Depression and Mindfulness: Keeping It Real

Years ago, before I started my mindfulness training, I was devastatingly, clinically depressed. I even considered suicide.

Luckily, I got help immediately with a very good therapist and anti-depressant medication. This gave me the space I needed to begin the very hard work of learning to soothe myself.

This life we live in can be excruciating.

It can be especially painful for people who are sensitive. We feel a whole world of human suffering at a very visceral level. Watching the news can be incredibly traumatic. (I don’t do this anymore! I read or listen to my news.) Then, on top of what often feels like the weight of the world on our shoulders, we have everyday battles, such as tough family situations or health challenges.

It can sometimes be difficult to get through the day.

The reason I now teach and advocate mindfulness tools for soothing yourself when you feel sad, upset, angry, or alone is because these tools are what I used to heal myself. That’s how I know they work. I needed this stuff to heal ME.

Mindfulness doesn’t work in a vacuum.

You have to practice it even when you don’t need it so that you can use it when you need it most. It’s not a substitute for therapy, and it’s not a substitute for medicine if you need it. However, I can tell you that thanks to mindfulness I’m a happy, healthy person who sometimes gets a wave of “Wow, life is tough. This being human stuff is not for sissies,” and then I do something to make myself feel better.

I don’t need to reach for a cocktail. I don’t need to reach for a pill. I now have tools at my disposal, and my hope is to help others learn how to do this.

I wish you ease and peace and love and light!