SO I have this problem. I deal with depression and anxiety. I have found that meditation helps me a lot. I sometimes do a 7 day chakra cleansing course that helps for a while. However My problem is parents. I do not get a lot of privacy where I live, and my parents wouldn't approve at all. I need advice on different ways to meditate and help with meditation methods. Thanks so much to anyone who can help.

Before I sleep every night I just go deep and thought and think of important situations or meanings to things that are hard to describe.
You should think on how to make yourself or someone else a better person.
Think of diffrent sayings or philosophys and it will help out alot.

>>1 Well, methods and goals and all that really depend on the reason you're meditating. People meditate for a number of reasons, such as enlightenment or calming and/or focusing the mind. There's even meditation related to Chinese qigong practices and martial arts. And even for a certain goal, there can be multiple meditation methods, such as thinking certain things or chanting, or using imagery, or just trying to completely still your mind. So, I guess my question is, what is the reason you're meditating? I'd guess that it's for calming your mind judging from your post, but I'd rather you tell me, as you know better than anyone what your goals are.

Also, about the privacy bit, you might try meditating just after waking up or before going to bed. I'd think you'd be less likely to have intrusions at those times.

>>3 Sorry this reply is late. I've been out of town. I'll respond to the last bit first.
My dad has to wake up at 4:30 every morning and my mom is up and down after that (she's usually up by 6) They both also get up and down a lot at night and I'm not aloud to shut my door (because of a porn problem)
As to why I meditate. I suffer from depression and Anxiety along with the stress of teenage family life. IT's something I've found has helped me a lot. I have done a chakra style meditation not with chants. It's where you focus on the bad in one chakra, dispose it, and then fill it with the good for that chakra. Along with focusing my mind. It's mostly difficult for me to focus my mind because the fear of getting caught. (my parents are judgmental Christians) so what I'm searching for is a way to meditate that can take away that fear, without me falling asleep, and being able to focus better and better myself. If you have any suggestions to these problems or any suggestions as to different ways to meditate please share.

Meditation is shown to have health benefits to cancer patients, school children (intellect increase), trauma patients, and many more. Suggest an article of the health and mind benefit of meditation to your parents. That will get you started for sure. Dont explain them about chakras, they might freak out.. Just use the normal ones like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0rSmxsVHPE

Even meditation can be used by Christians before praying and devotions to bring calmness. Meditation is no special religious routine. It's clearing the mind..

>>4 I agree with Yasaine. The best solution would be to try to get your parents to understand what meditation is about. If it's something that really helps with your depression and anxiety, and if you try to explain it to them from that angle, maybe you could get to a point with them where, even if they may not like it, they understand it enough and can see what it's done to benefit you that they wouldn't react negatively towards you for practicing it, and you wouldn't have to be afraid of being "caught" meditating.

If you can't reach a middle ground with your parents, and if there's a time of day when you're home and they aren't, you could use that as your meditation time. Also, you could try turning your back to the door when you meditate, using the physical act of having your back to the door as a mental trigger to shut out your awareness of it and what lies beyond it (the rest of your house, your parents, etc.). That may help with focusing.

As for a different way to meditate, if what you're doing works for you (and it seems like it does, from what you've said), I don't think you should worry about finding a different way to meditate.

>>4 Oops. I forgot to ask you about something you said in your original post. You mentioned that in the past you've done a 7-day chakra cleansing course, which seems to help you. Were you able to do that at home? If so, what was it that allowed you to do that without your parents' getting on to you? You might be able to do the same sort of thing for your normal meditation.

I hate to sound pessimistic but my parents are not so open. When I say judgmental I really mean it. They already know I love Asian culture so they would immediately assume Buddhism or something of the sort. They aren't even full accepting of me loving Asian culture if that means anything. For the 7 day course my dad was on evening shift and wasn't home at night and my mom gets up later (round 2 ish she wakes up and walks through the house) It gave me enough time to.
My parents know about my depression, but they also think it's a thing of the past and I hardly deal with it. When they found out about it they almost freaked and still treat me way different because of it. it's hard to explain I'm sorry. Thank you for taking the time to help me. I definitely will try facing the wall or something. My brother is home from college and we share a room hopefully moving soon to Georgia so I'll have more privacy then. Thank you both so much for your help. It means a lot.

>>9 Ah, I see. I wasn't sure how judgmental they were, so I figured it was worth suggesting. It must be frustrating for you. But I'm glad I was able to be of help. Best of luck with your meditation!

Frustrating, yes.. The funny part though. Meditating helps me get over the frustration of it all! XD It's just difficult and it helps to know that some people do understand and could help calm me about it. Thanks Again! ^.^