander, using hypnosis, and doing mindful movement BEFORE meditation does wonders. New subscriber here & would love to connect with a like minded therapist. 💗Dr. Liz
It is NOT DUE ADHD. People why you neglect the current times DEMAND people to be a MULTITASKER??? Have you noticed the speed of information exchange continiuosly accelerating? Wake up! It is new age life!
Whether this "worked" for my symptoms or not is irrelevant to me right now. You brought me ten minutes of peace today and I hugely grateful for that. Thank you.
Fellow restless ADHD peeps, meditation starts here: 6:31 - transmuting ADHD restlessness through acceptance is such an important lesson to learn, thank you for making your content!
I've put myself in very stressful/anxiety raising situations my entire life. And not like extreme sports type stuff, which may have been productive - but rather things like not trying at all in school and seeing my grades plummet and my relationships with my parents deteriorate, or saying vulgar things to people and looking at their reactions and getting a very powerful, very negative stimulus from that. In all of these things, my actions always seemed automatic and out of my control. And in all of these things, I hated myself for behaving so. One thing for sure, though, is that I have always had a deep, unrelenting sense of restlessness in my body. For me, it has mostly been in my chest, and the feeling is unbearable. What you said kind of affirmed my thoughts about my past and, honestly, still current, behavior being based around giving me a strong stimulus to distract me from this restlessness. I'll give the meditation a go and see where I end up. It sucks, though... having to had ever dealt with this stuff. Trials and tribulations, baby.
THIS. THIS... is EXACTLY my story as well. I have ruined so many relationships and feel shameful and uncomfortable every single day. I just want some relief.
Thank you for this. I’m undiagnosed but this video makes me feel understood. I love to meditate but only certain kinds and the focus on breathing absolutely doesn’t work for me. I thought it was because I have asthma.
I have asthma as well, and also undiagnosed :( I’m on a 10000 year long waiting list. I legit feel there is no help in the meantime and the struggle is getting bad :( how do you cope? Would love to speak to someone about coping mechanisms xxx
I don’t usually comment on anything. But this brought really good value to me. I have been trying to meditate for years but never succeeding for even 3 minutes at a time. This worked!
I can't believe your channel doesn't have more subscribers, this is the most valuable video I have found in my whole meditation journey, or my adhd research to be honest. Thank you for making these videos, I'm so happy i found this channel!
Aww thank you Amy this comment means a lot. You’ll be happy to know I’m devoting the next few months to making more content here, so lots more to come! :)
This was so helpful! I was feeling so fidgety and couldn’t sit still before and my mind was racing, and now I feel so much more relaxed and calm. I think the part where you said doing what’s comfortable for you really helped because sometimes shaking like a chihuahua is what my brain wants me to do lmao.
I looked this up on a whim and it was the first video I clicked. when you asked us to identify where the energy was, I put one hand on my chest and one hand on my stomach and almost immediately started crying but I breathed through it. I legitimately felt the energy so fast and when you reminded us to go back into our mind I felt it moved through my body. When you brought it back to The body again I felt the energy but it was so much less and I never ended up crying!! this was crazy!! I have ADHD and normal meditation is torture so this is so helpful and I can’t wait to check out more videos!!!!
I did this and it’s scary. I have this huge ball of energy that’s constantly moving and tickling me. I feel it crawling thru me when I try to meditate. Like the beginning of a panic attack. Do I shorten my meditation sessions or just keep at it?
Thank you for this gentle and compassionate video. It has truly tapped into my own personal experience of living with ADHD. That level of restlessness that you talk about is a really interesting point of focus for this meditation. Just learning to just sit with what is happening in our bodies without judgement is absolutely essential advice, and not often talked about in much of the literature on this condition.
Hi ! I assume I have ADHD or ADD because I find it really hard to focus on things and I can relate to a lot of what you said, especially the part where my mind keeps on working, playing out scenarios etc. I tried mediation, and I keep getting a lot of flashing images, some related to what I'm thinking, some unrelated, but I don't feel any restlessness within my body. Ideally, I would love to calm my mind down. Any suggestions? Thanks.👍
This was so helpful. I haven't been diagnosed yet but I've been trying to understand what I've been feeling for years so that I can explain it to my therapist. I suspect it's iADD. Your explanation on the physical sensations really was spot on for what I feel when rested. Thank you for the explanation and meditation!
Omg!!! I've been doing "regular" meditation and it truly is torture! Though I keep trying. I've always been fidgety and suspected I have adhd. My sister does have adhd and is on meditation. My restlessness is in my skin and this was wonderful to know that I can simply accept it and not fight it constantly. What a relief. THANK YOU SO MUCH. This was more than helpful, it was calming in an adhd sort of way. God bless.
That's what meditation means! Listening to all the sensations without judgement. You can't do it right or wrong. It's always a practise. You get distracted? It's ok, be aware of it and gently get back to your meditation when it feels right. Never fight it because that's torture.
Thank you for this. This was the most present I've felt in some time. When I opened my eyes I opened them up to my cats cuddling on the other side of my bed and I can't fully describe it but to be do so aware of something I love so much was a beautiful experience that I hadn't realized I hadn't had in some time. I know it's such a small thing but it meant everything
I have been struggling for so long with making real progress in anything because of this restlessness. I've been meditating for 4 years and I still cannot go to the state of total calmness. I've been stuck also in my spiritual journey and I knew that the one thing that was holding me back was this big thorn in my soul. I searched for it but I couldn't ever find the core of it I could only see symptoms of it's working. And then you came with this video only 20 minutes long video. And you changed everything in me. I've finally realised that it was this restlessness and shaking inside my body that is responsible for stopping me from further spiritual growth. Thank you.
