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Regarding the study, am I wrong to think the results could be weighted? It was implicitly carried out to prove that MBCT is more effective than antidepressants, the mindfulness group engaging in "daily" exercises, which, if they weren't being studied, I wonder if they'd be so eager to do.In my experience, the effectiveness of any cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) largely depends on the therapist and their willingness to cater exercises to one's particular needs. How often I've left places thinking I've been lumped in under some huge umbrella, told to do things which made logical sense but which I needed to do so intensely and frequently that the stress incurred was sometimes worse than the illness.CBT can be very expensive and time-consuming. Though it's still effective in a group, and so theoretically cheaper per person, this relies on doctors lowering their prices, which doesn't really happen. It's also available for free on the NHS, but as there's a shortage of qualified therapists, you'll need to wait, which isn't always possible if you're in distress. In other words, you'll probably need to go private.If you can afford it, however, high-quality MBCT in combination with antidepressants would be a great way to go, as would talk therapy, veganism, and winning the lottery. You see what I'm saying? We all have busy lives with limited time and money, as well as dreams and ambitions that go beyond watching Netflix and doing mental exercises for hours on end to get over feeling sad. People with depression are just as unwilling to waste their lives as anyone—we want what works best and quickest for the cheapest price, the thing that lets us do the most without the barrel of depression's gun pressed to the backs of our necks.Antidepressants are flawed: We don't even know how they totally work. But, for now, they're the best things we have that are compatible with full, fast, fulfilling lives—things which, until we discovered antidepressants, many of us didn't even know existed. So though I'm not advocating popping pills before trying other methods first, don't tell me mindfulness is as effective as medication because—speaking from experiences I don't want to relive—it just isn't.Follow James on Twitter.People with depression are just as unwilling to waste their lives as anyone—we want what works best and quickest for the cheapest price, the thing that lets us do the most without the barrel of depression's gun pressed to the backs of our necks.