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Reddit mentions of The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness (Book & CD)

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We found 80 Reddit mentions of The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness (Book & CD). Here are the top ones.

The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness (Book & CD)
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Found 80 comments on The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness (Book & CD):

u/Deep_Grady · 43 pointsr/science

I began practicing it to help my depression. This book has been extremely helpful. It basically links the eastern approach to western psychology and CBT with a very practical guide and list of exercises. Awareness is something we take for granted and you'd be surprised how long you are just on autopilot throughout the day. Becoming aware of the way you think and react is far more challenging than it sounds. It's only in this way that we can control the way our consciousness reacts to the bubbling abyss of our subconscious. Looking at those nasty thoughts that come up and spiral us into negative cycles or aversion and accepting them, putting the tiger in the cage and not reacting to it. It's kind of like constant reconnaissance of our minds and bodies until it becomes automatic. Being actually aware in the here and now rather than the there and then is the most peaceful state you could ask for. Its incredibly difficult though as we are programmed for doing mode and we attempt to use this to achieve mindfulness which completely defeats the purpose. This moment is usually always fine. The now is usually not a problem at all. Up to the point zombies are ripping your entrails out, we are usually just fine. Getting the past and future out of my head when I don't need it has been the one step that has improved my mindfulness but it is extremely easy to be swept up by old patterns weathered into your brain.

u/shakeitlikepolarbear · 35 pointsr/AskWomen

This book is for you: http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286 (sorry, on mobile). I would like to send you a copy if things are tight at the moment in your world. This book will teach you to acknowledge and then dismiss destructive thoughts, it's an effective way to ward off the spiraling rumination of negativity that is depression. You don't deserve to feel bad about yourself by default.

Edit: anyone else who is in need of this but can't afford it can PM me and I'll try to send you a copy. If this gets too many replies I might not be able to, but I could do at least a dozen or so.

edit2: only one person has asked about being sent a book. I'll take down the edit if I hit my financial limit, so if you're thinking about it, hit me up. seriously.

u/Staying_On_Topic · 25 pointsr/AskReddit

The problem when you quit something that was a habit or that was a large part of how you defined yourself, is coming up with something to replace it. The only way to do this is by trying everything and anything, this is the only way to know if you like something or not. No offence to gamers, but it won't bring you long term happiness. Socialising, interacting with people, volunteering, real life experiences, those give you long term happiness. Sharing your life with people, being accepted, and accepting others brings you happiness. The problem online and in video games is the inability to perceive the other people as real people, and will continue to mark the way in which the community interacts with each other.

Many people who have an addictive personality will switch between gaming, the internet, porn, and substance abuse to feed their addiction. When one becomes boring, it's easier to switch to something else you're addicted to instead of examining your addiction or looking at why you are addicted.

Many people who have addictive personalities do so as a means of escapism, so that they don't have to deal with the real life problems or examine what it is about their lives that is leaving them wanting more. The problem with addiction is that it never really fills the void, it's a temporary fix that will always leave you wanting more or looking elsewhere to fill it.


http://zenhabits.net/the-ultimate-guide-to-motivation-how-to-achieve-any-goal/

http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2007/06/13/25-simple-ways-to-motivate-yourself/

And here is a self help book that will help motivate yourself, and look at your life from a different angle, as well as give you some tools to break free of the cycle you are in.

The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness

Here is one for anxiety The Mindful Way through Anxiety

The guided meditation serves to help you focus. It helps you learn self control, discipline. It also helps you learn to be able to stop your internal dialogue at will, so when you start getting into your habitual routine of negative self talk, or rewarding yourself with your addiction, you are equipped better to deal with it. Perception, addiction, it shows the power of the mind. If you can train your mind, you can overcome nearly anything.

Feeling bad and feeling good take the same amount of effort, what matters is what you emphasize. As we grow throughout our lives we tell ourselves we are a certain way, and reinforce this by habitual thinking and acts. Other people develop an idea of who they think we are, and they too will reinforce these ideas on you. It is important to remember that in the same way we developed ideas on the world and who we are, bit by bit, day by day, it is possible in the same way to change these ideas. They aren't static, you are constantly growing and changing. Change is hard, because it's new. Habits are comfortable because we know how they work, we know the outcomes. We need to constantly push ourself out of our boundaries if we ever truly want to discover who we are.

You are an addict. You basically rewire your brain to go back to the same experience over and over again, because you know you will get the same results. The more you train your brain through a repetitive action, the easier it is for you to use it. You have to learn to be able to stop yourself, it isn't easy. Day by day, with enough practice like riding a bike, you can learn to do it. Commit yourself to quitting, as much as you commit yourself to being rewarded with reddit. If it took you 5 years to get to this point, it isn't going to happen in 15 days, a month, or maybe even a year. I'm not sure about you, but some people have replaced reality for a website, and that isn't healthy.

You can do it, if you believe in yourself as much as your parents, people who love you, or even I do, you will be able to overcome your addiction. It may be helpful for you to see someone who specializes in internet addiction, or treatment centers that are expensive like www.netaddictionrecovery.com

May you follow on paths with strength

Edit: Forgot a word. Most of this is applicable to any addict. You are are in a constant battle with yourself. You either use your mind to rise above it, or it will control your mind.

u/drummer9 · 14 pointsr/psychology

I see two important threads in your post.

  1. What additional help can you suggest for your girlfriend.

  2. What can you do for yourself.

    Regarding 1) Your suggestion to pick up meditation is a wise choice. As you probably already know, most treatments for depression involve either medication or psychotherapy using a variety of different theoretical frameworks. One commonly overlooked, but very effective type of therapy is dialectical behavior therapy, which employs mindfulness training. Meditation is an advanced form of mindfulness, and developing that skill can give her greater control over her thoughts and emotions, helping her to manage her symptoms. I recommend:
    http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286

  1. An often overlooked topic of discussion is the emotional toll that depression takes on the significant others of those who suffer from depression. I wonder what you are doing to properly give YOURSELF support in the relationship as your girlfriend struggles with her own battle. As you probably know, maintaining your own well-being is a huge dynamic in that relationship, and depending on her personality type - your mood might have a significant impact on how she feels. Such that your girlfriend is a mental health professional and is already seeking help from other professionals, being supportive is really a matter of maintaining your own well-being and being there for her. A big part of that might have to be acceptance of the status quo. Acceptance that she is someone who struggles with depression, and recognizing that she might not change. I'm not saying that this applies to you directly, but it is helpful to consider this dynamic because always wishing she wasn't depressed might put more stress in your relationship and on her. I would ask yourself - can you see yourself being happy in this relationship long-term if this is her constant struggle? And finding ways to accept that, either through continued education of the process of depression or finding peace of mind that you have done all that you can reasonably do to improve your mutual quality of life.

    I wish you the best of luck.




u/misterpowers · 12 pointsr/NoFap

Great post. I recommend “The Mindful Way Through Depression” which has similar ideas http://amzn.com/1593851286. Jon Kabat-Zinn, the meditation guru, is one of the authors.

u/vgtaluskie · 12 pointsr/Buddhism

This book "The mindful way through depression" offers amazing insights into how we create and maintain depression by the way we wear ourselves out in fruitless rumination.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1593851286/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/187-3809794-7607108

I highly recommend it to you. Also, get your exercise in whatever time of day you can, it will help with mood and getting out of your rut.



u/BipolarType1 · 9 pointsr/sex

Two items.

Book: http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-through-Depression/dp/1593851286
Lecture (free): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nwwKbM_vJc

Ignore the title of the book and just do the exercises as specified. I was stuck in a treatment resistant manic depression and was willing to try anything--even things that I didn't believe in, like meditation. I got the book and following the instructions to meditate every day. I chose 5AM and went for 12 weeks straight without skipping. In the process I discovered that meditation works by getting you conscious mind out of the way so that the rest of your mind can get to work resolving your problems. It's a therapy that you do yourself where your mind is both the therapist and the subject. I thought it was nonsense, but it turned out to be revelatory.

The free lecture was given to google employees at their invitation. The lecturer is the best known researcher in the application of mindfulness meditation to modern medicine. In the past few years a number of serious clinical studies have demonstrated efficacy in areas such as: chronic pain management, anxiety, depression, stress. New brain scans have also revealed that even novices who meditate a few minutes a day can induce both functional and morphological changes in their brains. [this study showed that thinking can have a direct impact on the physical world. something that was considered to be impossible for thousands of years.]