@@BeingIntegrated I'm happy too that you are helping others on such a large scale. In my opinion taking care of others and really helping them is one of the best things you can do with your life here on earth. Not everybody is dessigned to do it, not everybody is capable of doing it. So please be proud and happy about yourself because the universe has assigned such a beautiful role for you!
Before watching this, the only kind of meditation I could do was simple as possible: learning to focusing on the core and diaphragm muscles to make the next breath a good deep one. Then again. Then again. I don't even try to do it more than a few minutes, because I do it several times a day. Having learned this, I have used it a few times in real life as well. Looking forward to this kind of meditation.
Thanks for your video. I've been in and out of meditation for years, always having that restlessness and uncomfortable feeling when I sit to meditate, and I only realized it is ADHD recently. I read some books from cover to cover, I sought help and advice, but I always stumbled upon that strange stone and a bit of external stress kicked me out of meditation for months. I learned to get around that stone from thinking that my mind is a house, and I have to leave the doors open to any sensation and thought. Do not suppress anything, don't try to sink uncomfortable thoughts or embarrassing accusative memories, don't try to fight against it, but neither should you encourage them or give them your energy. There is a third alternative. You just let things come and go as they please, but you keep watching the breath. You can give uncomfortable feelings and emotions some attention when they arise, but once they calm down you can go back to your breath, without pressuring you, without punishing yourself for having distracted, without insulting yourself internally, without generating suffering for being unable to focus on your breath and having wasted 30 minutes of meditation zooning out or wandering. This video helped me to see ADHD as a problem of lack of dopamine, rather than excess energy. No matter what meditation gurus say, the neurochemical approach to meditation is much more effective for me than the spirituality and parables traditional approach.
Adhd here How I do it is close to mindfullness, there is no need to focus during meditation, only accepting whatever thought or feeling going through, without judgement or holding on to any. It might take a while, but we can find a center of balance or groundness inside (for me it is my heart. Then I use a visualisation, last time it was swimming on a lake, and instead of trying to stay afloat, I would let myself sink, then realise that I can't drown. It can be like wearing thoughts like hair going off your mind. Anything. At that point, I try to radiate as much light as possible from my center and try to stay there as long as possible. Eventually, silence. And the dopamine boost ;)
I have tried meditation at many points in my life and none of them have ever worked. I even shared an office with someone who taught meditation for two years and I just couldn't get into it, despite being exposed to it constantly. Used some apps too, no success. Apparently I've been googling how to meditate incorrectly for years. I should have added the ADHD thing to the search from the beginning. Today I was able to keep my mind on the exercise without feeling like it was pointless. The hand thing was oddly grounding. I REALLY hope this means there's hope for me because the benefits seem fantastic. This not only seems doable, but something I can already see helping me immensely. Thank you so much for this video. From the introduction on ADHD in relation to my body to the practice itself, I feel like I have a missing link I've been searching for.
Watch my video on equanimity, it will explain why you should keep at it. It may take time but tuning into the discomfort and actually welcoming the sensations will start to change your experience. Best of luck.
Because of all the amazing feedback I got from this video, I took a deeper dive into the topic. I found A LOT but boiled it down to the most effective strategies and have made it available in an online course. Watch first module free! beingintegrated.thinkific.com/courses/meditation-for-adhd Sign up to my newsletter to download a free guided meditation for ADHD (and receive occasional musings and workshop invites): beingintegrated.net/newsletter-signup/
Thank you, my teacher!!! I accept only with my 50,5 years that I have a really ADHD, all my symptoms are so clear that I don´t need a diagnose, (although I will let me check up seriously). In the combination with my very moderate multiple sclerosis is it very wild, but only thank MS I´m coming so far in my searching, why I am so painfully strange. Thank you for this meditation, I will listen it every day till I learn by heart how to willcome the painfull fidgets and inquietude and thank you for all your other lessons that I´m going to hear and of course, thank you also for the free 1st module of your course, thank you! I didn´t try thousend guided meditations, not even hundrets, but also tens or dozens were enough to suffer and keep searching.
@@aguy559 hey yes it can be that for sure, but for me and many others it’s a little different from anxiety, though definitely in the same category. For the practices though, it’s not important which it is, the practices are equally applicable to both.
I just wanted to say that when you said “we aren’t trying to change” that restless feeling, I got so emotional. I’ve never tried a therapy or meditation that was ok with me just as I am. Thank you. 🙏🏼 Please do more ADHD meditation. People like me are desperate for something to supplement our treatment plan to possibly stay on lower doses of a stimulant.
The thing that you should take away from this is that trying to change that feeling is the problem. The discomfort comes from trying to change things that are better off left alone. Your body and brain are great at regulating feelings if you let it and don’t get involved. :)
Eureka! I am so glad I found you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. It is on my bucket list to be as mentally free from these "loops" as possible, as we know the toll that is taken by ADD & ADHD throughout our lives--especially childhood. You have a beautiful soul and are a gift to the world.
Finally. Thank you so much for this. Many of us with ADHD loathe ourselves because we feel like failures at everything. For me, the self-loathing has manifested as chronic anxiety. I'm so distracted by fear, that I can't get my act together enough to do or plan anything. Never mind the difficulty that ADHD brings to the table. This type of meditation helped me understand that my runaway, frantic feelings are ultimately my body's way of coping with deep grief and childhood trauma. I realized that I'm locked in the body of an hysterical and terrified 4-year-old. The simple observation and noting you walked us through help me replace my self-loathing with self love. Thank you for posting this, I'll be sure to watch this over and over ❤️.
