If you’re wondering, “am I depressed?”, please read this page. Depression can look different for different people, For a lot of people it can feel like everything takes more energy than you have… you don’t want to move, you don’t want to get out of bed, you don’t want to brush your teeth, you don’t want to wash your hair, you don’t want to talk to anyone or see anyone, you don’t want to do a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g… ugg. Pretty much everything anyone says or does is frustrating and irritating. You may even be thinking that you don’t care if you’re alive anymore.

You are not alone in this fight, many people struggle with feelings of depression and sadness and there are things that you can do to make you feel better. I know it seems like a lot to reach out, but you came to this website for a reason, you are at your limit and you want a change. I can help you with addressing that depression head on. This could be linked to some deeper trauma or event. If so, we can talk about ways you can work with your mind and body to manage these feelings that are coming up. There are lots of things you can practice, so let’s talk about those.

If any of this sounds like you, you may be experiencing depression and finding a counselor near you is important.

** Please contact me today here or at 512-553-2054 to set up your FREE 15 minute phone consultation. **

If you are thinking of ending your life, please reach out to a positive support immediately, or call the Travis County Crisis Hotline at 512-472-4357 or text “TX” to 741741 (crisis text line). These services are free. This is serious and there are so many options available to you… options that you won’t know about until you call. If you’re having these thoughts, please call these crisis services now because you matter.

Now, let’s practice a loving kindness meditation. Close your eyes and sit in a comfortable position in a safe place. If you don’t feel safe enough to close your eyes, focus on a spot on the wall.

Sending Loving-Kindness to Loved Ones

Now bring your awareness back to the person standing on your right side. Begin to send the love that you feel back to that person. You and this person are similar. Just like you, this person wishes to be happy. Send all your love and warm wishes to that person.

Repeat the following phrases, silently:

May you live with ease, may you be happy, may you be free from pain. 
May you live with ease, may you be happy, may you be free from pain.
May you live with ease, may you be happy, may you be free from pain.

Now focus your awareness on the person standing on your left side. Begin to direct the love within you to that person. Send all your love and warmth to that person. That person and you are alike. Just like you, that person wishes to have a good life.

Repeat the following phrases, silently:

Just as I wish to, may you be safe, may you be healthy, may you live with ease and happiness.
Just as I wish to, may you be safe, may you be healthy, may you live with ease and happiness.
Just as I wish to, may you be safe, may you be healthy, may you live with ease and happiness.

Now picture another person that you love, perhaps a relative or a friend. This person, like you, wishes to have a happy life. Send warm wishes to that person.

Repeat the following phrases, silently:

May your life be filled with happiness, health, and well-being.
May your life be filled with happiness, health, and well-being.
May your life be filled with happiness, health, and well-being.

Sending Loving-Kindness to Neutral People

Now think of an acquaintance, someone you don’t know very well and toward whom you do not have any particular feeling. You and this person are alike in your wish to have a good life.

Send all your wishes for well-being to that person, repeating the following phrases, silently:

Just as I wish to, may you also live with ease and happiness.
Just as I wish to, may you also live with ease and happiness.
Just as I wish to, may you also live with ease and happiness.

Now bring to mind another acquaintance toward whom you feel neutral. It could be a neighbor, or a colleague, or someone else that you see around but do not know very well. Like you, this person wishes to experience joy and well-being in his or her life.

Send all your good wishes to that person, repeating the following phrases, silently:

May you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be free from all pain. 
May you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be free from all pain. 
May you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be free from all pain. 

Sending Loving-Kindness to All Living Beings

Now expand your awareness and picture the whole globe in front of you as a little ball.

Send warm wishes to all living beings on the globe, who, like you, want to be happy:

Just as I wish to, may you live with ease, happiness, and good health. 
Just as I wish to, may you live with ease, happiness, and good health.
Just as I wish to, may you live with ease, happiness, and good health.

Take a deep breath in. And breathe out. And another deep breath in and let it go. Notice the state of your mind and how you feel after this meditation.

When you’re ready, you may open your eyes.

I’d like to hear about how this worked for you. Contact me here or at 512-553-2054 to set up a FREE 15 minute phone consultation.