Meditation
Many patients are interested in changing behaviors to treat their depression, but they do not have the time, interest, or resources to engage in professional psychotherapy. Relaxation training, also known as parasympathetic activation, can be a simple, effective way for patients to influence their mood. Click on the links to learn about some methods of inducing relaxation.
Now that you have learned about various relaxation techniques, move on to the last section of this unit to learn about light therapy treatment.
Meditation has existed almost as long almost as recorded history, and all major cultural and religious groups around the world have incorporated some form of meditation into their regular practice. The health benefits of meditation have been known to many healing systems for centuries, although Western medicine has only acknowledged and recognized them fairly recently. Because of only recent interest in these effects, the research base on meditation and depression is still developing.
Many patients may be interested in starting a meditation practice but are intimidated by the idea. Even several minutes per day likely has beneficial effects, and patients should be encouraged to start slowly and seek out formal and informal instruction.
For those who are interested in learning more, Appendix II details several popular forms of meditation with links to further resources and examples. Also, the Deep Spring Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., teaches classes if patients want formal instruction. Finally, the meditation chapter in Rakel's Integrative Medicine is another resource for practitioners looking for more comprehensive information.
