Keep a journal.
Write for yourself, not for anyone else. Don't worry about how it looks, just write what comes without filtering or editing anything. Daily journaling is recommended.If all of these methods have been tried for a month, and there has been no significant decrease in depression, an evaluation by a medical doctor may be warranted. It is important to rule out medical causes. Consult your primary care doctor for anti-depressants only if you are unable to get an appointment with a psychiatrist. (In any case, it is wise to first get a medical evaluation to rule out conditions such as low thyroid). Alternative/Holistic health practitioners would be another option to seek further evaluation.
Bipolar Disorder and severe or life threatening depression (suicidal thoughts, psychosis, or vegetative symptoms - staying in bed, not eating or caring for basic needs) are special cases in which medications are often a necessary element of treatment. Meditation practices (introspective practices) in these severe cases should only be undertaken with competent supervision and instruction, and in some cases is not recommended at all.
What is Depression?
FOUR GENERAL CATEGORIES OF DEPRESSION:Endogenous Depression: Depression that is not caused by any external factor. Usually used to describe a depression that is purely the result of biological factors, such as a brain disorder, hormonal imbalance, or neurological dysfunction affecting one or more neurotransmitters (we have more than 100, but hear most about serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, and GABA).
Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depression)
is a brain disorder which at times may appear identical to other forms of depression. Other medical problems, such as low thyroid, can also cause symptoms of depression. Environmental toxins may also be a hidden cause of endogenous depression. Check out this article on SixWise.com about
common environmental toxins
that may cause serious depressive symptoms.
Exogenous Depression: Depression that is related to outer circumstances and the negative or distorted thoughts about ourselves in relation to those circumstances. Althought the source of the depression may be "external," the result often does have an actual affect on the brain chemistry.
Existential Depression: A deep psychic pain which is not easily explained by biological or circumstantial reasons. Though this is not a typically used category for describing depression, it is an important distinction as it is often overlooked and minimized by helping professionals who encounter it. Issues such as Meaning, Purpose in life, Fear of Death and Loss are core existential issues that can cause one to suffer deeply. These fears are often deeply burried in the unconscious mind, yet they can still have great influence on us. Therapy and meditation can help bring these fears to consciousness where they can be transformed.
Postpartum Depression:
As many as one in five women experience some form of postpartum depression within the first year after the birth of a child. Both hormonal changes and psychosocial stressors can contribute to this type of depression. Treatment is extremely important both for the mother as well as for the well being of her child and family.
Pain is a natural and unavoidable part of life.
Suffering is optional.
In order to experience pleasure, we must accept painful feelings as well. When we can remain mindful, aware of our experience in the moment - embracing whatever comes - without resistance and fear, we move through pain.
Depression is characterized by a prolonged period of time in which negative thoughts and feelings predominate, interfering with our usual functioning, or blinding us from our true potential.
There are several
common types of depression
,each defined by particular
symptoms
and duration (and identified as distinct diagnoses). However, you can still suffer from depression without fitting all of the classic diagnostic symptoms.
Depression affects both body and mind. For every emotion and thought we have, there is a corresponding chemical reaction in the brain. Thus, depression is rarely all "biochemical" nor completely "mental." It is most often a function of both, and the most effective depresson self-help techniques approach healing from a holistic perspective.
Personal Growth and Healing
All life evolves naturally towards health and wholeness. Sometimes we change very slowly and painfully. Sometimes rapidly and miraculously. Change is inevitable, and we grow and learn even despite our self-destructive actions. What we do for ourselves and the ways that we think about ourselves have everything to do with how quickly we evolve towards the joyful, Self-realized, creative and loving beings that we truly are.
Depression is a state of contraction, experienced as apathy, fear, sadness, emptiness, and disconnection. No child is born with these feelings, because these are not our Essential qualities. When we experience ourselves without the interference of the negative mind, we feel peace, love, bliss, acceptance, and connection with all life.
The greatest healing force available to humanity, is Love. Any effective healer, whether a Medical Doctor, body-worker, psychotherapist, or yoga instructor knows this fundamental truth.
In fact, no matter what method of healing is applied, it is always secondary in importance to the genuine love and caring that is conveyed by the healer.
The greatest healer available to you is your-Self. And to be your own healer, you must learn to fully love and accept all aspects of yourself.
