Tuesday, March 06, 2012

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Using Meditation To Treat Depression

Depression is a condition that affects a lot of people, far too many. Chances are if you haven't suffered from a bout of depression you know someone who has. The proof of this is in prescription statistics; antidepressants are one of the most commonly prescribed category of prescription medications. But there are other effective options for keeping symptoms of depression at bay.

How Meditation Decreases Depression

Our daily lives have become pretty busy and stressful between pressures at work, family, personal issues and just daily living. If we don't get enough of a break from these pressures it can take a toll. Daily meditation provides a consistent break from all of these stresses and pressures. It provides a little peace to each day.

Besides offering a break from life pressures it also provides your mind with a break from continual mental activity and it can help you reach more relaxed states. Studies have shown that people who meditate regularly over a long period are able to achieve brain wave states while they are awake that are normally only achieved when the person is asleep; these brain wave states include alpha, theta and delta.

Meditating regularly is known to reduce stress and create a greater sense of calm. This is likely a main reason why it is able to help with depression; specifically it seems to reduce the chance of a depressive relapse.

Daily meditation may be best at preventing depressed states. It seems to be quite effective at preventing depression for those who feel they may be at risk. According to a study conducted by Dr. Zindel Segal, a psychologist and depression specialist, meditation may be as effective at preventing a depression relapse as antidepressants.

Other Benefits Of Meditation For Depression

While meditation is no substitute for medical care for those suffering from depression, it is something that should be discussed with your mental health care provider. Meditation has been very effective for some people and the good part is that it doesn't cost anything, it doesn't have side effects and anyone can do it anywhere. The most important thing to note is that consistency is key if you want to achieve positive results.

You may even experience some other positive side effects from meditating. It may be able to help reduce what you spend on health care by reducing your stress level. Stress is the cause of a lot of health problems as well as sleeping problems. These can domino to create an unhealthy state. Some people have also noticed more mental clarity after meditating regularly for a period of time.

By: Elise M. Fisher
http://rhodiolarosea.org/rhodiola-benefits/

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