Comment by mattm | Hacker News Reader

Comment by mattm | Hacker News Reader

I have struggled with porn at times and have done a lot of research on addictions. I also have a couple friends who are alcoholics. IMO, Gabor Mate has been the best resource I have found on understanding addictions. His theory is that addictions start in childhood due to some kind of constant, ongoing stress. It could be something like abusive parents or severe bullying. When we find something that temporarily relieves the stress, our body latches on to it and doesn't want to let go. Personally, I've found that understanding addiction and the addictive cycle has helped me a lot. From meditation, I've also become much more aware of my body sensations and understanding the danger periods when I am getting stressed.

After I did a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat, I put together https://www.programmingspiritually.com to try to help other developers that face some of the same issues. Email me if you're interested and I'll sign you up for the course for free.

Gabor Mate heals heroin addicts with two powerful psychedelic plants: Ayahuasca (DMT) and Iboga. I have been to a couple of Ayahuasca ceremonies in the past year, and I can report that - among its many awesome effects - it effectively resets your inner emotional "firmware", helping you cope with stressful situations and addictions much better (I had instantly quit smoking after the first ceremony.)

Vipassana meditation take a slower route, but some say more thorough - it transforms your self into being more reflective, more appreciative and less judging. I've yet to try it out on a 10-day retreat, but even people who practice half-hour daily buddhist meditation praise its beneficial effects on mental and physical well being.

Both Ayahuasca and Vipassana are great routes you can take to battle your addictions, not only to alcohol or tobacco but also many kinds of pain.

I think during the 70s LSD was being used to rehab alcoholics, it's a shame such practices and psychedelics in general are all illegal now.. but ignoring the law, from what I've read and personal experience, LSD works well too.

Research has started up again:

LOS ANGELES — For the first time in more than four decades, the drug lysergic acid diethylamide – better known as LSD – has been the experimental adjunct to psychotherapy in a controlled clinical trial approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.[1]

[1]http://www.pressherald.com/news/First_clinical_trial_of_LSD_...

Major props to the MAPS guys for navigating the mess that currently exists to try and get to a more positive outcome for us all.

I've done both and I'd agree that Vipassana is more thorough and lasting, although more difficult. Doing it even just once and not following through with daily meditations is still a life-changing experience.

> even people who practice half-hour daily buddhist meditation praise its beneficial effects on mental and physical well being.

Wanted to lend some weight to this. I've practiced mindful meditation on and off for a year or so. I've never hit an hour or even half an hour at a time, but I will say it is fairly effective for recalibrating your mental state even with just a few minutes a day. I find myself much more patient, accepting, and clear-headed when meditating regularly, which was exactly what I was hoping to accomplish. I occasionally find myself re-centering and focusing on breathing while not meditating - just a reflex that develops with the practice, and even if its effects are strictly physical (eg more oxygen to the brain), it still feels good, mentally, to get that shot of clarity throughout the day.

I can't speak to its effects on addiction, or other forms of pain, but I would definitely recommend some form of meditation for everyone.

I don't know about meditation, but when I write in the morning I feel like I can think more clearly and express myself more easily during the day. Might be a form of "re-arranging" your brain.

It's a well known technique... Stream of Consciousness writing in the morning is very effective at clearing out the mind before the day starts.

Some Artists use this and call it "morning pages" (Check out "The Artists Way". )

I've found 20, 45 or 90 minutes to be the ideal time where I feel super refreshed after. Maybe try pushing yourself sometime to get to longer times just to see how it goes.

That looks great. No need for free, it looks well worth the $5!

I guess the free offer was just for OP :)

Interesting, a close friend of mine just did the Vipassana retreat, and I was considering it for myself too.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com