Eastern spiritual traditions teach us that what we normally identify as "me" is actually just a set of ideas, some positive, some quite negative, yet all of them in fact unreal.
Learning to accept and face all those part of one's apparent self, is the first stage of self-healing. This is the real meaning of depression self-help.
Anything within the mind that we deny, suppress, or feel ashamed of, becomes a source of depression, anxiety, self-limitation, and stagnation.
When we practice compassion towards ourselves and others, by observing without judgment, we begin to free ourselves and discover the Essential Self - the Consciousness - behind all of our experiences.
Meditation
Meditation is one of the most effective means of depression self-help. Meditation is not difficult or complicated to learn. There are many different types but most fall within one of two types of techniques:
Mindfulness Meditation:
Watching with non-judgemental awareness, all thoughts, feelings, sensations and sense perceptions. Mindfulness or Insight Meditation produces greater self awareness, acceptance, compassion and tolerance of uncomfortable feelings. By witnessing the psychological process of the mind, much can be learned about unhealthy patterns of thought and behavior. For mild to moderate depression, mindfulness techniques are an excellent tool for depression self-help. For moderate to severe depression, it is strongly advised that you seek the support and guidance of a meditation teacher/therapist.
Concentration Meditation:
Includes most Yogic forms of meditation and involves the practice of focused awareness on particular mental images, sounds and/or sensations, according to the technique being practiced. This type of meditation accesses resevoirs of untapped energy, bringing about shifts in one's perceptions and state of consciousness. It is more forceful and quick acting than mindfulness, and for this reason, is not recommended for those suffering from psychotic or manic states or those with impulses to do self-harm. A qualified teacher is essential for this type of practice to be safe and effective, but there are some simple techniques that you can begin to use for depression self-help.
Alternative Technologies
for Self-Help
Exciting advances are being made in technology as a tool for healing, greater self-awareness, and for inducing altered states of consciousness for personal growth and depression self-help.One of the most impressive products I've discovered is
"The Journey to Wild Divine,"
a personal biofeedback program that hooks you into your computer. It's like an interactive video game with beautiful dream-like scenes, and it responds to your state of mind and body - that is, your breathing, heart rate, and skin conductivity, so that you interact with the game, by consciously altering your state of mind and level of relaxation and concentration. As a depression self-help tool, this is very promising as way to train yourself to alter your state of mind and decrease anxiety. This is an excellent learning tool for adults and children alike, (and a wonderful alternative the the violent video games that are becoming increasingly popular among kids.)
This program has gotten glowing endorsements by many cutting edge therapists, authors and healers including Depak Chopra, Dean Ornish, Joan Borysenko, Jean Houston, and even the Dalai Lama!
Other technology tools for depression self-help include:
Guided Meditation and Relaxation Tapes and CD's.
Alpha Stim
and other similar products that deliver electrical stimulation to the brain for decreasing depression and anxiety. Also used (like a TENS unit) for fibromyalgia and chronic pain.
Equipment that monitors you while you sleep and gently signals you when you enter the dream state, so that you become aware that you are dreaming while still in the dream, (invented by renowned author and dream-researcher Stephen LaBerge).
Light Boxes for light therapy are one of the most effective depression self-help tools. One informative source of professional quality light boxes is
Apollo Health.
Apparently the Apollo Light Box is also available at Cosco outlets at a lower cost.
CD's using sound technology to induce Alpha, Theta and Delta brain waves (associated with deep relaxation and "meditative" states of consciousness), and is useful for anxiety and depression self-help, as well as improving focus and concentration. I've personally tested this unique depression self-help tool, and had positive results from a CD called "Insight" produced by
Immrama Institute
Sign up for my free Newsletter "Mind Over Matter," and stay tuned for the upcoming release of my new e-Book, "Natural Cures for Depression" - covering more Depression Self-Help techniques and more in-depth information for optimal health and happiness.
Looking for a psychotherapist in Sonoma County?
Find out more about Santa Rosa Psychotherapist
Ben Schwarcz, MFT.
This website may serve as a depression self-help tool, but the use of this information does not constitute a therapist/client relationship and should not serve as a means of self-diagnosis or a substitution for actual psychotherapy. The information on this site is for informational purposes only. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression it is advised that you see your doctor or therapist for an evaluation. If you are having active thoughts of suicide please call 911 or visit
SuicideHotlines.com.