I am deep skeptic. I am not religious. But this empirically works.

Just give it a try.

u/mindfulmachine · 9 pointsr/explainlikeimfive

This is not a question of trigger points, its a question of the fundamental stress reaction that is very similar for all creatures with a spinal cord. Stress stimulates the amygdala which may induce the release of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine. These neurotransmitters are involved in increasing heart rate, increasing alertness, and contracting muscles. We surmise the intent is to keep you alert to life threatening danger and ready to 'fight or flee'. In the past, this reaction only needed to last for a few minutes at the max (for example to fight or run from a lion).

The problem that occurs in modernity is that many of the threats that stimulate the stress response are not actually immediate and life threatening. The result is muscle tightness, increased heart rate, and alertness that goes on for very long periods of time. With prolonged stress, you can eventually trigger a huge dose of epinephrine that induces a panic attack. Yes, panic attacks have physical symptoms that are an exaggeration of what I just mentioned and can also include tunnel vision, loss of blood flow to extremities, double your resting heart rate while engaged in no physical activity - you feel like there is something wrong and you will die. Additionally, you can imagine, that like a car running at 8000rpm all day, having high heart rate and arousal constantly due to stress will reduce your life expectancy. The key is to get better at realizing which situations matter and which don't (most of them).

Source: I suffered from Generalized Anxiety and Panic Attacks 2 years ago. Fortunately, I haven't had a panic attack since 2014 with the help of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (which lets you practice noticing more things without judgment until it becomes your automatic reaction). HTH

One of the best books on mental health + mindfulness techniques + research results: http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-Through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286

Scientific Source:http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/v6/n1/full/4000812a.html

u/beyondthecrack · 8 pointsr/streamentry

Hey there,
I think I can relate to your story.

I've been suffering from depression and dysthymia for most of my life, since I was a child.
I took medications, did plenty of psychotherapy, but it was my "spiritual journey" that finally healed me.

I haven't felt really clinically depressed in the last 6 years, and I've experienced some of the happiest years of my life. : )

One day I bumped into a video of a Buddhist teacher on YouTube, and I fell in love with his teachings.
Little by little it radically changed my attitude towards my moods.

The most radical shift was to learn to welcome and love my depression, as a sweet part of me.

But I also cultivated simplicity, gratitude, self-love and self-compassion, learning to be happy with less, practicing seeing beauty in everything around me.

Of all of those qualities, self-compassion turned out to be the most important.

Taking care of myself also meant, of course: physical exercise, healthy eating, and healthy sleeping habits.
But also learning to never beat myself up if I screwed up. : )

Now, I bet if someone measured my average happiness it'd score above average.

Sadness, and sometimes depression, still come to visit sometimes, but I see their value and beauty, and because of that they leave soon.

I even still have intrusive suicidal thoughts from time to time, that just pops in my mind. They used to really bring me down, but now they are beautiful reminders of how far I've gone, good old friends.

Spirituality may not be enough. I also studied a lot of psychology to understand myself.

It is important for me to filter spiritual practices based on their psychological impact.

For instance, Thich Nhat Hanh or Ajahn Brahm are wonderful teachers for someone who suffer from depression, while most dry vipassana teachers less so.

Here is a great book I can reccomend, on how to use mindfulness with depression: https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-Through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521296048&sr=8-1&keywords=mindfulness+depression

Take care, and feel fee to message me in private if you'd like to talk.


u/fishpuddle · 8 pointsr/Mindfulness

Mindfulness has been a huge help for me, but if applied wrong, it probably won't help much. For those like us with "chemical imbalances" (or whatever you'd like to call them) it's not a quick cure like it is for normal depression or anxiety. Normal people see what we go through in a very skewed way, like comparing leg pain they had after sleeping wrong with our broken femur. Just walk it off!

Anyway, with mindfulness, reducing suffering is more about accepting the shitty hand you have and making peace with it, rather than fighting it or being in denial. That fight or denial can drain you more than the problem itself sometimes. Mindfulness is a completely different approach than what's natural to us. It can make us work at it smarter, not harder.

In the shortest term, you start to notice when your mind is consumed with bad thoughts and you can start to interrupt the downward spiral by noticing what's happening at the moment. This alone is a huge break from the suffering, at least for a moment. If you stop everything and evaluate the suffering you're going through versus what's actually happening, you realize that the current moment isn't really that bad and that the real battle is something more ambiguous. It also makes the bad thoughts have to start from scratch before it gains momentum again. Those moments of freedom will last longer after a while. After years of being in pain or numb, you start feeling good about the strangest things. After a bad day, a beautiful sunset may have done fuck all to make me feel better, but somehow my new socks made me feel good for a moment. That may have been the highlight of my day, but fuck it, I'll take it!

The depression will still be there, but with practice, you can remove yourself from it. You can see how it works and sometimes outsmart it. You can see how it filters out the good things that are happening and only focuses on what's wrong, without your control. It's still there, but it doesn't consume everything like it used to. You eventually start to gain the upper hand. Sometimes, it gets the upper hand and you go back and forth. You start winning more than losing after a while.

Don't sell yourself short; this is one of the worst, most debilitating, and deadliest illnesses a human can face and you should be congratulating yourself for even the slightest victories you make. Our wounds are mostly invisible and it usually means very little empathy from others.

If you're interested, I'd like to share the two books on mindfulness that've helped me most, starting with the first I read.

  1. Mindfulness in Plain English
  2. The Mindful Way Through Depression
    They both have audiobooks, which is better for me most of the time. I've read several other books on mindfulness, but I think those two will help most.

    I should note that I'm not here to sell you on some snake oil. I'm just telling you that it's worked well for me. I've been on more medications than you can imagine, yet mindfulness has helped me more than all of them. I also approached it from a secular angle, which I think also helped. If you come at it with a closed mind or too stubbornly, you won't get anywhere.
u/coolsonicjaker · 8 pointsr/acting

(On mobile so I'm sorry if things are messed up)

Hey there. I also suffer from anxiety and depression, and I'm quite shy as well. I find acting very therapeutic. I'm not in theatre for just that reason, but it certainly helps.

Although yes, theatre and acting is a group and collaborative art there are lots of exercises you could do by yourself that many actors use, especially in the area of understanding your emotions and being more in tune with them. Many of these I use myself not just for acting, but to help my mental health as well.

I would first suggest checking out the book Mindful Way Through Depression I would actually recommend this book to any actor. It helps me be aware of my emotions and helps me when I'm having a particularly hard time. Also Respect for Acting which is an actor book. I recommend this one because it may help to see how universal the emotions of fear, embarrassment and so on, are and to help raise your emotional intelligence. There are actor exercises in this book you may find really silly, but they may be worth trying out.

I'd also recommend yoga and meditation. Not all across do these but I know many that do. They help ground you and get more in touch with the "self" and all that jazz.

Lastly, read a lot of plays. Check out Next to Normal. It's a musical about mental illness. The whole thing can be found on YouTube.

Read Shakespeare. It's hard to read at first yes, but the more you give to Shakespeare the more he'll give back to you. You'll discover a lot about the human condition and probably a lot about yourself as well.

That's all I can think of at the moment. I hope this helps.

u/heliotropedit · 7 pointsr/Meditation

There's a book called The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness. The CD is the most useful part, and neither is a substitute for therapy and/or medication if needed, but they are worth a look.

u/wotsthestory · 7 pointsr/ForeverAlone

Hi, I'm not a doctor or psychologist or anything, so what I'm about to say just comes from my own experience - ignore it if it's unhelpful. It's always best to get in touch with someone trained to help.

First of all understand that many, many of us here have been where you are right now and can totally hear what you're saying; we've said the same words to ourselves so many times. We got through, you can too. You've already reached out, but consider taking it further by talking to someone if you can. If there's nobody you know you that you can trust, call one of the hotline numbers listed on the right. The people who run these things have usually been through a lot of pain themselves so they understand.

If you can't bring yourself to talk to anyone, it can be really helpful to understand that this mood will actually pass away on its own with the passage of time, as emotions and moods come and go naturally.

