Depression as an opportunity for spiritual growth

The importance of understanding

depression in general a

and yours specifically:

Your depression is not random.

You feel,

think,

say,

and believe the same things

every time.

Perhaps what you are depressing changes.

How you depress remains the same.

The only way we can know what is going on is to sit down with an open mind

and pay attention

if we watch

closely enough

we notice that there are sensations

in our bodies that go with depression.

They don’t vary.

They’re the same every time.

We have a labelling system that goes with those sensations. In this case, the label is depression.

With this label comes a learned response,

the self-talk- everything we’ve been

taught to believe about depression.

What it is

what it means

what I am for feeling it

What will happen as a result

How the future will be

When that talk starts, we have an

emotional reaction to it.

I don’t want this.

I am afraid.

This is too painful.

Oh no, not this again.

And then comes a conditioned behaviour pattern which is usually avoidance/ escape.

I should quit my job.

I’ve got to leave town.

I need a drink (or drug).

I want a divorce.

I’m going to kill myself.

I can’t function. (paralysis)

SEQUENCE:

sensation

thought

emotion

behaviour pattern

THESE ARE GOING ON ALL THE TIME,

not just in depression.

If we are willing to pay close enough attention we notice that in depression:

the sensations in our bodies don’t vary

the thoughts in our heads don’t vary

the emotional reactions don’t vary

the impulses toward certain behaviours don’t vary

and this chain of events

DOES NOT VARY

(ED’S NOTE: this is a big clue.)

Adapted from ‘The Depression Book-  depression as an opportunity for spiritual growth’,  by Cheri Huber – Zen Buddhist Teacher