Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy Relieves Depression

Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science Working Together Against  Depression

Depression is very common in today's times with as many as  one in five people becoming depressed at some point in their lives. Anyone can get low ; but someone is said to be suffering from depression when these feelings don’t go away quickly or become so bad that they impact on the sufferers everyday life, and can lead to long bouts of depression, sometimes resulting in addiction to drugs or alcohol, break down in relationships or even self harm and suicide. However in an interesting merge of the eastern teachings of Buddhism and modern day science and psychology, a new and proven approach to dealing with depression has emerged.

Conventional methods of treatment using anti-depressant drugs can work and in some cases are the only option but medication only provides relief for a limited period, can become addictive, and rarely offers permanent cessation from depression. 


   
Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) was developed by Zindel Segal, Mark Williams and John Teasdale, based on Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction programme. The MBCT programme was designed specifically to help people who suffer repeated bouts of depression. This combination of ancient wisdom and modern psychology is fast becoming a well respected and accepted treatment for those suffering from repeated bouts of debilitating depression. It gives sufferers the tools and techniques to deal with and accept their depression rather than try to suppress it and deny it. In doing so the symptoms are allowed to "be" and are experienced, rather than fought, allowing the sufferer to rise above their thoughts rather than be pulled down by them.


This authoritative, easy-to-use self-help program is based on methods clinically proven to reduce the recurrence of depression. Revealing the hidden psychological mechanisms that cause chronic unhappiness, the authors gently guide readers through a series of exercises designed to break the mental habits that lead to despair. Kabat-Zinn lends his calm, familiar voice to the accompanying CD of guided meditations, making this a complete package for anyone looking to regain a sense of balance and contentment.