Once you've moved past the immediate blackness, you'll be able to think more clearly about how to move forward. As I understand things, having a weight issue (extremely common BTW) is really a symptom of depression/loneliness/emptiness - it comes from not having enough rewarding activities in your life. Usually people who find themselves out of work and isolated get hooked on something - whether it be food, alcohol/drugs, masturbation, petty crime, video games, internet forums, etc. But if we can establish a range of different rewarding activities in our everyday life, then things tend to be more in balance and we're less likely to get stuck on one thing. So that's a good long-term goal to have.

In the meantime, nowadays there are decent therapies (unlike the old Freudian crap) shown scientifically to work well - CBT is one, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is a newer one shown to be extremely helpful. Many courses are available, but I managed to pretty much eliminate my own depression just by reading this book and applying it:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286

The key to it all is that most negative emotions (anxiety, depression, anger) come from habitually telling ourselves bad shit about ourselves, consciously or unconsciously. This habit may initially have come from our parents, teachers, peers, or whatever; the original cause doesn't really matter. The important thing is to realise that most of the crap we tell ourselves isn't true, and that we can develop new mental habits. This is incredibly powerful, it can change everything.

Sometimes though you can be in a total black hole and it seems impossible to find the energy to look at the causes of your problem. In this case, medication MAY be helpful, but be very cautious (maybe you've already tried it). Personally when I was in a very deep depression and could hardly even get up in the morning, I was prescribed a course of Fluoxetine/Prozac for six months. It was enough to get me out of my immediate depression and out into the world again, but it's important to know that it's just a temporary crutch (and can have side effects). To really cure yourself it's necessary to deal with the cause of the problem, as outlined above.

Finally, regarding your loneliness - sadly our culture brainwashes us from birth that the only way we can be happy is to find that special "one" and fall in love and live happily ever after. It's almost like a religion, the religion of romantic love. In my experience, this is complete fucking bullshit and causes untold unnecessary misery and suffering. First, remember that the average marriage only lasts between 8-13 years, so "happily ever after" is mostly a myth. Second, it is absolutely possible to be single and happy. You might think about changing the focus of your life from this narrow longing to find someone, and start looking at all the other possibilities in life.

I firmly believe that one of the most reliable paths to happiness is to involve yourself in helping others. I know it sounds cheesy, but if you try it you'll realise that there is a lot of pleasure in being compassionate and helpful to others, even in the smallest ways. This also takes the focus away from your own problems, and opens up a social channel which will ultimately lead to rewarding friendships. And in my experience, friendships always outlast relationships.

So hang in there, there are ways through this.

TL;DR: You're not alone, there are effective ways to conquer depression such as CBT, try to find balance with a variety of activities you find rewarding.

u/ministerok · 7 pointsr/Meditation

Not sure getting on top of your anger is the key. I think it'd be helpful just to note your anger and then set it aside for now. Use your meditation to make some room for it, to avoid rumination and obsessing. Accepting that it was a shitty thing and you were hurt and that hurt fuels anger (instead of being pissed/frustrated that you are still angry) will help. Have you read Full Catastrophe by Jon Kabat-Zinn? Also, even though you may not suffer from depression (I don't), I highly recommend this book, which takes Zinn to the next level:
http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-Through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371143120&sr=1-1&keywords=mindfulness+depression

u/[deleted] · 7 pointsr/BPD

Now, for what has helped me:

  • Get yourself on a regular sleep schedule: Sleep is incredibly important for mood disorders. Force yourself to go to bed at a regular time, even if you're not tired, and set an alarm in the morning. You want to sleep in 90-minute increments to align yourself with your sleep cycle. 9 hours a night is ideal. 7.5 is acceptable. Try not to get less than 6.

  • Buy a light lamp: I bought this one. They help to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) by telling your mind to wake up when it's morning but there's no sun outside.

  • Download f.lux: f.lux is a program that reduces the blue light in your computer when the sun goes down. Blue light inhibits melatonin production, and melatonin is what makes us feel tired and prepares us for sleep.

  • Buy orange-tinted construction glasses: As with f.lux, these will stop blue wavelength light from entering your eyes, encouraging melatonin production. These are relatively cheap, and a great investment. Wear them for two hours before you go to bed.

  • Make your room completely dark when you sleep: Dark therapy has had very limited study but very positive outcomes.

  • Supplement with omega-3: Omega-3 and omega-6 are the essential fatty acids that our bodies need to function, and the ratio between the two is crucial to how they help us. On a Western diet, we consume a lot of omega-6 but little omega-3. To counteract this, buy a supplement. Fish oil is a common one that is cheap and effective. If you are a vegetarian, buy Ovega-3 instead. The Japanese eat a lot of fish and have less depression. Also consider taking a multivitamin. They are not very expensive and can help to supplement a lot of vitamins and minerals that our diets lack.

  • Exercise: Check out /r/bodyweightfitness for strength training. If you buy a door-frame pullup bar, which is about $20, you can do a complete workout without having to buy a gym membership. Running for 30 minutes a day also alleviates depression, and the pace can be incredibly slow. Go at whatever pace you're comfortable at. They say that you want to be able to hold a conversation as you run and not be winded.

  • Meditate: A good book is The Mindful Way Through Depression.

  • Take cold showers: There was one study that said cold showers may combat depression. My thinking is that the shock from the cold water helps wake us up, as depression is often a lethargic feeling.

  • Consider /r/nofap : I am putting this one last because the verdict is largely out on its long-term effects. However, abstaining from masturbation for 1 to 3 weeks increases testosterone, after which it levels off to slightly above base. In my experience, periods where I cut out masturbation and porn made me more social and energetic.

    I have run out of time and haven't sourced as much as I wanted to, but this will give you a good idea of things you can do to improve your life. Please note that none of this is pseudoscience: The important themes are sleep, diet, and exercise. I won't lie to you and tell you that my life is perfect, but these have all helped me tremendously, and I can say that my life is rapidly going in the direction that I want it to.

    One last thing. Your post caught my eye because you mentioned lithium orotate. I've seen the discussions you're talking about. It seems that lithium is a trace mineral that our diets may be lacking. As for its medicinal purposes specifically to counteract what you mentioned above, I am not sure how effective it is. I have taken them before, ranging from one to four 5 mg pills a day, and they seemed to help, but it was difficult for me to tell how much was the lithium and how much was everything else I had been doing. I want to stress that I believe your current change in mood is because you've found an alternative that you believe is safe and effective, not necessarily because of the lithium itself. This is not to discourage you in any way -- I do think you should continue taking the LiOro, at least for a few weeks -- but do be vigilant against a negative turn that may be coming.
u/schizoidvoid · 6 pointsr/BipolarReddit

Here you go! You recommended everything I was going to recommend so I thought I'd make your links easier to click.

>All of these are useful:
>
>An Unquiet Mind
>
>Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide
>
>The Bipolar Workbook: Controlling Swings
>
>The Mindful Way Through Depression
>
>The last book describes a self-guided therapy that I used to lift myself out of a mixed mood a few years ago. I was willing to do anything to get better and that included doing things that I had little to no faith in but I still had to try. It worked despite my skepticism. I believe in it now.
>
>and then there is the bible of the illness and its treatment. It's massive and very technical (written for medical professionals) but you might find parts of it useful.
>
>Manic Depressive Illness: Bipolar Disorders and Recurrent Depression
>

u/eritain · 6 pointsr/OSU

Sounds very familiar. Turned out I had chronic depression. Operating my mind was like driving a car with the parking brake on.

Counseling Services will hook you up with a one-two punch of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and antidepressants. They work together better than alone.

If you're shy about that, you can CBT yourself online instead. I recommend supplementing it with mindfulness meditation (there's also lots of info about this online for free). Or use CCS's excellent self-help.

u/secretcrazy · 6 pointsr/depression

Here are some good resources from a clinical perspective

http://mindfulwaythroughanxiety.com/

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286

Please note that if you have been studying from a more religiou perspective you wil find that though the western psychological science if mindfulness is inspired buy buddhism it has many differences too

u/XenarthraC · 6 pointsr/leaves

Congratulations on your progress so far! One of the things that heavy, long-term marijuana use does is keep us from claiming control and agency over our thought processes. The brain is like a field of tall grass. As we choose to take one pathway more often than others the grass gives way to a trail, and traveling down that trail takes less effort than going through the grass. The more we use certain neural pathways the more ingrained they become. This is thought to be one of the main reasons people who suffer from one depressive episode are at much greater risk for recurrent episodes throughout their lives. It sounds like you are doing a great job building new external habits, but you may want to also spend some time consciously retraining your brain to take new neural pathways to more positive and energized conclusions. This can be done through a combination of mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy. Both of these can be done on your own, without the guidance of a mental health professional. (but if you feel like you want help, therapy can be very helpful too. And take the impetus of learning all these techniques alone off your shoulders.)

