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I recently attended the Mind & Life conference held at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. It is organized by the Mind & Life Institute each year where
neuroscientists, as well as the Dalai Lama, are present to review current research studies and discuss possible directions for future research. The title of
this year’s conference was: Mindfulness, Compassion and the Treatment of Depression. I was interested in attending this conference because I will be
writing a master’s thesis on the use of meditation in treating stress and anxiety. I first became interested in this topic many years ago before I knew it was
even a topic of scientific research. For much of my life I have struggled with anxiety, insomnia, and mild depression. I also know from family history that I
am pre-disposed to obsessive/compulsive disorder, which I have experienced in a mild form also. I know, I sound like a mess. But I have functioned fairly
well in my life without too much disruption. I have never been one to look to medication as an answer, so I have learned to deal, in one way or another,
with most of my issues. I have always found that meditation and yoga significantly helped me in reducing stress and maintaining a lowered stress level for
longer periods of time than other forms of exercise. I began practicing yoga about 7 years ago and have enjoyed many of the benefits that a more relaxed
state offers, i.e. more patience, deeper degree of tolerance, better nights sleep,heightened sense of awareness, etc.
However, about four years ago I hit a very rocky time in my life. We had moved to a new State, away from all of my previous social connections and
support systems. I felt very isolated and alone. Having no friends, yoga, or meditation groups to attend I decided to try the anti-depressant Zoloft. This
medication made me feel very spacey and, like my husband says, like a zombie. I know that doesn’t sound good, but at that time it was what I felt I needed.
In some regards it allowed me to have a kind of mental “escape”. I knew that that was not going to be good forever though. So, after a couple months I
found a yoga studio and began practicing regularly again. This also helped me to find other like-minded people and build back a support network. All of
these things greatly helped and allowed me to get off of the medication after about 6 months.
Attending this conference, for me, was two fold. For one, I wanted to gain more knowledge on the current research findings relating to meditation for my
upcoming thesis. But I also went for very personal reasons. I hoped to gain a greater understanding of my own struggle with stress, depression, and
anxiety, as well as to become more familiar with other alternative treatments for these disorders.
While at the conference I learned a lot about the latest scientific research on the treatment of depression. The first scientist to talk, Dr. Charles Nemeroff,
discussed how the experiences we have early in life can contribute to depression in adulthood. He stated that depression is 1/3 genetics and 2/3
environmental. That means that although we may be born more predisposed to depression than someone else, it is not the only contributing factor.
According to these statistics, our experiences may play a bigger role then our family history. I recall reading about a study in which the participants were
divided up into two groups: one was given an anti-depressant and the other was given a placebo. As it turned out, both groups responded equally well to
the pills, which points to the power of the mind over genetics. This also points to our power of perception. Perceiving that something is a certain way may be
all that we need to make changes in our life. If we could use meditation like those participants used the placebo, then we could perhaps have the same
effect.
The next scientist, Dr. Helen Mayberg, discussed the different levels of depression. She stated that people usually fall into one of three levels. The first is
the least severe as it represents a phase of depression that most everyone feels from time to time. This level does not usually require any type of
medication or therapy as the phase will usually pass with time. The next level is deeper and is sometimes treated with medication or an alternative therapy
such as cognitive behavioral therapy or meditation. People in this category are more severe than the first, however, they will usually respond to one type of
treatment or another. However, the third level is the most severe in that these people are often unreachable through medication or any other type of
alternative therapy. They can often feel very much closed off from the rest of the world and have difficulty functioning in everyday society. Dr. Mayberg
explained that there is a part of the brain which can become overactive. When this happens it shuts down other parts of the brain that would usually enable
the person to “think” their way through some of those depressive feelings. Their inability to do this means the difference between those that will respond
to a type of therapy and those that cannot. As a result the person feels isolated and shut off from others. She further discussed the surgery she has been
performing to “quiet” the overactive part to allow for the rest of the brain to function properly. She reported significant results with her patients and stated
that after the surgery they were able to go from the lowest level of depression up to about the 2nd level. That means that they could then begin either
cognitive behavioral therapy or Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), which is a form of meditation used to treat depression.
