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Dealing with
Depression: Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy,
Meditation, and
Mindfulness
By
Denny Braun, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Sociology
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Presented to 1st UU Church of San
Diego
April 27, 2017
Why be Concerned
about Depression?
There is a surge in suicide rates in America
Recent data: a 24% jump in rates in 15 years
(1999-2014)
In 2014 alone there were almost 43,000 suicides!
Suicide rates have climbed for all ages 10-74 and
for both sexes
For all Americans, it is the 10th leading cause of
death; for men, it is 7th, and for men ages 45-54, it
is the 4th leading cause of death.
For the most vulnerable men (45-64), a 43%
increase since 1999
Coupled with growth in drug ODs & Cirrhosis =
Why Increasing Suicide?
Marriage rates are way down (= social isolation)
Divorce rates have doubled for middle age and older
adults since the 1990s (erasing emotional support)
Especially bad for divorced men, who are 3 & times
more likely to commit suicide than married men
For both sexes, only 1/3rd of those with severe
depression ever contact a mental health professional
(CDC).
Men value self-reliance, and thus resist seeking help
Our economy has eaten away at jobs of working class
(= despair and desperation, producing Trump votes).
More later.
Signs that Signal Depression
Ongoing sadness, emptiness, irritability
Feeling hopeless and/or anxious
Agitation and restlessness
Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
Feeling tired? Disturbances of sleep
Change of appetite (less or more)
Loss of energy
Loss of interest in activities once joyful
Suicidal thoughts
A plan in mind to carry it out
Male Symptoms of
Depression
Acting out in angry & hostile ways
Debilitating headaches, chronic neck and
back pains
Pursuit of risky, self-destructive behaviors
(unsafe sex with multiple partners, drug
and alcohol abuse)
Feelings of hopelessness and pessimism
Seeing oneself as a burden to others
Feeling worthless, weak, and useless
Women Have Twice the Rate of
Depression Than Men
Up to 1-in-4 women encounter it in their
lifetime, whereas 1-in-8 men do
Childbirth, menopause, and rape are additional
causes of female depression not faced by men
Depressed women have more appetite
changes, sleep disturbances, fatigue, pain and
anxiety than depressed men.
Women attempt suicide more than men (but
men are 4 times more likely to succeed at it)
Women will discuss their depression, but the 5
million men who become depressed each year
frequently try to hide it. Why?
Suicide
Rates of
U.S. Males,
2014
by Kristin Neff on
Self Compassion
In closing this presentation, you may
wish to do a brief 7 minute guided
meditation by Kristin Neff on self-
compassion.
Get comfortable, put your feet on the
floor, and before you gently close your
eyes, click here for 7 Minutes of Self