I am recovering from 10 years of heavy use starting in my teens, and depression, anxiety, and rumination are some of my most difficult symptoms. These techniques are helping me a lot.

I really liked this book: https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-Through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286

But there are so many good ones out there!
Best of luck reclaiming your mind, mate!

u/applextrent · 5 pointsr/ibs

The depression results from inflammation in the body. The reason weed helps is because it has anti-inflammatory properties. If you have access to it, high CBD strains help way more with the pain and inflammation then just THC.

Anyhow I am almost 30 and I've been fighting this stupid condition my entire life and learned a lot. Please read this entire post I wish someone had done this for me 10 years ago because fuck I went through a lot of suffering I didn't have to.

First and foremost don't give up. You can heal. Never forgot that.

Most cases of IBS are actually caused by dysbiosis. The causes of dysbiosis vary, it can be caused by antibiotics, viral infections, parasites, food poisoning, even fungal infections such as Candida. The most common presentation of dysbiosis is SIBO.

The first thing you have to do is isolate what caused your condition and make sure it isn't a lingering infection. Especially if it is Candida or a parasite. Either way the treatments are fairly limited and are mostly diet based.

The specific carbohydrate diet http://breakingtheviciouscycle.info and GAPS diet can treat most forms of dysbiosis, however they take 6-18 months to be effective, sometimes longer. You basically have to eat only natural organic non-processed sugar free food. Especially a lot of organic bone broths. Also it is very common to go through episodes of die-off which will make you worse before you get better. I've been through probably 6-7 episodes of die-off in the past 2 years. Four of those in the first 3 months of going on an SCD diet.

Once your gut is healed you will be able to eat more foods again, but you'll always likely have to eat healthy for the rest of your life.

Also find a naturopath doctor who has experience treating SIBO if you need help. Most MDs and Gastros can't help you.

As for the depression, learn to meditate. It will help you accept what's going on, heal, and change your relationship with pain and anxiety. Check out the apps Headspace or Buddhify. There's a subreddit too, and a good intro book is The Mindful Way through Depression - http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286

Also make sure to work out, I prefer yoga personally.

Lastly stop sitting so much. Switching to a standing desk made a world of difference for my IBS. Sitting all day isn't good for your gut.

Also don't take antibiotics unless your life depends on it, no caffeine, limit the booze to organic wine if at all, and don't eat fake sugar of any kind that shits poison.

u/BasicDesignAdvice · 5 pointsr/AskReddit

for anyone who is interested, a lot of the techniques in CBT share a common root in the practice of meditation (in my opinion).

i had serious problems with depression and i came to meditation while learning about CBT and it literally changed my life.

both are great though. i recommend The Mindful Way Through Depression.

u/GNU_RIDA · 5 pointsr/Meditation

>I'm constantly lost in my own sea of thoughts and emotions

I recommend reading "The Mindful Way through Depression." Even if you wouldn't describe yourself as depressed, it is a fascinating book written by 3 psychologists and a mindfulness teacher that describes how thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behavior all interact. It teaches you how to use mindfulness to break free of the endless loop between thoughts and emotions and live mindfully in the present moment.

It also comes with a CD of excellent guided meditations that can help you as a beginner. The best $12.40 I have ever spent.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286

u/A_random_otter · 5 pointsr/microdosing

I totally support the meditation suggestion.

Although I would do it methodically in conjunction with cognitive behavioural therapy.

This course did wonders for me a while ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness-based_cognitive_therapy

You can do it by yourself too with this study book (includes guided meditations) if you dont have the money for a course. But be prepared to invest alot of time (~45 mins per day for 2-3 months) and dedication into the practice to get any benefits from this.

https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-Through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1593851286&pd_rd_r=HJZQV9JWBPGN747EYZ95&pd_rd_w=82WNi&pd_rd_wg=6HxFC&psc=1&refRID=HJZQV9JWBPGN747EYZ95

EDIT: length of time investment

u/bammayhem · 5 pointsr/INTP

As others have said - You are a great friend. He is lucky to have you.

As an INTP who went through a bought of moderate depression, I found cognitive behavioral therapy very helpful. A therapist is good but I know in many places expensive. My therapist recommended this book and a found it very helpful:

https://www.amazon.ca/Mindful-Way-through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469633149&sr=8-1&keywords=mindfulness+depression

I connected with it on an emotional and rational level. I may sound like BS but it does work. I find a refer back to it when I am having depressive episodes. Basically we need to learn how to think better. We are really really good at thinking but sometimes thinking is not the answer and feeling is. I am happy to speak more about my experience if you have any questions.

u/MasterK999 · 4 pointsr/pics

I also suffer from depression and anxiety and for me constructive criticism would be more welcome than a "white lie". I would hope that is the case for your wife. She should not give up because an early attempt is not a masterpiece. If she enjoys it then that is its own reward. If she practices a lot she will get better.

If that is not the case than I recommend a book called The Mindful Way Through Depression. That book changed my life so much.

u/lSl · 4 pointsr/Meditation

This book helped me to get over severe depression:
http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286
It changed the way I looked at depression (and anxiety too) especially the whole cycle we tend to create by dwelling on it, then dwelling on the dwelling, and so on. It includes a structured meditation program with some CBT elements scientifically proven to reduce depression (MBCT/Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). I think it might be what you're looking for.

u/BipolarTypeOne · 4 pointsr/BipolarReddit

Besides medications, disciplined lifestyle is your friend. Regular sleep, food, exercise, avoiding drugs and alcohol. I see in the thread that you say you can't sleep. With this illness, you absolutely must make that time and keep it on a schedule. If not, you can expect plenty of episodes. I was mostly level and high functioning, but I managed stress badly, lost control, and lost my career in the process. You say you don't have time to sleep; actually you cannot afford not to.

Get a book on meditation. Learn it. Do it daily. It should make your sleep more efficient and much easier. I highly recommend this book in particular: http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286

You can't control your episodes, but there are things you can do to decrease their frequency and severity--largely in the form of lifestyle.

It's worth doing. Please consider it.

u/inahc · 4 pointsr/vancouver

The good news is, seeing a doctor (and neurologist/psychologist/etc, with a referral) is free.

The bad news is, a 50% reduction in pain is considered a "success", regardless of whether you're well enough to work. migraines are still very poorly understood and it's mostly a matter of trying pills (most of them slow-acting and with major side-effects) until something works.

I'm in a lot less pain these days, but it'll come straight back if I try anything resembling work for more than about an hour a day. I'm very, very lucky to have people who can afford to take care of me.

some other tips for navigating the system:

  • when your doctor makes a referral, get the phone number of the place he's referring to, and follow up with them in a week or two to make sure the referral was received. More than half my referrals have mysteriously vanished along the way, and I have to get the fax # and go back to the doctor and get them to re-try the referral until it works.
  • if a doctor tries to tell you you're fine, see another doctor. I was strung along for a year before some outright-unprofessional behaviour got me to switch, and it turned out there was a whole group of medications I could have been trying.
  • even a good doctor doesn't know everything. The internet can find things your doctor missed, but it also contains a bunch of bullshit and pseudo-science and people looking to prey on the desperate. be prepared to do your own research, weigh the pros and cons of trying things, and do a lot of tedious logging and tracking to check whether what you're trying is working.

    btw, I suspect my career-ending stress-induced migraine of doom could have been avoided (or at least not been career-ending) if I'd discovered earlier that I had ADHD. I was essentially self-medicating with constant stress. so, check for underlying causes for your stress and anxiety now, before it's too late.

    oh, and get some books on mindfulness, CBT, DBT etc; the more brain-debugging you can do on your own, the more you'll get out of whatever therapy you can afford. :)

    oh, and there are books on physiotherapy too. :) mine helped far more than either of the physiotherapists I've seen.

    here's my personal reading list:

  • The Mindful Way through Depression
  • Feeling Good
  • the supple leopard book
  • slow death by texting
u/Mayath · 4 pointsr/Meditation

Not OP but I would use this book: http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-Through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286. The developers of Mindful based cognitive therapy wrote it. MBCT has been proven to be really effective on recurring depression. It's an eight week course. The one thing it's missing that I think is really effective for depressed individuals is a loving kindness meditation. Just search YouTube for a video teaching you how to do Loving Kindness. It's about cultivating positive feelings for yourself. I did MBCT and it really worked for me. Try the book I linked you. Here's the audio practices for mindful based cognitive therapy. You could nearly get by just listening to them and doing them for eight weeks and finding a meditation that suits you. http://www.guilford.com/companion-site/Mindfulness-Based-Cognitive-Therapy-for-Depression-Second-Edition/audio.

u/crooobro · 3 pointsr/selfhelp

I'm a 22 year old male. I've experienced pretty similar symptoms. I have pretty big ups and downs. I'm a pretty social person and when I'm feeling up I feel I can talk with anyone, be heard, think optimistically, work hard, etc.. However, I will eventually experience the low you described. I was talking to my mom the other day on the phone - she was really excited to talk with me, but I just had no energy to talk with her. It was't because I was mad at her, but it just seemed like a lot of work and I didn't have anything I wanted to talk about. As you mentioned, it can occur within an hour.

