Using Mindfulness and Meditation Alongside Medical Treatments for Depression

For anyone who has faced the persistent grip of depression—especially treatment-resistant depression—the journey toward healing can feel exhausting and uncertain. At Sturges Family Practice, we recognize that managing mental health requires more than one approach. While advanced treatments like Spravato® (esketamine nasal spray), IV ketamine therapy, and NAD+ therapy offer new hope for those who haven’t found relief through traditional means, they can be even more powerful when paired with supportive lifestyle practices like mindfulness and meditation.

In this post, we’ll explore how mindfulness fits into the healing process and how it can complement advanced medical treatments to enhance long-term recovery.

What Is Mindfulness, Really?

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention—on purpose and without judgment—to the present moment. It helps you tune into your body, thoughts, and emotions without getting swept away by them.

This doesn’t mean shutting off negative thoughts or pretending everything is okay. Instead, mindfulness helps you observe your mental state with curiosity and compassion, which can lower stress levels, reduce emotional reactivity, and promote a sense of calm—even when life feels out of control.

Why Pair Mindfulness With Medical Treatments?

Advanced mental health therapies like Spravato®, IV ketamine, and NAD+ work at a physiological level to support brain function and promote neuroplasticity (your brain’s ability to rewire itself). However, how you respond to these treatments can be influenced by your mental environment—your daily habits, thought patterns, and ability to manage stress.

Mindfulness helps bridge the gap between biological healing and behavioral support, creating a fertile ground for recovery. Here’s how.

1. Spravato® & Mindfulness: Supporting the Integration Process

Spravato® (esketamine) is a prescription nasal spray approved for adults with treatment-resistant depression. Unlike traditional antidepressants, it works on the glutamate system and can produce fast-acting results. However, it’s not a one-and-done solution. Patients often describe the treatment as opening a window—but it’s what you do during and after that matters most.

This is where mindfulness comes in.

How Mindfulness Helps:

• Grounding after treatment: After a Spravato® session, your brain may feel more open or sensitive. Mindful breathing, body scans, or journaling can help you gently integrate what comes up emotionally or mentally.

• Improving emotional regulation: Spravato® helps with mood shifts, but mindfulness teaches you how to sit with those feelings in a non-reactive way.

• Reinforcing new neural pathways: Spravato® enhances neuroplasticity. Mindfulness gives your brain healthier thought patterns to wire into those new pathways.

By practicing mindfulness between treatments, patients often report deeper insights, fewer relapses, and more clarity.

2. IV Ketamine Therapy & Mindfulness: Creating Safe Inner Space

IV ketamine infusions have shown remarkable results for people suffering from severe or suicidal depression. The treatment can produce rapid relief and, for some, even a sense of emotional reset. But because ketamine alters perception during sessions, your mental preparation and post-treatment integration are critical.

How Mindfulness Helps:

• Preparation before treatment: Practicing mindfulness before an infusion can help reduce anxiety and allow for a smoother experience.

• Staying present during the infusion: While the effects of ketamine can be dissociative, staying mindful of your breath or using a calming mantra can reduce fear if intense emotions surface.

• Post-treatment processing: After the infusion, mindfulness helps you reflect on what you experienced and recognize emotional patterns without judgment.

In short, mindfulness can help you feel more emotionally safe and grounded before, during, and after ketamine therapy.

3. NAD+ Therapy & Mindfulness: Supporting Brain Energy and Clarity

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme that plays a vital role in cellular energy and brain function. IV NAD+ therapy can help improve cognitive function, reduce brain fog, and support mood stability—especially for those dealing with depression, anxiety, or chronic fatigue.

Unlike Spravato® or ketamine, NAD+ doesn’t alter perception or induce rapid emotional shifts. Instead, it works more subtly to support brain clarity and focus over time.

How Mindfulness Helps:

• Maximizing cognitive clarity: As your brain function improves, mindfulness supports that clarity by training your mind to stay focused and present.

• Reducing overwhelm: If your nervous system is overtaxed from stress or trauma, mindfulness helps regulate your response to internal and external triggers.

• Creating routines that stick: NAD+ gives you the energy. Mindfulness gives you the presence of mind to make meaningful daily choices.

Together, NAD+ and mindfulness promote mental resilience and support long-term healing from the inside out.

How to Start a Mindfulness Practice (Even If You’re Depressed)

We get it—when you’re depressed, adding anything new can feel overwhelming. But mindfulness doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s not about sitting cross-legged for an hour in silence. It’s about small, intentional moments of awareness.

Here are a few ways to begin:

• 1-Minute Breathing Breaks: Close your eyes and focus on your breath for 60 seconds. Notice the rise and fall of your chest.

• Body Scan: Before bed or after treatment, check in with each part of your body, releasing tension as you go.

• Mindful Journaling: After a Spravato® or ketamine session, write without editing. Let your thoughts flow.

• Walking Meditation: Take a slow walk and focus on your senses—what you see, hear, and feel.

Start small. The benefits build over time.

The Power of Combining Therapies

At Sturges Family Practice, we believe in treating the whole person. That’s why we combine cutting-edge medical interventions with compassionate, personalized care. Whether you’re pursuing Spravato®, IV ketamine, or NAD+ therapy, mindfulness can be a vital tool in your recovery toolkit.

You don’t have to choose between medical and holistic care—you deserve both. Together, they can create a path toward healing that feels grounded, empowered, and sustainable.

Ready to Explore a More Personalized Approach?

If you or a loved one is struggling with depression and want to explore advanced treatment options in a supportive, integrative environment, we’re here to help. Contact Sturges Family Practice to schedule a consultation and learn how we can tailor a treatment plan that supports your mind, body, and spirit.