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Depression and Learning Disabilities
Depression and learning disabilities are often misunderstood. Learning disabilities and depression are common mental illnesses that affected millions everyday. Studies has shown that children suffering with learning disabilities have complexity...
FDA Approves New Therapy for Depression
On July 18, 2005, the FDA approved vagus nerve stimulation therapy as a treatment for chronic depression. This is the first ever FDA-approved long term treatment option for sufferers of treatment-resistant depression(TRD). Over four million...
Looking For Depression Support Groups
For those who face depression, every day of their lives may seem like a struggle. A struggle to get up, a struggle to face the day and the people involved and it can be a struggle to make the most of the day. It just seems simpler to crawl back into...
Music And Depression
What is music? All sounds are comprised of sound waves. What distinguishes music from other sound waves is the manner in which the sound waves vibrate and decrease from loud to soft. Dropping a metal pan on the floor presents jarring,...
Stress and Depression are Killing Us!
A short generation ago, families could set their watch by the time the father got home from work each day. My dad always walked through the front door at precisely 6 PM and supper was served at 6:10. We'd all sit around the table...
 
Mindfulness and Depression: Things Are Looking Up

From yoga studios to cancer clinics, from preschools to college campuses, mindfulness is quite the buzz. Law schools are offering courses in mindfulness as a tool to help in mediation, and business consultants are pouncing on mindfulness as the latest surefire path to better client relationships and higher sales figures.

I find all this interest in mindfulness quite thrilling. It's fun to see people looking at ways to pay attention at work as well as at play.

Of course, most of the approaches focus squarely on meditation and its role in providing clarity in a variety of settings. The higher the stakes, the more it seems that meditation is considered the only right path to mindfulness, and the most dire circumstances seem to encourage the most brow-furrowing effort. It would appear that serious problems require serious solutions.

I beg to differ.

Sometimes the lightest approach is the one that lifts those who are in the deepest pit of despair. Those suffering from severe depression have the most to gain from mindfulness, and there is no reason to believe that meditation is the only way to get there.

There's tremendous power in levity, and because I'm an evangelist (evangelista?) when it comes to playing with mindfulness, it's not too surprising that people assume I shy away from anything too deep.

Au contraire.

Mindfulness saves lives. I've seen it happen again and again. I offer it, lovingly and lightly, on a silver platter to those who are facing the toughest fight of their lives--finding a reason to live.

Mindfulness is a tool for living that provides what I affectionately refer to as the "p-word"--perspective. Without meditating, without once mentioning the Buddha, without ever coming across as a counselor or coach (I'm neither),


it's possible to encourage those who are suffering to step back and see even the most desperate plight as a temporary, useful period prior to enormous growth.

There's something freeing about staring death in the face. Our natural tendency is to tiptoe around those who are suffering, but when you can't even imagine ever smiling again, there's nothing more welcome than a nearly-pee-your-pants belly laugh.

If you're sitting at the bottom of a well, another weight around your neck isn't going to help. You need to look up, to feel light, to rise up and climb out of your dark hole. When you've lost all hope, laughter lifts you up and mindfulness helps you see your way to the top.

Seems like a perfect combination to me.

I love the fact that mindfulness-based techniques have been developed to help those suffering from anxiety and depression. I only wish they incorporated a healthy dollop of humor at a time when it is sorely needed and remarkably healing.

Finding hilarity in your failed suicide attempt? Now that's a sure sign of climbing out of that well. I've held hands and laughed with others during their "I'm such a loser I can't even kill myself right!" talks. With humor, warmth, and gentle guidance, we can use mindfulness to plant the seed of gratitude that grows into joy.

In the face of despair, mindfulness and laughter are a breath of fresh air.

Breathe deeply.

About the Author

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse offering specialized mindfulness training in Portland, Oregon. She lost two brothers to suicide and transformed her own severe depression into joy and wisdom. Her work has inspired thinkers in over 100 countries. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.massageyourmind.com.

 

Welcome to Depression.com
Facts about depression, including how to manage it and how to live with this medical condition.
www.depression.com
 
NIMH: Depression
Such a disabling episode of depression may occur only once but more ... Depression can also affect the physical health in men differently from women. ...
www.nimh.nih.gov
 
NIMH: Depression
National Institute of Mental Health presents a comprehensive series of articles on symptoms and management. Includes booklets of personal accounts and ...
www.nimh.nih.gov
 
Clinical depression - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clinical depression (also called major depressive disorder) is a state of intense ... By definition the symptoms are not as severe as with Major Depression, ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
Great Depression - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Great Depression was an economic downturn which started in 1929 (although its ... The Great Depression ended at different times in different countries; ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
Dr. Ivan's Depression Central
This site is Internet's central clearinghouse for information on all types of depressive disorders and on the most effective treatments for individuals ...
www.psycom.net
 
Depression Screening Test
Answer a few simple questions to determine if you are experiencing depressive symptoms. Provides a referral list and information on depression.
www.med.nyu.edu
 
MedlinePlus: Depression
From the National Institutes of Health; Depression (National Institute of Mental Health) ... Select services and providers for Depression in your area. ...
www.nlm.nih.gov
 
Welcome to depression-screening.org
Most people with depression, however, do not seek the professional help they ... The depression-screening.org web site is sponsored by the National Mental ...
www.depression-screening.org
 
iFred - International Foundation for Research and Education on ...
"This book can help those directly and indirectly touched by depression. ... iFred Brings New Hope to Depression with Thousands of Sunflowers ...
www.ifred.org
 
Depression information and treatment
Information about depression, depression treatment, and facts about depression.
www.psychologyinfo.com
 
Depression
Depression is a strong mood involving sadness, discouragement, despair, or hopelessness that lasts for weeks, months, or even longer.
www.kidshealth.org
 
Depression Alliance web site with information about depression ...
Information about the symptoms and treatment of depression from Depression Alliance, a UK charity for people with clinical depression and anxiety.
www.depressionalliance.org
 
WebMD Depression Health Center - Learn the symptoms of depression ...
Articles, links, and resources for sufferers of depression.
www.webmd.com
 
Depression - Information and Support
THE starting place for exploring Depression. Support forums, links, articles and more.
depression.about.com
 
beyondblue: the national depression initiative
Australian organisation provides information about depression to consumers, carers and health professionals.
www.beyondblue.org.au
 
Using EFT for Depression, Teen Depression & Clinical Depression
EFT's results for all forms of depression are often astonishing. In most cases the depressed feelings vanish or are materially reduced within a few minutes ...
www.emofree.com
 
Depression
The website for Depression. ... Please note that Depression is comprised of backfile volumes. Volume 4, Issue 2 (1996). Articles in this Issue: ...
www3.interscience.wiley.com
 
Depression - MayoClinic.com
Depression is more than just a bout of the blues. Fortunately, treatments are available.
www.mayoclinic.com
 
Mental Help Net - Depression (Unipolar)
Depression is one of the most common and most serious mental health ... Fortunately, there are many highly effective treatments for depression today that ...
mentalhelp.net
 
 

 
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