Depression Mantra
Depression is the most prevalent of all the emotional disorders. This may vary from feelings of slight sadness to utter misery and dejection. It brings together a variety of physical and psychological symptoms which together constitute a syndrome. Depression is the most unpleasant experience a person can endure. It is far more difficult to cope with than a physical ailment. The growing complexities of modern life and the resultant crisis, as well as mental stress and strain in day to day living, usually leads to this disorder. It also arises out of the monotony and drudgery of a daily routine, without any meaningful variation in urban life. Suicide is the major risk in extreme cases of depression. Symptoms It is not always easy to diagnose depression clinically. The most striking symptoms of depression are feelings of acute sense of loss and inexplicable sadness, loss of energy and loss of interest. The patient usually feels tired and lacks interest in the world around him. Sleep disturbance is frequent. Usually the patient wakes up depressed at 4 or 5 in the morning and is unable to return to sleep. Other disturbed sleep patterns are difficulty in getting off to sleep on going to bed at night, nightmares and repeated waking from midnight onwards. The patient often suffers from guilt, oppressive feelings and self-absorption. Other symptoms of depression are : loss of appetite, gidiness, itching, nausea, agitation, irritability, impotence or frigidity, constipation, aches and pains all over the body, lack of concentration and lack of power of decision. Some persons may lose interest in eating and suffer from rapid loss of weight while others may resort to frequent eating and as a result gain in weight. Cases of severe depression may be characterized by low body temperature, low blood pressure, hot flushes and shivering. The external manifestations represent a cry for help from the tormented mind of the depressed persons. The severely depressed patient feels worthless and is finally convinced that he himself is responsible for his undoing and his present state of hopeless despair. Causes Depleted functioning of the adrenal glands is one of the main causes of mental depression. Irregular diet habits cause digestive problems and lead to the assimilation of fats. An excess of carbohydrates like cereals, white sugar, coffee, tea, chocolates and comparatively less quantities of vegetables and fruits in the diet may result in indigestion. Due to indigestion, gases are produced in the digestive tract, causing compression over the diaphragm in the region of the heart and lungs. This in turn, reduces the supply of oxygen to the tissues, which raises the carbon dioxide level, causing general depression. The excessive and indiscriminate use of drugs also leads to faulty assimilation of vitamins and minerals by the body and ultimately causes depression. The use of aspirin leads to deficiencies of vitamin C and antacids can cause deficiencies of calcium and vitamin B. Diabetes, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) and weakness of the liver resulting from the use of refined or processed foods, fried foods and an excessive intake of fats may also lead to depression. The Cure The modern medical system treats depression with anti- depression drugs which provide temporary relief but have harmful side-effects and do not remove the causes or prevent its recurrence. The harmful side-effects include gross liver damage, hypersensitivity, insomnia, hallucinations, a confused state, convulsions, a fall in blood pressure which brings on headaches and dizziness , blurred vision, difficulty in inhaling and urine retention. The plan of action for self-treatment of depression consists of regulating the diet, exercise, scientific relaxation and meditation. Diet has a profound effect on the mental health of a person. Even a single nutritional deficiency can cause depression in susceptible people. Dr. Pricilla, associate clinical professor at the University of California, prescribes nutritional therapy to build up brain chemicals, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, that affect mood and are often lacking in depressed people. She recommends eating foods rich in B vitamins, such as whole grains, green vegetables, eggs and fish. The diet of persons suffering from depression should completely exclude tea, coffee, alcohol, chocolate and cola, all white flour products,sugar, food colourings, chemical additives, white rice and strong condiments. The diet should be restricted to three meals. Fruits can be taken in the morning for breakfast with milk and a handful of nuts and seeds. Lunch may consist of steamed vegetables, whole wheat chappatis and a glass of butter-milk. For dinner, green vegetable salad and all available sprouts such as alfalfa seeds, mung, cottage cheese or a glass of butter-milk would be ideal. Activity and Exercise The depressive mood can be overcome by activity. Those who are depressive will forget their misery by doing something. They should turn away