I haven't been  feeling to good this last week, feeling myself go down hill feeling cold, lonely and very sad. Depression has hung around me for years but thankfully I have been able to start noticing the signs when I am going down, plus thankfully my family notice the signs too. 

I am also doing Mindfulness Meditation, I am mostly doing this to try and help with my chronic pain but I am also  using it to help to keep me relaxed and calm, It really works as long as I keep it up daily.  

<center>https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/11/18/23/09/meditation-1837347_640.jpg</center>

My usual routine would be to lie on my bed,  focus on my breathing letting my usual thoughts just flow through my mind without focusing on one but with feeling down I have to change how I do this as I spend a lot of time in bed anyway when I am feeling down.  I change my routine by sitting  up rested with pillows , its different when  your head is full of everyday tasks to when your feeling down your  head  is full of horrible thoughts. 

I find its best to get yourself relaxed and focus on your breathing, its very difficult when all you want to do is hide but that's one of the thoughts you have to try and ignore, letting the thoughts come and go without wanting to hide or cry is difficult but doing it when your house is quite is much easier.  I find its best to start this as soon as you start to feel down,  I only do this for a short time just enough to relax myself and when I start to feel calmer, It does work but takes a bit of practise but very worth it as I have tried it each time I have started to feel down and both times I have started to feel better after a couple of days where as if I hadn't I would be going further down making it impossible to pick myself up.  My hubby and daughter have noticed the difference it makes too.

<center>https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/03/26/17/19/depression-2176062_640.jpg</center>

Another thing I should point out that when you are starting this make sure you are wearing clothes that are comfortable, I always wear PJs as they are really comfortable, I also don't light candles as I am constantly worried about them setting fire to something. Do what you have to to be as comfortable and stress free as possible. Its also easy to give up after your first time as the first time is always the hardest, don't let this bother you, just keep trying for a few minutes each day then once it starts to feel easier add a few more minutes, the benefits are definitely worth it.

Try and stay positive and always look forward and not back, the future has so many surprises for you, the past is done no need to think about it.

<center>https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/02/25/10/05/bokeh-2097344_640.jpg</center>

https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmWRKbsUvvBwevVP9iKVZpze8sAmySjMWGuLdj6EVi7Cte/%40karenb54.gif
Thank you son-of-satire


https://s20.postimg.org/w3sdl01b1/20150513_135841.jpg |Hi I am Karen, I am here to write about my life and read about yours.. If you like what you read please upvote and leave me a message so I can come visit you  |  follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/karen5416)
--- | --- | ---