Firstly I would start with some introspection. Techniques from afar can help, but you may find that you have resources well known to you, near at hand, that may

Firstly I would start with some introspection. Techniques from afar can help, but you may find that you have resources well known to you, near at hand, that may offer some immediate relief. What springs to mind if you imagine "running away"? Where and what would you like to run away to? What do you associate with joy and freedom? If you spend a little time introspecting & remembering, you might already find you know of some things to do, whether it be surfing or reading or walking in the moonlight. In my case a good run, or certain types of gigs, offer peaks that can counter much day-to-day difficulty. These resources can become a bit hidden by the daily grind. Digging them up and allocating time for them might be useful. Secondly, if you're a reader I think Jon Kabat-Zinn's book The Mindful Way through Depression is an excellent intro to meditation. Don't be put off by the title -- it's useful for more than just depression. It's a decent read, is very secular in tone, offers various ways in to thinking about and approaching meditation that have been fruitfully used in clinical settings, and has a set of guided meditations on the associated CD that are easier to start with than trying to remember instructions. Thirdly, if meditation appeals to you, why not find a local zen or vipassana group? There's something a little heightened about meditating with a group that can be motivating. Many such groups offer a weekly sitting, and are usually pretty relaxed (not demanding you believe anything, join up, etc). Good luck.