from themselves and consider others. At home they can take to decorating, repairing or constructing something new. The pleasure of achievement overcomes the distress of misery. Exercise also plays an important role in the treatment of depression. It not only keep the body physically and mentally fit but also provides recreation and mental relaxation. It is nature' best tranquiliser. According to Dr. Robert Brown, a clinical associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, " Exercise produces chemical and psychological changes that improves your mental health. It changes the levels of hormones in blood and may elevate your beta-endorphins( mood-affecting brain chemicals). Exercise may also improve the function of the autonomic nervous system." Exercise also gives a feeling of accomplishment and thus reduces the sense of helplessness. Some form of active exercise, must be undertaken each day at a regular hour. To be really useful, exercise should be taken in such a manner as to bring into action all the muscles of the body in a natural way. Walking is one such exercise. It is , however, so gentle in character that one must walk several kilometers in a brisk manner to constitute a fair amount of exercise. Yogic asanas such as vakrasana, bhujangasana, shalabhasana, halasana, paschimottanasana, sarvangasana and shavasana and pranayamas like kapalbhati, anuloma-viloma and bhastrika are highly beneficial in the treatment of depression. Relaxation and Meditation The patient must gain control over his nervous system and channelise his mental and emotional activities into restful harmonius vibrations. This can be achieved by ensuring sufficient rest and sleep under right conditions. He must also learn the art of scientific relaxation and meditation which will go a long way in curing depression. Relaxation enables the muscles to work more efficiently and eliminates fatigue by promoting venous blood circulation throughout the body. The best method of relaxation is to practice shavasana or the 'ded pose.' The procedure for this asana has been outlined in chapter 7 on yoga therapy. Meditation involves training the mind to remain fixed on a certain external or internal location. All the mental faculties should be directed, without cessation, towards the object of meditation. It can be achieved by constant practice. It will be advisable to meditate on God or Atman as one becomes imbued with the quality of the object on which one meditates. Meditation will help create an amount of balance in the nervous system. This would enable the glands to return to a correct state of hormonal balance and thereby overcome the feeling of depression. Regularity of time, place and practice are very important in meditation. Regularity conditions the mind to slowing down its activities with a minimum delay. The most effective times are early dawn and dusk, when the atmosphere is serene and peaceful. A neutral immersion bath for one hour daily is also helpful in the treatment of depression. This bath is administered in a bath tub which should be properly fitted with hot and cold water connections. The patient should lie in the tub after filling it with water at a temperature ranging from 92 o to 98 o F. The head should be kept cold with a cold compress. About The Author Nadeem has been figuring a lot about depresson. He has started creating a website for people with Depression that provides a lot of valuable information and links to many resources. nademirates@yahoo.co.in
MORE RESOURCES:
Free Yoga Classes in the Park?Biscayne Times, FL - 4 hours agoThree times each week people gather here with their mats and their water bottles for yoga classes -- free of charge. On a recent summer day, ... |
Yoga For ArthritisCorsavoo.com, France - 9 hours agoWith the help of yoga, you can become stronger and more flexible as well as confident - even if you are suffering from arthritis. ... |
Real Raja Yoga starts from concentrationIndiaPost.com, CA - 3 hours agoReal Raja Yoga starts from concentration. Concentration merges in meditation. Concentration is a portion of meditation. Meditation follows concentration. ... |
Exercises for the Under-18 SetNew York Sun, United States - 6 hours agoFor the city's youngest yogis, there's Karma Kids Yoga — a West Village yoga studio that offers parent-child programs for infants and drop-off classes for ... |
Yoga - Google News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Recognizing Depression's Warning Signs
Depression is a serious illness, not a harmless part of life. It is a complex disorder with a variety of causes.
To Long Term Care Professionals: How to Dramatically Improve your Residents Psychiatric Care
Long term care facilities and residents' doctors should
consider combining medication treatment with psychological and
behavioral approaches, such as strength-embedded psychotherapy,
for a range of psychological disorders.Currently, psychiatrists and primary care providers in long term care are prescribing
drugs and more drugs as the only treatment for psychological
disorders.
