My left brain tramples my right brain, help

[deunan]

I am very much a right-brained person by default, and lived according to carefree passion until I was 19. Then all of a sudden I wanted to acheive a civil engineering degree, which meant 6 years of heavy left brain training. (Based on my research and experience the left brain is quite aggressive. ) Now, at times when I want to be experiencing emotion, I feel like I'm stuck in robot-over-analytical mode. I want to experience and express myself more in music and art but the habit of logic sticks. My adult self has pushed away my passionate streak because it has only got me into trouble in the past.

I do experience mild anxiety and have a tendency towards hypervigilance. I talked to my doctor about it, and of course she immediately mentioned meds (which is stupid, right? ) I dont know if the benefits of meds will be worth the health risk. Suggestions on how to get out of robot mode? I suspect the answer has a lot to do with patience, courage, and endurance, but insight would be nice

[Illuminatus]

You are right that left brain activity is connected to your adrenal response. The left brain developed primarily as a threat analysis/survival tool, and throwing extra training at it as you have simply reinforces these processes.

Read about the relaxation response here: Anxiety & Input Control: The Basics

Practise meditation till you can consistently activate this response. This could take several months, but it IS your answer to snap you out of these mental processes and into the present.

[deunan]

Originally Posted by Illuminatus

You are right that left brain activity is connected to your adrenal response. The left brain developed primarily as a threat analysis/survival tool, and throwing extra training at it as you have simply reinforces these processes.

Read about the relaxation response here: Anxiety & Input Control: The Basics

Practise meditation till you can consistently activate this response. This could take several months, but it IS your answer to snap you out of these mental processes and into the present.

I thank you for your comment! Terrific website! Im so relieved to finally begin to understand the method to the madness

[secrets0stolen]

I agree, use anything but meds! Certain illicit drugs would probably be better than that prescription craziness (although I certainly wouldn't recommend those in this case either). Meditation seems like a reasonable solution, although you may be able to find a better solution, but the prescriptions sound like a horrible idea!!!!!!

[Johnny Skosnik]

Originally Posted by deunan

I want to experience and express myself more in music and art but the habit of logic sticks...I talked to my doctor about it, and of course she immediately mentioned meds (which is stupid, right? )...Suggestions on how to get out of robot mode? I suspect the answer has a lot to do with patience, courage, and endurance, but insight would be nice

I sympathize, I have the opposite problem: very much left brain thinker (38 years old, professional computer programmer for 16 years) but wanting to flex my artistic right brain (through art). I researched some art supplies but found myself obsessing over the perfect chair, drawing table and pencil hardness. Yeesh.

Don't do drugs, prescription, recreational or over-the-counter. Here's what worked for me: don't suppress your left brain, embrace it. Set a goal: "I will draw or practice a musical instrument for X minutes every week". Get a kitchen timer, and set it to go off after X minutes. Start each session by meditating (there's some great advice here already) than get busy creating. When the timer goes off, you're done. That should appease your left brain. You're overtly logically mindset isn't a handicap, but an asset: I've met many artists who are very talented, but languish in a "dude, I can only create when the muse hits me, man." By implementing a structured program courtesy of your left brain you'll go far. Good luck!

If you wish to create art here's two books I've found very helpful: The Artist's Way and Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.

[Avum]

Have you heard of Holosync? It's a meditation program. You might look into it. It claims to balance out the brain. (warning: it's expensive)

[Brutha]

Have you heard of Holosync? It's a meditation program. You might look into it. It claims to balance out the brain. (warning: it's expensive)

And if you don't want to pay the high price and use technology that decades more advanced (Holosync was done in the 70s) you can use brainwave entertainment from transparentcorp.

[deunan]

cool, just discovering this forum alone has eliminated the dead end feeling that made me too restless to meditate. Much of the anxiety has left and I feel empowered to reclaim my creative flow. No Rx meds for me!

[spiritual success]

Great replies!

I would add that I feel that some kind of Right Brain reaction is there anyway, we just need to notice and acknowledge it. For example you are maybe feeling a little bit frustrated because of being robot-like.
Being robot-like also feels somehow, and so on and so on.

If one systematically continue practicing this, this kind of exercise would enforce this kind of behavior/reaction/experience, and soon your Right Brain reaction will become more pronounced.

Chris

[deunan]

Originally Posted by Brutha

And if you don't want to pay the high price and use technology that decades more advanced (Holosync was done in the 70s) you can use brainwave entertainment from transparentcorp.

Wow... this is very cool.
your sharing is very cool. TY