When I was having treatment for my PTSD, I went through a very dark period. I happen to be one of those lucky people for whom EMDR doesn’t work, so all it did was bring up a lot of trauma for me but didn’t give it anywhere to go. I was reliving a lot of experiences and feelings I thought I’d put to bed a long time ago – or at least locked up somewhere it didn’t have to bother me.

During this time, I stopped doing all the things I usually use to support myself. I didn’t journal, I didn’t go for my long walks and I didn’t meditate. 

Gradually, I crawled out of that hole. I was able to get back to the practices I’d been using for years to sustain me. Talking to my psychologist about it, she asked me whether I thought I felt so bad because I wasn’t doing the things I knew made me feel better. After all, there is a lot of evidence to support meditation as a means to relieve the symptoms of PTSD and it’s a better approach for me than EMDR.

I had to think about that. The problem was that when I was at my lowest, I had no energy to do anything. There was one particularly bad day when I couldn’t even get out of bed. It was just about all I could do to put one foot in front of the other. I wasn’t in any fit state to sit down and explore my mind with journalling or meditation. Realistically, it was the support of my psychologist that got me through and enabled me to get to a place where I could return to my self-soothing practices. 

And here’s the thing. 

Meditation isn’t always the right thing. In fact, for some people it can make them feel worse not better.If you find when meditating that you’re experiencing distress or discomfort, stop. Come back to it later when you’re in a better mental state – or not at all. It’s okay not to meditate if it’s not right for you. 

But that’s why having someone with you to work through these times is so important. They can support you to find what works and help you avoid any pitfalls. 

You don’t have to go it alone. 

Meditation is a solitary practice, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get support on your meditation journey.

I’ve been meditating every day since that time and there’s no doubt that it helps me. I feel better equipped to deal with stress and people often remark on how calm I am when things don’t go to plan. I wasn’t always like this, so it’s something I definitely credit meditation for making the change. 

I wouldn’t be able to do that if it wasn’t support from various people over the years. Now I feel privileged to be able to pay that help forward through my own meditation classes and retreats, working with my students to guide them through this powerful practice. I’m about to start doing in-person classes in my home county, Torfaen, and I can’t wait to meet my new students. And, of course, I’m running an online version of the Journey Through The Chakras to help you learn more about your energies and how you can keep them flowing freely for greater self-awareness, self-empowerment and inner peace. 

Meditation has changed my mental health for the better. 

The Online Journey Through The Chakras is on March 20. We’ll be working through a number of meditation techniques to balance your energies and release anything you no longer need to call in love, light and laughter. Come join us!