Calming a fast mind

Hi there,

Like so many on this site I am challenged by my health which my main problems being gut dysbiosis and associated adrenal fatigue. I feel like I am doing right things with regards to diet and supplements, but feel I’m missing a significant component with regards to lifestyle and spirituality. Most of my personality traits which I feel dropped me into chronic illness I still believe I tackle today, despite being more aware of them and making changes.

For me I believe the combination of the stress of a fast mind and influence it had on me becoming addicted to stimulants and junk food are the reasons for my poor health today. Throw in a few rounds of Antibiotics and it’s not difficult to see what happened.

If someone wouldn’t mind looking at/evaluating some of the issues I struggle with below and how I might work to improve on them.

Computer use – This one is fairly fundamental, and either my personality locks on/craves the stimulation of screen media or the opposite, and it has contributed towards racing thoughts. I work in IT, and unfortunately don’t have the mobility or skills to consider another career, but even around my job and lifestyle I find it difficult to relax and fill time away from a screen. One of my traits is always looking for that next thought or task, which manifests on the computer as often flicking between tasks and in real life moving between jobs and activities, often conjuring a bit of stress in process. I would find it daunting and difficult for example to have an evening away from the computer - physical limitations mean I can’t get out much or have much of a social circle, however I still struggle with my own company in my house.

Materialism – This is probably linked to the above but I find it hard to ignore the lure of material possessions. I think it’s perhaps due to the stimulative nature of wanting lots of different things that keeps my mind occupied. Being male examples include gadgets, technology, magazines, house hunting (often looking at the most expensive luxury places), cars etc. I don’t have any problems with spending or debt so it’s really just a fruitless timewasting activity looking at things I never actually purchase. I feel that this in some way clouds the possibility for genuine interest in material thing that will benefit my wellbeing. For example I’m quite into web design, but despite having an adequate machine I’ll often be looking at new computers, components etc whilst be very apathetic, procrastinating about actually doing web design itself!

Relaxation – Or lack of. Despite being partially or predominantly a physical problem making relaxation harder I certainly don’t do myself any favours. I’m stuck in the paradoxical thought process of wanting to be able to implement things like Tai Chi, meditation, EFT but not being able to do them due to anti-stimulative nature of them and still yearning for that quicker fix. It also doesn’t help that there is such a range of potential therapies out there and I can spend the same sort of thoughts/time researching them all as spending time on ebay looking at material things. I’d love to be a Zen master but then that very statement is perhaps more a yearning for ideology rather than truly understanding it’s teachings and implementing them selflessly and without negative attachment.

With regards to what I am able to do I am quite restricted. I’m fairly immobile but can walk about for 30mins to 10hour every 2-3 days or so. As I say I don’t have many friends mainly due to not having much opportunity to meet them. This is unfortunate as time with others would offer some freedom from attachment.

If anyone has any thoughts on the above I’d be open to any suggestions.

Many thanks,