Oh wow this is a very clear and articulate comment, and it really resonated with me. This is why I do what I do. I also just put out a video on trauma which goes over how people heal, and you touched on some of the themes in this comment. Thanks for your comment and hoping you continue to explore the channel, I have lots more relevant content (like my videos on equanimity, self-love, inner critic, shame, working with feelings…)
WORKED FOR ME GOING TO BED NOW 3AM I GO ABOUT 5 OR 6PM FOUND YOU ON REDDIT I ALSO FOUND OUT LATE IN LIFE I HAVE ADHD I ALSO STARTED MEDITATING I WAS 28 NOW IM 56. I ALSO RUN BEEN DOING IT FOR 30 YEARS WHEN I GAVE THE DRAGS RUNNING HELPS ALOT WITH ADHD BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT EVERYDAY TO KEEP IN CHECK WITH HEARTH EATING AND EATING DISORDERS.
I wish I watched this such a long time ago. I have struggled very much with the things you talk about and found some of it by trial and error (eg meditating on the feelings not ignoring them) Thankyou :)
I really wished this would’ve worked for me. I’m definately ADHD. I was able to relax, almost to sleep. Lol do you have any tips that might help? Thanks!!
I would check the playlist on my channel on Mindfulness / Vipassana meditation… there are a few practices there and you can explore what works best for you
Discomfort in your body keeping your mind from meditation hits home as an ADHD individual with chronic pain. And the grrrr... angry restlessness it brings on when the more I try to calm my mind the more it jumps around always made me feel inadequate.
My first time doing this. My diet is healthy, l exercise stretching for 50 plus age range. I'm full of creativity. Unfortunately my ADHD has broken me away from my children, all 6 of them.
Because of all the amazing feedback I got from this video, I made a meditation for ADHD course and have gotten amazing feedback from that as well. You can read reviews and watch the first module for free here:
beingintegrated.thinkific.com/courses/meditation-for-adhd
You can also sign up for my newsletter/substack and get a free guided ADHD meditation here: beingintegrated.net/newsletter-signup/
How many other people with ADHD, besides myself, found themselves distracted by reading the comments while he was talking?
Autismo here - I spent the entire video desperately wanting to write a comment. 😅
started reading one of the first things i saw
I don't have ADHD but I do this all the time
Get out of my head lol
Currently doing so! Lmao!😂
"My mind was so active because my body was so restless and uncomfortable."
This clicked. So much of this mental stress seems to stem from a physical discomfort and a CONSTANT ache to raise those dopamine levels. It seems that the letting be-the sitting with the feelings of discomfort while choosing not to act on them-is the work needed to slowly re-tune the body/mind to find and shift that dopamine baseline. Thanks Jude!!
I loved this too. I have recently been diagnosed with ADD in my sixties which explains so much of my struggles. It's a relief. Thanks so much!
so does anyone else feel the need to stand up and pace when they get too mentally active? which is like ... very often lol
What do you mean by dopamine?
Definitely felt this during the practice, especially on the second half, when my brain was SCREAMING at me to MOVE and do SOMETHING, but I had to persevere and gently let my brain go back to focusing on the body and finding the tense parts to try and relax. When I opened my eyes in the end I felt more awake and calm. Thank you this video was so helpful!
It really made sense to me. My husband ask, "what are you thinking about?" I told him am not thinking about anything and just restless and jumping from one thing to the other.
"Don't try to feel good but try to be good at feeling "
Amazing I’m stealing this!
3.5 years of meditation later.... where I've listened to countless recordings telling me to return to my breath and observe my thoughts.
I don't get to observe my thoughts, like a "train coming into the station", rather, I get constantly hit with a machine gun of random thoughts / fantasies /stories.
The body discomfort thing surely makes sense, like fidgeting, touching your face, changing position.
But it seems to me I do have an overactive mind, which then leads to the body discomfort. Then again I am more in the inattentive side. Thanks for this, made much sense, more than dozens of others. The life advices too, like stability, income and routine.
Oh and PS guys: PRIORITIZE SLEEP WHATEVER IT TAKES 💤
Hey man, I was the EXACT SAME with the thoughts. To the point typical mindfulness meditation would stress me out. How could I "identify, acknowledge, and let go of a thought" if it's a cacaphony. I can't label it planning, worrying, or whatever because it's like an entire movie sometimes. (I call them reels, but it's the same as the fantasies/stories). So every thought would stress me out, also I have a perfectionism streak so that didn't help.
If you don't mind, what ended up working for you? I am gonna give this guy a shot, and I have a Trancendental Meditation training lined up too.
THIS!!! 💯🥺🥺 Resonated deeply!!!
6:30 meditation start
this was so, so so helpful. i didn't realize how much i disassociate and how much that restless part of me was waiting to be embraced and "seen"
Oh man, I had to stop 3 minutes just so I could comment! You are so right about the discomfort! The restlessness, the frustration, almost like there's a part going off inside me that's inconsolable. I'll try and think about what I need. "Do you need food? Do you want exercise? Do you want to participate in a hobby?" But the discomfort is so overwhelming, I sometimes become paralyzed. Then I get more frustrated and restless -- the cycle never ends! Thank you for providing this video and I'm looking forward to the practices!
Hey thanks for your comment and over the next few weeks I’m releasing practices that will help a lot with what’s coming up. I’m doing a whole module on nervous system health that will have many practices to help so stay tuned :)
Loved the meditation! The discomfort disappeared as I moved through the discomfort with acceptance and love. Thank you!
