Heartfulness Editor
Depression. What does it mean, and how does it transform a settled state of mind into a disturbed one? Depression is generally described as a feeling of misery, isolation, and a detachment or lack of interest in activities that were once enjoyed with all enthusiasm.There are several causes of depression, and mental stress is widely known to be the most common reason. Almost everybody at some point in their life has experienced stress, for whatever reason or reasons.
Anybody who has endured stress (and that includes almost everybody) can vouch for its domino effect – endless brooding and worrying can result in anxiety, guilt, apathy, and discontent. Moreover, it can even rob you of your sleep, further aggravating matters. In the daily hustle and bustle of today’s material world, finding peace for a brief moment can be a mammoth task. And when peace is lost, you open the door to negative emotions and a troubled state of mind.
Meditation for Depression
Most adults are busy juggling work and relationships. At this prime stage of life as they’re trying to establish themselves in multiple “spheres” of life, be it career, finances, or relationships or marriage, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and lose focus. Many individuals fail to strike a balance between these major components of their lives – I know because I’m one of those people; I was prey to all manner of angst and suffering.
But the most important thing to remember at such times is that it’s only natural to get caught up in the frenzy of everyday commotion and not take even a moment to pause and assess our lives. To top it all, our very complex brain has a natural tendency to think negative thoughts.
However, the key is to make a determined effort to rise above it all through meditation. As a recovery technique that gives hope against anxiety and depression, it has offered succor to many people. Have you tried this immensely beneficial and peace-fostering practice – meditation for depression?
Personal Experience
Different people manage depression in different ways. While for some, the only solution lies in taking antidepressants, for others it’s a wakeup call to pay as much attention to strengthening their mind as they do for their body.
As someone, who has tried the former path, I would like to share my personal experience for the benefit of all those who are considering resorting to pills to find happiness, solace, and peace of mind. So here it is:
My stress level was getting chronic with each passing day and I tried finding help in the form of medication. But taking pills alone did not work! I realized that getting to sleep by unnatural means was not conducive to mental healing, as they cannot help the brain detox. If anything, it’s a practice that’s equally harmful for the mind as it is for the body as it pushes one further down the spiral path of depression that fuels more negativity. This vicious cycle continues as it forms an even unhealthier dependency as well as other complications. It was then that I started Heartfulness Meditation. Please note I am not a medical doctor nor this should be considered as medical advice. Everyone’s situation is different. But the majority of therapists recommend meditation along with medication to ensure lasting recovery and regaining our normal life.
Meditate to Vent Anxiety
In simple terms, anxiety is when we can’t regulate our emotions. Anxiety-inducing thoughts have a way of bouncing around our mind creating a major situation if we’re not aware of it. When we meditate, we assemble those thoughts, sit them down, observe them, talk to them, and let go of them. And with that, we release the pent-up tension. Regular meditation enabled me to rationalize over time that these thoughts are illusory and they don’t define who I am. Meditation has to be done in a manner that helps us focus on a positive regenerative thought which will negate the uncontrollable brooding of negative thinking.
Meditation practice also helps us in “getting to know our bodies”. At times we sense some physical movements and that makes meditation more interesting. These movements are due to energy flows through the various energy centers of the body.
In my personal experience, it’s during meditation that I realized that I tend to “sit” with my sensations in the same way that I “sit” with my thoughts. Little by little, over time, this technique helped me deal with anxious thoughts and I eventually reached a stage where I could cut them out before they crept in.
It Triggers the Nature of Anxiety
Ironically depression, anxiety, and stress are all created by us, but since we’re looking for something or someone else to blame them on, little do we realize that the answer lies within us. Meditation helps in reconnecting us with our inner being and lets us master our own happiness.
Besides getting me closer to my own heart, meditation helped me feel relaxed, contented, and led to an inner healing. Although I’m a beginner, the sense of relaxation, calmness, and lightness makes me happy to the core.
Meditation not only helps me identify negative thoughts but also leads me to different solutions to perceive and conquer them. While I cannot make the problems, anxieties, and stress disappear, I’m happy to have found ways to gain control and get my priorities sorted, both at work and in my personal life.
Practicing meditation for depression or overcoming stress is a powerful strategy – one that can give lasting benefits.
I Practice Heartfulness Every Day to Feel Happy
From tapering off antidepressants to starting off every day with meditation, the transformation has been quite palpable. I find that I can now work with my thoughts, predict the nature of anxious thoughts, and make better decisions than before.
But more than that, I meditate to seek nothing but contentment, to seek peace and joy in myself, and this brings wisdom in my actions. I practice Heartfulness Meditation for depression every day to feel happy. And I urge you all to do the same.
