Shed anxiety and stress with consistent practice
Ever feel like staying positive is an exhausting endeavor, or that looking on the bright side is beyond your grasp? You’re not alone. Depression is one of the most common mental conditions in the world, with almost 16 million adults in the United States experiencing a depressive episode in the year 2014, alone. Depression can arise in several forms, from Seasonal Affective Disorder to Persistent Depressive Disorder, and subsequently there are many treatment options for these varied iterations of depression.
The practice of mindfulness can be enormously beneficial to those who suffer from various forms of depression, particularly those who are averse to an intensive, long-term maintenance regimen involving the continued use of antidepressants. Mindfulness skills can be attained in several forms of meditation, such as Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
Mindfulness helps us develop skills that can help prevent the reoccurrence of depression by teaching a shift in thinking away from negativity and despair. Focusing the mind on awareness and acceptance of the goings-on around us helps move away from the negative patterns of thought.
Practicing mindfulness techniques can have remarkable benefits for the millions of people who suffer from depressive thoughts on a daily basis, but the benefits of doing so can be felt by all. Mindfulness allows the practitioner to alter their relationship with their own thoughts, allowing us to calmly notice and acknowledge various emotions, ideas, and sensations without being imprisoned by them. Focusing intently on the present moment and shedding our various worries and fears can significantly help in reducing stress and anxiety, invaluable benefits to anyone who lives within the frantic hustle and bustle of the modern world.
Originally published at www.recharj.com on January 23, 2017.
Originally published at medium.com