I also live a healthy lifestyle. I workout most days of the week eat pretty healthfully. I'm not quite sure the answer, but I do have a few thoughts.

I think accepting that mood swings are natural is important. Even the most social people, hard working people, etc. have regular downtimes. I understand you feel your situation is extreme, but I think it is important to understand mood swings are human and you can't just fight your way out of a low.

However, I think there are things you can take to stabilize your mood. I have started meditating everyday for 45 minutes. I have been doing it in the morning for the past week and have noticed results. I think you have less ups and downs, which is very nice. I'm following the meditations from this book. This method takes discipline, but you should be able to see results. There have been many, many studies on the benefits of meditation.

In addition, if you haven't looked into cognitive therapy, I would recommend reading the book Feeling Good. The basic idea is your thoughts control your mood. If you can have a better handle over your thoughts, you will be able to better control your mood. I've noticed I experience a rapid mood swing (in less than an hour) because of a thought trigger. Sometimes some negative, or seemingly negative event will happen and it will trigger a long string of thoughts that invariably brings my mood down.

u/DJBJ · 3 pointsr/soccer

No it's fine. I didn't get diagnosed with depression till I was around 18 or 19 but I definitely struggled with the symptoms for a long time. I was a "gifted" child too, went to the Academically Talented class, honor classes in middle school/high school.

I'm going to tell you thinking your depression is linked to your intelligence or is caused by your intelligence will not help you and it is not true. I mean, tough love, but if you were truly that smart, you'd be attending your classes and not setting yourself up to fail right? The two, while commonly seen as connected here on reddit, is really just a rationalization that only serves to make you ok with being and staying depressed imo.

Depression is a mind disease that affects people of all intelligence levels. It's caused by your automatic thoughts you don't realize you have that take you down painful emotional paths that are familiar and habitual. That was the key to overcoming my depression - catching myself when I started saying something mean to myself "I'm such an idiot", self-defeating "I'll never finish all this work", fortune telling "I'm going to fail", mind reading "That person doesn't like me I know it", or any of the other cognitive biases.

It's hard and takes practice at first to really catch these because odds are you've been telling these things to yourself for years so its habitual and you don't even question the validity of these thoughts, they're just taken at face value as true. That's where the problem lays and where therapy can really help.

I know you didn't ask for advice but I feel obligated to help other people with depression given I experienced for a long time without knowing how to treat it and how much taht can suck.

I'd really recommend reading Feeling Good, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy workbook for overcoming depression. It's about finding pinpointing the specific depressive thoughts you have, catching them as they happen, and disputing them. It's very effective for some people.

The other book I'd recommend is The Mindful Way Through Depression, it's a Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. It's about catching the thoughts, but then learning how to view them non-judgementally and accepting them without letting them hurt your life in the manner they currently do.

I'd recommend Feeling Good first as it's more straight forward, less abstract, and if you've never meditated or tried mindfulness before its easier to get your head around. But after that there are many things in the second book that will help aid you as well.

I hope this helps. PM if you want someone to talk to. Most Uni's also offer free therapy sessions, I'd definitely look into that as well.

u/chiguires · 3 pointsr/Meditation

You might want to look into Jon Kabat-Zinn's book, [The Mindful Way Through Depression] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-through-Depression/dp/1593851286/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345526368&sr=8-1&keywords=mindful+way+through+depression). I went through a mindfulness-based therapy called Dialectical Behavior Therapy. I meditate daily, but learning mindfulness and incorporating it throughout my whole life was absolutely key. I'm not totally fixed, but I'm much better than I was.

u/chris_was_taken · 3 pointsr/EOOD

> You can't cure it, only do things to ease it until it passes on its own

Good point. Sad feelings and thoughts are pretty normal human reactions to things you've gone through. Let yourself feel them without judgment and they'll lessen over time.

This isn't just my opinion, it's shared in this book. Don't be put off from the "mindfulness". The first half of the book is an expansion upon the point i made above, the second half is basic meditation practice (which I don't really do but still founds this book really interesting for the first half). There is no mystical-ness to this, one of the authors is a physician, another a psychologist.

u/bws2a · 3 pointsr/Buddhism

Yup. I had been through recurring depression when a therapist gave me this:

http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286

u/FifteenthPen · 3 pointsr/depression

I'm not a doctor, but that sounds pretty definitely like dysthemia or even major depression. If you can bring yourself to do it, do try and find a therapist who can help you out, especially if you have insurance or go to a college that has student psychological services.

What you are going through is perfectly normal for depression. It's not your fault or your failing, it's a condition that can happen to anyone, no matter how good their life seems. It's an illness, and without the proper treatment and knowledge--which no person can be reasonably expected to figure out on their own--it's extremely difficult to overcome. With professional help, though, it can be overcome, and you can get your life back.

If a therapist isn't an option, I highly recommend finding a local depression support group if possible, and getting ahold of The Mindful Way Through Depression somehow. It will open up your eyes and help free you from the burden of the self-loathing that accompanies depression, and it will give you some great tools for coping with it on a day-to-day basis.

u/commanderjade · 3 pointsr/depression

Have you tried mindful meditation? I've found this book quite interesting: The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness
http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3BXGNNETPG82N&coliid=I2RQNKSQNXA1PW

u/dannysview · 2 pointsr/taoism

Here you go: http://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/1593851286?pc_redir=1405485588&robot_redir=1

Here's another link: http://www.soundstrue.com/shop/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/1656.pd

I'm not sure if there's different versions, but I figure they're all very good. If there's a difference than it's probably the number of lessons. Anyhow, the basic lessons are most important.

u/karbonv2 · 2 pointsr/trees

I've had similar experiences. Freshman year of college I skipped a lot of classes due to depression and some anxiety problems. I tried doing the pharmaceutical route, and like you said, there's just so many side effects and addiction issues. I started smoking trees, just on the weekends when I had some time to relax and experiment. Eventually I started vaping multiple times a day and I felt much more confident. I met and smoked with chill people every night, and had an easier time prioritizing my life and setting aside time for necessities, and graduated with honors. For me at least, vaping multiple times a day didn't affect my ability to absorb information.

I'm sort of rambling, but if you're anything like me, you might over-analyze past negative experiences. Talking to therapists and trying the pharms wasn't particularly useful for me, because my depression was due to negative cognitive thinking that would get blown out of proportion to the situation. I'm reading this: right now, and it's provided some great insight for me. Basically, over-thinking situations is like quicksand, you will only get brought down further. Also, the authors say that your brain's thoughts are like weather, meaning that they flow in and out naturally. Combine these last two processes, and you end up concentrating on one negative thought chain. If you consciously focused on funny things cats do instead of something painful, you would be way happier.

Also, the book stresses that we have two modes of being; the "doing" mode, and the "being" mode. Using your analytical skills to solve problems, like you do on your homework and such, might come easily to you. So therefore you try to apply this problem solving skill to your depression, and your pre-conceived judgements of how something "should be", doesn't coincide with reality. Before you know it, this internal mental stress has been relayed to tell your body it as a threat, and you drag yourself down into a quicksand pit.

