Out of all of the rotten things that one must cope with while struggling with anxiety, one of the worst is being told “just cheer up!” by friends and family. However well-wishing they are, they might not realize that it is virtually impossible to plaster on a smile and feel better.
For those who are dealing with depression and anxiety, the goal of ‘feeling happy’ quickly fades into the background; a much more attainable position is that of complete neutrality, finding a calm emotional and mental center where one’s head is clear enough to be able to function day-to-day.
Depression and anxiety can be crippling in many ways. For sufferers, the ability to arrive at an emotionally calm place, even for a few minutes, is the first step to an eventual recovery. One of the most common techniques used by counselors and therapists in these early stages of treatment is mindfulness. [Read more…]