Dr. Ronak Shah

M.D.

Consultant Homoeopath

LEARNING TO LIVE

DEPRESSION free life

“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued is always just beyond your grasp but which, if you sit quietly, may alight upon you”.

LEARNING TO LIVE DEPRESSION FREE LIFE

“Look into the depths of your own soul- and you will understand why this illness was bound to come upon you”.

(Freud)

Depression is the fourth most significant health problem today. According to WHO report, by 2010 coronary heart diseases and depression will be the two top health problems.

Depression disorder is an illness that involves the body, mind and thoughts. Expressing emotions is one dimention of human experience. Unlike rational thoughts, emotions are rarely put into words.

Alternative Names: Blues; Discouragement; Gloom; Mood changes; Sadness; Melancholy

Definition

Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods.

True clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended period of time.

Our mind can either sap or strengthen the body’s defenses. We tend to repress or push away painful memories- we store them in the ‘dumping ground, of our unconscious mind. But what we ignore, repress and fight, returns as symptom- as headache, heart problem, insomnia or peptic ulcer. What lies between ease and disease is the invisible world of emotions.

Grief, anger and fear tend to stay with us long after the provocation is gone. Sad feelings last indefinitely: happy feelings are hopelessly fleeting. Anxious about the future, regretful of the past, we let slip the hidden fullness of the present. Confronting this reservoir of unprocessed emotion is a major challenge. Depression is not the same as “feeling low today”. People with clinical depression cannot merely ‘pull themselves together’ and get better on their own.

Essentials of Diagnosis:

Unhappy or uncomfortable mood (Dysphoric).
Anxiety often present.
Spectrum ranges from mind disappointments to severe psychosis.
The basic diagnostic symptom is an inner-feeling of sadness and dejection. Insomnia, anorexia etc are secondary symptoms.

Causes:

Depression often runs in families. This may due to your genes (inherited), learned behavior, or both. Even if your genes make you more likely to develop depression, a stressful or unhappy life event usually triggers the onset of a depressive episode.

Depression may be brought on by:

· Alcohol or drug abuse

· Childhood events like abuse or neglect

· Chronic stress

· Death of a friend or relative

· Disappointment at home, work, or school (in teens, this may be breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, failing a class, or parents divorcing)

· Drugs such as sedatives and high blood pressure medications

· Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), cancer, or hepatitis

· Nutritional deficiencies (such as a lack of folate and omega-3 fatty acids)

· Overly negative thoughts about one's self and life, self blame, and ineffective social problem solving skills

· Prolonged pain or having a major illness

· Sleeping problems

· Social isolation (common in the elderly)

Symptoms:

Depression usually starts off with long periods of unhappiness and dissatisfaction in the individual’s life.

Altered moods: loss of interest or taste in all usual activities of the sufferer, be it office work, sex, food, studies, exercise, club activities, friend-circle etc.
Patient is often found neglecting the known hobbies and habits of entertainment.
There is poor appetite, significant weight loss, insomnia or hypersomnia, restlessness, decrease in sex drive along with the presence of loss of energy and fatigue.
There is a feeling of worthlessness, self reproach, a feeling of guilt, decreased ability to think and concentrate, recurrent thought or attempt to suicide also accompany the above symptoms for at least two weeks then it confirms the diagnosis.
Pessimism i.e., negativism, is a strong symptoms of the ailing mind. An inferiority complex settles in the mind which the patient is aware of but helpless.
Patient forgets happiness and sadness takes its place. Hopeless about recovery and finds suicide to be the only answer to his problem.

The most important complication that ensues from depression is suicidal tendency, which poses serious medical problems.

Depression can be classified in two main groups:

Neurotic i.e. reactive.
Psychotic i.e. endogenous.

In reactive or neurotic depression, there must be some known cause for the depression in reaction to which the depression occurred.

In endogenous or psychotic depression has no apparent cause. It occurs within the brain from some internal causes.

Other common forms of depression include:

Postpartum depression -- many women feel somewhat down after having a baby, but true postpartum depression is rare.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) -- depressive symptoms occur one week prior to menstruation and disappear after you menstruate.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) -- occurs during the fall-winter season and disappears during the spring-summer season. Likely to be due to lack of sunlight.

Depression may also occur with mania (known as manic-depression or bipolar disorder). In this condition, moods cycle between mania and depression.

Depression is more common in women than men and is especially common during the teen years. Men seem to seek help for feelings of depression less often than women.

