Yeah if you are going through a really difficult time, and experiencing severe depression like me, then practising things like mindfulness meditating and gratitude are challenging to do. I have been to mindfulness course and to some meditation classes as well as learnt about cultivating gratitude from courses/workshops. For me, the negative intense dark thoughts feelings are part of illness, not me. The dwelling on things, hearing replays of situations in head, difficulty concentrating and being present are related to the depression.