I find waiting for things physically exhausting. Waiting in lines, waiting sitting in a room, waiting on friends to decide what they want to eat, walking really slowly with an elderly relative: I find it all physically exhausting even though very little physical energy is required.
I’ve tried off and on, myriad types and duration for over a decade, not just for my ADHD, but because I’m a seriously anxious person with some complex-af PTSD. But also because doctors kept harping on me for not “doing enough mindfulness”.
I tried a minute a day for several months after three was too much, but only made it through 30 days before I had to stop even that.
This is especially true for people with PTSD/cPTSD/depression/AuADHD, but if meditation makes your mental health worse, don’t keep doing it. Seriously. Talk to someone about it.
For me, it makes everything worse. I feel like this is something people should know to watch out for, especially in the modern times of “mindfulness” being tossed around like it’s a positive for everyone. It isn’t. Some of us spend way too much time ruminating as it is, and need to spend more time working on how we think rather than how much.
I’ve just finished “The Body Keeps the Score” which gave me some interesting insights into cPTSD. It did mention mindfluness but also covered a bunch of other options to approach treatment. Good luck and best wishes for your future health.