NEW Energy Ways and Schizophrenia

[Q-Dog]

Hello everyone,

I just recently came upon Robert Bruce's website and have taken great interest in many of the topics discussed. I'm currently looking for ways that will lead to greater self knowledge and inner strength/peace.  This is mostly due to the "bumpy ride" nature that my spiritual path has taken.  What I mean by this is that I have had experiences which, taken from my own perspective, border on the mystical and esoteric, but, when viewed by others, constitute typical psychotic episodes, bi-polar behavior, and the beginning signs of schizophrenia.  

I accept that their is a fine line between these two views.  Even since the time of the Greeks they have been intimately related (i.e. the word "manic", loosely translated as crazy, and "mantic", or prophetic, have the same Greek root).  Seeing that I am caught in this crossfire of differing perspectives, I find it difficult to sort out what is real and what is not.  Sometimes I feel like they're not really all that compatible with each other, and are mutually exclusive.  So either I take up the baton of science and relegate all my experiences to mere chemical imbalances in the brain that have to be treated with very expensive medication (that I'm currently taking), or, I deny that scientific materialism and try to comprehend my problem from a spiritual/shamanic point of view.  

Yet, I feel deep in my gut that both these currents should meet at the same crux of truth, that that same truth is shared by both science and mysticism, but perhaps the modern paradigms we are offered to select from do not incorporate this larger, more holistic perspective.  This is why I feel a glint of hope after having stumbled on to Robert Bruce's website by "chance".   I have read stuff from other mystics, like Samael Aun Weor of the modern Gnostic movement, that have strung a chord within me, much like the writings of Robert Bruce.  What I feel both of these people value the most regarding their teachings is that practitioners actually "experiment" for themselves using their techniques, enabling them to acquire a spiritual faith that isn't blind at all, but based on direct experience.  That's exactly what I'm looking for, but first I wanted to drop a line and ask a few questions:

Is it advisable for someone that has my condition to experiment with the NEW energy ways system?  Or, in other words, must a certain level of health (both physical and mental) be attained before starting to experiment with NEW?  

How much influence does "will power" have over the effectiveness of the NEW energy ways system? If this is important, what exercises can I try to successfully increase my will?  I ask because I am also affected by "depression" and negativity, low self esteem coupled with high expectations and perfectionism, so many times I feel like giving up because my body feels unresponsive, lethargic and slow (well, the medication might have something to do with it, but who knows?).  

Anyway, I think I've overdone my little writing piece, it's gotten a bit long and I do not wish to lose my helpful audience.  I hope to hear from you,

Many thanks,

Eric

[You]

From what I've read... NEW is more about sensitivity and focusing on your body's subtle energies than 'willpower'. No doubt it does slowly build the idea to focus and meditate on certain things, which you could apply to other things in life.

I've found, from looking at other occult ideas such as magic(k) that they demand more raw 'willpower' as in just forcing an idea through. A lot of other systems involving chakras seem to demand this too. What I got from new was that Bruce was warning against doing that, forcing the chakras open without support or forcing energy directly into higher storage without filling the lower more first. This is just a theory... and I'll discount it if someone says so, but that seems what other systems do... going by his description.

[Mendel]

Q-Dog,

I don't expect NEW to aggravate mental illness symptoms.
If you're not feeling good on your current meds, work with your doctor to try others.
As a chronic depressive myself, energy work, by itself is helpful but it doesn't cure my problems. Also, when you are mentally more healthy it is actually easier to OBE/AP/meditate.  
NEW, in my experience, is useful to improve AP, but you have to keep it up.

-mike

[You]

While it might be easier, those losing their minds probably want to AP more than normal people who have more in the real world to live in

[Tayesin]

Hi Q-Dog,
Can't help with info about NEW, although I'd like to direct my response to the Medical side of your post.

Firstly, I'm no supporter of the mental health industry, as I firmly think it is never about Cure and always about Medication and the $$$$$$$$$$ involved.

A chemical imbalance is treatable also by a course with a decent (and hopefully not too dear) Naturopath, and also by a complete Dietary change to remove all manufactured and heavily-processed foods, even the majority of Supermarket fruits too.

If you are susceptable by Genetics to this disorder, then you can do a hell of a lot about your Environment to reduce it's impact.

There is a lot of information in Libraries about the effects of all the products, appliances, paints and processings of everything we take for granted around us.  All of it in the modern lifestyle is actually terrible for our health...  ALL OF IT.

Do you drink Fluoridated water ?  Is it high in Chlorine too ?  Do you eat meats and breads together ?   Do you own plastic-bodied, electrical appliances or have painted walls;  un-natural fabrics on the sofa, curtains and the rest of the house; do you live near heavy traffic flows, storm water outlets, etc,etc.  And the list of our deadly creations keeps on growing.

There are so many other ways to deal with imbalances.

You could try staying on your current medication while experimenting with a Live-Food diet, fresh fruits and vegetables not grown with sprays, irradiated or even GM'd, like everything available at shops and supermarkets are.

Added to this is the importance of Clean, 'unmolested' water and clean air...  both are extremely important to our functioning as whole and self-directed beings.  And bottled water is still fully treated water, so it's not good for you either.  Rain water collected 15 to 30 minutes after the rain starts is purer than anything that comes out of your taps !

Just starting like this will give you something solid to compare any change as compared to using the medication and eating dead foods, depleted water and deadly air.

It's worth a try, if the chemicals are out of balance, to put them back into balance again by providing the body with what it really needs to flourish.

