Depression
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’s 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 ‘dead pose.’
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°
to 98° F. The head should be
kept cold with a cold compress.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through www.scribd.com
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