Posted by baseball55 on December 3, 2017, at 18:36:31
In reply to Who's tried Mindfulness Meditation for Depression?, posted by Mtom on December 2, 2017, at 17:05:14
I worked a lot with a DBT therapist, doing various mindfulness exercises, including, but not limited to, meditation. I found they helped me COPE with depression (I learned to let thoughts and plans for suicide go), but they didn't boost my mood. But, for me, coping was very important because I become so suicidal when depressed. My DBT therapist urged me to just remain neutral about my depression; if all I could do was lay in bed, then that was all I could do - not to begin the destructive self-talk - this will never get better, I can't stand this, etc. So it didn't make the depression go away (time and drugs have helped a lot), but it did make it more tolerable, for me.
> I believe my long term depression began due to endogenous (chemical) factors as it occurred simultaneously with a number of physical symptoms which were subsequently diagnosed as an autoimmune disorder. Doctors believed the depression was a separate issue and I could not convince them I had been feeling just fine before concurrent onset of all symptoms. These symptoms, physical & depression, were what sent me to the Doctors to figure out what was going on. My self esteem was good, life had been going well. Then suddenly an inexplicable plummet in mood plus increasing physical symptoms. Anxiety crept in subsequently.
>
> In more recent years, ongoing situational stresses have deepened the depression. I cannot tolerate Antidepressants - hypersensitive to side effects.
>
> I've taken Mindfulness programs and continue a group and personal practice for several years. It seemed to help at first, but once the situational stresses worsened, the improvement reversed. I continue to practice anyway.
>
> I'm interested in hearing experiences of others who have tried Mindfulness or other forms of meditation.
poster:baseball55
thread:1096145
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20161002/msgs/1096162.html