Many people experiencing OCD also suffer from depression. Meditation can help quiet the mind and support mindfulness, which is beneficial to people with OCD as well as to people with depression. But when some people close their eyes to meditate, they find themselves facing unwanted thoughts that pull them further into depression or OCD.
If you find yourself getting lost in unpleasant thoughts while meditating, you may want to try meditating with your eyes open. This helps to keep your focus on the real world, instead of an inner world of turmoil.
Open-Eyed Meditation
Sit comfortably with a straight spine and look ahead and down at the floor. Allow yourself to have a soft gaze. Your eyelids may be half-open and your vision can get a bit burry. You are not examining the floor and analyzing it; you are just letting your gaze rest on the floor in a soft focus.
Notice your breathing, in and out. There is no special breath technique here, just be aware of your breath and keep coming back to that awareness when you find yourself drifting into thought.
You can do this meditation for any length of time. See if it gives you a break from depressive thinking.
