Lets use the example of dependent origination and the development of depression to illustrate the Twelve Nidanas.

1. Ignorance (avijja): The person lacks understanding of the true nature of reality and believe their thoughts and perceptions as reality. They have an unrealistic view of perfection, and they dont know how their mind works.
2. Mental formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance, the person has formed habitual patterns of negative thinking about themselves, others, and the world around them.
3. Consciousness (viññana): The persons consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, habitually focusing on negative aspects of their self and their environment. They see the world through a negative lens.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The persons body and mind (psychophysical constituents) manifest in a depressed state, susceptible to experiencing negative emotions and feelings.
5. The six sense bases (salayatana): The persons sense organs (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and mind) interact with the external world, often noticing negative occurrences or messages.
6. Contact (phassa): The person encounters situations that trigger their negative thoughts and emotions, such as situations that involve failure, loss or victimization .
7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences unpleasant feelings such as despair or pessimism in response to the contact with the negative occurrences or messages.
8. Craving (tanha): The person develops a desire to escape or avoid the unpleasant feelings associated with their depression, leading them to seek relief through unhelpful behaviors such as alcohol or food addiction.
9. Clinging (upadana): The persons attachment to these unhelpful behaviors intensifies, leading them to indulge in them frequently, which generates entanglements in a dysfunctional cycle of craving and clinging.
10. Becoming (bhava): This clinging to negative thoughts, emotions, and unhelpful behaviors reinforces the persons depression, making them more prone to experiencing depression in the future
11. Birth (jati): The persons depression manifests in various forms such as social withdrawal, decreased productivity and self-care, and increased fatigue and other depressive symptoms.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): The persons depression can lead to physical, mental, and emotional suffering and perpetuate negative consequences in future situations as well.

In this example, we can see how the Twelve Nidanas apply to the arising and perpetuation of depression. By understanding the dependent origination of depression and recognizing the interdependence of the Twelve Links, one can take necessary steps to work towards breaking the cycle, ultimately leading to greater mental well-being and freedom from suffering.

How to break cycle at each point:

Here are ways to break the cycle at each point:

1. Ignorance (avijja): The cycle of ignorance can be interrupted through learning and understanding the true nature of reality, specifically the principles of impermanence, the Four Noble Truths, and the Three Universal Truths. By developing insight and wisdom, the person can lessen the impact of their unrealistic belief in perfection, effectively reducing the likelihood of depression.

2. Mental formations (sankhara): By becoming aware of habitual patterns of negative thinking and engaging in practices such as cognitive restructuring and positive self-talk, the person can change their thoughts and beliefs, breaking free from negative thought patterns and decreasing the severity of their depression.

3. Consciousness (viññana): By developing mindfulness and cultivating positive mental states such as joy and gratitude, the person can shift their focus away from negativity, thereby reducing negative awareness.

4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The person can reduce the physical symptoms of depression by engaging in self-care practices such as regular exercise, eating well, and getting adequate rest.

5. The six sense bases (salayatana): By avoiding unnecessary exposure to negative occurrences or messages, such as avoiding toxic relationships and media, the person can limit potential triggers for depression.

6. Contact (phassa): By reframing negative situations and emotions, seeking social support, and engaging in self-compassion practices, the person can learn to cope with negative events, thus decreasing the triggering of depression.

7. Feeling (vedana): By cultivating equanimity and non-reactivity, the person can learn to observe their unpleasant feelings without becoming attached to them, thus reducing the likelihood of further negative emotions.

8. Craving (tanha): By learning healthier ways of coping and engaging in mindfulness practices, the person can reduce their need to escape or avoid unpleasant feelings, effectively breaking the cycle of craving and the harmful behaviors associated with it.

9. Clinging (upadana): By recognizing that these unhelpful behaviors reinforce depression, the person can make a conscious effort to let go of them and replace them with healthier ways of coping.

10. Becoming (bhava): By breaking free from clinging and negative thoughts and actions, the person can lessen the likelihood of experiencing depression in the future, effectively interrupting the cycle of becoming.

11. Birth (jati): By engaging in positive social interactions and activities that bring joy, as well as being self-compassionate and practicing self-care, the person can reduce the physical and social effects of depression, thus interrupting the cycle at the birth stage.

12. Old age and death (jara-marana): By engaging in practices that promote emotional and physical health and facing challenges with resilience and equanimity, the person can lessen the overall impact of depression on their life, ultimately breaking the cycle at the final stage.

By actively engaging in these practices and cultivating mindfulness and awareness around the cycle of dependent origination and how it relates to depression, individuals can break free from the cycle and cultivate greater well-being.