A Natural Antidepressant Practice

The more periods of low moods we have in life, the more likely we are to fall back into them again. Here's a mindfulness practice to break the cycle of ruminating thoughts that keep us stuck.

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Mindful recommends that anyone with depression or mood disorders consult a mental health professional before beginning or altering any course of treatment. Our articles do not constitute professional medical advice for your precise circumstances.

Everyone at some point in their life will be affected by depression whether it’s their own or someone they are close to. Almost 19 million Americans alone have periods where they feel a lack of pleasure or interest in their usual activities combined with feeling tired and heavy, potentially overly emotional or numb, and an onslaught of negative and self defeating thoughts that can keep invading the mind over and over again.

The more periods of this depressed mood we have in life, the more likely we are to fall back into them again. Why does this relapse occur and how can mindfulness offer hope?

Falling into a depression feels traumatic. Just like getting bit by a dog causes us to be fearful of and oversensitive to dogs, our minds and bodies become oversensitive to associations with the depression causing us to react to any sign of it. Feeling low mood is normal for everyone, but if we’ve experienced depression in the past, this may…