For many people, depression is a lifelong battle. If you have one episode of depression, there is a 30 percent chance of recurrence within 10 years, increasing to an 80 percent chance after two episodes. Only about one-quarter of people achieve remission after six months of antidepressant medication treatment.
While these statistics are alarming, there is some good news: Mounting research points to the promise of mindfulness—paying attention to your present thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judging them—in helping people alleviate depression. Studies have suggested that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is just as effective as medication in preventing depression relapse among adults with a history of recurrent depression, and in reducing depressive symptoms among those with active depression.