Can meditation be useful for those who have a tendency to feel depressed? And can those whose depression is caused by chemical imbalances (e.g. those who live with bipolar disorder or manic-depression) usefully meditate?
I am convinced that meditation can be very helpful for depression, whether the depression is situational (caused by external events) or organic (caused by chemical imbalances in the brain). Research has also shown that learning to meditate can dramatically reduce the chances of relapse into depression for those who have suffered repeated bouts.
I am not a mental health professional, and make no claims for any expertise in the field of mental health in general, or with depression in particular. However, I know meditators who have struggled with depression, and they have found their practice to be a great support. I’ve also experienced periods of depression myself, and mindfulness has been an invaluable tool for emerging from that state.
There may be some kinds of meditation which are not of benefit to those who have a tendency to experience depression, and I will mention those in this section. The Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana practices however, are certainly useful for anyone to practice.
In fact the Metta Bhavana (development of lovingkindness) practice is highly recommended for those who experience depression.
However there may also be times when it’s best for those who are depressed not to meditate — for example when experiencing an extreme bout of depression it is probably not a good idea to try to meditate. One reason for this are that learning to meditate is a challenging experience, and because when one is very depressed one has few inner resources to fall back on, any difficulties experienced while learning meditation are likely to be taken too seriously and interpreted as a sign of personal failure. Another reason is that when we’re depressed we tend to over-indulge in what’s called “rumination,” or the endless turning over in the mind of thoughts about what’s wrong with our lives. Because meditation is an inward-turned activity it may actually give people who are experiencing depression yet another opportunity to ruminate.
In cases of milder depression it’s quite possible to meditate effectively, building on whatever inner resources one has in order to lift oneself into a more positive frame of mind.
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Hi Kim,
I'm sorry to hear about the situation you find yourself in. This is the kind of case where meditation can help, but it can't possibly be sufficient. So I'd say -- yes, definitely practice not just lovingkindness meditation, but mindfulness meditation as well. At the same time, however, I think you should talk to a counsellor or therapist to help you work through your fear, and you probably need legal advice as well. Your husband can walk away from your family, but he can't legally walk away from his responsibilities to you all.
All I can add about the fear is that fear comes and goes, and we remain (usually standing). I've had periods in my past where I've been deeply distressed by financial problems, but when I look back at those times, although I can remember the anxiety I can no longer feel it. And I've got to the point now where mainly I don't get caught up in that thinking because I recognize it never helped in the past. In fact rather than helping me, fear always added to my problems.
I wish you all the best.
my first post here - but I just read some of your experience with meditation and depression and I believe in it fully. And actually I was writing a little story/comment and the last line had me go ON-line to find some scientific folk who do beleive it can help.
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Science. Depression. Seratonin levels.
Funny everything I read about the relation between serotonin levels and depression, has ‘it is believed’ when offering explanations of the relationship of the two. All due respect to Captain Kirk, the last frontier, I believe is the brain.
Neurons firing badly; receptors not receiving…these are the scientific, anatomical reasons they give for people who are depressed. Seratonin enhances the connecting of the neurons to the receptors and thus they believe it relieves depression. In essence it seems to be about communication and the lack of it bringing on the depression.
My question has always been – what is it that causes the serotonin levels to be lowered. And could communicating or more exactly, receiving the qi, or grace, or essence of the Universe, increase our levels?
Not very scientific though talking about qi, graces, or essences…you can’t put it in a petri dish. You can’t measure or pour it. Yet there’s a lot of folk, and scientific folk who do indeed believe in it.
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so I then turned to you on-line. Now I am a meditator (actually a Yan Xin Qigong practitioner) for near 13 years now and it has been part of the process where I desisted relapsing into my substance addiction for 10 years and 4 months now.
