Is ‘The Art of Living’ a cure for depression? Study highlights benefits

Depression can be extremely painful for a person. Feelings of meaninglessness, recurring thoughts of sadness can exhaust a person mentally, emotionally and physically. Some of the most common symptoms of depression are irritability, decreased energy, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, difficulty concentrating, feeling guilty, and hopelessness. Read this also Older depressed people drive more risky: Study reveals unique and dangerous driving patterns

However, according to a recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology, along with traditional psychotherapy treatments, art of living techniques can help manage the symptoms of this mental condition. The art of living involves increasing positivity in life, including optimism and gratitude. Researchers are trying to reduce negative thoughts as well as improve positive thoughts to manage symptoms of depression.

Study findings:

This study was conducted on 161 participants suffering from mild to severe depression. The participants were divided into three groups. One group received weekly psychotherapy sessions for four weeks. The second group received psychotherapy sessions with a daily set of self-reflection questions that they recorded in their journals. The third group did not receive any treatment.

The daily set of self-reflection questions focuses on the positive aspects of the participant’s life and things for which they are grateful. The researchers also recorded the participants’ depression levels, life satisfaction and living skills. Read this also Study reveals the hidden cost of a mother’s depression on her children, how it affects their emotional development

The results were amazing. It was observed that the first and second groups showed improvement, while the group that received a daily set of self-reflection questions showed greater improvement. They also reported increased life satisfaction and mastery of the art of living, along with a new enthusiasm for looking at life.

The benefits were short-lived:

While self-reflection and survival skills showed promising results, the benefits were short-lived. The researchers observed a decline in participants’ well-being at follow-up after three months. This suggests that practicing the art of living can have an immediate effect on people suffering from depression, but that the effect may diminish without continuing the practice. Read this also Study shows walking reduces risk of depression: Find out how increasing your daily step count helps

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.