Wow. I never thought that accepting discomfort rather than trying to force concentration would be so helpful. Thank you!
i BAWLED. i never knew how much hatred and resentment i had towards my symptoms, and it really helped me understand they are a part of me. its what makes me, me. it truly shifted my perspective on my symptoms. im definitely coming back!!
Beautiful 🙏🙏🙏
Man, this is the most „make sense” video I’ve seen so far on the internet on adhd. Very clear and spot on definition of adhd!
Thank you! 🙏
best description of how I've felt every second of every day since I can remember being Me. Currently undiagnosed and 35. Really good thank you.
Hello, I want to drop here because I just recently been diagnosed with ADHD and my therapist suggest mindfulness meditation but things rarely worked for me, moreover when my emotion is all over the place and I feel so restless. I found your channel and just applied this meditation technique. Instead of the chest and stomach, I feel like my restlessness is actually from my spine, so I tried to put my hand on my back and bam! I was hysterically sad one second and then I was not after I breathe with my hand on my center of restlessness. So thank you, thank you so much! I've been restless and anxious and sad for such a long time. My diagnosis and this video really helps me handling my most long lasting problem ever!
Amazing so glad to hear. We are all unique and hold our emotions differently. Amazing that you were able to find where the stuck emotion was and release it. ❤️✨🙏
This video caused such a profound emotional response for me I found myself crying as I went through it. I have never felt so understood and accepted. Thank you!!!
❤️🙏✨
It’s so wonderful to hear an adhders experience with meditation ❤ I feel seen
Thank you❤❤❤❤ I am 36, and my ADHD symptoms have been going into full swing, it’s been so intense that I have literally started to believe that I don’t belong and that my family would be better off without me. I have felt like an imposter no matter how much I achieve. I can’t explain this to other without stirring up their survival instincts. And yes, I haven’t felt very secure so it’s WAY worse. I need to heal and know how to live with this. I want to create a healthy relationship with my ADHD. I found your video this morning around 1:30 am. I couldn’t manage the restlessness in my body so I gave myself permission to drink some warm green tea with matcha.
My reason for exercising now has completely shifted to manage my ADHD and the discomfort in my body. I found my “why” all the other reasons weren’t enough. Thank you again, I’ll be back ❤
Hey great to hear and thanks so much for your comment. Right now I’m really focused on making more content for RUclips and I’ve also got a lot of other videos you may find helpful too. So definitely stick around. I hope to continue to hear from you :)
I feel you! I'm 36 too and your comment was exactly like my life now. I'm not diagnosed yet, I'm still waiting for it but it was huge step to admit it to myself and to start a process of getting diagnosed. You are not alone there. ❤️
I made this practice, I raised my hand immediatelly on my chest when asked where do you feel your restlessness. I started to cry and weep like a baby when asked to welcome these sensations. As a person who's been rejected so many times because of "being too much", being loud, restless and impulsive, it really hit home to accept my body restlessness and welcome it by myself because many people don't accept those things in me. Thanks for this person who made this video, definitelly going to subscribe and try your other practises!
@@satu9249 ❤️
Eye opening every stresser in my life I understand now. My mid is so bad at try to force me towards my thoughts and out side stimuli to ignore my feelings. I'm going to try and start using this everytime I have issues. Start feeling the feelings in the moment instead of it keeping me up at might. Practice Practice Practice. I hope it'll help me truly feel more.
Thank you for this because I realised I can very easily count my breath while still thinking a million different thoughts.
The first time I tried meditation in a group, I cried at the end of it. My friend said she could feel me shaking even though we were sat apart. I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until recently so I didn't understand why I was struggling at the time. This video is so helpful and has really helped me this morning to overcome some overwhelming thoughts. Thank you.
Thank you for you comment Ruth :)
Thank you for this video. I've been meditating every morning for several months now. I've found that guided meditation is easier for me because the words and directions give me some to focus on. When I meditate with music, my mind still runs wild. Trying to focus on my breath, as you mentioned, isn't easy at all. But focusing on where I felt the energy or the agitation in my body WAS easier to maintain. That really surprised me. Maybe doing THAT while listening to music or white noise will help. So thank you again for this video. I'll check out your other videos and the other channel you mentioned as well. 🙏🙏🙏
Please keep making videos like these . I have been struggling with ADHD 😩 u got a new sub
Will do! I just released a new one and more to come :)
This is definitely what I have been looking for! I find the breathing meditations to increase my anxiety and this was simple and has me thinking more about what I want meditation to help with.
Adding another comment here: you mentioned how stress factors into the intensity of ADHD symptoms. Absolutely. Since the pandemic began my ADHD has ramped up to what I feel are "impossible* levels. It feels like I'm a walking emergency. I don't feel safe and I've been experiencing rising panic (emotions harder to control) and my interpersonal boundaries are much weaker. Thank you so much for pointing this out.
I'm not sure if I have ADHD or not, I suspect I might. I've had a lot of trouble with other kinds of meditation because my mind keeps wandering or I guess trying to "win" the meditation, but this was the first kind of meditation where I didn't feel that pressure, and the first kind of meditation that actually made me feel at some sort of peace during the meditation. Thank you for that.
🙏✨❤️
I had severe earache for days and nights and this meditation was the only thing which soothed it. 🤒🤕🤧
Just seen this video, I've been struggling so much to do this meditation stuff for quite a while, I have adhd and with other techniques I either felt silly doing it or my mind just exploded and I couldn't sit still ! I can honestly say this gave me an experience I can't explain and I never felt so relaxed when I finished, your very honest with your adhd and easy to listen to thankyou for this ! I will try get my girlfriend to have a go
I found this video while searching for meditation with autism. Meditation is normally hell for me, I spend the entire thing feeling like I'm doing something wrong. This felt pretty different so I'm going to give it a go. Cheers!
