Mindfulness for Depression: Daily Support for Senior Wellness
Depression is a state of mind we rarely manage to avoid completely, try as we might. It's also particularly prevalent in older generations compared to the general population, and we do our best to arm our seniors as best as possible against it at The Point at Rockridge.
Mindfulness is among the most effective caregiver wellness tips for dealing with depression and its onset, regardless of age. It's a skill that's worth practicing and comes easily once we experience its benefits firsthand.
We've put this article together to explain just how beneficial mindfulness for depression is, and how to make the most of it in Oakland, CA! Read on to find out more.
How Mindfulness Helps
Mindfulness is one of the most important keys to nurturing emotional wellness in ourselves. It's the ability to pause and reflect upon our situation, rather than allowing our mind to run on autopilot.
A mind is a powerful thing, and it shouldn't be left running unattended, as there's no telling where it might end up.
We're seldom taught to take a step back within ourselves to observe how we act while we're not watching. There's a wealth of information to tap into while we try to understand ourselves and why we tend to feel the way we do.
Without pausing to reflect on our internal landscape and how it's evolving while we're not in attendance, there's not much hope of having much say in the direction our lives are headed.
In emotional terms, we're often a bit behind in understanding ourselves, let alone assuming responsibility for our feelings. To get our hands on the reins requires a little:
- Quiet introspection
- Internal exploration
Both of these are freely available to anyone who thinks to look for them. Nothing is as effective in the war against depression as a change in perspective, which makes mindfulness a powerful and reliable ally worth seriously considering.
Emotional Wellness
Depression is more than feeling sad all the time; it's a prison we build for ourselves based on the thoughts we have. Our emotional wellness takes a serious hit while we ignore many of the factors directly contributing to it.
The repetitive thoughts we allow to run through our minds every day, every hour, serve only to mire us further in the rut we've fallen into.
It's no surprise that things sometimes feel hopeless before we're able to address these thoughts and identify them for what they are. Namely, we put an awful lot of energy into maintaining the cyclical nature of these thoughts, whatever they may be, so that we're never free from their influence. Recognising these thoughts so that we might put them behind us is the essence of mindfulness.
Part of the trick and why mindfulness is so important when it comes to emotional wellness is that it allows us to finally become aware of our background dialogue. We constantly talk to ourselves without listening consciously, and before long, we confuse our internal chatter to be who we are, and take it to be fact.
Mindfulness quietens the chatter simply by bringing our attention to it, and it shrinks under our careful scrutiny of what's being said.
Mindful Routines in Aging
Learning to see and address our internal dialogue affords us the ability to understand why we might be struggling, and to identify which repetitive thoughts aren't serving us.
After five minutes of patient self-observation, you'll most likely have found the root of the problem. It won't take long to identify a few different thoughts that seem to keep reappearing and to become consciously aware of them.
Helpful routines to remind ourselves to pause and stop our incessant internal tirade work best when done every day. It doesn't matter so much how you include a little mindfulness practice into your routine, only that it becomes a part of it. The more accustomed we become to accessing self-awareness and the present moment, the less time we spend stuck thinking the same thoughts over and over again.
Freedom from this negatively-skewed stream of thought is intensely liberating. The sensation is like a weight being lifted from our shoulders. Suddenly, the world and everything in it can be viewed as it is, rather than through a filter of obscure and unhelpful negative bias, which is a priceless tool where aging and depression support are concerned.
Mindfulness for Depression
Once felt, the relief mindfulness brings us is impossible to forget, especially as it's so easily accessible. The feeling of joy and gratitude such a simple and effective solution affords us plays further into the hands of a more positive and constructive direction.
Gratitude itself is a balm, and is the opposite of the constant negative diatribe we so often allow to continue unabated. Rather than constantly reminding ourselves of all our mistakes, regrets, and misfortunes, gratitude reminds us of:
- All we've done right
- What we're glad of
- How lucky we are to be here
This change in where we're applying our thoughts and energy does wonders for our outlook, and no wonder!
The power of a change in perspective is a wondrous thing for senior mental health. Mindfulness allows us to take control of our thoughts and guide them into a more positive and fulfilling direction. If we're capable of unconsciously devoting so much time and energy to ensuring we're miserable, we ought to be able to consciously devote it elsewhere in favor of positivity instead.
Mindful Support at The Point at Rockridge in CA
We truly believe and stand behind the positive changes our residents have wrought in themselves with mindfulness for depression exercises and routine. Our minds are our greatest strength and treasure, so it only makes sense to leverage their health to our benefit.
We're proud to be a first-class independent, assisted living, and memory care community that blends safety and security into an inviting and familiar environment with a private landscaped courtyard.
If you wish to schedule a tour of our community in Oakland, CA, don't hesitate to reach out!