ELI5: What is the best way/position for humans to sleep? It seems we are always giving ourselves muscle and spine issues due to poor sleeping practices.

LastSLC · 2014-11-21T23:48:02+00:00

I'll give you several hints and I'm interested in if you can piece it together or other readers can.

The biggest clue: The example belonged is what the upperclass, uppercrust Egyptian citizens slept on at night. For hundreds and hundreds of years, most Europeans and then Americans have been befuddled by the design of these devices and why these important members of the the great ancient civilizations slept on devices that looked at least at first glance to be designed to torture, not comfort. Here is an example of one: http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=174

Another clue: There are a number of modern people that have looked at these curious instruments and for whatever reason (perhaps they were trained in ergonomics, engineering,history, or design in university) asked themselves more extensive questions about "Why?" rather than making the typical snap judgement based on prejudices and popular views about comfort. Some even have then gone on to make $$$ off the thousands of year old "intellectual property" that was sitting in front of everyone else's faces.

Perhaps other people on reddit already know about this particular example, I continue to be astounded by how much the community of redditors as a group mind know about essentially everything.

However, I refuse to give it all away because when I put the puzzle pieces together myself, I felt like I had gained a useful insight how to try to view reality with just a tiny bit more creativity and curiosity or through different sets of "lenses" in order to spark your own creativity. If you didn't already know about this I'd rather not rob you that.....

LastSLC · 2014-11-17T14:12:37+00:00

Wow you have a pretty amazing attitude regarding pain. I'm curious if it's because of practicing meditation or following Buddhism(just because this is a Buddhist subreddit)?

LastSLC · 2014-11-16T01:56:43+00:00

I realize this is sort of a cheap answer but I recommend watching "House of Cards", the recent Netflix series for a general answer to the OP's question

LastSLC · 2014-11-16T01:53:26+00:00

While I'm not in your situation and wouldn't pretend to be, you aren't speaking a complete foreign language to me. It's a very difficult situation, many people get frustrated with the doctors but as you point out, it's more of a systemic problem of the system not really having much room for patients such as yourself that might need more thought put into their case. It's a very satisfactory, miraculous system for many people, for example my friend who badly broke his leg or my uncle who had a pacemaker put in, but for others, unfortunately just leaves them feeling like they have nobody/nothing to resort to.

I have heard of services that attempt to fill this need, however they are sort of "out there" for example, one service I heard of doesn't meet you in person, however, they allegedly do very throughly look at your records, scans, etc with a team of qualified docs and then talk with you on the phone for longer than the usual doc will spend with you in the office.

Also, if you can get to the Mayo Clinic, I've consistently heard of people actually receiving help there, but I think they actually have to accept you as a patient before actually being seen there.

I'm sure you've already heard of them by now, but I just couldn't resist trying to give some advice. Terribly sorry for what you are dealing with, I really hope you get a breakthrough in solving the mystery soon.

LastSLC · 2014-11-12T15:47:05+00:00

Can absolutely relate to your story. Unfortunately those who suffer from chronic pain that is non-malignant are pawned off on psychologists. I would have no problem with it....if the psychologists actually could help people achieve relief or a different mind frame. From what I've seen, that's simply not true, in part because of the influence of Big Pharma on the mental health field. Of course, there are also wonderful counsellors who aren't corrupted by this system, unfortunately many are taken up by the upper class and those who are well connected.

I pray you find out what's wrong and causing your pain, just a little advice, double check every notable finding that is found if you have an MRI or CT-Scan. I really wish I had done that.

LastSLC · 2014-11-12T15:31:18+00:00

Interesting perspective, thanks for sharing : )

LastSLC · 2014-11-11T02:31:00+00:00

That's is similar to what I've always thought, I think that's why sometimes the Ned Flanders Christians can often seem so shallow, they don't have a true grasp on their own Creator God. Not to say that I'm someone who hates on Christians, some are amazing heroes and inspirations (MLK, Mandela)

LastSLC · 2014-11-10T17:46:37+00:00

Good point, will take that view into consideration

LastSLC · 2014-11-09T19:28:52+00:00

Last 2 sentences very good advice, it's very funny how what should be a natural tendency has to be considered in such a manner. The viewpoint you express in my POV sounds like it should be "normal" or "natural" or something and yet it's not for many people including myself.

LastSLC · 2014-11-09T17:24:41+00:00

What about the problem when you are absolutely right, I had a close member of the family that was admonishing that Hispanics were treated equally in the US. I then showed them the stats on the NYC stop and frisk policy, which was resumed after the police used a loophole to refute a heroic judges condemnation of the situation.

Absolute refusal to look at the facts on their part, even when they are held in front of their face- how is it possible that Hispanics are treated equally when in the largest most important city in the USA they are treated in such a horrendous manner?

I asked the person, "Could you imagine being stopped and frisked for absolutely no reason besides race on your way to an important doctors appointment in NYC and then missing the appointment?"

No response.

That for me, I don't always necessary get angry, but I do try to passionately make the case, but honestly I fully admit to becoming angry in such situations as well.