It was realy intens but also releaving. I was able to show up kindy to myself and accept and welcome my fear and pain. I couldn in a long time.
Ah amazing. So great to hear. Check out this practice too I think it will resonate with you:
ruclips.net/video/2wtXYahBqCM/видео.html
@@BeingIntegrated I will sounds perfect to what i am going through.
Thank you.🙏🏻
Hi I also wanted to say I have ADD and Shinzen Young’s Do Meditation works so well for me. He also made a video as another ADD’er asked him about it specifically with ADD. Another good one to add! I find it is so natural to me
Oh thank you, first meditation that really addresses the situation correctly
🙏
The problem is when i actually get relaxed, i don't have my usual intelligence anymore,i can't give witty replies or participate in discussions i would otherwise destroy. I mean, i cant win with this condition.
This is great. So many say bring your attention to your breath. Well I can't because the tension is too great and pulling my attention away. It is perfect to actually focus on the tension, you become more aware of it and that helps to relax it. I have an easier time keeping my mind clear focusing on the tension than I do focusing on the breath.
I've done a lot of different sorts of meditation, but this video still had something unique to give me. It was fascinating to realize that there is such strong restlessness in my hands. It will be interesting to continue looking at this and see how it changes day to day.
wow. that's the best meditation practice I've ever had. loved the techniques of noticing thoughts and sensations and allowing them to just be.
I was very restless all over my body, allowing it instead of avoiding it helps.
great info and content!
I was Dxed with Hyperkinesia. Smooth music. Native American Flute Music. or something to distract and breathe in coordination to the music or distraction. Concentrating on one thing at a time.
I found this video. It was amazing. I cannot describe.
Hey so happy to hear!
Is there a follow up meditation for this? I sould appreciate being able to have a longer meditation
Hey so if you sign up for my newsletter (link in description) you get a guided meditation like this. I’m also in the process of uploading new practices and so far there are a few in this vein (Practicing mindfulness: welcoming our experience, and Feeling: mastery is not control).
I also made a whole course on this topic (link in description) and I’m uploading new content every few days now and over the next few weeks more practices will be going up like this one.
Thank you, I thought there was something wrong with me - thank you.
Oh wow, tjis is life changing. Thank you for sharing this with us
🙏
Thanks!
After a month of practice, I finally focused on the breath for a full 60 seconds without getting distracted.
It’s amazing when you get there right? 🙏✨❤️
This was amazing
Absolutely spot on
I had to keep rewinding the video because I kept getting distracted. Took about 2 hours to actually fully retain this video. 🤦🏽♂️
Glad you made it tho 🙌
Hey Jude
So funny that I came across your site. We use to party with the same people back in Toronto with Charlie. However I don't think we knew each other. I'm Diana and now working with young people with ADHD. Would love to discuss a programme development with you
Ahh so funny small world! Sounds cool you can reach out to me at Jude @ beingintegrated.net
I can’t keep my eyes closed and focus on my body :(
Hey that's ok you can definitely do with your eyes open :)
The feeling in my abdomen is crazy strong, especially when i'm slowly putting my hand closer to it. There's just this really uncomfortable energy coming, sometimes it's so intense that my body starts twitching a little. Afterwards, for a moment, my mind feels different, more calm. Was it the same for you? After a while of doing this practice did this feeling in abdomen go away/change? Thanks, great video btw :)
Restlessness is the symptom, the problem is the lack of focus and high frequency of committing mistakes , i don't think this is helping but thank you anyway .
Fellow sufferer here. What helped me was making checklists for every recurring send-- e-mails, reports, ppts, data entry for excel dashboards. Everything has a checklist that contains all the steps at which errors are possible. An example of email checklist before clicking 'send':
1. Check Recipient (Correct?)
2. Any missing people in Cc?
3. Spelling (grammarly changes)
4. Accuracy of dates if mentioned
5. Missing attachments?
6. Additional info if needed.
This keeps me from being overwhelmed, which would have happened if I were constantly thinking "did I miss checking the attachme..oh no there it is...but hey I guess I still need to Cc Stacy".
Instead of this chaos, the self-talk becomes more organised and errors can be avoided.
I also maintain an error log in Excel and revise it everyday so the mistakes burn into my brain.
Wow I have never felt so seen
I have really bad adhd and my mind can’t hold on to any one thing while I’m trying to meditate.
More people need to watch these videos! Another very informative and helpful video. Keep up the great work my friend, it’s really helping me fine-tune my practices.
The feeling is centered in my temples how do I make it go away or to somewhere else. did this for the first time it went from my temples to my left arm starting from the hand up and back to my head, again centered around both sides of temples I don’t like this anybody have a similar experience?
The key is to not try to make it go away. The resilience just makes more reactivity. The more you can embrace the experience and the feelings, the sooner they will subside. The key is to welcome them fully, without wanting them to go away.
Thxx thoo🥺❤
I can't explain properly but after 11 years of my spiritual journey, after trying thousand types of meditation, after diagnosing my ADHD.... THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I FELT UNDERSTOOD, SEEN, FELT. Sooo very grateful to you. I was searching ADHD meditation and accidentally stumbled upon on your video. Feeling safe and sound 🥺🥺🥺 Beautiful meditation, tons of gratitude, love and blessings sweet soul🌼🌻🌷
Thank you so much for sharing ❤️❤️❤️
God bless you my friend having a pretty rough time if you could please pray 🙏🏻 for me
I can’t fully explain it, but out of the literal thousands of guided meditations I have listened to, as someone who has discovered they might have adhd and is in the process of getting diagnosed, it feels genuinely strange for each point he made to just hit home and relate to me so much. That in itself was such a relief. I felt like it was addressing the thousands of elephants in the room in my brain that other meditations either gloss over or ignore entirely. I hope this made sense. Essentially this meditation is fantastic.
