If you have felt depressed for a long period of time you know precisely what it feels like; it is as though life has slowed down, lost its vibrancy and color and sense of expansiveness.
If you are depressed you might feel spiritless as if you are numb, hollow and empty inside and each waking moment makes you feel more and more diminished rather than expanded.
Feeling depressed makes us lose touch with the joy of living and throughout our lives we all, to some extent, experience this loss. While some of us get back in touch with the vibrancy of living, others of us continue to struggle – mostly against ourselves.
When I went through my own heavy bout of depression I was completely unaware at the time that the reason why I felt so oppressed was not because of other people victimizing me or life punishing me, but rather the endless barrage of toxic self-talk, festering core beliefs and deep unresolved core wounds inside that were making my life a living hell.
I had created a prison within my mind full of limiting beliefs about myself (“I am bad,” “I deserve to be punished,” “I’m worthless”), endless self-put-downs (“You can’t do anything right,” “You are such a mess,” “You’re a loser”) and perpetual judgments about others (“People can’t be trusted,” “People are out to get me,” “No one else is like me or can understand me”).
Before I knew it, life truly felt like a jail cell. But even despite the overwhelming oppressive weight of everyday life I knew, deep down, that there was something “much more” to life.
Slowly, as I began to explore this elusive “something else” I came to discover different ways of expanding my very limited, constricted and narrow sense of self, and with these discoveries came my ultimate conclusion: what “we” think “we” are is such a lie and delusion. We are so much bigger than what we ever imagined.
But I will leave you to discover the details of this realization for yourself.
Recommended: How to Supercharge Your Dopamine Levels Naturally and Never Feel Depressed or Anxious Again
In the meantime, you may, or may not find the following practices helpful – but I hope they are. Even if they aren’t I hope they expand your sense of possibility:
1. Reflect on the Sky
The trap that the depressed person falls into is living a very insular life. When you go outside and stare up at the endless blue expanse above, a part of your mind expands as well.
Suddenly your problems don’t seem so big or end-of-the-world. There is something particularly mystical about the sky which I have always loved and continue to admire.
So the next time there is a clear (or partly cloudy) day, go and sit in a chair, on a bench or simply lie down somewhere comfortable and let yourself be lost in the world above.
2. Go “Forest Bathing” (Shinrin Yoku)
I have written about this topic before. The Japanese believe that taking a regular stroll in the forest is very beneficial for one’s well-being.
Forest bathing is said to increase feelings of calmness and joy while decreasing depression, anxiety and blood pressure. It is also said to increase mental concentration while lowering blood sugar levels.
Recommended: 5 Bad Habits that Drain Your Vital Energy
Personally, I don’t live near a woodland or forest, but I do live near a big park that helps me to shake off any stuffy, constricted feelings inside. Give it a try, even if it means pacing outside in your backyard.
3. Watch a Documentary About Other People/Places/Times
Depression tends to trick us into feeling that we are at the center of everything. An interesting way to break through this illusion is to watch documentaries about completely alien people and places.
Some of the best ever documentaries that I have watched include Samsara (2011), Baraka (1992), Life in a Day (2011) and Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014).
There are so many free documentaries out there about different places, people, cultures, and outer space, so take your pick. You might notice your sense of self-expanding during and after watching them.
4. Listen to Ambient, “Trippy” Music
In my darker years, I would listen to a lot of heavy metal and darkwave music. Although it was an outlet for the unhappiness I felt and made me feel “almost understood,” it nevertheless contributed to my melancholy and inner angst, paradoxically releasing it but building it up at the same time.
Eventually, as I began to explore different ways of expanding my mind and sense of self, I stumbled across the ambient genre of music.
I’ve gone through a number of different styles of ambient music throughout the years, but I would recommend listening to any type of nature sound (forest, ocean, rain, fire) or any instrument used in music therapy (take a look at this article for inspiration). Other artists, I love listening to include Deuter, Enya, Balmorhea, Deep Forest and Lisa Gerrard.