But my journey, including my strong belief that the meditation part of the
11th 'sought thru prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God praying only for his will for us and the power to carry that out' of the 12 steps (and the essence of what the steps are guiding us to - ie God's will or our Destiny) is very under-emphasized. has also led me to beleive that the 12 steps, prominently including the meditation cannot only help EVERYONE , it can save our world. i have a website '12stepsforall.com' and would love to hear back from you.
peace always,
Jim McGovern
Hello Everyone!
Last frontier is the brain (haha), fortunately or otherwise...
I believe Buddhist Meditation has saved my life. I was desperate with problems of both depression and addiction, and of course the concept of higher power. This last period of 'clean time' I knew I needed something other than just 'medication and meetings'. I flooded myself with books, audiobooks, and guided meditation as soon as my journey began. It all made so much sense and I slowly stopped hating myself. 'Transform Your Life' by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is a great place for beginners to start exploring the fundamentals of Buddhism in a practical way. It has been 4 years now and I cannot go a day without meditating and if I do I feel as though I am missing that quiet time. If the day is not so stellar and thoughts are racing I begin with a guided meditation just to settle down and re-focus. It was a challenge in the beginning, but I have already begun to feel the long term effects. I can 'catch myself' now before falling into a depression, have learned the signs and triggers. I also have the ability to control my temper and other untoward feelings. It's far from 'perfect' but so much better than ever before and have learned how to be mindful and aware of the present moments.
I do go to meetings as well, and the experience there is so much more rewarding than before now that I am more open.
Thank You For All the Comments!
Hi,
I live in Saigon, and am having a severe bout of depression, anxiety and insomnia. I cannot fall apart as I have to work every day as a teacher. Unfortunately, my work is starting to be affected. I have tried meditation, but I am afraid right now it just makes things worse. I'm afraid I don't know where to look for counseling services, and feel quite frightened at the moment.'
Thanks for any kind words of advice.
Joanne
The body and mind are made up of very intricate systems. Sometimes depression can be brought on through periods of prolonged strain (both physical and mental).
Yes absolutely meditation can help balance the emotional state thereby bringing about altered chemical balances.
I believe that through sheer willpower alone we cannot break some of the cycles. We carry heavy weights, become sleep deprived and worry, we also infiltrate our systems with toxins and poisons thereby causing our complex systems to work according to a different balance.
Vitamins and minerals are important in our diet. How often do those extra late nights lessen our serotonin levels, depressing our emotions. Mega B vitamins are great to boost energy and can be used during times of prolonged stress. It helps the nervous system. I have actually found pain relief through taking them. Cortisone is a chemical that is released under duress. We need to physically get rid of this chemical (exert). Are our bodies not working as they should? I had a stressful - but seated job which I had to leave to gain better health. Sometimes the cycles continue because we choose them to continue.
Magnesium aids our system's ability to get rid of toxins. Unfortunately our diets (western) are lacking in magnesium. It is used to improve heart disorders, avoid diabetes. I have found that it helps with my allergies - and I swear by it.
Meditation is very important. Nutrition and meditation I feel go hand in hand with optimum functions.
Thank you for your reply. I'm feeling a bit better and am trying to do several things, including diet, exercise, meditation, and, for the moment, medication. I don't eat a western diet and I think my diet (mostly Vietnamese and other Asian) is pretty healthy. I'll check out the magnesium.
This board is great support and comfort. Thank you.
Your suggestions and replies are so thorough, how wonderful. I am dealing with a situtation that has brought me into a terrible place that I cannot seem to get out of. I feel angry and frustrated and confused as to why my higher self led me into this mess.
I am currently in Nepal, I flew over here to work as a volunteer at an Arts Collective, to teach classes in photography and such. I was living at the so called collective for 5 weeks. The entire time I felt depressed and disrespected. I left the place a few days ago, because my room was previously rented, but next weekend I was supposed to teach a class there.
However, yesterday I wrote a very direct and pretty harsh letter to the girl that founded the collective, letting her know that I won't be teaching for her for free. I also told her everything I think of her. Which was nothing pleasant.