What About Drugs for Anxiety and Depression?
As a counselor, I am often asked, "Can drugs be helpful for anxiety and depression?" The answer I give is "Yes" and "No."Yes, drugs may be useful for short-term help.
Depression in Long Term Care Heart Patients Often Goes Untreated
Cardiologists, other doctors and long term care
staff might be missing the big picture as one survey suggests
that only a third of heart disease patients with serious
symptoms of depression or anxiety get any treatment.
The findings are significant because psychological problems have
been linked to poorer health and higher death rates in heart
disease patients.
Chronic Depression: Disease or Charcter Flaw?
A major survey on depression symptoms from the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), released in july 2001, revealed a
dramatic degree of progress in public understanding. Yet even amid this promising trend, the survey sheds light on the
difficulties faced by millions of people striving to manage this sometimes chronic, life-long illness.
5 Super Effective Tips To Kill Depression
Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives. We
get sad when we fail in our exams, when we're rejected by
the person we love, or when someone very close to us
passes away.
Being A Victim Is Always A Choice
Do you blame your past, your family, your partner, your job, your circumstances or a host of other things for your unfortunate place in life. If so then, by definition, you are choosing to identify yourself as a victim.
Depression And Celiac Disease
Depression is a condition which affects about 15% of the population. Women are more likely to be affected than men.
How to Overcome Anxiety and Take Repossession of Your Life!
Katie came as close as is possible to having it all. Great job, loving family, boyfriend, social life? That was until she developed anxiety?"There were rumours of redundancy in our department.
Surviving the Storms of Life
August in Florida has a daily ritual that Floridians take with a grain of salt. It's the daily storms that pass by and that are filled with more electricity than in a 4th of July fire works display.
Depression is the Number One Cause of Disability in the United States
According to the World Health Organization, 4 of the 10 leading causes of disability in the United States and other developed countries are mental disorders, including major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Approximately 23% of American adults each year have a diagnosable mental disorder and as many as 5.
Major Depression and Its Serious Complications
When suffering from clinical depression, people have different ways of confronting it. Some acknowledge it, face it just like any problem, and seek help.
FDA Approves Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Treatment for Depression
On July 15th, 2005, the U.S.
A Look at the Different Depression and Anxiety Medications
While it may be easy to recite the various brand names and generalize their benefits enough to know they put us (or are supposed to put us) in a better mood, for lack of a better term, the drugs themselves can all be categorized individually, each working in a slightly different way.The following is a list and very brief description, by category, of depression and anxiety medications currently prescribed by physicians.
Ten Tips For Beating Depression
I heard about a woman who was suffering from depression, so her concerned husband took her to a psychiatrist. The doctor listened to the couple talk about their relationship, and then he said, "The treatment I prescribe is really quite simple.
Adult Men and Women Who Suffer From Chronic Depression
Market surveys on women, men and depression suggest an estimated 4.4 million Americans are believed to suffer from chronic treatment-resistant depression.
When Your Mind Develops A Mind Of Its Own
We've all been there? One minute your listening intently as your mother in law tells you for the tenth time about the people she met on her recent holiday? or to the boss as he delivers a presentation on improving productivity levels (yawn!)One minute you're listening? the next you're planning the colour scheme of the new kitchen or what you're going to be eating for dinner tonight! Basically, your mind has wandered!It's called 'stream of consciousness' and it happens to us all!Our minds are designed to work like that, flowing from one thought to the next. It's the basis of intelligent human thought? of creativity? even of survival.
Dont Be Surprised!
Life wasn't easy for cave men. They had to hunt all day, kill their dinner with a club, and drag the carcass to the cave.
Natural Treatment for Depression - Is There An Alternative?
Many people who are suffering from mild to moderate
depression, are choosing to either forego drugs entirely,
or to supplement the minimum dosage their doctor will
prescribe, with natural treatment for depression.This can include a number of lifestyle alterations, and
even herbal treatment for depression.
Tips to Beat Depression
We all have days when we are down, worn out and just not feeling all that happy.That's okay.
|
