Doing everything right, but still such slow progress

[libertynow]

I meditate daily. I exercise daily. I stay active. I don't drink alcohol. I don't drink pop or any caffein. I don't smoke. I take regular Omega-3. I eat a lot of fish as well and sardines. I started on vitamin D3 just a few days ago. Yet I still find that my anxiety depression will not go completely away. It lingers. I don't take meds, but I did in the beginning for many months as it was this same time last year when it started. I have had a lot of progress that's for sure, but don't understand why it mildly has to linger still. I can feel fine first thing in morning and fine int he evenings. But during the day it is when I feel it linger the most. Some days are good, but some are bad. It actually goes back and forth. When I meditate I feel normal and at peace in those moments, but find it harder to carry it on in the day times some days.

Thanks for your time.

[Joshua12]

hey libertynow :D
You are doing great , What i did was that i started Hypnosis method to get me relax, why don't you give it a try.may be it will work for you.

[bittersweetgirl]

I don't understand it either. I go through spurts where I do the right things, and feel slightly better. And then things start to crumble, one by one, and I can't cope. I feel like a victim of my circumstances - like I still can't "go with the flow" or calmly work through things, or believe in a better day (a better day that will last more than 24 hours or so).

[Try_Repeat]

Hello, libertynow.

"Some days are good, but some are bad. It actually goes back and forth." Yeah, it is how it goes and it's normal. It is the property of life, not only fighting with depression: everything changes constanly, some day you feel bad, another day you feel good. Just accept it as an order.

I have eleminated depression throgh meditation. But the main thing I understood because of practice, is that to fight depression you just have to release a strong desire to get rid of that! It seems paradoxical, but meditation teaches you that. I will explain.

I made a really big progress in fighting depression when, after half a year of meditating I started to understand: "I am feeling bad? So what? I am not my feelings. I don't have to put so big deal about how I feel today. Everything changes, my feelings, my condition! I have to meditate, go in for sports and do everything I need to do to get rid of my depression. But not everything is under my control, and I know that. I can do anything right, but my depression will not go away. That is ok, I don't give a big meaning to it. Let it be. Everything that happens, happens. I just need to relax (but still meditate, do sports etc.) and let things be as they be."

And only when I accepted it, my depression and panic attacks became much weaker. By thinking: "oh when shall? Why my depression can't leave" you make things even worse. When you accept and don't react you release the pain. You do everything good, meditation and healthy lifestyle will do their job in many other different ways except depression.

If you are interested in guidance, you can read my article meditation and depression - how to benefit from practice.

http://nperov.com/meditation/meditation-and-depression-how-to-benefit-from-practice/

It is saying that your aim not just to wait when depression will pass, but to stop identifying yourself with depression, don't react towards negative feelings and use various mental skills gained through meditation against depression. Meditation is not just benign antidepressant, it is training of your mind to resist (or to accept) any negative feelings and thoughts aroused in you. It doesn't mean meditation will not help you to get rid of depression. To get rid of depression you have to put your aim to get rid of depression in a last place. Don't be attached to the idea of getting rid of depression. That is what I am trying to say. Maybe it sounds complicated, I know.

[libertynow]

Awesome article thanks