Sometimes when I am meditating I become aware of a feeling of pressure located behind my nose. It varies in exact location, sometimes is is lower down behind the bridge of my nose, but at others is as high up as between my eyes. My description of it as a 'pressure' would also vary. Pressure is its most common manifestation, but it has also felt like a 'vibration' or 'buzzing' (not an actual sound though), or even like a cold icy touch between my eyes (this corresponds to when it is high up my nose, and in this case the feeling is closer to the surface, rather than being behind my nose).

Being aware of the feeling (in some form) is very common during my meditation though, I would say I feel it in perhaps 2 out of every 3 meditations.

I first became aware of this sensation while meditating, but I do now also notice it at other times - e.g. If call my attention to it, I can feel it now while writing this email. There are also a number of other bodily sensations that I first became aware of during meditation, but now can also notice at other times - so I have assumed they were all there already, but that I hadn't stopped to notice them before (rather than these sensations being the result of meditation). However, they are far less noticeable and of less 'bother' to me when I do notice them than this particular 'pressure' sensation.

I am aware about the concern around experiencing headaches during meditation. I would not consider this sensation to be a headache (or at least it doesn't feel like anything I would have previously identified as a headache).

However, I thought I should ask about it - any ideas?

Dear Laszlo Jamf,

Since you are noticing a number of sensations in your body, not just the pressure in your sinuses, I'm fairly confident that this is a side effect of stress release.

Stresses can come from painful experiences in the body, are stored throughout the body http://www.nsrusa.org/about-stress.php) and, when released, can generate sensations in the body. When the release of such a stress completes, the associated sensation disappears.

Usually, stress release happens only during meditation. But if the stress is a big one, some release can continue during activity. There are ways (discussed in other forum postings) to eliminate such unwanted stress release, or to decrease the discomfort they can cause.

Since sensations are indicators that stress is actually being released, they are evidence that something very good is happening. The elimination of stress is helpful to life in many ways.

It actually doesn't matter if we have sensations in the body or not. As long as we are transcending thought effortlessly twice a day, we are dissolving stress and will eventually notice benefits in our daily life, including deep refreshment, increased energy, and improved intelligence.

Just for completeness, it is also possible that you have a medical problem, such as a sinus infection. If the sensation continues for more than a week or two, you might consider having a doctor check it out. See also http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NAH/is_3_33/ai_104836631/ for some helpful hints.

David Spector
NSR Meditation/USA

Hi David

Thank you for your reply.

I actually think it might be a sinus problem. It has been present for some time now (longer than a few weeks), and I also have some other symptoms that seem to me possibly sinus related - specifically, although I don't have a blocked or runny nose, I do often wake up in the morning feeling a similar 'pressure' sensation that recedes after I have been sitting up vertical for a while.

I avoided mentioning sinuses in my original post as I thought it better just to mention the symptoms/experience rather than my assumptions about what it might be. Your mention of sinus problems seems to back these up though.

Thank you for you suggestion re: the sinus link you sent. I will try out some of the things suggested and also go to see my doctor.

Laszlo

Laszlo,

Sounds good. Please keep us informed.

David Spector
NSR Meditation/USA

Hi David

I have been to my doctor and he says that it is likely that I have a chronic sinus problem. He has started me on a short course of antibiotics to see if these give a marked change (at which point that should confirm that as the cause). If not he will then try something else to eliminate the possibilities one by one.

In addition to this I have started using the 'head in a towel over a bowl of freshly boiled water with some tea tree oil in it' method.

Busyness elsewhere in my life has meant that I have only been able to start the tea tree oil as of this morning, and will be starting the antibiotics tonight.

I will keep the forum informed about anything significant that occurs.

Laszlo

Laszlo,

Thanks for the update. I hope the antibiotics are effective.

David Spector
NSR Meditation/USA