#303 Depression and Anxiety: Your Old Enemies, Your Best Friends | Zindel Segal

Winter is coming. Not to get all Game of Thrones on you, but... while there are some optimistic signs on the horizon in the form of vaccines, it looks like we could be heading into some dark months of rising caseloads and restrictions on our lifestyle. Consequently, we are launching a 2-part series to help you ride this out. Next week, we will talk to happiness researcher Laurie Santos (host of the Happiness Lab podcast). Today, my guest today is Zindel Segal, a clinical psychologist from the University of Toronto and a pioneer in developing and studying ways to use mindfulness for depression and anxiety. While not all of us will experience clinical depression or anxiety in the coming months, we may well experience significant doses of sadness and worry. In this conversation, we talk about: what the science shows about the benefits of meditation for depression and anxiety; the importance of establishing and maintaining routines as a form of anti-depressant; the differences between depression and anxiety; and how to treat depression like an old friend.

Where to find Zindel Segal online: 

Website

Social Media:

• Twitter
• Facebook

Book Mentioned:

• Lost Connections by Johann Hari

2020 has been a doozy, so this year we’re offering Ten Percent Happier subscriptions at a 40% discount. Get this deal before it ends on December 1st by going to.

Take Part in the New Year’s Series

To submit a question or share a reflection dial 646-883-8326 and leave us a voicemail. If you’re outside the United States, you can email us a voice memo file in mp3 format to listener@tenpercent.com. The deadline for submissions is Monday December 7th. 

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Jon Kabat-Zinn’s MBSR technique

• Kindness by Billy Collins 

• Sona Dimidjian Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) researcher
• Mindfulness program for depression and anxiety management

Additional Resources:

• Ten Percent Happier Live: https://tenpercent.com/live
• Coronavirus Sanity Guide: https://www.tenpercent.com/coronavirussanityguide
• Free App access for Frontline Workers: https://tenpercent.com/care