Learning how to cure depression naturally means that you need to recognise that the way you live has not served you well. That some changes need to be made.
Learning to change your thoughts (detailed in step one) is one of the most difficult things to do, but one that has the most potential for profound change. By difficult, I mean it will take time and effort to put it into place firmly. So be patient.
Depression is rather like a black hole. It has the power to suck you in. And the sides of the hole are slippery so it’s hard to climb out. However, if you learn to shift your thoughts away from your depression, you’ll find that somehow, you fly out of the hole.
Shifting the focus of your thoughts may be difficult at first, so again effort, determination and time are needed. Initially, I suggest that you search around in your mind for the happy times in your life. Where were you happy? What location were you in? Was it in a park, on a beach, on a camping holiday?
It will probably be somewhere natural. Once you recognise those times, then you may like to visit a similar location that’s near to where you live. Then look around you and try to observe the subtle details of life - the swaying of the trees, the birds singing, insects searching for food.
Put your judgements on hold. Just observe the life around you.
This may only be momentary the first time. But the shift away from you is what you are trying to achieve. Looking at other life forms and how they cope with life is a good way to do this.
Then, you can shift your thoughts back to this, any time during the day. If you can manage this three times in the first day, you’re doing well. Try to increase this every day.
If you can’t remember any times in your life that you were happy, then think of situations that give you a glimmer of happiness, of hope, now. What are their locations? By going to similar locations, you are automatically re-focussing your thoughts away from you.
Shifting your thoughts away from your problems tends to lighten you. In the first days, even weeks, you will probably not manage this very often, but slowly, slowly you are making profound and lasting changes. In these days, it will feel as if you’re not making any progress.
However, as the days roll into weeks, you will start to see a change.
Not everyone around you will like the change. People often prefer the familiar, even when it’s negative. So don’t expect everyone to enjoy your new found freedom from depression.
