Well it seems you are right and meditation can be harmful when in a deep depression. Since you turn inward with meditation the deeper you go the more risk things will come up that would disturb you and maybe cause you to be more depressed. But then some claim there are techniques you can use to avoid this. Worth doing some reading on SophiesMom if you do it while depressed.
Personally I am going to continue even if deeply depressed. I ain't skeeered. I spent many years in therapy and in AA exorcising my demons. If there are more in there let them come up.
I am going to have to psych (no pun intended) myself up for the Tai Chi bit.
When not to use meditation | Wildmind Buddhist Meditation
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When not to use meditation
Although meditation can be very helpful in relieving depression or in preventing depression from arising, the act of focusing inwards can actually heighten feelings of despair. I would suggest not trying to meditate when you are extremely depressed, and especially not at times that you are having any thoughts of self-harm.
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Curing Depression with Mindfulness Meditation | Psychology Today
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The MBCT technique is simple, and revolves around "mindfulness meditation". In this, you sit with your eyes closed and focus on your breathing. (See box for details). Concentrating on the rhythm of the breath helps produce a feeling of detachment. The idea is that you come to realize that thoughts come and go of their own accord, and that your conscious self is distinct from your thoughts. This realization is encouraged by gentle question-and-answer sessions modeled on those in cognitive therapy.
In the University of Exeter study, funded by the UK's Medical Research Council, 47 per cent of patients with long-term depression suffered a relapse; the figure was 60 per cent among those taking medication alone. Other studies, including two published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, had comparable outcomes. As a result, the UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has recommended MBCT since 2004. Availability is still patchy though, with many sufferers seeking courses at Buddhist centers.
"One of the key features of depression is that it hijacks your attention," says Professor Williams. "We all tend to bring to the forefront of our minds the thoughts and feelings that reflect our current mood. If you are sad, depressed or anxious, then you tend to remember the bad things that have happened to you and not the good. This drives you into a downward spiral that leads from sadness into a deeper depression. MBCT prevents and breaks that spiral."
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How to Use Meditation to Free Yourself From Depression - Goodlife Zen