Depression

[Jhana4]

I've been diagnosed as suffering from major depression for over 12 years, I've been various medications during this time but still feel as though I'm getting nowhere with gaining emotional well being.
Is there a Buddhist interpretation of what depression is? Am I paying the price for negative karma in a past life? Also are there any views on anti depressants in Buddhism?

Greg

The late Dr. Albert Ellis invented REBT ( Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy) which later changed and became Cognitive therapy. Some people think it is more effective than cognitive therapy. The best book on the subject is the latest edition of Dr. Ellis' "Guide To Rational Living". You can read an excellent overview and introduction to his system here.

Meditation helps, as other people in this thread have stated, but I've also seen articles from the research community that seem to indicate this. *Vigorous* aerobic exercise also has a good reputation for helping depression. Also good nutrition, particularly getting a lot of b-vitamins.

Try out everything under the sun until you find something that works for you. No reason you can't see a therapist and meditate as well.

Good Luck

[santa100]

Yes, outdoor aerobic exercises would definitely help. Jogging, biking, hiking, or brisk walking are all good. If you've never done them before, make sure to start out slowly and gradually build up the speed and duration. Eventually if you could maintain 1hr-jogging 3 times a week, that'd be great. Good luck..

[Spiny O'Norman]

Westerner are particularly afflicted with unrecognised self-devaluing. It is often the fact that many weeks/months of Metta practice, targeting oneself, are needed to adjust this. It is not 'selfish' to direct lovingkindness practice towards yourself.

Very good point, and IMO it could take many years of metta practice. One of the problems with depression can be the tendency to be self-critical about being depressed, something which the first stage of metta practice can address directly.

Spiny

[Spiny O'Norman]

Being affected by depression does not make you less of a Dhamma practitioner.

Absolutely. And depression provides a very direct experience of what mental suffering really is.

Spiny

[Spiny O'Norman]

- spicy foods

A nice curry always cheers me up.

Spiny

[Pacific]

- spicy foods

A nice curry always cheers me up.

Spiny

yeah, it does me too. Seems many here have depression of one kind or another. I've had depression since my late teens although it's under control these days, pretty much. I find regular meditation, mindfulness, herbal supplements (St john's wort, fish oil - I was on zoloft for many years), exercise, being creative and trying to enjoy the simple things in life help a lot. small pleasures are nice.
One thing i would like to say though, is that unless you've had serious depression it's very, very difficult to understand somebody who has it. perhaps it's one of the reasons depression wasn't taken seriously until relatively recently... people just couldn't understand what the "problem" was

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

I'm inclined to think that living in accordance with the following sutta, would help stave off depression... and just to add a personal touch, I've coloured red some of the ones I've struggled with of late.

Sn 2.4: Maha Mangala Sutta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .soni.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thus have I heard:

Once while the Blessed One was staying in the vicinity of Saavatthi, in the Jeta Grove, in Anaathapi.n.dika's monastery, a certain deity, whose surpassing brilliance and beauty illumined the entire Jeta Grove, late one night came to the presence of the Blessed One; having come to him and offered profound salutations he stood on one side and spoke to him reverently in the following verse:

Many deities and human beings
Have pondered what are blessings,
Which they hope will bring them safety:
Declare to them, Sir, the Highest Blessing.

(To this the Blessed One replied):
With fools no company keeping.
With the wise ever consorting,
To the worthy homage paying:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Congenial place to dwell,
In the past merits making,
One's self directed well:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Ample learning, in crafts ability,
With a well-trained disciplining,
Well-spoken words, civility:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Mother, father well supporting,
Wife and children duly cherishing,
Types of work unconflicting:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Acts of giving, righteous living,
Relatives and kin supporting,
Actions blameless then pursuing:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Avoiding evil and abstaining,
From besotting drinks refraining,
Diligence in Dhamma doing:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Right reverence and humility
Contentment and a grateful bearing,
Hearing Dhamma when it's timely:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Patience, meekness when corrected,
Seeing monks and then discussing
About the Dhamma when it's timely:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Self-restraint and holy life,
All the Noble Truths in-seeing,
Realization of Nibbaana:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Though touched by worldly circumstances,
Never his mind is wavering,
Sorrowless, stainless and secure:
This, the Highest Blessing.