In these times, it's important to switch focus from the "doing" mode to the "being" mode. This means focus on the present. Concentrate on how a breath goes into your body, one very specific place, such as your abdominal cavity or your nostrils. Don't try to slow down your breath, your body does that automatically, just don't worry about it. (I've also heard and verified that breathing through your nose, with one nostril covered, is supposed to help slow down your breathing.)

tl;dr weed can cause more mental activity, that can spiral downward if you are prone to it. Mindfulness and Progressive Muscle Relaxation are pretty useful for me.

u/Citta_Viveka · 2 pointsr/Meditation

Agreed.

 

Also, while finding help^^1 maybe check these out:

u/nakedcellist · 2 pointsr/IAmA

I really recommend this book, I wish I had read this 20 years ago. It is a very practical book on CBT. Also recommended, this book on MBCT: http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255817822&sr=1-1

u/ebullere · 2 pointsr/books

The Mindful Way through Depression. It's not a great literary work or any thing, and the writing style pissed me off sometimes, but I found the techniques for managing emotions and stress very helpful. Kinda inspired for me a paradigm shift where I was able to acknowledge my feelings without blaming myself for them. Not a typical self-help book.

u/SpinozaFan · 2 pointsr/sex

> Fight or Flight. Why is it being activated

Evolutionary biology. This is a survival mechanism. If we interpret imminent danger (even if there is no imminent danger in reality), the fight or flight response gets activated. This (obviously) happens to some people more than to others. Back when we faced sabre-toothed tigers, this response served us well. But it becomes a problem if it gets tripped for the wrong reasons and if it prevents us from living the way we want.

>and how the hell do I turn it off and enjoy myself?

A combination of relaxation exercises, mindfulness, and cognitive restructuring. If you can find a good cognitive therapist, DO THIS. Cognitive therapy is short-term and has both immediate and lasting benefits. Also, you might be interested in this book. (Anxiety and depression are very closely linked.) Even if you have no signs of depression, mindfulness works wonders with anxiety.

u/my_captcha_NNYDFH · 2 pointsr/depression

It is definitely going to be tough. You're pretty young (assuming so if you just graduated school) so getting into an exercise regime might not be as bad as it could be. That being said, I'm around that age, and getting back on the horse when coming back from the depths was just plain miserable. I'm really glad that I pushed through it though.

Here's a book that helped me out a bit: The Mindful Way Through Depression It's a good introduction to meditation if you've never tried and you might find a lot of the discussion of depression to be oddly comforting. It's also not just an 'eastern' book on meditation (meaning steeped in some sort of religious / philosophical outlook,) some of the co-authors are 'western' doctors / researchers.

I cried for the first time in years after reading the first few chapters. Much of what they describe is right on the money.

u/happyknownothing · 2 pointsr/stopdrinking

I write and make videos about mindfulness on my blog. You didn't mention if you ever suffer from depression but one of the best books out there about mindfulness is The Mindful Way through Depression - even if you have never suffered from depression, this can still be a good introduction to mindfulness.

u/AlexCoventry · 2 pointsr/streamentry

The nice thing about metta meditation is that it creates its own discipline. It feels good, so you want to do more of it.

I would steer clear of compassion meditation, for now. It's not really a beginner's practice, usually.

You might take a look at The Mindful Way Through Depression. I dont' know how well its scientific claims have stood the test of time, but there's good advice in there.

u/lucidswirl · 2 pointsr/pics

Rumination is the loop. I'm working on mindfulness (counselor recommended) for the past year and it's loads better.

u/megamappy · 2 pointsr/NoStupidQuestions

Huh, I'm surprised you ended up with a book that talks about past lives. Anyway, the mindful way thru depression is what you are looking for. I know it mentions depression, but is for anyone. Nothing mythical about it, it even goes a bit into the science of why depression happens (in some cases) and how meditiation helps in those cases.

I don't remember anything about spirituality and I'm fairly sure I would have put it down if there was. Here is the link to the book.

u/kaoruneve · 2 pointsr/SubSanctuary

Yep, it happens. I had a few experiences myself that weren't effective, until I found ones that did work.

I'd probably suggest you this book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindful-Way-Through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286 — mind, I would not take this as a substitute for anything else I mentioned, and maybe that's not exactly for you, but I think it's a solid book and might help. :)

u/Qeltar_ · 2 pointsr/Meditation

I started my journey with this book. I highly recommend it: https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-Through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286

It says "depression" but helps with anxiety as well and most people (like you, like me) have both anyway.

Talk with your therapist about it. See what she thinks.

It sounds like you are going about this the right way. It does take time and there are no shortcuts or simple answers. Also, it can be rough at the beginning -- strong emotions, even panic attacks like you said, can occur. It may take a few tries. Work with the therapist and do what feels right for you, going as slowly as you need to.

u/selfrealizing · 2 pointsr/Buddhism

I suggest this book. Anxiety and depression is related and this book helps me to deal with negative thoughts in a very practical way. A supplement for any kind of meditation practice.

https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-Through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286

[edit] You can also find it on goodread. Just search the book name on google.

u/Tigersftw · 2 pointsr/depression

Ugly parents don't always make ugly children and pretty parents don't always make pretty children.

Attractiveness is not everything. I'm reasonably good looking yet I still never had a girlfriend and am 23. I can't get one not because I don't want to, but due to my fucking depressive brain. I've been avoiding them all my life, including sleeping with them and even though I get hit on all the time I can't do it and it fucking hurts. It's not your looks you just blame them, if it were only about looks I would be slamming honeys every weekend, but I do not.

I know exactly how you feel.That fucking hand tightening around your heart increasingly squeezing it, the knot in your throat, that hurtful pressure in your chest, anger and hate gaining more and more strength, the feeling of wanting to rip yourself out of your own body.

Let me guess you also fall in love with every girl that notices you as well right, but your never good enough? Sometimes they have boyfriends and you hate those guys because they are getting what you would love to have? You fantasise about being aggressive towards them, humiliate them in front of her to show her you are better?

You also sometimes feel like people hate you because of the way you look, and that girls secretly find you disgusting and would never touch you? It's all in your head dude because I have those same thoughts. I know a guy who lost his legs and arms and uses synthetic extensions for all limbs yet has a hot as girlfriend. She's awesome and attractive and loves him although his disfigured. They've been going out for 5 years and they're the happiest couple.

What I would advise is to start meditating which is what's slowly pulling me out of my depression because you start connecting certain feelings with certain thoughts. You start realizing that you can do what you're being told you can't and how badly the brain lies.

You should read the book The Mindful Way through depression and follow it and do not rush through it. Take your time and you will wake up. You will slowly realize how deceiving your brain is by making you feel a certain way and than enforcing the feeling with thoughts. Projects those same negative feelings and thoughts in the future and BAM I don't want to live because my future is hopeless. Meditate, meditate, meditate and go through the pain you feel.

It's hard to explain how it works but remember hating certain foods as kid and liking them as an adult? It's like that the more you meditate the better a person you become. You're decisions, thoughts, interest all slowly appear because the negative stuff is being tweezed out but you have no idea how it happens. Suddenly you no longer feel that bad, you do more, stuff becomes more interesting but you have no idea why.

To answer your question, if you kill yourself you're a damn fucking bitch of a male and you do not diverse a girl. If you are willing to take the pain (and mindful meditating involves feeling the feeling and letting the thoughts just be and it's so painful you won't believe it.) you will get there. Meditating sometimes hurts so bad that I want to give up and jump off a building but I fucking keep hitting it and the more I do it the easier it gets.

u/optimist_dreamer · 2 pointsr/getting_over_it

I had a hard time in the beginning, but I really enjoy this now. I read this book I started going to a yoga class and that helped me become more comfortable. I go to a beginners yoga class that in pretty general but the instructor is very good. There are also specific classes at my yoga center just for meditation. Meditation, combined with yoga and exercise have helped me tremendously.

u/void_fraction · 2 pointsr/ZenHabits

It's a book, but it shouldn't be too hard to find a PDF online somewhere.

The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness

u/Bilbo_Fraggins · 1 pointr/atheism

Average intelligence and mediocre performance compared to? You're an average instance of the smartest, most capable, most loving creature we know of. That's still pretty awesome compared to the alternatives.

