For most of my teens and 20s, I used alcohol and marijuana to cope with depression.

But when I started practicing mindfulness, I brought mindful attention to my intoxicant use.

Here are three life-changing lessons from my observations.

Lesson 1: Smoking And Drinking Created More Depression

I knew drinking and smoking were unhealthy.

So when I'd use them to cope with depression, shame took over my mind. This made me believe I was a failure and a bad person for using them.

Therefore, digging me deeper into depression.

Lesson 2: My Mind Gets Foggy When I'm Under The Influence

My brain felt heavy when I smoked or drank.

This feeling carried over to the next day, making my communication suffer. It took me longer to process information, and my speech was mediocre.

Not something I wanted to repeat.

Lesson 3: Drinking And Smoking Are Not Enjoyable Activities

Because my mind was foggy and full of shame, intoxicant use wasn't fun.

It took me a while to learn this lesson, but it was the most important. Once I learned this, I decided to renounce my use of both substances.

That decision cleared my mind and heart to overcome the depths of depression.