Depression
Prologue and Rationale
Depression is an illness that involves body, mind and thoughts. It is not a physical weakness that will vanish within days but it’s the state that interferes with the daily chores of life resulting in poor performance or output. It gives rise to a negative feeling for each and every thing. It may also be defined as allergy, which triggers an unhappy reaction. It may be due to emotional or mental stress and strain or due to high intake of antibiotics. Sometimes anxiety also results in depression. It also arises out of the monotony and drudgery of a daily routine without any meaningful variation in urban life. The major risk in extreme cases of depression is suicide.
Types of depression
1. Bipolar disorder
It is also known as manic-depressive illness and is not the common one. It is usually characterized with frequent changes of mood sometimes leading to high depression and sometimes to low depression.
2. Major depression
This type of depression may occur only once but more commonly occurs several times in a life span. It usually interferes with the normal routine of one’s life like work, eating patterns, sleep and other entertainment activities.
3. Dysthymia
It is a less severe type of depression that shows chronic symptoms that are not washed with the time but interferes with the well functioning and good moods of the person.
Symptoms
The clinical diagnose of depression is not so easy. The most striking symptoms of depression are:
Loss of interest from everything
Loss of energy
Sadness
Insomnia
Guilt
Negative feelings
Loss of appetite
Giddiness
Nausea
Constipation
Lack of concentration
Lack of power of decision
Irritability
Frigidity
Agitation
Rapid loss of weight or rapid gain in weight
Low body temperature
Low blood pressure
CAUSES
The different causes of depression are:
1. Early life experiences
2. Environmental factors
3. Lifestyle factors
4. Social support
5. Deficiency of vitamin B complex
6. Genetic causes
7. Biochemical causes
8. Hormonal changes
9. Trauma and stress
10. Pessimistic personality
11. Other physiological disorders like anxiety disorders and eating disorders.
Treatment
The modern medical system treats depression with anti-depression drugs, which provide temporary relief and have many side-effects. The plan of action for self-treatment of depression consists of regulating diet, exercise, relaxation and meditation. Diet has a profound effect on the mental as well as physical health of a person. Deficiency of even a single nutrient can cause depression in some people. The diet of depressed person should be restricted to three meals a day. Tea, coffee, alcohol, chocolate, white flour products, sugar, chemical additives and strong condiments should be avoided.
The depressive mood can be overcome by physical activity and exercise. It will keep the body physically and mentally fit and will also provide relaxation. Exercise changes the level of hormones in blood and improves the function of autonomic nervous system. Walking is the best exercise. Various yogic asanas such as vakrasana, bhujangasana, shalabhanasa, halasan,shavasana and pranayamas are highly beneficial in the treatment of depression.
The patient must gain control over his nervous system and channelise the mental and emotional activities into harmonious vibrations. This can only be achieved by taking good amount of sleep and rest. Meditation is also the best technique in treating chronic depressions. It will help to create an amount of balance in the nervous system.
Some foods for depressed people
Rosemary and sage
Use plenty of both the herbs in cooking each and every food or drink them in hot water as a tea.
Chervil
Use it in salads as it brightens the spirit.
Walnuts
They can be eaten raw, as they are helpful for a fatigued and poor brain.