Since by acting in this way,
They are everywhere unvanquished,
And everywhere they go in safety:
Theirs, the Highest Blessings.
Here ends the Discourse on Blessings.

Metta,
Retro.

[cooran]

Hello all,

Hope this might clarify just what depression really is, and how to affect change:

What is Depression?
• Depression is not simply normal sadness, being moody or just a low mood, but a serious illness. It causes both physical and psychological symptoms.
• Depression is common. Up to one in four females and one in six males will experience depression in their lifetime.
• Depression is the leading cause of suicide.
• Depression is often not recognised or treated.
• Current treatments for depression are safe and effective.
• Depression also commonly occurs with specific anxiety syndromes.
Are you depressed?
Complete the checklist below to see if you are possibly suffering from a depressive illness. Please note, we keep no record of your test results or identity.
…………………
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx ... pgodxDoO7g" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

with metta
Chris

[Ben]

Good one, Chris!

I also want to say that in my observation, some practitioners will find benefit from Paul's approach or by engaging with Dhamma practice. But for many other practitioners their condition may indeed be so acute as to require medical and therapeutic intervention. If anyone is suffering from depression, I think, the best thing to do is to get it checked out by a medical professional. Very many practitioners benefit greatly from a combination of medical treatment alongside their Dhamma practice.
kind regards

Ben

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

A good blog post on the subject of depression - http://www.ryanminster.com/life/depress ... dog-calls/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Metta,
Retro.

[PeterB]

I think it important both for understanding depression and in its treatment for the range of conditions that " depression " is shorthand for, to be as seen no different from other conditions in many ways.
If you have acne you go to a skin specialist.
If you have toothache you go to a dentist..unless you are as idiotic as me , I recently spent ten days in pain hoping it would go away on its own...it didnt.
If you are depressed for no obvious reason,( if you have recently been bereaved or made redundant from your job a degree of depression is within the range of normal responses..) then get checked out.
No biggie, no mystery..And I am not playing down at all the suffering caused by depressive conditions. it is great.
I am just saying that there are tried and trusted ways of managing the symptoms of depression, many not involving meds, although meds can be life savers at times, and sometimes ways of seeing its cause.
Although the latter is often not so important as might be assumed.

[altar]

Depression is low, dull, and heavy. It lends itself to misery and apathy and is not light.

Empathy is its counterpart, enthusiasm a counterforce. Thus company and friendliness dispel it. Intuition is like an elixir for it. Weariness with excitement a cause, worldliness a mainstay. Impermanence the knowledge that drives against it. Striving is the way to overcome it. Joy where it holds no footing. Energy an ally to those without it. Delight in its cessation is peaceful. Meditation is the cure, and nature the beyond (but is all around anyway).
It is karmic (mainly). Karma with dark results. And in the present is often like habitual malaise.

I wrote most of this a few days ago and I'm sorry that I keep posting and taking things down. This time it stays...
and i echo retro that contentment is the way of dhamma.
and cheerfulness should be somewhere in this post...

[altar]

i wonder if we could start a thread on happiness...

[FaceaceRAWR]

i wonder if we could start a thread on happiness...

I'd love that! I've also struggled with depression which is actually what brought me here in the first place.
And what I read about westerners [like me] devaluing themselves sounds very correct. I'd love to help myself, but if I do it without really trying...

Anywho, there are a lot of extremely useful sites here and I wanted to say my thanks for them all.

Sincerely,
Ace

[PeterB]

" Low self esteem " is one component of some kinds of Depression. It is largely a symptom, not a cause. Albeit a symptom that needs addressing.
Much Depression does not conform to the common view of Depression at all. Often there is no noticeable change in affect and mood, rather it presents as a psychosomatic condition. As backache, as flu that never completely goes, as sleep disturbance, as digestive problems....etc.