I was depressed for about 3 years, but I got over it fairly easily. On the other hand, my wife was depressed for about 1/2 her life. She's on medication and has gone through quite a bit of therapy, and she's doing quite well, but it's been a long road. We found a psychiatrist who specializes in depression who tried a bunch of different medications before settling on some that both gave good relief for her symptoms and have low side effects. She still meets with him quarterly. We also found a good psychologist who helped her work through some of the mental side. She's been through some talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as increased exercise and other lifestyle changes.

I can't tell you how much better her life is now. We've gone from a state where I was literally fearful when it got too quiet in the house that maybe she went and hung herself, to a house full of love and laughter.

Change is possible. It's not necessarily easy or quick though. I just needed someone to talk to when I was younger. My wife needed intense help and ongoing medication from people who really knew what they were doing(she went to others before with little effect).

Note there are also many better books out there then there used to be, some of which my wife found quite helpful. This book seemed like a turning point for my wife(but note she was also being cared for by excellent doctors who recommended it, it's probably not a substitute for excellent medical care, etc, etc.).

You're still hopeful I'm right or you wouldn't have posted here. Don't give in yet. It can get much better. The fact that you still want to change the world and are frustrated you don't think you can means you're already further ahead of the pack than you know. Hang in there.

u/DerppleJack · 1 pointr/mentalhealth

Hey - First of all, I am sorry to hear about your mom and the situation afterward. That is a really hard thing to go through at such a young age.
Second, everyone wants to feel wanted and needed. It is a totally normal thing for you to want to have someone you can be close to. But, I think your assessment is right - you've got something else going on too. Making the appointment with a counselor or psychologist was a good first step, but if you need support until you can see them you can try any of the resources on this page:

http://suicideprevention.wikia.com/wiki/International_Suicide_Prevention_Directory

It says suicide prevention, but the hotlines are there to help you regardless of whether you are just feeling overwhelmed or if you feel like you might harm yourself in some way. I found it helpful when I called.

I have had success with books on mindfulness like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1593851286/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It sounds kind of cheesy, but new research is showing that the mindfulness approach is just as successful as meds and/or therapy.

I have heard some good things about the book below, but I haven't read it myself yet so I can't tell you what I thought.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1502394138/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

u/TDFCTR · 1 pointr/depression

This was recommended by my therapist to me, and I found it useful. But it's good to have a professional to check on your progress.

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1593851286?pc_redir=1406369818&robot_redir=1

u/mcmunchie · 1 pointr/trees

There is a very real link between rumination and anxiety and depression.

This is also a good book on the subject, and how meditation (i.e. learning to live in the present) can help: A Mindful Way Through Depression

u/AntDogFan · 1 pointr/Meditation

I used the audio CD from http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindful-Way-Through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286

I've found it extremely useful. I'm sure there are ways and means of obtaining this through the internet if you so wished.

u/Aniket_Sonavane · 1 pointr/GetMotivated

Hi Dark Knight ;)

I have experienced similar situations myself. Here's what I think about your whole predicament :

  • It seems you are good at your job considering you got best performer award & on site opportunity. So I don't think you are useless.

  • Also you are working on a startup & already you have got a funding! That's commendable! So you are not nothing.

  • I am assuming you have a package of 3L+ which is a sufficient income for most unless you are a materialistic person who can't do away with ac, gold class seats & branded jeans. Money buys you comfort not happiness.

  • Regarding misbehaving incident, you know you are innocent & your bosses have not thrown you out, so don't worry about it. Specially what others think of you. People have short long memory & with new scandal you will be forgotten quite rapidly. Look at all the politicians, cricketers & filmstars!

  • You can search for new job as well if the work & the work environment is not stimulating. Also try for another state or metro. You will get some distance from your parents, you will get new experience & exposure in new city, new people & culture. It will take your mind of these current issues & you will come out mature & self-reliant.

  • You are confused about further carrier direction as well. Stay in same industry, start your own business or IAS? Practically speaking you should get more experience in one industry first. Simultaneously you can work on IAS preparation or startup (but not both). After few years you will have more experience, options & clarity. On the other hand you have only 1 life & you should not waste your years doing the things you don't love.

  • It's secondary what your parents expect of you or whether you will be able to crack the IAS exam. What's important is what really excites you? What are your values? What is important to you in long term?

  • Your parents want you to be an IAS. So somewhere in their head they know that you have a potential, that you are smart. I dont think they really think you are useless, they probably want you to do more, be more. Ofcourse it's not right of them to pressurise you into any carrier choice, marriage choice etc. You need to sit & clarify this to them in a civilized manner.

  • It's difficult to ascertain whether your gf was intoxicated or not. But unless her friend is really chhapri (cheap), he would not have dared to grope her (knowing she is with you). As you said she had ignored his lewd messages previous, that might have sent him wrong idea. But I hope she had told you about those messages before this incident otherwise it was definitely wrong on her part to hide such important issue from her bf.

  • Trust is important. But none of us are Saints. What is important is to acknowledge your mistakes & not to repeat them. Fool me ones, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me! So meet her, explain your situation like a gentleman but make it clear that henceforth you expect complete & upfront honesty. And from that day onwards, never utter a word about it.

  • Long distance relationships are difficult to maintain & if there are trust issues then it's just a daily frustration, continuous snooping & tons of fights. If you delay the marriage & you are still in different cities, fighting against each other & with parents then it will only be an excruciating mess.

  • When you get cheated on but decide to forgive the other person it often results into a snooping sort of thing. And it's quite natural if you think about it. One fine day, your brain suddenly got the shock of its life & it was painful to say the least. Now he doesn't want to go through similar ordeal again, so he goes into this super cautious mode & tries to verify every data, every odd occurrence. It assigns meaning where there is none & sees a face even in the shadows. Isn't it like getting bitten by a dog! But the good news is that you can curb your anxiety by clarifying this to your brain. Tell him that if she is lying then that would be the end of this relation & he need not worry. If she isn't lying then thats a good thing & he need not worry. Conclusion: Don't worry, be happy & brave. And yes, you are not a psychopath!

  • You are young, you have health, education, job, financial stability, family & a gf. Yes, few of these variables are not perfect but atleast they are there. If you throw your problems in a basket where everyone threw their problems then you would quickly take back yours. Suffering is not the problem, it's a part of life. Suffering without meaning is the issue. Nietzsche said, “He who has a Why to live for can bear almost any How.” It's not what happens to you but what you 'think' happed, matters. If so then these problems are rather opportunities in disguise to take hard decisions, to find your meaning of life & to grow further.

  • Tell me, if all your problems are solved within 3 months, will you still like to end your life? That is, if you have a new job, away from the house & probably a new gf, will you still find this life unbearable? What I am trying to say is, you are frustrated not because life in general sucks but because you haven't been able to glimpse at the solutions to your particular problems. Don't run away from the problems, run towards solutions. That's what engineers do, we solve problems!

  • Empty mind is Devils paradise. You need to get busy. Start reading & exercising daily. This will rejuvenate your mind & body. I can't stress enough on exercise. If I skip 2 days, I start feeling low. Don't waste too much time on a gf who may or may not be honest, with whom you may or may not have future. Soulful conversations, jokes, romance is healthy utilization of time. Checking out last seen, fb pics, dress regulation, movement regulation, analysing every word & smilie is equal to eventual self destruction. Decide today to say, 'Fk it. I am above these silly games'. If you love someone set them free, if they come back they are yours but if they don't, they never were.

  • I don't know how reliable online personality tests are. Actually you seemed opposite to narcissistic to me considering you are so concerned about everyone else in your life. In any case, you must get an appointment with a psychologist. This will give you an opportunity to fully open up & share your problems. Doctor can guide you better than us. It's not very costly either. You can expect about 500 to 1000Rs per visit for an average doctor.

  • Finally, let me leave you with this famous couplet. It reminds me to become stronger version of my self everyday. (Note: I am atheist, I refer God mentioned here only in literary sense.)

    " ख़ुदी को कर बुलंद इतना कि हर तक़दीर से पहले ।

    ख़ुदा बंदे से ख़ुद पूछे बता तेरी रज़ा क्या है ।।" (इक़्बाल)

    " Make yourself so strong that before every destiny, God asks you, tell me what you want "

     

    Check out these books. These are all Amazon India links. But if you can't buy them now, there are free EPUB versions of every book mentioned below :

  • Important life lessons : It's an online article that enlists 100 simple life lessons

  • A man's search for meaning : Account of a survivor of Auschwitz

  • Authentic Happiness : Cognitive Behaviour Therapy which is often given by psychologist to a depressed individual

  • The mindful way through depression : How mindfulness meditation can be useful against depression, along with CBT

  • The Willpower instinct : How to create habits using willpower, useful to create stronger self control demanded by tough times

     

    Summery : Don't worry friend, this too shall pass. It always does! Be brave, its a daily choice. Try to focus on solving problems one by one. Get professional help at the earliest. Invest time in things that will help you in long term. Exercise & read everyday. And always remember "All izz welll..!"

u/throughdepression · 1 pointr/DecidingToBeBetter

Hi,
You have a great insight into what causes you acting the way and obviously you can see how childish it is.

