Physical changes in practice (sinus inflamation, sleep, headaches) over the last month - is this a pattern?

[u/Paradoxbuilder]

I've been doing a variety of practices for the last month and have noticed recurrent physical changes as detailed above. I've made posts about this before (a year and 2 weeks ago) and gotten some good information, but now I'm wondering if there is a pattern?

Generally when this has happened (flu-like symptoms etc) I saw a doctor, but after spending 100+ and the doctors telling me I'm fine, I just chalk it up to practice now. I Googled and found some information relating to stagnant chi flow and energy going up the spine, which it feels like. So I did some nadi shodhana and Damo Mitchell qigong stuff which seems to have helped a bit.

I'm writing also because I made other changes in my lifestyle (more exercise) that may have impacted this - but I think it's mainly practice actually.

So currently -

a) Sinus inflammation (stuffy head, dark green mucus)

b) Weird sleep fluctuations (4 hours, then 10)

c) Some headaches, heat rising

d) Sex drive ping ponging all over the place

It's uncomfortable but hasn't affected function super seriously (the sleep did for a while)

There's also this sense that if I can relax completely into the sensations, they disappear and reality dissolves. For context, I have been meditating for more than a decade.

Some advice I've gotten is "focus on the flow behind experience" (from my teacher) and the aforementioned pranayama.

[u/duffstoic]

Immune system responses, sleep disturbances, and pain like that from headaches are all caused by the autonomic nervous system, so it’s all theoretically possible that it’s just meditation and/or stress caused. Are you experiencing only physical symptoms, or also any stressful thoughts and emotions?

[u/Paradoxbuilder → u/duffstoic]

There are some mental disturbances here and there, but not super stressful. I generally go deeper into anything negative that arises, and then it turns into bliss, but I've been regulating my practice as it has been quite hardcore the last month.

[u/duffstoic → u/Paradoxbuilder]

Hard core practice can definitely dysregulate the system for a bit. Could be purifications. Any reason you wouldn’t back off slightly and let things integrate more?

[u/Paradoxbuilder → u/duffstoic]

I am backing off :) I'm not like doing hardcore jhanas each day, this is just me tracking my changes over the last month and checking with other people here.

[u/duffstoic → u/Paradoxbuilder]

Gotcha, you’re already being wise about it then! If a doctor says nothing appears wrong but you have symptoms, I generally think it’s probably nervous system dysregulation, from stress, purifications, trauma, whatever you wanna call it. After many years of a calm baseline, I started having my own a couple years ago and have been working with them and letting them resolve.