The conference went on to include five other scientists. The last talk of the day was made by Dr. Charles Raison. He discussed the connection between
stress and depression and the function of the immune system. In his study he used compassion meditation as a way to help college students feel more
socially connected, and thus, reduce stress and inflammation. According to him, research shows that the more social connections a person has the least
likely they are to suffer from depression. During compassion meditation a person visualizes the connection between themselves and all other beings. From
a Buddhist perspective, this exercise can increase compassion towards others. But from the scientific viewpoint it can help increase feelings of social
connectedness and decrease depressive feelings. The results of his study were quite interesting. He found that those students who did indeed meditate on
a consistent basis showed a decrease in stress as well as a decrease in inflammation. Those students who did not stick to meditation consistently were
higher in both stress and inflammation.
After the conference was over I recalled a few significant moments. I remembered back to when the conference had begun and the Dalai Lama entered the
stage. He started off by making a brief introductory speech. I remembered how tears had come to my eyes. It was an overwhelming feeling to be in the same
room at the same time with the Dalai Lama. I recalled how he seemed so calm and his movements purposeful, just being in his presence made me
feel calmer as well. I also couldn’t help but think of the number of hours he must have spent meditating in his life. Although science is now beginning to
prove that meditation does have a certain ability to “train” the mind, Buddhists have claimed to know this all along. Watching the Dalai Lama, I thought about
my own meditation practice and how far I am away from experiencing that relaxed state that seems to come so naturally for him. Learning that meditation
can indeed help in reducing stress and depression, I made a promise to myself to take time each day to meditate.
I also recalled what, in my opinion, was one of the most interesting points made at the conference. The Dalai Lama had stated that compassion training was
especially important for children. Many of the other scientists had agreed. They discussed the importance that children begin compassion meditation at a
young age while they are still forming opinions and beliefs about the world around them. This reminded me of my own children and how continually amazed I
am at their ability to be so open and relaxed about life. In thinking about my own stress and depression, I think that learning to let go and finding the inner
peace to enjoy life as my children do is an attainable goal. And meditation is tool I’ll use to get there.
neuroscientists, as well as the Dalai Lama, are present to review current research studies and discuss possible directions for future research. The title of
this year’s conference was: Mindfulness, Compassion and the Treatment of Depression. I was interested in attending this conference because I will be
writing a master’s thesis on the use of meditation in treating stress and anxiety. I first became interested in this topic many years ago before I knew it was
even a topic of scientific research. For much of my life I have struggled with anxiety, insomnia, and mild depression. I also know from family history that I
am pre-disposed to obsessive/compulsive disorder, which I have experienced in a mild form also. I know, I sound like a mess. But I have functioned fairly
well in my life without too much disruption. I have never been one to look to medication as an answer, so I have learned to deal, in one way or another,
with most of my issues. I have always found that meditation and yoga significantly helped me in reducing stress and maintaining a lowered stress level for
longer periods of time than other forms of exercise. I began practicing yoga about 7 years ago and have enjoyed many of the benefits that a more relaxed
state offers, i.e. more patience, deeper degree of tolerance, better nights sleep,heightened sense of awareness, etc.
However, about four years ago I hit a very rocky time in my life. We had moved to a new State, away from all of my previous social connections and
support systems. I felt very isolated and alone. Having no friends, yoga, or meditation groups to attend I decided to try the anti-depressant Zoloft. This
medication made me feel very spacey and, like my husband says, like a zombie. I know that doesn’t sound good, but at that time it was what I felt I needed.
In some regards it allowed me to have a kind of mental “escape”. I knew that that was not going to be good forever though. So, after a couple months I
found a yoga studio and began practicing regularly again. This also helped me to find other like-minded people and build back a support network. All of
these things greatly helped and allowed me to get off of the medication after about 6 months.
Attending this conference, for me, was two fold. For one, I wanted to gain more knowledge on the current research findings relating to meditation for my
upcoming thesis. But I also went for very personal reasons. I hoped to gain a greater understanding of my own struggle with stress, depression, and
anxiety, as well as to become more familiar with other alternative treatments for these disorders.
While at the conference I learned a lot about the latest scientific research on the treatment of depression. The first scientist to talk, Dr. Charles Nemeroff,
discussed how the experiences we have early in life can contribute to depression in adulthood. He stated that depression is 1/3 genetics and 2/3
environmental. That means that although we may be born more predisposed to depression than someone else, it is not the only contributing factor.