Almost forgot to say.....   and, any form of learning the control of our Energies would be a bonus to coping with this disorder.

Good Luck to you.

[You]

We can't have meat and bread together now?

[Bex]

While it might be easier, those losing their minds probably want to AP more than normal people who have more in the real world to live in

I wouldn't really say that anyone is ever "losing their mind".  You may want to choose your words more carefully, friend.  I, anyway, believe that everyone is slowly growing their mind, or letting it stagnate.  Perhaps, those with mental distress are simply in an overload from facilitating new parts of their mind -- new parts that most people leave dormant their whole lives.

Or I could just be ranting from my own experiences.


Q-Dog --

I... how to say this tactfully:  bonking hate mind medications.  After what I can say has been some, ahem, rather extensive researching, I have rarely found cure in the tiny polka-dotted pills that Doc's give to their patients.  It's all in the mind, if you will.  But then, so is everything else, right?  

I think one of those interesting studies I saw (didn't read this one, actually) was something on 60 minutes.  I don't normally watch it, but I sat down with my dad one day to, well, rub it in his face.  It was a study on ADHD medications -- just one of the many that were forced down my throat in my youth.  They claimed that the meds made their patients dull, content and yet empty, or maybe fully fulfilled.  SO complacent that they did not need anything else.  My dad, a doctor (tho' not psychiastrist or psychologist) was shocked, to say the least.  It's what I had been telling him forever.  

My parents began me on those medications in attempts to get me out of my room, have more friends, eat less, and want more out of life.  You know, to want more than video games and pizza.  Little did they realize I was a TEENAGER.  WHooOo.  And not a khaki-clad, highlight-adorning, spazzy slut teenager.  But then it all changed -- I started taking the meds and I was out all the time.  Or alone all the time.  Total 180's were my style, and I eventually lost every single friend, and my boyfriend, without batting an eyelash.  And I told my mother I was OK with that.  And then I didn't need them.  Their little meds had turned fire on them.  I did well in English and Math, but my amaaaazing studio arts and writing skills kicked the can -- or bucket; I forget which.

And this, the 60 minutes, was claiming is what some of the most famous artists of the Renaissance had:  mental illness.  And that if subjected to medications of our times, they would fall into a pit of not caring.  Laughable at best!

So, eh, not a big fan.  I say go for it!  Or, simply, do try NEW energy out.  I think, if anything, you're more aptly prepared than the simple folk downing pills and smiling like good little Suzie's for the peanut gallery.  You seem an intelligent being, capable of what you put your mind to.  And if it helps at all, the doctors used a naughty little term like "schizo-affective disorder" on me, too.  I fooled them!  No meds and look at all my friends, my boy, and my astoundingly well-rounded grade point average.  On top of that, I've been leaping NEW bounds, as well.  

Hey, no harm, no foul -- whatever the bugger that means.

[You]

I feel it too, big hater of the pills and excrement. Never was forced to take any, but it's almost like that. Always trying to make you take Tylenol when you WANT the pain.

[karnautrahl]

As Tayesin mentions, diet and environment are key factors. I've recently explored free form amino acid supplementation to help me work with my chemical imbalance (lack of neurotransmitter precursors basically). It's helping far more than what doctors have tried with me. I've explored this myself in the end.
I've acquired a waverider jnr (biofeedback machine-soon to be for sale I think) which enabled me to learn something about pushing against the depressive nonsense. However I've learnt this is a multidisciplinary issue.
Things that have aided me include:

Exercise - aerobic/weights/swimming or something social perhaps?
Satisfying work if possible.
Fresh food diet, light on red meats, very light on white bread and high glycemic index foods (google this it's worth it. The higher the glycemic index the faster the insulin response, the faster the energy "dump" which I have to tell you is a major contributor to feeling even lower!) Surprisingly decent ice cream scores a mid range 52 and white bread score near 100! The suggestion is keeping blood sugar constant so foods below 50 generally and oh, leafy greens! and whole foods. The better the source of these the better for you.

Clearing the mind meditation helps me a fair bit

NEW Energy ways makes a huge difference

Social contact and plenty of it is likely to have an impact. The brain is extremely plastic and adaptable no matter your age-more so the younger you are but regardless. Social interaction and parties cause your brain to work the most apparently, which causes neuron and connection growth, which is good-you feel more stimulated and alive. (Source Robert Winston's -The Human Brain).

Learning new skills, especially if it's something involving your hands and body in some way.
Nutrient supplementation has helped me-amino acids and decent multivitamins.

Last but not least, lose any excess
alcohol/coke/fizzy crap drinks in favour of water Lots of it. I think 2 pints a day is one suggestion. I use about 3 myself.

If you are on medication, then I'd attempt to get some of these steps in balance-at least diet, exercise, water and social interaction-before cutting the meds out. In your shoes I'd also get a handle on energy work and meditation too of course but the aforementioned ones I think are essential for sure. I hesitate to tell anyone energy work and meditation is essential for their mental health (despite the effect it's had on me) because that seems to be a bit evangelical. I think it's perfectly reasonable to be able to balance this before exploring energy work and similar.


As for exploring it , as long as you have the interest to try the beginning exercises you are likely to get some results. These should spur you on to do more. Excessive willpower not required. An ability to apply your attention and your imagination to parts of your body is . It's not hard, honestly. Your meds *might* slow it down a little, might not. You'll find out when you quit the meds. If they haven't worked by now much, they never will btw.