A diet of happy thoughts


Filed Under A diet of happy thoughts, Media | Dec 21, MST 9:11 am

 
It’s important for people who are suffering from depression, anxiety, and stress to be aware of the thoughts they entertain. I recently discussed the power of mindfulness meditation and I’ve touched on how keeping a gratitude journal can do wonders for your long-term mental health. The fact is, the thoughts we have play a large role in the way we feel about the world.

For that reason, I’ve decided to start posting videos that I find particularly inspiring, the kind that will bring a smile to most peoples faces — even hardened cynics. I want my readers to get in the habit of seeking out positive experiences. Think of it as a cultural diet of sorts. Whenever you catch yourself
feasting on negativity, make a conscious effort to consume some happiness. Seek out thoughts that make you smile.

Take this video of Matt, a man who has literally danced his way around the world. There’s a good chance it’ll make your face break into a grin.

Daily meditation stops wandering thoughts


Filed Under Media, Overcome Depression | Dec 11, MST 9:29 am

In a study of twelve zen meditators and twelve control subjects, brain scans revealed that those who practiced daily meditation for a period of at least three years were faster at clearing their mind of distractions than those who had never meditated.

The scientists who performed the study suggest that this area of research is clinically relevant for conditions that involve excessive rumination — like depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders.

I have to agree with them on that point. People who learn to let go of their thoughts, who are quicker at releasing them, are much less likely to be held ransom to their demands.

Unfortunately, at this point in time, though we’re becoming aware of how meditation can be used to counter these conditions, we’re still not entirely aware of why it works. More research is needed before psychologists are able to devise a foolproof therapy which incorporates meditation — though, mindfulness based cognitive therapy comes close.

For now, we know this zen study shows that daily meditation creates a swifter, quicker brain. I can’t see many down sides to that, so for people who have the time, I would recommend taking up a zen habit. At the very least, in a few years, you’ll be better at managing your thoughts.

Zen isn’t a cure-all

Zen meditation is, of course, not a cure-all for depression, or other mental disorders. This story of a woman who turned to zoloft after failing to find peace through Zen testifies to that fact.

However, it’s another tool in the quest to wrest control of our minds away from the devils that often plague it. It won’t save people from depression on its own, but it might make the process of being saved easier.

How to practice zazen

For those of you who would like to start practicing zen meditation, otherwise known as zazen, this following ten minute clip from teacher Gudo Nishijima will show you the basics.

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)


Filed Under Media, Overcome Depression | Dec 4, MST 8:36 am

 
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy is one of the newest tools in the fight against depression. MBCT combines meditation and cognitive therapy to create an awesome, life enriching cocktail. How life enriching?

A recent study of 123 depressed patients shows that MBCT is just as effective as medication in preventing relapses in the depressed, and more effective in improving their quality of life.

The simple act of practicing a few mental exercises a week can radically alter the way people experience the world. MBCT shows us how potent our mental habits are. Change those habits, and you change your reality.

The great thing about MBCT is that it provides people with an easy, simple alternative for taking back control of their lives. I’m a strong supporter of psychotropic therapies, however I believe that they should only be turned to after having exhausted more natural alternatives.

If you’re interested in learning about the neuroscience of mindfulness meditation, and how the practice can be used to improve the lives of those suffering from anxiety and depression, I recommend watching this video from the Google Tech Talks series. In it, Philippe Godin, a scientist that heads the Clinically Applied Affective Neuroscience group over at Stanford University, discusses the research that’s been done on the subject.

Why do depressed people wake up exhausted?


Filed Under Improve your sleep, Media, Overcome Depression | Oct 27, MDT 12:21 pm

 
This little video addresses an important issue — why do people who suffer from depression often wake up feeling exhausted? The answer that this video advances is rather interesting.  It turns out that depressed people dream more intensely and have longer periods of REM sleep then people who aren’t depressed. Expectation fulfillment theory helps explain why the depressed spend more time dreaming.

Dreams, according to this theory, help people act out undischarged emotions. The more emotions we haven’t acted on, the more intensely we dream.  Eventually, if we’re not careful, we end up with a backlog of unresolved emotions that our subconscious simply can’t cope with. We wake up feeling tired because our minds have spent a good chunk of the night trying to resolve issues we didn’t take care of during the day.

That of course, is my spin on the subject. I haven’t read the book yet, but I find the ideas discussed in the video fascinating, and I look forward to learning more about them.

What is Depression? A Brief Introduction


Filed Under Media | Oct 20, MDT 10:40 am

 
In this three minute clip, Dr. Eredlyi gives a brief overview of what depression is, and breaks down the varieties of depressions that people often suffer from. It’s not an exhaustive review, but for first-time visitors who are just stumbling onto Mister Misery and who don’t have that much knowledge of what depression, this video can prove rather illuminating.

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