26/06/2019
Depression
Winter can be a depressing time of year for many people. Most of us are generally less occupied and distracted by social events and gatherings and more likely to have time to reflect on ourselves and our lives. For many people, depression can occur or become aggravated at this time.
The Ancient Greeks called it melancholy, meaning black bile. Although this hints at a physiological cause, we know that the problem is primarily mental. Even otherwise very healthy people can also be affected.
In a healthy mental state or mood, people will view the world in a balanced way, with a mixture of good and evil, of pleasure and pain, right and wrong, and the like. However, in a depressed state, one is apt to see only the evil, wrong and suffering and the world may appear to be devoid of any meaning. Our mind suffers from awareness of our own imperfections, and for many people, from awareness of the imperfections within the world that we live in. Here lay the greatest clues to enable the necessary positive shift for the affected individual.
The symptoms of depression are varied, as is the case with all afflictions affecting the mind or body. Therefore, standardised treatments cannot be well relied upon. Different people require different treatments, depending upon the finer details of their condition. The person’s description of their individual symptoms will point to the best solutions. A sympathetic ear can often be enough to assist someone suffering from depression. If it is due to a chemical or hormonal imbalance, then a change of diet or dietary supplements may be required. If it is due to a pathological cause, then relevant treatments to the person’s body organs or body systems may be required.
Maybe some important changes in the life or lifestyle of the person will assist in bringing back peace and happiness. For example, if the problem is boredom or lassitude, then a daily walk in the sunshine or open air (or rain and wind even) may be the catalyst that helps bring about a positive change in attitude or mood. Something different from the usual rut needs to be done in order to break the vicious cycle. Maybe helping others who are worse off than us can help to shift a pattern of self-pity.
Sadness and grief is natural to the mortal world, and is always around us, whilst pleasure is a guest which visits only by our invitation. Therefore, we must use our minds well, allowing sorrow to pass behind us. We must be prudent, and allow the visits of joy to remain longer. Many of us invite sorrow frequently, but pleasure rarely. Pain comes freely, whilst pleasure must be “purchased”. Depression can be a blessing if it encourages us to make subtle or drastic positive changes in our lives that will ultimately lead us to a higher purpose or improved state of being.
Under a cloud of sorrow, reflection should be our first duty. Regular attunement with our innermost selves through meditation will bring us peace, illumination and solutions to many of our life’s most perplexing problems. If our depression of the moment is based on a specific misfortune of our own, or of our loved ones, we might visualise, and thus mentally discover a solution to the problem. Of course, we must then be prepared to make the effort to do the visualisation, and then carry out any necessary actions afterwards.
Depression can often lead to a wonderful illumination and influx of wisdom. It all depends on our ability and willingness to transform ourselves and act positively towards the betterment of ourselves and our situation. This we must do for ourselves. We must try to be mindfully present in each moment, whilst slowly but surely making changes that will improve the condition of our future selves. Overcoming depression is worth all the effort and pain to those who have attained it.
In addition to the strategies already given, homoeopathic and herbal medicines may also assist in getting the person back on track. If you or a loved one is suffering with depression, make an appointment with Michael today. A sympathetic ear is guaranteed.
Health From The Earth - Improving your health from the ground up.
