Treating depression with meditation and crystals

Every year there are reports of increasing stress, depression and anxiety.

It's been called an epidemic by the World Health Organization, which reports that depression is on the rise worldwide. Without forgetting that the health and economic context does not help anything.

People suffering from depression naturally turn to their doctor to try to relieve the symptoms.

But taking anxiolytics is not always the best option, which is why more and more patients prefer alternative solutions such as meditation.

If meditation does not require treatment by a doctor, meditation and crystals can help relieve some symptoms of depression.

Recognize the signs of depression

Depression and sadness are two different feelings. Depression is a mental illness and symptoms can range from mild to severe and must last more than 14 days to be considered a true depressive symptom.

Symptoms may include:

• Feeling sad or having a persistent depressed mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed
• Appetite changes affecting weight (gain or loss)
• Sleeping troubles
• Low energy or increased fatigue
• Lower self-esteem
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Suicidal thoughts

One of the challenges of diagnosing clinical depression is that other medical conditions - such as thyroid problems, brain tumors or even vitamin deficiency - can present with the same symptoms as depression, so it is important to exclude any other medical cause by consulting your doctor.

Some data on depression

Once considered an adult-onset illness, symptoms of depression can appear at any time, but typically make their first appearance in the late teens or early 20s.

Women are more likely than men to suffer from depression.

Although some hypothesize that this statistic speaks more to a woman's social acceptance for getting help versus a man who might be seen as weak or less masculine to allow emotions to have an impact on performance.

Some studies show that a third of women will experience a major depressive episode during their lifetime. And one in six people will suffer from depression at some point in their lives.

With the incidence of depression so prevalent, can meditation help relieve symptoms of depression?

Feelings of sadness

One study specifically looked at the impact of mindful meditation on happiness and found that meditators had significantly higher levels of subjective well-being, which is the scientific word for happiness.

Meditation has been shown to significantly improve positive thinking.

There are also many proven links between self-reported well-being and mindfulness.

A study found a change in the brain's processing of sadness following meditation. The meditators were better able to process and overcome sadness than the control group.

Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy

Participating in an activity requires both motivation and commitment. Common sense says that you return to a task because it is enjoyable.

Experiencing positive emotions leads individuals to try new things or start new relationships, which in turn leads to building personal resources like friends and positive experiences.

These changes lead to better physical and mental health, which leads to more positive emotions.

Engagement levels have been shown to improve in meditators.

Participants reported changes in felt experience and improvements in goal-directed behavior – they showed up more easily and enjoyed the tasks at hand.

Changes in appetite

Mindful eating is a way to bring attention to what you fuel your body with.

Using this type of meditation can help meditators focus on what their body needs and how much they are consuming.

Finding the right balance of foods and quantities that create health in your body can help increase or suppress appetite.

Sleep

Suffering from depression can cause too much or too little sleep. The ultimate goal is to fall asleep easily and wake up feeling great.

Often, professionals consider sleep disorders and depression to be deeply correlated with not knowing which came first - lack of sleep or depression.

Meditation prepares the body for restful sleep and helps prevent the mind from wandering to places that keep you distracted (or awake) at night.

Physical movements

Increased self-soothing movements often considered a sign of depression are also a telltale sign of increased stress and anxiety.

In one study, there were significant decreases in distress as well as increases in positive mood states in the meditator group.

attention

Results from a seven-year study show that meditation practice is linked to lasting improvement in sustained attention.

Meditation helps you concentrate better and for longer. It's unclear whether improving focus further reduces depression symptoms, but research is ongoing into the impact of positive engagement on depression.

Suicidal thoughts

Whenever you or a loved one has suicidal thoughts, the first priority is to contact healthcare professionals who can assess and intervene quickly.

In a non-emergency situation, one study (largely with veterans and others with post-traumatic stress disorder) has shown that meditation encourages a reduction in suicidal thoughts.

How to start a meditation practice

Given the clear link between better psychological health and meditation, the next step is to find the best way to encourage someone who is experiencing depressive symptoms to begin a meditation practice.

