Meditation for Depression and Mindfulness
Published on November 5, 2019 – Last Updated on March 29, 2022
In your honest opinion, have you or your loved one suffered from anxiety or depression? Meditation for depression could help make the situation better.
Depression is a widely-used and poorly-defined word. Yet, it’s the leading cause of disability in the world, often identified with:
- Loss of interest in life
- Increased fatigue and insomnia
- Fluctuation in appetite and weight
- Sense of paralysis, numbness, emptiness
- Feels helpless, hopeless
The American Psychiatric Association publishes the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM5), which is the language source that the worldwide mental health “community” uses to discuss — AND DEFINE — human mental health:
- Problem number 1 is that this pathological manual perceives and labels most of the human experience as “disordered;” and
- Problem number 2 is that there are no biological markers for diagnosed depression. If “a chemical imbalance” of some sort is the cause of depression, but those chemicals have no way of being tested/measured in blood, urine, saliva, hair, etc., then what exactly is the diagnosis based on? Very shaky ground.
An “inflammatory hypothesis” is currently being explored.
Another plausible ‘cause’ of depression is ungrieved losses. The more they mount, the more depressed we feel.
Some researches say that diet plays a contributing role in depression. The lack of some vitamins or minerals can alter the brain normally function, and it is recommended to have a balanced diet. Turmeric is a dietary supplement that has a positive impact on your mental health. It seems odd that so much money and time has gone into basically defending an unfounded model, where “they focused on the brain at the expense of the mind.”
Mindfulness and meditation for depression slice through all that confused noise entirely. And what you are potentially left with is sparkling lucidity. Through meditation, you might discover the link between “depressed” and “deep rest.”
By increasing nonjudgmental awareness of your inner world, you can notice your thoughts and feelings without being immediately influenced by them. The American Psychological Association calls meditation a “benevolent therapy.”
According to Dr. Denninger of Harvard Health Publishing, meditation for depression “helps provide some distance from those negative thoughts or stressful feelings, allowing you to recognize that, although they affect you, they are not you.”
Dealing With a Divorce – Leaving a primary relationship like a marriage feels like personal devastation for many — emotionally, socially, economically. Divorce affects so many aspects of life, and it is significant to stress that can understandably launch darker feelings of pain, loss, and sorrow. This vulnerable time is perfect to begin or deepen a mindful meditation practice. All your thoughts of the past relationship, and the life you shared, can be observed without consuming you. This is incredibly healing and will enable you to truly ‘move on and not just mask or rush the grief of your divorce.
Emotional Eating – Food is a favorite “rebound” for many people. When we want but don’t have certain sweetness or comfort in life, it is tempting to try and derive that pleasure by eating something high in sugar or carbohydrates (like a proxy or substitute). Unfortunately, the satisfaction is fleeting, and the resulting weight gain only intensifies the original depression. It’s easy to get in front of this downward cycle with our specially-designed audio meditation that addresses emotional eating and helps you discover what you hunger for.
Meditation for depression trains your awareness to relieve all kinds of suffering. It reminds you that you can direct your attention to what heals and nourishes you, and that is very empowering! When you feel the onset of a dip in mood, breathe, and remember you are connected to life, even if it feels otherwise.