@@BeingIntegrated thank you. Will read the book
As someone who also just discovered I have ADHD, it's "strange" because we've become accustomed to seeing/feeling differently from most people. For me suddenly ALLLL the pieces fit, and yes, definitely a sense of relief! I'm sure you're well past a diagnosis now but I just wanted to affirm your comments for anyone else that might come along in a similar place.
Yup, u make all the sense in the world
I literally felt like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I’ve been exploring the mind and never knew the way to explain how I feel. This video explains point for point exactly how I feel. Your video has answered questions that I’ve struggled to understand or locate myself. Thank you so much for this video!
@Sirah Hudson This is exactly what I was thinking!!
Who else is multitasking while watching this video because ADHD??
As a fellow therapist with ADHD (inattentive subtype), I find this so validating. This mirrors my experiences with meditation & medication. This craving & avoiding body discomfort really hits home. I enjoy using mudras during meditation, giving permission to have my mind wander, using hypnosis, and doing mindful movement BEFORE meditation does wonders. New subscriber here & would love to connect with a like minded therapist. 💗Dr. Liz
@@BeingIntegrated looking forward to learning & growing from each other! 🌱
Can I ask what medication helped with adhd-pi? Slow release Ritalin didn't help me
It is NOT DUE ADHD. People why you neglect the current times DEMAND people to be a MULTITASKER??? Have you noticed the speed of information exchange continiuosly accelerating? Wake up! It is new age life!
I am "absolutely not" answering you while watching and listening the video.
Same here! LOL Yes! This is what I found to be so helpful. The understanding more so than anything else.
Whether this "worked" for my symptoms or not is irrelevant to me right now. You brought me ten minutes of peace today and I hugely grateful for that. Thank you.
Fellow restless ADHD peeps, meditation starts here: 6:31 - transmuting ADHD restlessness through acceptance is such an important lesson to learn, thank you for making your content!
Thank you!!!!!
😊 thanks
Thank you!
LOL!!!! Thanks!
You’re incredible 🙏
I've put myself in very stressful/anxiety raising situations my entire life. And not like extreme sports type stuff, which may have been productive - but rather things like not trying at all in school and seeing my grades plummet and my relationships with my parents deteriorate, or saying vulgar things to people and looking at their reactions and getting a very powerful, very negative stimulus from that. In all of these things, my actions always seemed automatic and out of my control. And in all of these things, I hated myself for behaving so. One thing for sure, though, is that I have always had a deep, unrelenting sense of restlessness in my body. For me, it has mostly been in my chest, and the feeling is unbearable. What you said kind of affirmed my thoughts about my past and, honestly, still current, behavior being based around giving me a strong stimulus to distract me from this restlessness. I'll give the meditation a go and see where I end up. It sucks, though... having to had ever dealt with this stuff. Trials and tribulations, baby.
THIS. THIS... is EXACTLY my story as well. I have ruined so many relationships and feel shameful and uncomfortable every single day. I just want some relief.
Thank you for this. I’m undiagnosed but this video makes me feel understood. I love to meditate but only certain kinds and the focus on breathing absolutely doesn’t work for me. I thought it was because I have asthma.
I have asthma as well, and also undiagnosed :( I’m on a 10000 year long waiting list. I legit feel there is no help in the meantime and the struggle is getting bad :( how do you cope? Would love to speak to someone about coping mechanisms xxx
@@darkartsessions how are you doing?
I don’t usually comment on anything. But this brought really good value to me. I have been trying to meditate for years but never succeeding for even 3 minutes at a time. This worked!
So glad to hear! I just released a new video a min ago that may also be of help. :)
I can't believe your channel doesn't have more subscribers, this is the most valuable video I have found in my whole meditation journey, or my adhd research to be honest. Thank you for making these videos, I'm so happy i found this channel!
Aww thank you Amy this comment means a lot. You’ll be happy to know I’m devoting the next few months to making more content here, so lots more to come! :)
@@BeingIntegratedgt55r
fttf55
This was so helpful! I was feeling so fidgety and couldn’t sit still before and my mind was racing, and now I feel so much more relaxed and calm. I think the part where you said doing what’s comfortable for you really helped because sometimes shaking like a chihuahua is what my brain wants me to do lmao.
Thank you so much! I hate anything that focuses on breathing. I get ANGRY when I have to do deep breaths. It makes me PISSED. I loved this. Thank you.
🙏🙏🙏
I looked this up on a whim and it was the first video I clicked. when you asked us to identify where the energy was, I put one hand on my chest and one hand on my stomach and almost immediately started crying but I breathed through it. I legitimately felt the energy so fast and when you reminded us to go back into our mind I felt it moved through my body. When you brought it back to The body again I felt the energy but it was so much less and I never ended up crying!! this was crazy!! I have ADHD and normal meditation is torture so this is so helpful and I can’t wait to check out more videos!!!!
Thanks for this. My partner has ADHD and meditating has been difficult for him, so this will come in handy. We will give it a go tonight. Thank you!
I did this and it’s scary. I have this huge ball of energy that’s constantly moving and tickling me. I feel it crawling thru me when I try to meditate. Like the beginning of a panic attack. Do I shorten my meditation sessions or just keep at it?