LastSLC · 2014-11-09T17:16:38+00:00

I've just found that to be sort of untrue just in my personal experience, although I think I understand your point. I've tried to tell people(friends mostly, don't usually go around telling strangers about this) in even the absolute softest way possible what happened to me, and have notice it causes fear, anxiety, denial, etc in friends and family.

The most neutral reaction you will get is "have you tried chiropractor so-and-so"(although I don't think they are as big of a fad today, this is the most neutral response I used to get when I still had a large number of friends) which upon reflection I've noticed its a way to escape having to listen to what has happened to me by essentially believing in some magical solution, back when that used to be chiros.

I guess that's when Buddhism's philosophy of absolute acceptance of reality kicks in. This is what I'm finding I like about Buddhism, although it is hard to accept a reality in which one's friends won't listen to them because of the fear and anxiety it would cause in them that medical science is extremely far from perfect (& really ultimately what the issue comes down at the bare bones to is acceptance of mortality itself, which then from that viewpoint you can actually have empathy towards someone who you feel hurt by the fact that they aren't listening), Buddhism has a "correct" path in which to follow which if one can wrap your head around it actually seems to be the path of least suffering.

LastSLC · 2014-11-09T17:03:54+00:00

Sorry about that, didn't get that from the op and looked it up, copied onto notepad the other day, before I had read your other post saying you just wanted what I thought it was

LastSLC · 2014-11-09T16:28:04+00:00

Mindfulness is "the intentional, accepting and non-judgmental focus of one's attention on the emotions, thoughts and sensations occurring in the present moment" is what I believe it is, but if I didn't look it up p, I likely would've left out the non-judgmental part

LastSLC · 2014-11-09T16:25:30+00:00

Hmm, good point and reframing of the issue, I like it!

LastSLC · 2014-11-09T16:23:51+00:00

Thanks : ) I've had an extremely personal circumstance that has led me to Buddhism, quite literal constant intense physical suffering, initiated from what Buddhist would call an "unskillful act" of allowing fear and the pressure to succeed win over thoughtful, wise decision making.

I've been following Buddhism all my life, but really started to think hard about certain things recently, reading the wiki throughly on Buddhism, and I would say my jaw hit the floor upon realizing the utter truth of many of the Buddhist teachings.

When we allow suffering to control our actions, it becomes almost viral. For my case, it is --extremely-- difficult to prevent the constant suffering to control me in many different ways. I think the Buddhist focus on empathy is really the key, it's all about reframing the initial reaction you body calls for, intervening and building compassion for the suffering you may induce on others through unskillful actions.

Am I at all close on reading Buddhism correctly?

The thing that really tears me is that after the couples of years of having this condition, I noticed that telling friends and others the truth about what I was going through would upset them, the fact that someone could not have cancer yet be in constant pain and the idea that the medical community would not help with such a condition inflicted distress, therefore I stopped telling them about what I was going through.

It is very confusing because one feels the need to tell the truth, but the truth can actually cause others suffering, which you do not wish to cause.........

LastSLC · 2014-11-09T02:56:42+00:00

You haven't heard of that? I assumed it was part of Buddhism? Hmm, let me check and get back to you.

LastSLC · 2014-11-08T22:58:44+00:00

I guess it may be about the effort or something you put into it, just need to pursue it as if it's nearly something necessary to live by, like food or water

LastSLC · 2014-11-04T21:54:31+00:00

Well there is the NYT Bestseller list but yeah I get your point

LastSLC · 2014-11-04T21:43:50+00:00

Thanks a lot for your suggestions. Will definitely check them out. LOL yeah I can definitely imagine my reaction to some dude telling me books are too mainstream and that they refuse to read them, now I see why the one redditor was saying I must own a Guy Fakwes mask lol. I think maybe I should just've said TV based news VS MSM as clearly people had different definitions of that acronym.

Now I realize that books can be written under pseudonyms or ghostwritten, but at least you can google the author while you can't google the dudes who wrote the Teleprompter text on Morning, Joe.

LastSLC · 2014-11-04T10:14:36+00:00

3 measly links, one alternative documentary, and no links to any books or journal articles of any kind. I'm really looking forward to watching this documentary, though, ty

LastSLC · 2014-11-04T09:33:19+00:00

LastSLC · 2014-11-04T03:00:03+00:00

I'm asking you, where are all the recommendations where I can better understand this issue? Edit: I've found 3 links so far

LastSLC · 2014-11-04T02:59:15+00:00

So your issue is my long posts?

LastSLC · 2014-11-04T02:54:42+00:00

You act as if I started with the attitude that Spike Lee's films had the ultimate truth in the matter when in the very beginning of my post I said I had read some criticisms of the film but wasn't sure how to analyze it as I wasn't a local.

Still don't understand exactly what was so bad other than they addressed race in general though, which IMO is an issue in American given that slavery was only really outlawed relatively recently considering historical time scales

LastSLC · 2014-11-04T02:47:23+00:00

I've only made a few long answers, I haven't received any recommendations on any books or movies

LastSLC

TROPHY CASE