According to these statistics, our experiences may play a bigger role then our family history. I recall reading about a study in which the participants were
divided up into two groups: one was given an anti-depressant and the other was given a placebo. As it turned out, both groups responded equally well to
the pills, which points to the power of the mind over genetics. This also points to our power of perception. Perceiving that something is a certain way may be
all that we need to make changes in our life. If we could use meditation like those participants used the placebo, then we could perhaps have the same
effect.
The next scientist, Dr. Helen Mayberg, discussed the different levels of depression. She stated that people usually fall into one of three levels. The first is
the least severe as it represents a phase of depression that most everyone feels from time to time. This level does not usually require any type of
medication or therapy as the phase will usually pass with time. The next level is deeper and is sometimes treated with medication or an alternative therapy
such as cognitive behavioral therapy or meditation. People in this category are more severe than the first, however, they will usually respond to one type of
treatment or another. However, the third level is the most severe in that these people are often unreachable through medication or any other type of
alternative therapy. They can often feel very much closed off from the rest of the world and have difficulty functioning in everyday society. Dr. Mayberg
explained that there is a part of the brain which can become overactive. When this happens it shuts down other parts of the brain that would usually enable
the person to “think” their way through some of those depressive feelings. Their inability to do this means the difference between those that will respond
to a type of therapy and those that cannot. As a result the person feels isolated and shut off from others. She further discussed the surgery she has been
performing to “quiet” the overactive part to allow for the rest of the brain to function properly. She reported significant results with her patients and stated
that after the surgery they were able to go from the lowest level of depression up to about the 2nd level. That means that they could then begin either
cognitive behavioral therapy or Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), which is a form of meditation used to treat depression.
The conference went on to include five other scientists. The last talk of the day was made by Dr. Charles Raison. He discussed the connection between
stress and depression and the function of the immune system. In his study he used compassion meditation as a way to help college students feel more
socially connected, and thus, reduce stress and inflammation. According to him, research shows that the more social connections a person has the least
likely they are to suffer from depression. During compassion meditation a person visualizes the connection between themselves and all other beings. From
a Buddhist perspective, this exercise can increase compassion towards others. But from the scientific viewpoint it can help increase feelings of social
connectedness and decrease depressive feelings. The results of his study were quite interesting. He found that those students who did indeed meditate on
a consistent basis showed a decrease in stress as well as a decrease in inflammation. Those students who did not stick to meditation consistently were
higher in both stress and inflammation.
After the conference was over I recalled a few significant moments. I remembered back to when the conference had begun and the Dalai Lama entered the
stage. He started off by making a brief introductory speech. I remembered how tears had come to my eyes. It was an overwhelming feeling to be in the same
room at the same time with the Dalai Lama. I recalled how he seemed so calm and his movements purposeful, just being in his presence made me
feel calmer as well. I also couldn’t help but think of the number of hours he must have spent meditating in his life. Although science is now beginning to
prove that meditation does have a certain ability to “train” the mind, Buddhists have claimed to know this all along. Watching the Dalai Lama, I thought about
my own meditation practice and how far I am away from experiencing that relaxed state that seems to come so naturally for him. Learning that meditation
can indeed help in reducing stress and depression, I made a promise to myself to take time each day to meditate.
I also recalled what, in my opinion, was one of the most interesting points made at the conference. The Dalai Lama had stated that compassion training was
especially important for children. Many of the other scientists had agreed. They discussed the importance that children begin compassion meditation at a
young age while they are still forming opinions and beliefs about the world around them. This reminded me of my own children and how continually amazed I
am at their ability to be so open and relaxed about life. In thinking about my own stress and depression, I think that learning to let go and finding the inner
peace to enjoy life as my children do is an attainable goal. And meditation is tool I’ll use to get there.
| posted 11/14/07 allmaterial copyrighted 2007-2008 |
| Understanding Stress and Depression by Becky McGinnis |
| M oms Helping Moms |
| The Hearth Foundation - Copyright 2007 - 2008 Wendy Myers Web Designs - Copyright 2007-2008 |