Different strategies work for different people. Here are some ways to use meditation for depression.

Group meditation sessions

In almost every city, it is possible to find clubs or associations that offer yoga and collective meditation classes.

Whether you're a complete beginner looking to learn how to meditate or a more experienced meditator looking for a group of like-minded people, you'll always be able to find it.

Group sessions that fit your lifestyle are a great way to form or solidify your practice.

And even if you have to travel a few miles to get to your meditation sessions, the feeling of connection or belonging to the group will help you attend regularly.

You may want to join in with another participant, which can help keep you both accountable.

Work with a meditation coach

There are many types of individual meditation coaches and finding one in your area is a good way to start.

Having the insights and expertise of a coach can be essential to supporting you when questions arise, obstacles appear, and consistency is difficult to follow early in your meditation practice.

Do not hesitate to browse the classified ads or websites that list the best meditation coaches near you.

Meditation retreat

A solo meditation retreat can last a day, a weekend, a week or even several months. Some take place in complete silence and sometimes include yoga and a detox diet or spa treatments.

Although retirement may seem counterintuitive for overcoming depression, sometimes a retreat is a gift to yourself where you re-prioritize your self-care role in recovery. Check with your doctor to see what he or she recommends.

As we have just seen, meditation and depression can be balanced, but meditation is by no means the only tool at your disposal.

Therapy, exercise, nutrition, and medical intervention all play roles in helping you thrive and monitor your mental health.

Finding the right tools for your mental well-being is a unique and individual journey that takes time and effort.

Crystals to relieve symptoms of depression

Although there is a stigma attached to depression, many ignore and avoid seeking medical help.

Working with crystals for anxiety and depression can provide a holistic approach to help you deal with emotional imbalances.

There are several crystals that can treat depression and anxiety. Let's see which crystals can help you relieve the symptoms of depression.

Rose Quartz:

Allow the love energy of rose quartz to heal your wounds. Learn to develop self-love and manage stress with this healing crystal.

Rose quartz can help you open your heart chakra so you can receive love from the universe and vibrate at a higher frequency.

A daily meditation practice with rose quartz can help you refine your self-love and create a stronger connection with your higher self.

As you practice your meditation session, you will be able to hear the gentle whispers of the heart. What is your higher self trying to tell you? Love is the way, open your heart to receive.

Eye of tiger :

Change your attitude towards life, let the vibrational frequency of this crystal clear your mind.

Tiger's eye is commonly used for protection. Protect yourself from any negative thought patterns or negative energies that may cloud your mind with this powerful stone.

Tiger's Eye can promote mental clarity and help you release fear as well as reduce anxiety. You can wear it to remind yourself that you are protected and supported by the universe.

Citrine:

Bring the sun into your life. Strengthen your intuition and your self-confidence. Whenever you feel a drop in morale, citrine is there to lighten your days!

Citrine increases self-esteem and self-confidence. Let it remind you that you are worthy of joy and pleasure.

Citrine can make you feel more motivated for life and can promote true self-expression.

Meditate with citrine to welcome enthusiasm, happiness, and an abundance of contentment into your heart.

Fluorite:

Bring peace into your life and vibrate at a higher frequency with the powerful properties of this stone. The purifying effects of this stone help rejuvenate the mind and body.

Bring spiritual, emotional, mental and physical balance and harmony into your life by meditating or wearing fluorite.

This crystal has the potential to connect you to your higher self so you can be the best version of yourself. Fluorite can give you the strength to overcome adversities and can help purify your soul.

Meditate with a Fluorite crystal, bringing your attention to the space between your eyebrows, your third eye chakra, to help you see the bigger picture. What can you do to change your energy or outlook?

Angelite:

Enjoy serenity, inner peace and calm. Reduce emotional trauma, anxiety and stress with the calming energy of Angelite.

The Angelite crystal can help you align your throat chakra, third eye chakra, and crown chakra.

This stone can help you get rid of any fear, anger and anxiety and transform these feelings into hope and serenity.