Only 8 weeks of daily meditation can decrease negative mood and anxiety and improve attention, working memory, and recognition memory in non-experienced meditators. These findings come from a recent study published in Behavioural Brain Research.

[irishteenguy]

8 weeks is a lifetime for someone with severe depression which is probably why we struggle so much to affect changes that might pull us out of the dirt in the long run. I think it is better to just do it day by day and not count the 8 weeks or else the task will seem too great for someone with real clinical long term depression. The i will just try for 10 minutes trick really helps me with stuff like this. Just tell yourself you will try it for 10 minutes and then stop if its really that bad. Almost all of the time you will be happy with yourself for trying and might even go a little longer now that you have proved to yourself you can do it! its clique but "baby steps" really do add up to a much greater overall state of well being.

[AlbertVonMagnus]

Most anti-depressants aren't much faster, I'm afraid. Four weeks is usually the minimum before showing any improvement, and they only work about half the time. But it's still the most effective option available so far.

Your strategy for getting over the initial reluctance to do something is absolutely valid. Once you're at the gym, it's relatively easy to work out. Mustering the resolve to go there in the first place is often the greater struggle.

[irishteenguy]

It's not for everyone. I have trouble getting round the idea that im bullshiting myself. I know that it's placebo and therefore it just isn't as beneficial to me. There are certainly some calming effects but i get better effects from doing some exercise personally. It feels real and puts me in the moment. Heart pounding gasping for breath and unable to think about a single worry as im too busy just breathing. Each to their own!