She charges quite a lot of money for the classes and then expects her volunteer's to pay rent and pay for everything, and then the money supposedly goes into the collective. But there is no collective, it is just her, and she has another intern. She is competitive, un-supportive, jealous and unkind.
The last volunteer and I met, she said she felt exactly as I did and that the previous one before her did too. Thankfully knowing this makes me realize I am not crazy.
However, I have flown over here to Nepal and spent all this money to volunteer, to feel like I accomplished something and frankly I feel just used and exhausted and I just want out of here.
Now I am trying to stop walking around grumpy and depressed. I thought writing the letter would help. Strangely, I saw the girl out last night and she said hello, like nothing had occurred. I am pretty sure she didn't read my email yet. If she did, she is much crazier than I previously thought.
My head is just in a terrible place. I feel like I can't let go. Can you suggest a good downloadable guided meditation?
I try to clear me head every night, but I have been here now 7 weeks and the entire time I have felt awful. I am starting to get concerned about what this is doing to me and how I can once and for all come out of this funk.
Thanks so much for your support.
Hi, Linka.
From what you say it does sounds like this woman who runs the "collective" isn't very pleasant. Dwelling on what she's done wrong isn't going to do anything to make her change, but it will cause you suffering. As they say, ill will is like swallowing rat poison and expecting the rat to die. I'd suggest letting go and moving on. Make the best use of your time and do what you really love. Nepal's a great place for photography, and you can work on simply appreciating the time you have left there, and make beautiful images.
If I was to recommend one meditation, it would be on Being in the Moment. You made a decision. It didn't work out. Embrace life and move on, rather than agonizing over the past.
Thank you for your response. I know you are right.
One problem was that I haven't felt like photographing, no inspiration, and I couldn't pull myself back into my core and get myself out of my room, to go see Kathmandu.
This is just one of many times that I have found myself dwelling on things, which is why I wrote. It's just one example out of many more, in which I find myself focusing too much on feeling frustrated and angry. I sometimes feel like I am moving beyond this issue, which I have carried around my entire life, but then something occurs and I am back in this anger.
I have always been an angry person, sort of a family inheritance. I am now looking into lovingkindness meditation now that I have read this post. I surely sympathize with everyone here. I used to have a lot of issues with depression and somehow I have managed to pull myself out of that recurring problem. I feel like if I can finally get this anger out of my system, then I will have truly come a long way.
Great thing is that today, even though I woke up depressed, I forced myself to start a photo project and while I am photographing everything disappears, I feel completely happy.
What a great resource you have here. Namaste!!
Linka
first i was abuse by a man. i could not ask for help that time as i knew if people new about this, my family reputation will be gone. Hence i choose to make this man fall in love with me. so i starting dating him for about 2 months. Later i found out that this guy has a wife and a kid and everythiing he told me was all lie. I entered depression and went on for 7months. after that again the problem came up and this time this man and women filed case against me to police.
so this time i feel more pain then ever. i feel worthless, hopeless and life looks meaningless.
Doctor gave me anti-depression but i stop taking it as i thought it might have side effects. what do you suggest me to do. i have lost interest in everything. do you think i should go to new place and start new life. i really hope to hear from you. constant thought of suciding is cming in my mind as the pain is unbearable.
hi! Do you know if depression can cause you to become sensitive to your surroundings? I started feeling strange after being so depressed, feeling unusual things around me and hearing creepy sounds, like ghosts... I feel that a part of me or something has been triggered to sense such supernatural things but just slight ... I havent experience seeing one and I dont want to...
Hi, Myr.
I can imagine that anxiety -- which is often tangled up with depression -- could cause you to be more sensitized to sounds around you. When we're anxious we're more on the lookout for threats. And one of the things that depression does is to assume bad things from limited information, so I can see how a creepy sound, picked up in an anxious state, could be interpreted as something supernatural.
I'd suggest that when you hear something that your mind interprets as creepy, you recognize that this is just anxiety talking, and smile.