I recognize myself in it a lot too. I'm also prone to frustration particularly when stressed. I used to get really angry with my partner (in the past I threw a few glasses at him...) but since than I noticed I can be a lot more patient and my anger although still present isn't as strong as it used to be.

I think what really helped me was mindfulness stress reduction program by Jon Kabat Zinn

Here is the link to the book I was following https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1y511u0NR8 or you can buy it on amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindful-Way-Through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1446980042&sr=8-7&keywords=mindfulness+jon+kabat+zinn

u/TheHeartOfTuxes · 1 pointr/Buddhism

You might find it helpful to check out Williams, Teasdale, Seagal, and Zinn's: The Mindful Way Through Depression.

u/squarahann · 1 pointr/ADHD

I'm really sorry you're going through that. Death is really hard. All of a sudden there's a huge hole inside and in your family and it's really hard to know how to feel. My grandmother passed away two years ago and it's still hard for me. We were really close. Something that could be really helpful is this book . My therapist recommended it a while ago and it's really nice. Mindfulness exercises are super helpful for ADHD and the book have activities and worksheets that help you process and break down your feelings. I know it seems silly but it actual made a huge difference. Grieving is really hard and it's total okay to feel sad and overwhelmed and confused. With time it gets easier, but losing someone close is something that changes you forever. Best of luck to you.

u/Salty-Sailor · 1 pointr/Meditation

> Could anyone recommend some books/methods/anything?

Hey, I'm new to r/meditation, but I've spent way to much time on r/depression. I tell myself "My life is a wreck" all the time. Depression is horrible. It hurts.

Right now I'm reading The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness. I just begun part II where they start to talk about meditation techniques, but part I had a very good explanation on why we can't rationally think ourselves out of depression. I've tried hard to do that, and it is so frustrating to fail, and this book explained why I keep failing. So they got that part right. The book then recommends a different approach to depression, through awareness and mindful meditation, and has a eight week program that is supposed to teach you how to do it. I've been told happiness can be found in 'being in the moment' and I've found some truth in that being aware helps me towards enjoyment. So I have high hopes this book is going to help me. I'd recommend adding it to your list of things to try.

This is heartfelt - I've found tools that help me with depression, we don't have to be at the mercy of a beast we can't control.

u/dweckl · 1 pointr/Anxiety

Hey, I've been thinking more about your post. I have started reading up on mindfulness, particularly because I saw some research that it has been used effectively for anxiety and depression and some practitioners are combining it with CBT. I like this book a lot, although I just started it:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-through-Depression/dp/1593851286/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331564960&sr=8-1

u/Informed__Citizen · 1 pointr/greatawakening

Mindfulness cures depression. The doing mind can't fix the problem. The experiential mind can. Here's a book on it: https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-Through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1523318108&sr=8-3&keywords=mindfulness+and+depression If this book doesn't work, look for another one that works for you.

u/BlackMoss · 1 pointr/self

Me too. I get a lot of connection here on reddit I don't manage to find so easily in my daily life (work in progress though..)

I know you didn't ask for advice as such but as someone who has suffered a lot from depression and now does less so I recommend mindfulness techniques. This is a good resource in that direction:

http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286

u/AnEmptyVat · 1 pointr/depression

It may help if you share your location - or nearest large city for local therapist referrals. You can also check out these books:

The Mindful Way Through Depression: http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-Through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286

MBCT workbook: http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-Workbook-Depression-Emotional/dp/1462508146

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Based-Cognitive-Therapy-Depression-Edition/dp/1462507506

u/datoo · 1 pointr/depression

This is the book my old therapist recommended to me. I've read the beginning of it and found it to be quite helpful. I'm going to read more today in fact because I'm in a bad way myself.

u/steelypip · 1 pointr/selfhelp

Talking therapies and counselling do not work well for depression - simply talking over your problems can end up reinforcing the mental patterns that created them in the first place. Look into Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) instead - it is a meditation based therapy that has a proven track record of helping with depression such as yours. If you can, find a therapist near you that uses it - group sessions will be much cheaper than one-to-one sessions. It is normally done as an 8-week course.

If you cannot find or afford a therapist then there are several books that will help - here are a couple to that I am familiar with and can recommend:

The Mindful Way Through Depression

Mindfulness: Finding Peace In a Frantic World

If you search Amazon for Mindfulness you will find dozens of others. These books include a CD with the meditations on, so you can do the course on your own - it is not enough to just read the books, you have to do the practices as well.

If you are in a deep depression it is advisable to take a course of antidepressants first to get you into a state where you can do the course and stick with it.

u/DigitalMindShadow · 1 pointr/offmychest

After a decade and a half of chronic depression, I finally broke the cycle through regular exercise, self-administered cognitive therapy, and mindfulness meditation. I still get depressed sometimes, but the difference now is that I notice it right as it starts to happen and have a few different effective methods to stop it from sucking me in too deep or for too long. I'd encourage you to give it a try!

u/iamacowmoo · 1 pointr/Buddhism

You are correct that this book is intended for therapists. I think some of the ideas (especially in the first few chapters) could be helpful. They outline the theories of what is to be accomplished which could be helpful if you apply them to you situation. Basically if you are looking for a way to take positive steps in the right direction this book may lay out what needs to occur. Also if you could find a therapist that practices this kind of therapy then it may be even more helpful.

The Mindful Way Through Depression probably has similar ideas and is intended for those with depression instead of therapists. The drawback is that it wouldn't have any part of the cognitive therapy which I think could be helpful when combined with mindfulness.

u/ExcoastieHP · 1 pointr/ptsd

Mindfulness! This book is geared toward Depression, but it's a great intro. Mindfulness is all about treating dissociative symptoms.

u/dwade333miami · 1 pointr/Anxiety

Hi. Have you considered seeing a therapist? To focus on the "now", a lot of therapists teach their patients to practice mindfulness. There's a great book on mindfulness http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397564740&sr=8-1&keywords=the+mindful+way+through+depression . Read the reviews at the bottom. I haven't read the book, but people seem to love it. It won't replace a good therapist though.

u/David_the_Wavid · 1 pointr/CasualConversation

Early to mid 20s suck ass. I guess it's not a HUGE sample size to go off of, but both my sister and I agreed that the 20s suck, and both of our lives started really getting a bit better around the late 20's/early 30s...and I feel like a lot of people would agree with that. I know for people with bipolar (which is a part of my illness), you start to age out of it around the mid-30s...if you have been practicing healthy habits up to that point as best as you can, and maturing as a normal human being.

Do you believe that suicide will take one to hell? Also, yeah, I have met a lot of people who don't believe I'm going to hell...I think it's possible, since I have accepted Jesus as my savior, but I also think I may be too late. Can't really control it at this point. But I have other varying beliefs such as, the intensity of hell may depend upon what I do from here on out, so I still have some sort of control over my fate.

I tried practicing mindfulness a few times over the past few years, and did it wrong which actually made me feel worse (I found out the hard way that the key to living in the present is to also be equally nonjudgmental and accepting of the present moment) but I have been reading "The Mindful Way through Depression" and it has explained it better than any other book or website I have come across. Also I have finally gotten back into the habit of meditating which helps too, LOL

u/BasilBrush1234 · 1 pointr/Meditation

> Severe and clinical depression is marked by the inability to enjoy these things.

I think that even a clincally depressed person can enjoy the small things I listed. You said yourself that you experience pleasant body sensations during meditation, so you don't have a complete inability to enjoy such things. I think it would be worthwhile for you to investigate why you can enjoy the pleasant body sensations but not the view outside. You could try meditating to the view instead of attending to your breath.

Have you read a book that specifically discusses meditation as a way to treat depression? I'd recommend this, as it is backed by peer-reviewed scientific studies: http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286/