HH Dalai Lama: Countering Stress and Depression

Re:HH Dalai Lama: Countering Stress and Depression by andrewingram on Thursday January 13, 2011 @09:18AM (#2099814)

I'm learning about mindfullness for trying to beat my depression. I experienced a few days of utter relaxation out of the blue before christmas, so I know that it's a real thing that can be achieved.

I'm hoping that a combination of anti-depressants and learning to live in moment will be what allows me to finally beat this.

Edit: Thanks for the reading suggestions, I'll try them out and see what sticks :)

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Re:HH Dalai Lama: Countering Stress and Depression by Deadsunrise on Thursday January 13, 2011 @09:49AM (#2099916)

Have you read Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn? http://www.amazon.com/Wherever-You-There-Are-ROUGH/dp/140130...

He is my favorite author when it comes to meditation because he focus on mindfulness and not Buddhism or more "spiritual" things as most meditation books do. He also has tapes for guided meditation that are a good way to start meditating everyday.

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Re:HH Dalai Lama: Countering Stress and Depression by locopati on Thursday January 13, 2011 @09:52AM (#2099927)

I highly recommend Pema Chodron's 'Taking the Leap' http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Leap-Freeing-Ourselves-Habits/d...

Having been there wrt depression, part of being with the moment is to not let habit take hold. This book is the clearest I've seen on seeing habits and letting go of them.

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Re:HH Dalai Lama: Countering Stress and Depression by crazydiamond on Thursday January 13, 2011 @12:17PM (#2100505)

If you are in depression, do continue your regular treatment and anti-depressants till the docs allow you to stop. Once you are treated, then mindfulness/ being in the Now, can move you to happiness and freedom. I say this because no one (I've read) has said this cures depression. And the root of depression can be bio-chemical. However, in the long run, you would give up medication (hopefully in a year), and then the "present moment" is the key. The beauty is that is becomes easy and natural after a while. If you've suffered (been unhappy) then you have the motivation not to give up, to take this through to completion.

Go through Eckhart Tolle and Mooji (on youtube). "Power of Now" is good. Start this moment.

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Re:HH Dalai Lama: Countering Stress and Depression by andrewingram on Thursday January 13, 2011 @12:54PM (#2100626)

Thanks for the advice.

I've recently restarted on anti-depressants. I was on them previously and didn't realise they were helping because the effect was quite passive, I came off them suddenly when I moved house and the next few months went... badly. Luckily I don't suffer any bad side-effects from the one I'm on, so I don't have a problem with trying it long-term.

I'm interested in mindfullness and CBT because I want more constructive thought patterns to allow me to stop it getting so bad again in the future.

Will take a look at those videos.

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Re:HH Dalai Lama: Countering Stress and Depression by crazydiamond on Friday January 14, 2011 @02:59AM (#2102897)

The problem with medication long-term is that it may keep you in a drowsy state and not allow you to be alert and aware. If the medication is stimulating (like coffee), then it can result in too many thoughts so that the silence is not experienced.

Anyway, that's your call. Getting out of depression is the most important thing first. Keep practicing being in the present moment, and staying alert and thought-free as much as possible alongside.

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