How Spirituality Protects the Brain Against Depression

I recently read this article posted in Psych Central titled How Spirituality Protects the Brain Against Depression. We have seen many demonstrations of meditation preventing depression relapse over the last twenty years or so, good to see it published in the JAMA Psychiatry. We know some of the benefits of Meditation in daily life include being present, focused, breathing, blood pressure, stress, attention span, organization, relationships, sex, intimacy, and ability to effectively manage life, work, and family, of course, the list is extensive, these are just a few that come to mind at the moment.

Meditation and Depression

As many other people have experienced, I find it interesting that I began practicing meditation as a method of relaxation; what I’ve experienced over the last twenty-plus years is the effect of meditation in my life expands to the twenty-three hours I am not meditating, more than the hour or so I am sitting and practicing. I was experiencing bouts of depression at the time when I started to meditate. Meditation was one of the main components of my recovery from depression.  Meditation has also been one of the factors in not experiencing depression all the years between then and now.

How Spirituality Protects the Brain Against Depression –  PsychCentral Excerpt

How Spirituality Protects the Brain Against Depression

Engaging in regular meditation or another spiritual practice is linked to a thickening of the brain cortex, according to new research published in JAMA Psychiatry.

This discovery could lead to new insights as to why these activities help guard against depression, particularly in those who are genetically predisposed to the mental health disorder.

Major depression is characterized by a depressed mood for most of the day and a loss of interest in normal activities and relationships.  The disease affects about 6.7% of the U.S. population over age 18, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

This is the first published study investigating whether there is any physical evidence in the brain linked to the protective effects of spirituality and religion against depression.

“The new study links this extremely large protective benefit of spirituality or religion to previous studies which identified large expanses of cortical thinning in specific regions of the brain in adult offspring of families at high risk for major depression,” said Dr. Lisa Miller, professor and director of Clinical Psychology and director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.

90% Decrease in Major Depression through Spirituality

Prior research conducted by Miller and her team revealed a 90 percent decrease in major depression in adults who placed spirituality or religiosity at high importance and whose parents suffered from depression.

The findings showed that although regular attendance at church was not necessary, a strong personal importance placed on spirituality or religion was most protective against major depression in people who were at high familial risk. Although more research is needed, the results suggest that spirituality or religion may protect against major depression by thickening the brain cortex and counteracting the cortical thinning that would typically occur with major depression.

Source:  JAMA Psychiatry 

Curing Depression with Mindfulness Meditation

“Imagine if you could cure depression with a therapy that was more effective and long-lasting than expensive drugs, and which did not have any side effects. These are the claims being made for a form of Mindfulnessmeditation.

Psychologists from the University of Exeter recently published a study into “mindfulness-based cognitive therapy” (MBCT), finding it to be better than drugs or counseling for depression. Four months after starting, three quarters of the patients felt well enough to stop taking antidepressants.” Psychology Today

 

What have been your experiences with meditation and depression? 

Other posts you may enjoy:

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Benefits of Meditation: Being Present in Your Life

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Michael Swerdloff

Providence Life Coaching and Reiki Counseling