Thank you for this gentle and compassionate video. It has truly tapped into my own personal experience of living with ADHD. That level of restlessness that you talk about is a really interesting point of focus for this meditation. Just learning to just sit with what is happening in our bodies without judgement is absolutely essential advice, and not often talked about in much of the literature on this condition.
You are right! its so much discomfort in my body always feel like my body holds too tight to my soul or something i cant explain it.
Hi !
I assume I have ADHD or ADD because I find it really hard to focus on things and I can relate to a lot of what you said, especially the part where my mind keeps on working, playing out scenarios etc. I tried mediation, and I keep getting a lot of flashing images, some related to what I'm thinking, some unrelated, but I don't feel any restlessness within my body.
Ideally, I would love to calm my mind down. Any suggestions? Thanks.👍
I was on the verge of tears after letting the restlessness go throughout my whole body.. what an indescribable feeling
Omg yes altho I all out wept
This was so helpful. I haven't been diagnosed yet but I've been trying to understand what I've been feeling for years so that I can explain it to my therapist. I suspect it's iADD. Your explanation on the physical sensations really was spot on for what I feel when rested.
Thank you for the explanation and meditation!
So lucky I came across this. I’ve always struggled with mindfulness of breathing and this video explains why.
Omg!!! I've been doing "regular" meditation and it truly is torture! Though I keep trying. I've always been fidgety and suspected I have adhd. My sister does have adhd and is on meditation. My restlessness is in my skin and this was wonderful to know that I can simply accept it and not fight it constantly. What a relief. THANK YOU SO MUCH. This was more than helpful, it was calming in an adhd sort of way. God bless.
That's what meditation means! Listening to all the sensations without judgement. You can't do it right or wrong. It's always a practise. You get distracted? It's ok, be aware of it and gently get back to your meditation when it feels right. Never fight it because that's torture.
Welcoming those uncomfortable feelings of wanting to think or run away is super helpful! I’m sick of fighting it , embracing it seems to help.
This has actually been how ive approached meditation with out knowing it for a while. Thank you and great guided med.
Thank you for this. This was the most present I've felt in some time. When I opened my eyes I opened them up to my cats cuddling on the other side of my bed and I can't fully describe it but to be do so aware of something I love so much was a beautiful experience that I hadn't realized I hadn't had in some time. I know it's such a small thing but it meant everything
Aww that's beautiful. I'm also a cat lover so I get it.
I actually found such a great benefit from Vipassana! My life has almost changed completely because of it; thank you for sharing this!
Great! 😃Meditation for ADHD That Actually Works! (with guided mindfulness meditation practice)
I have been struggling for so long with making real progress in anything because of this restlessness. I've been meditating for 4 years and I still cannot go to the state of total calmness. I've been stuck also in my spiritual journey and I knew that the one thing that was holding me back was this big thorn in my soul. I searched for it but I couldn't ever find the core of it I could only see symptoms of it's working. And then you came with this video only 20 minutes long video. And you changed everything in me. I've finally realised that it was this restlessness and shaking inside my body that is responsible for stopping me from further spiritual growth. Thank you.
@@BeingIntegrated
I'm happy too that you are helping others on such a large scale. In my opinion taking care of others and really helping them is one of the best things you can do with your life here on earth. Not everybody is dessigned to do it, not everybody is capable of doing it. So please be proud and happy about yourself because the universe has assigned such a beautiful role for you!
Before watching this, the only kind of meditation I could do was simple as possible: learning to focusing on the core and diaphragm muscles to make the next breath a good deep one. Then again. Then again. I don't even try to do it more than a few minutes, because I do it several times a day. Having learned this, I have used it a few times in real life as well. Looking forward to this kind of meditation.
Thanks for your video. I've been in and out of meditation for years, always having that restlessness and uncomfortable feeling when I sit to meditate, and I only realized it is ADHD recently. I read some books from cover to cover, I sought help and advice, but I always stumbled upon that strange stone and a bit of external stress kicked me out of meditation for months. I learned to get around that stone from thinking that my mind is a house, and I have to leave the doors open to any sensation and thought. Do not suppress anything, don't try to sink uncomfortable thoughts or embarrassing accusative memories, don't try to fight against it, but neither should you encourage them or give them your energy. There is a third alternative. You just let things come and go as they please, but you keep watching the breath. You can give uncomfortable feelings and emotions some attention when they arise, but once they calm down you can go back to your breath, without pressuring you, without punishing yourself for having distracted, without insulting yourself internally, without generating suffering for being unable to focus on your breath and having wasted 30 minutes of meditation zooning out or wandering.
This video helped me to see ADHD as a problem of lack of dopamine, rather than excess energy. No matter what meditation gurus say, the neurochemical approach to meditation is much more effective for me than the spirituality and parables traditional approach.
Adhd here
How I do it is close to mindfullness, there is no need to focus during meditation, only accepting whatever thought or feeling going through, without judgement or holding on to any. It might take a while, but we can find a center of balance or groundness inside (for me it is my heart.
Then I use a visualisation, last time it was swimming on a lake, and instead of trying to stay afloat, I would let myself sink, then realise that I can't drown.
It can be like wearing thoughts like hair going off your mind.
Anything.
At that point, I try to radiate as much light as possible from my center and try to stay there as long as possible.
Eventually,
silence.
And the dopamine boost ;)
I have tried meditation at many points in my life and none of them have ever worked. I even shared an office with someone who taught meditation for two years and I just couldn't get into it, despite being exposed to it constantly. Used some apps too, no success. Apparently I've been googling how to meditate incorrectly for years. I should have added the ADHD thing to the search from the beginning. Today I was able to keep my mind on the exercise without feeling like it was pointless. The hand thing was oddly grounding. I REALLY hope this means there's hope for me because the benefits seem fantastic. This not only seems doable, but something I can already see helping me immensely. Thank you so much for this video. From the introduction on ADHD in relation to my body to the practice itself, I feel like I have a missing link I've been searching for.
