Depression is the darkness of the soul, the unwillingness, despair and sadness, there are many adjectives to define it, but if we know anything about it is because its effects are devastating, today we want to talk specifically about cognitive therapy. depression, using mindfulness as a basis.
Clinical depression or? Major depression is a condition in which a persistent depressive mood or loss of interest occurs, in addition to these symptoms, there are also difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, decreased concentration, etc.
- As for the number of people suffering from depression.
- Statistics are worrying.
- It is one of the most common mental disorders.
- 17% of the population reported suffering from depression in the last six months.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) revealed.
- That by 2020 depression will be the second most common disease in the world and its treatment will become the main challenge in the field of mental health.
In the late 1980s, there were several ways to combat depression. Antidepressants have become the first-line treatment for clinical depression. Psychological treatments were also beginning to succeed. Behavioral therapy emphasized the need to increase the participation of depressed people in stimulating or enjoyable activities.
Cognitive therapy was designed to change the way thoughts contributed to the onset and maintenance of depressive symptoms. Finally, interpersonal therapy stated that learning to resolve interpersonal conflicts and changing roles would help combat depression.
With all the treatments available, the problem of depression should surely have been solved, but unfortunately it was not.
Unfortunately, although depression therapies have proven effective, research has identified another problem, this problem was the recurrence of new episodes of depression in people who had already experienced this situation, in this sense some consider depression to be a chronic disease for life. the risk of recurrent episodes exceeds 80%. Patients will experience an average of four depressive episodes for more than 20 weeks.
Relapses and recurrences after successful treatment of depression are common and debilitating outcomes. That’s the real problem we face. To cope with relapses, the use of cognitive therapy was emphasized. Thanks to this method, the relapses became smaller, although they continued to exist. Therefore, it was necessary to introduce a new item to solve this problem.
It was considered to include mindfulness as a possible component of psychological treatment of depression. But what does “mindfulness” mean?
Mindfulness involves paying attention in a particular way: with a purpose, in the present moment and without judgment (Jon Kabat-Zinn). It is remarkable how liberating it can be to perceive our thoughts as mere thoughts and to understand that they do not define us.
Simply recognizing our thoughts as thoughts can free us from the distorted reality they often create, allowing for greater clarity as well as a greater sense of control over our lives.
Cognitive therapy for mindfulness-based depression is possible as an essential ability to recognize and get rid of mental states characterized by patterns that perpetuate negative and ruminant thoughts.
If we do not pay attention to these patterns, there will probably be a downward spiral of mood and the appearance of a relapse. The basic tool for making changes to mental modes is the intentional use of attention and awareness in a particular way.
When choosing what we are going to deal with and how we will focus, we put in our hands the exchange that facilitates the exchange of “mental gears”. When can we implement this new skill?In principle, this mental mode can be exercised in all situations.
Mindfulness is the fundamental skill that cognitive therapy teaches to combat mindfulness-based depression, that is, pay attention in a particular way, with a purpose, at the present time and without making a value judgment.
Being aware of thought patterns, emotions and bodily sensations is an essential first step. Mindfulness provides both the means to change: mental gears?As an alternative mental path to change.
Cognitive therapy for mindfulness-based depression lasts for 8 sessions, in this type of therapy predominates the process of learning attention, with one purpose, at all times and without establishing a value judgment, so learning to pay attention is the focus of the first. therapy sessions.
Patients realize the lack of attention they usually provide in their daily lives, learn to be aware of how quickly the mind changes from topic to topic, after realizing that the mind wanders, they learn to bring it back and focus on one. This process is taught first based on body parts and then on breathing.
Finally, patients learn to be aware of how the rambling of the mind can allow the presence of negative thoughts and emotions. Addressing mood swings as they occur or combating them later involves a second phase of cognitive therapy for mindfulness-based depression.
As we have seen, cognitive therapy for mindfulness-based depression is a type of effective therapy for treating depressive states, through which patients learn to identify, make space, accept their negative thoughts and finally let them go.