5. Try Holotropic Breathwork
Originally developed by psychiatrist Stanislav Grof, holotropic breathwork is a natural way of inducing an altered state of conscious, utilizing rhythmic and accelerated breathing with evocative music (usually drums beating).
First developed in the 1970’s, holotropic breathwork is said to help your psyche repair itself through a profound state of consciousness that can usually be reached through deep meditation or psychedelic drugs.
As Grof explains in his book Psychology of the Future, ” … in holotropic states, we can transcend the narrow boundaries of the body ego and reclaim our full identity.”
Recommended: 7 Ways To Stop Leaking & Losing Your Spiritual Energy
Even if you don’t opt to explore holotropic breathwork, focusing on your breathing is another simple technique I have found to effectively ground yourself in the present moment, helping to release you from the confines of your mind.
***
There are so many ways to expand your consciousness when feeling depressed, and this article lists only a few of the main techniques I used to interrupt my cycles of misery.
It is likely that on your own path of healing you will stumble across many other techniques. I hope that you can take the time to share any of your own discoveries with us below!
Source: lonerwolf
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zanetvize.com
모든 바보들은 위험이 분산되어야 한다는 것을 알고 있는데 Fang Jifan은 어떻게 모를 수 있습니까?
k8 カジノ 入金
この記事は非常に有意義で、読むのが楽しみでした。
bestmanualpolesaw.com
여느 때처럼 그는 추모비를 하나씩 작성했다.
geinoutime.com
그는 무기력하고 비즈니스 문제에 관심이 없습니다.
thewiin.com
Zhang Yanling은 땅의 균열에 들어갈 수 있기를 바라며 부끄러워 즉시 고개를 숙였습니다.
アイムジャグラーEX（自动转）
この記事は非常に有意義で、読むのが楽しみです。
zanetvize.com
맞습니다. Lianzong Su Qin과 Zhang Yi가 아닙니까?
The creativity shines through, making me wonder what else you could do with such a vivid imagination.
This post has been incredibly helpful to me. The guidance is something I’m truly grateful for.
The unique viewpoints in The writing never fail to impress me. Insightful as always!
Engaging with The Writing is like savoring a gourmet meal; every bite (or word) is to be enjoyed.
The insights are like keys, unlocking new perspectives and ideas I hadn’t considered.
The passion for this subject is infectious. Reading The post has inspired me to learn more.
thewiin.com
아무 말도 하지 않았지만 장신의 목소리에서 그의 주저함이 들린다.
A perfect blend of informative and entertaining, like the ideal date night conversation.
geinoutime.com
“왜, 무슨 일이 있었나요?” Fang Jifan은 차분한 표정으로 침착하게 말했습니다.
You have a unique perspective that I find incredibly valuable. Thank you for sharing.
The Writing is a constant source of inspiration and knowledge, like a muse that never fails to inspire. Thank you for being my muse.
bestmanualpolesaw.com
“가져와…가져와…아니, 읽어봐, 읽어봐.”
アイムジャグラー
素晴らしい記事！とてもインスピレーションを受けました。
freeflowincome.com
“당신의 Jiang 가족이 투표한 것 같습니다.” Fang Jifan이 웃었습니다.
アイムジャグラーEX（自动转）
素晴らしい記事でした。いつも新しいインスピレーションをありがとう。
ihrfuehrerschein.com
2,000명이 넘는 인원과 그들을 호위하는 병사들은 하늘을 가리고 태양을 가릴 정도의 위력을 발휘한다.
에그벳300
날아가는 공은 망설임 없이 빠르게 북쪽으로 표류했다.
카이센 윈즈
그러나 장씨는 “당신의 미혼 남편이 지금 명성을 얻었습니까? “라고 물었습니다.
마종 웨이즈 2
그는 멋지게 말했고 Hongzhi 황제의 얼굴은 더욱 부드러워졌습니다.
“I’m genuinely impressed by the quality of this post. The way you’ve presented the information, with both depth and clarity, is outstanding. It’s clear you have a strong grasp of the subject, and your passion for sharing knowledge is admirable. I learned a lot and felt very inspired. Keep up the great work!”