Holy heck! Thank you, light bulb moments and a lot of relief. Thank you, thank you thank you.
ngl my body felt so uncomfortable, not much changed, i’m very discouraged
Watch my video on equanimity, it will explain why you should keep at it. It may take time but tuning into the discomfort and actually welcoming the sensations will start to change your experience. Best of luck.
@@BeingIntegrated thank you, I’ll try, it’s like my body it turning against me even though i try so hard
Because of all the amazing feedback I got from this video, I took a deeper dive into the topic. I found A LOT but boiled it down to the most effective strategies and have made it available in an online course. Watch first module free! beingintegrated.thinkific.com/courses/meditation-for-adhd
Sign up to my newsletter to download a free guided meditation for ADHD (and receive occasional musings and workshop invites):
beingintegrated.net/newsletter-signup/
I just want to give you a hug. Thank you for helping me understand
@@missmaryjo4439 🤗
Thank you, my teacher!!! I accept only with my 50,5 years that I have a really ADHD, all my symptoms are so clear that I don´t need a diagnose, (although I will let me check up seriously). In the combination with my very moderate multiple sclerosis is it very wild, but only thank MS I´m coming so far in my searching, why I am so painfully strange. Thank you for this meditation, I will listen it every day till I learn by heart how to willcome the painfull fidgets and inquietude and thank you for all your other lessons that I´m going to hear and of course, thank you also for the free 1st module of your course, thank you!
I didn´t try thousend guided meditations, not even hundrets, but also tens or dozens were enough to suffer and keep searching.
By “restlessness,” do you mean anxiety?
@@aguy559 hey yes it can be that for sure, but for me and many others it’s a little different from anxiety, though definitely in the same category. For the practices though, it’s not important which it is, the practices are equally applicable to both.
I just wanted to say that when you said “we aren’t trying to change” that restless feeling, I got so emotional. I’ve never tried a therapy or meditation that was ok with me just as I am. Thank you. 🙏🏼
Please do more ADHD meditation. People like me are desperate for something to supplement our treatment plan to possibly stay on lower doses of a stimulant.
I think so much of us just wants to be noticed. I nearly cried when I just observed the way my body felt. So many years of unchecked tension
Or not take the stimulate medication
The thing that you should take away from this is that trying to change that feeling is the problem. The discomfort comes from trying to change things that are better off left alone. Your body and brain are great at regulating feelings if you let it and don’t get involved. :)
Eureka! I am so glad I found you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. It is on my bucket list to be as mentally free from these "loops" as possible, as we know the toll that is taken by ADD & ADHD throughout our lives--especially childhood. You have a beautiful soul and are a gift to the world.
Finally. Thank you so much for this.
Many of us with ADHD loathe ourselves because we feel like failures at everything. For me, the self-loathing has manifested as chronic anxiety. I'm so distracted by fear, that I can't get my act together enough to do or plan anything. Never mind the difficulty that ADHD brings to the table.
This type of meditation helped me understand that my runaway, frantic feelings are ultimately my body's way of coping with deep grief and childhood trauma. I realized that I'm locked in the body of an hysterical and terrified 4-year-old.
The simple observation and noting you walked us through help me replace my self-loathing with self love. Thank you for posting this, I'll be sure to watch this over and over ❤️.
Oh wow this is a very clear and articulate comment, and it really resonated with me. This is why I do what I do. I also just put out a video on trauma which goes over how people heal, and you touched on some of the themes in this comment. Thanks for your comment and hoping you continue to explore the channel, I have lots more relevant content (like my videos on equanimity, self-love, inner critic, shame, working with feelings…)
WORKED FOR ME GOING TO BED NOW 3AM I GO ABOUT 5 OR 6PM FOUND YOU ON REDDIT I ALSO FOUND OUT LATE IN LIFE I HAVE ADHD I ALSO STARTED MEDITATING I WAS 28 NOW IM 56. I ALSO RUN BEEN DOING IT FOR 30 YEARS WHEN I GAVE THE DRAGS RUNNING HELPS ALOT WITH ADHD BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT EVERYDAY TO KEEP IN CHECK WITH HEARTH EATING AND EATING DISORDERS.
I wish I watched this such a long time ago. I have struggled very much with the things you talk about and found some of it by trial and error (eg meditating on the feelings not ignoring them) Thankyou :)
I really wished this would’ve worked for me. I’m definately ADHD. I was able to relax, almost to sleep. Lol do you have any tips that might help? Thanks!!
I would check the playlist on my channel on Mindfulness / Vipassana meditation… there are a few practices there and you can explore what works best for you
I cried but I felt an ease in the process. It felt so good to live through the emotion that came up without any shame or guilt attached.
Discomfort in your body keeping your mind from meditation hits home as an ADHD individual with chronic pain. And the grrrr... angry restlessness it brings on when the more I try to calm my mind the more it jumps around always made me feel inadequate.
Oh you must watch this interview if you haven’t already:
ruclips.net/video/Q4tk0nIDjnA/видео.html
This was great! You should definitely make more adhd related videos in the future
My first time doing this. My diet is healthy, l exercise stretching for 50 plus age range. I'm full of creativity. Unfortunately my ADHD has broken me away from my children, all 6 of them.
This is very well explained. Mindfulness has especially worked for me and my ADHD, as well as yoga. It certainly is my medicine.