5 Ways to Create an Anti-Depressant Brain

Depression can rob people of their sense of aliveness and vitality, interfere with job
performance, disrupt relationships, and increase the likelihood of self-harm. Within
each and every one of us are a core set of natural anti-depressants. When we
intentionally tap into these resources, it shifts our brain activity in ways that can
lend itself to shaping an anti-depressant brain. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Mindfulness could reduce depression.

Mindfulness practice is connected to lower depression scores, and we can
actually see why in the brain. When people practice mindfulness they spend less
time in the part of the brain that ruminates on the old stories that keep us stuck
in the past. Instead, they spend more time connecting to the area of the brain
responsible for sensing the world.
2. Self-compassion can powerfully fight anxiety.
Self-compassion reduces rumination (spending time rehearsing those unhelpful
stories from the past) and increases well-being. This is inversely correlated with
anxiety and depression.
3. Compassion practices can increase empathy.
Compassion practices can shift activity to the left prefrontal cortex, and that has
been more associated with positive emotions and resiliency. We can also grow
the areas of the brain associated with empathy and compassion.
4. Play can be a natural anti-depressant.
Studies reveal that the act of play as well as creating more enriching
environments can give us energy, make us more efficient, and serve as a natural
anti-depressant.
5. Living with purpose could reduce inflammation.
Living with greater purpose has been shown to reduce the expression of genes
associated with cellular inflammation. Cellular inflammation is associated with
many diseases and depression.

The science that continues to come out about mindfulness, self-compassion,

purpose/compassion, play and confidence and their neurological benefits is
incredibly motivating.