Treatment of depression:

There are 3 methods of treatment:

Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy and Homoeopathic Drugs.
Adjuvant therapy i.e. Yoga.

Psychotherapy is important as it can reduce the risk of recurrence and increase the chances of a happier future. The method adopted in psychotherapy ranges from counseling to psycho analysis. Very often occupational therapy is also advised which would be beneficial to the patient.

We have an adjuvant therapy in yogic exercise- that of “Shavasan”, “learning to die while you are alive”.

“Shavasan” is a posture that simulates a dead body, and evokes the experience of remaining in a state as in death and ending the heart-aches and shocks that the flesh is heir to- it means relaxation and therefore recuperation. It is the most difficult of yogic asanas to perfect, but is also the most refreshing and rewarding.

Patients of depression should learn the technique of ‘Shavasan’ from an experienced teacher of ‘yoga’ and practice it regularly. Along with it other asanas, which are beneficial- Supt Vajrasan, Halasan, Sarvangasan, Matsayasan, Dhanurasan, Shirsasan.

Halasan Matsayasan Dhanurasan Shirsasan

As regards treatment, in matter of allaying fear and the resultant depression Homoeopathy is of signal value; it possesses remedied capable of replacing panic by calmness of mood and apprehension by confidence.

GUIDELINE FOR DEPRESSION:

Most people fail, not because of Lack of ability or intelligence but because of lack of Positive mental attitude.
Steps to develop positive mental attitude

1. Believe in your self.

2. Think positive.

3. Love your self.

4. Do the best that you can.

5. Believe in self appreciation.

6. Discover your talents. Use them.

7. Change your beliefs.

8. Think positive of every one

Problems and difficulties give us the chance to become stronger… and better… and tougher.

If mind is restless. It should be taken away from the causes which disturb the mind. One should completely stop thinking about it. Counseling and talking things with friends.
Relaxation techniques, such as yoga, healing visualization and meditation, for half an hour every day.
Both feet are dipped in hot water kept in broad vessel up to ankles for about 15 minutes, before going to bed. Feels very relax and get good sleep.
Laughter is of great value, so watch an amusing film, read funny book and seek out people who are fun as often as possible. Laughter equates with happiness, the most positive emotion.

As good food is required for a healthy body, good and positive thoughts are required for mental fitness.

Home remedies:

Take a tablespoon of honey and lemon juice in a warm glass of water twice daily.
Soak 10-12 fenugreek (methi) seeds in one fourth cup of water overnight and have both- the seeds and the water, next day in the morning with a glass of water.
Mix half a teaspoon of turmeric powder in a glass of warm milk and take at bed time.
Take folate (vitamin B9) in the form of a multivitamin (400 to 800 micrograms).

Food to be avoided in depression:

Avoid acidic food like aerated drinks, alcohol, canned food, processed food, confectioneries, fried food, oil capsules, spices, condiments, pickles, preserved foods, refined foods like refined flour, pasta, refined sugar, polished rice, meat, fish, coffee, chocolates, tobacco, drugs.

CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE

With a Bad attitude you can never have a positive day…

With a Positive attitude you can never have a bad day…

The Choice is YOURS…

DIETARY ADVICE

Date:

Patient’s name: _____________________________________________________________________

Age : _______________________

Type of work : Heavy / Moderate / Sedentary

Body weight : _______________________

Diagnosis : _____________________________________________________________________

DIET ADVISED:

Breakfast:

Tea using 50ml milk (skimmed, low fat or no fat) with no sugar / lemon juice with honey

Cereals: _____________________________________________________________________

Mid morning:

Fruit: _______________________________________________________________________

Lunch & Dinner:

Cereals: _____________________________________________________________________

Pulse: _______________________________________________________________________

Meat: _______________________________________________________________________

Vegetable: ___________________________________________________________________

1 bowl salad
1 cup curd

Evening:

Tea using 50ml milk (skimmed, low fat or no fat) with no sugar
Cereal: e.g. 3-4 Marie biscuits, khakhra

For further enquiry, contact:

Dr. Ronak J. Shah

KRUPA CLINIC

102 Amit Complex, 1^st Floor, Opp. Panchratna Bld.,

Subhanpura Road, Ellora Park, Vadodara.

Ph no. 2390014. Mo: 9825050054

e-mail: dr.ronakshah@yahoo.co.in

web: www.dr-ronakshah.com