Resting in the Space of Discomfort: A Mindful Approach to Depression

Suffering is a shared human experience that can be viewed integral part of life. Our suffering can range from mild to severe and can take the form of physical or mental and emotional pain. Whatever the form of our discomfort, we can agree that “suffering of the mind” is one of the biggest concerns of our time. The severity of mental health issues is on the rise, particularly the number of individuals experiencing depression. According to the World Health Organization (2017) over 300 million people are estimated to suffer from depression, equivalent to 4.4% of the world’s population. The Causes of Depression The causes of depression can be wide-ranging; however, depression is commonly triggered by stressors at work or at home, unresolved grief or traumatic experiences. Sometimes the catalyst of depressive episodes are unclear, but there exists an underlying loss of meaning or purpose in one’s life. Depression as an Illness Depression is often diagnosed as an “illness” something to be treated through medication and “recover” from. As a result, we usually approach experiences of depression by trying to avoid or move away from the discomfort we are experiencing. This may be through the use of medication or distracting ourselves from our pain. The harmful effects of some of these distractions are more obvious than others — such as addictions to drugs, alcohol and food. There are also more subtle types of distraction such as the tendency to over-work, s...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Depression Habits Mindfulness Self-Help Source Type: news