Welcome to the DENIM Intervention 

Introduction to DENIM mindfulness practices (this is what I also say in the introduction recording, with just a bit added at the end as it applies to all of them)

These are mindfulness practices we have developed with help from people living with and affected by MND, to help people who are using, or thinking about using NIV. The mindfulness practices can be done anytime, anywhere, and they can be done whether you are using NIV or not. You can do these on your own, or with someone else.

We understand that using, or even just thinking about NIV might bring some uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations for some people. You might be choosing to use NIV to help your symptoms or to be able to do more of what matters to you – quality time focused on the people and experiences that are important to you.

These mindfulness practices give you a way to practice noticing and allowing all thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations, whether they feel comfortable or uncomfortable, and some give you an opportunity to think about what is important to you.

We hope using these mindfulness practices could help you feel more able to use NIV in the ways that you will get the most benefit from. Therefore, taking the step to do the mindfulness practices is a way of moving toward what matters to you.

You don’t need to be relaxed or comfortable to do any of these mindfulness practices. You can do them however you’re feeling right now, and wherever you are.

This is a mindfulness practice that allows you to notice sensations in your body, notice thoughts and feelings, and notice that these things come and go, without you having to stop them, change them, or push them away.

This can be useful when you are getting used to NIV or making changes to how you use it, as it gives you a chance to notice and allow all sensations, whether they are comfortable or uncomfortable.

This is a mindfulness practice that allows you to get in touch with what matters to you, notice thoughts and feelings, and interact with those thoughts and feelings in a different way, allowing the thoughts and feelings to be there without getting hooked by them, so that you can keep taking actions that fit with what’s most important to you.

This can be useful when you are thinking about using NIV or getting used to NIV, but it can also be used at any time.

This mindfulness practice gives you an opportunity to turn your attention to different parts of your experience, noticing things you can see, hear, etc.

This can be useful for preparing to use NIV or if using NIV feels difficult, but it can also be used at any time.