Connection

I'm new to this forum and look forward to connecting with and receiving support from those who are dealing with similar issues as I am. I have struggled with dysthymia for many years. I am now in a mindfulness program to help me heal and overcome depression. I find, though, that as I have no friends or anyone to talk to about depression and about the work I am doing to heal, it is very difficult to commit to healing. If anyone of you are using mindfulness techniques to heal your depression it would be especially great to hear from you. Best wishes to all of you on your journey to self-healing.

Hello, and welcome, Maggeo. That's all I can think of to say, but I'm glad you found the forum.

Hello Maggeo: Welcome to PsychCentral! PC is a great place to gain support as well as to obtain mental health related information. There are many knowledgeable & caring members here. The more you post, & reply to other members' posts, the more you'll gain from the time you spend here.

I believe there are many members here on PC who use mindfulness as a means overcoming depression. There may also be at least one social group dedicated to this, if I'm not mistaken. You might check the Index to see if such a group exists. It may be something you'd like to join.

Personally I am a "student", you might say, of the Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön. Ani Pema teaches an ancient Tibetan Buddhist practice called "Lojong". And a part of Lojong (which translates as "mind training") involves the practice of mindfulness. So, yes, mindfulness is something I practice in an effort to overcome the mental health challenges with which I have struggled. I wish you well...

Hi Maggeo,

Welcome. I think mindfulness for depression is a wonderful idea. I haven't done sitting meditation myself, but others at this site have gotten great benefits from that. I love doing walking meditation and I love taking long walks. I am doing lots of Yoga these days and I especially find the Pranayama part of Yoga to be helpful. The main thing I do for present moment awareness thoughout the day is "SNAP CLUB" described here http://egg.bu.edu/~youssef/SNAP_CLUB/BA.pdf .

What is your mindfulness program like?

- vital

Hello, welcome to the forums.
I am not exactly sure what dysthemia is to be honest but I have been dealing with depression n borderline personality amongst other things for years. I mention those 2 bc - well depression tells you I can relate to you - but, here is something you may or may not have known: the mindfulness technique as created by Lindham, for psychiatric healing - was created specifically for BPD (borderline personality disorder) initially...so many people with BPD can help with your endeavors with DBT n mindfulness n many people that have BPD also have depression so many of them can also relate to you in that way. So while you may not have BPD itself - it could be beneficial to you to visit the borderline personality forum from time to time. That's just a thought though...

Anyway, no matter what you decide to do, there are many caring people here n I am sure you will find support - welcome!

Thanks a lot, Angelique. Best wishes, Maggeo.

Thank you!. I see you just recently joined this forum. How has it been helping you? I am familiar with Pema Chodron. I am currently in a 7-week online mindfulness course with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. It is an excellent course and am getting much from it.

I'll look into that social group and thanks again.

Thank you. I'll check out that link. Mindfulness is an excellent tool for developing well-being. I'm in a 7-week online mindfulness course with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach called, "The Power of Awareness." It is excellent, and I am getting a lot out of it. Best wishes to you.

Thank you for responding. Dysthymia (if I spelled it correctly) is chronic mild depression. Best wishes to you.

Thank you for explaining - I have had depression (diagnosed) for 15yrs, undiagnosed for (I believe) even 14yrs prior to that-starting when mom died n continuing for various reasons until I think its just something my body adapted to - I tried many medications for it, some worked for a time but none worked "forever" - I now use rose essential oils n relaxation techniques to deal with my depression.

I am about to try more of the mindfulness route of treatment but I hadn't yet found a way to do it - I will check out the one you are doing and see if it would work for me. I think it would be very helpful to me.

I have started doing deep breathing/meditation and have already seen some success from it so to me the mindfulness just seems like a natural progression. Feel free to message me anytime

Rose oil is simple inhalation so you could diffuse it while you are doing your meditation if you like - or simply put the bottle under your nose while you naturally inhale (not deep breathe) a few times

I buy the 100% therapeutic grade 0.5oz (it last well over a month) from here

Essential Oils, Soap Making Supplies & More | Bulk Apothecary

But you can buy them anywhere - just be sure they are at least 80% therapeutic gradevto be effective

I am a certified mindfulness meditation instructor (15 years) and senor practitioner (20 years) in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, with experience in the Zen tradition as well. All you need to remember in beginning practice is to keep it simple, and with a light-touch. There are endless techniques from simple breath-focused meditation to very complex, shamanistic ritual meditations such as the Tibetan Buddhist Chod tradition. The point is...all the practices start with observing the self, the emotions, thoughts, behaviors, environment etc. From what I understand, Linehan incorporated mindfulness practice into her therapy because it helped people who have emotional deregulation, that is, the inability to regulate extreme emotion. But mindfulness meditation practice is also good for dysthymia, even though it is very different than deregulation.
Whatever practice you are given I would say follow this one piece of advice: Don't force it. You can't force yourself to relax. But if you accept whatever emotional state you are in, then gradually and naturally you begin to relax. The biggest mistake beginners make is to push too hard. For depression the antidote is to keep things as light as possible. That's why walking meditation is good - because it gets one outside. You didn't really say what techniques you were doing. All you need to remember is keep it simple, simple, simple -- yet focused. That is the discipline..to keep coming back to the present. Good Luck. PS I hope the program incorporates sensate focus exercises...that is...the sensations. So you would do something like eat an orange mindfully, or burn incense, or introduce something colorful and stimulating in your environment, like a piece of art. I think these would be particularly helpful for dysthymia.

Hello there Maggeo. Thanks for joining us and I'm sure you will find lots of information here. My path is dealing with BP1. While there is no cure I am currently stabilized and that's all people with BP can get. I truly hope you overcome depression.


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