San Diego Therapist Blog: Regina Huelsenbeck, PhD

Depression Relapse: What causes it? The risk factors for a relapse of a major depressive episode include a family history of depression, a recent trauma or loss, the number of depressive episodes you may have had in the past, and a cognitive reactivity to sad moods. Negative feeling states and thought patterns seem to get wired together and can recreate depressive states more easily the next time, and easier the next time...and so on and so on.

Researchers have found that regular mindfulness practice and mindfulness based cognitive therapy significantly decreases the relapse/recurrence of depression (Teasedale et al., 2000).

How does this happen? Why does mindfulness practice help someone who suffers from depression?

The brain is filled with billions of neurons- These billions of neurons are connected to each other via synapses- specifically about 10,000 different synapses connect 100 billion neurons. A neuron fires whenever we have an experience.

When we practice mindfulness regularly - we could, over time, by repeating this mindfulness experience increase "synaptic densities in those regions that were activated with mindful practice" (Siegal, 2007). In essence, re wire your brain....making it more likely that you will be in the mindfulness territory of your brain when new stresses or potentials for depression arises.  

In fact, "mindful awareness is a form of experience that seems to promote neural plasticity". Neuroplasticity is essentially brain rewiring- "neuroplasticity is the term used when connections in the brain change in response to experience" (Siegal, 2007).

If you are interested in more information on mindfulness and neuroplasticity get David Siegal The Mindful Brain. If you want more on cognitive reactivity and a mindful way to approach your thinking, check out my blog article : The Thought Stream.