| I started Vipassana in 2001. A friend | | | | course so try and see if you like it. If |
| mentioned it to me and that same evening | | | | you continue, you know now what can |
| I had booked myself onto a course on the | | | | happen and what you might have to face. |
| internet. I was really looking forward | | | | Then again, you might not. Not everybody |
| to it because I had been looking for | | | | is the same. Be Happy. |
| something for a very long time and | | | | For many years, I suffered from anxiety |
| somewhere deep inside I knew: this is | | | | depression. I tried everything, from |
| it. | | | | psychoanalysis to medications but |
| The course was very different from what | | | | nothing really worked. Some things |
| I had expected. I thought it should be | | | | helped for a little while to relief my |
| about relaxation, blanking the mind, | | | | anxiety, but eventually it would always |
| etc. The first three days was like a | | | | come back. |
| concentration exercise, concentrating on | | | | One day I was feeling particularly down, |
| the breath, calming the mind. It was | | | | I saw a friend coming towards me on the |
| hard. Not only was I not accustomed to | | | | road. We said hello and he told me about |
| sitting for up to 12 hours a day on a | | | | somebody he met in the pub the night |
| mat on the ground, I also was unable to | | | | before. He said she was a very happy, |
| keep thoughts from getting into my mind | | | | radiant and relaxed person. I felt a |
| so I was getting upset about not being | | | | little pang of jealousy because with my |
| able to concentrate properly. I had pain | | | | anxiety depression this was exactly the |
| everywhere, was unable to find any | | | | opposite of myself. He said that her |
| comfortable position whatsoever. There | | | | secret was Vipassana meditation. I had |
| were loads of other people, whom I did | | | | never heard of this type of meditation, |
| not know but was unable to speak to. | | | | but my friend gave me the website |
| On the 4th day, Vipassana Meditation was | | | | address. He said it was a great way for |
| taught. Although it was quite an | | | | treating anxiety so the same evening I |
| experience, it created something I had | | | | was on the internet and had booked for a |
| not expected. Lots of things came up | | | | course. |
| from my past, lots of thoughts and | | | | The course was great and I felt better |
| mental pain. It was hard to face. But | | | | than I had felt for many years. But |
| finally, after about 10 days of this, | | | | coming home into the stress of everyday |
| Metta Meditation was taught and after | | | | life was a different matter. Soon my |
| that we could speak. It was a bit | | | | anxiety attacks were back again. I tried |
| strange and by that time I did not | | | | meditation but as soon as I closed my |
| really feel like speaking any more. I | | | | eyes all the problems of the day came |
| did feel very relaxed that day. | | | | flooding back to me so it was impossible |
| The real interesting part came | | | | to meditate. After many years of |
| afterwards. All the stuff that had come | | | | meditation and many courses and moving |
| up during the meditation seemed like | | | | away from my old life, my anxiety |
| something of the past, something I had | | | | depression has disappeared, but it has |
| lost. As if a burden had fallen from my | | | | taken a long time and a lot of effort. I |
| shoulders. It felt incredibly | | | | am certain however that my anxiety will |
| liberating. I kept on meditating daily | | | | never come back. Vipassana really is an |
| and became better and better at the | | | | excellent anxiety depression treatment |
| technique and more stuff started falling | | | | method. But it comes with a cost of time |
| of. Not always was this easy. Usually it | | | | and effort, not something that many |
| started with periods of anguish, the | | | | people can afford. |
| pain of letting go. But when I finally | | | | Luckily, if it is just anxiety |
| let go it was just great. It made me | | | | depression you wish to cure, then there |
| into a much calmer and more relaxed | | | | are other methods. I wish I had known |
| person. Although anxiety and stress | | | | about them back then but I did not. |
| still come occasionally, it does not | | | | Vipassana is a very involved spiritual |
| really matter any more that much - I can | | | | path and although it helped me well, you |
| let go and relax much quicker and | | | | need to be certain that this is the path |
| easier. | | | | you wish to travel. It has many more |
| It has been the greatest gift anybody | | | | benefits than just curing anxiety and |
| could have given me. I am so much more | | | | stress. |
| aware, relaxed and happy then I every | | | | There are other methods which will help |
| was. I can face the world, while before | | | | cure anxiety depression effectively. One |
| I just made due. I have no stress, only | | | | especially I found very good and it is |
| the occasional storm but you always know | | | | especially designed for people with a |
| that they will pass and they do not | | | | lot of stress in their lives, which is |
| happen very often any more. Even the | | | | usually the cause of anxiety depression. |
| difficulties that sometimes come up are | | | | So rest assured, there are effective |
| something that pass and when you come | | | | methods to control stress and get rid of |
| out the other side, your are a happier | | | | anxiety depression without going the |
| person. So much weight will fall off | | | | path that I have gone. But if you wish |
| your shoulders. Just try it ... what | | | | to know more about Vipassana meditation, |
| does it matter if you try. You will not | | | | I will be happy to share my experiences |
| change that much if you do just one | | | | with you. |