I Don’t Feel Well: Must be Depressed

By Goodpal, 11th Dec 2010 | Follow this author | RSS Feed | Short URL http://nut.bz/125xv531/
Posted in Wikinut>Health>Mind & Spirit>Depression

Depression is a major cause of most of the health issues in the world. Although doctors treat it with medication, the actual remedy may lie elsewhere -- change in the faulty lifestyle. In this article, several tips are offered for managing depression.

• The Depressed World
• Is Depression a Disease?
• A Commonsense Solution to Handle Depression
• You may Also Like to Read

The Depressed World

Am I Depressed?

According to the World Health Organization, depression is the fourth leading cause of diseases in the world; in next twenty years it is expected to occupy the second place. The United States and the high income nations spend billions on depression related diseases and that expenditure is only expected to increase with time.

Many things are generally put under the umbrella of depression – stress and anxieties, sadness, feelings of helplessness and disinterest, insomnia and sleep troubles, constant fatigue and perennial low vitality, and so on. Stated simply, the person does not feel good and although it does not disable him, but it interferes in his ability to function normally. In one form of extreme case, it leads to wild mood swings and is labeled “Bipolar disorder”. There can be many other labels depending upon how you describe your situation. But labels are just labels – not solutions.

In United States, antidepressants are prescribed more frequently than drugs for blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, or even headaches. Needless to say, most people struggle with their symptoms for considerable length of time before visiting doctors. Hence, the actual prevalence of depression is likely to be much more.

Is Depression a Disease?

James S Gordon, the Founder Director of the non-profit Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM) in Washington, DC, believes that depression is not a disease, but a sign that one's life is out of balance, or "stuck". He asserts that the biological changes associated with depression are varied and result from the negative feelings such as helplessness or hopelessness, rather than causing it. So the treatment should be directed towards these feelings, and not the biochemicals resulting from them. He strongly feels that the antidepressants are significantly over-prescribed, though well-intentioned.

The current medical reimbursement system also encourages short patient visits, so doctors have little time to spend with patients and the quick option of prescribing drugs. This has ballooned the use of antidepressants.

According to Dr Ronald Dworkin, a senior fellow at Washington’s Hudson Institute, “Doctors are now medicating unhappiness and too many people take drugs when they really need to be making changes in their lives”. He is also the author of “Artificial Unhappiness: The Dark Side of the New Happy Class.”

A Commonsense Solution to Handle Depression

Yes, I can Beat Depression

Once you accept that depression is merely an indication that something needs change in your lifestyle, you can begin to think of possible solutions to reduce your unhappiness. How about the following do-it-yourself approach:

(1) Spot the imbalances in your life

There has to be some tangible reason why you are unhappy or depressed: may be it is the job, divorce, financial hardships, sudden loss of someone or wealth, or something else. Take a good look at your life and spot the irritants and work out plans to remove them. If you have been struggling with depression or stress for a long time and are finding it difficult to manage yourself, consider it a good time to seek professional counsel. Never settle for a quick prescription after a five minute consultation with your physician. Also seriously consider altering your lifestyle or reducing its pace; after all there is more to life than merely its speed.

(2) Make yourself stronger and healthier

There are various ways to look after your wellbeing and get stronger:

Food: Some items such as alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fast food actually reduce your tolerance to stress and worries. Their pleasures are only momentary, and are harmful in the long run. Avoid them and go for food rich in vitamins such as B, C and E and in minerals like zinc, manganese and selenium, which give you more resilience towards stress and anxieties. You can find them in colored vegetables and fruits.

Exercise: Physical activity has become crucial in today’s sedentary lifestyle revolving around computers and laptops. For a large number of people, there is hardly any physical activity in their daily routine. Physical activity is crucial for overall health because it releases endorphins, which are the brain's feel good neurotransmitters that promote a sense of general wellbeing and help forget worries for awhile. You don’t have to join a gym or expensive workout classes. You can try brisk walk around the neighborhood or include walking as part of commuting to work. Regular dose of endorphins will steadily build up your strength and confidence level.

Meditate and/or pray: Meditation is good for your emotional health and if you are a religious individual pray sincerely and regularly. If done honestly, both help you understand your emotional health better and spot weaknesses. For meditation you don’t have to be a religious person – Vipassana meditation, for instance, trains you in the art of self exploration through your breathing and bodily sensations. A positive mind developed through meditation will further enhance your sense of wellbeing.

You may also like to read this interesting article: 4 Simple Ways to Keep Your Brain Healthy

(3) Learn to relax

Yoga and Deep breathing: Learn to relax through any technique such as yoga or deep breathing. Yoga postures are ideal because they help you relax both physically and mentally. The feeling of relaxation is a great rejuvenator. A simple Tip: If you can’t find any guidance, just slow down your breathing and make it deeper. Normally you breath 12 – 20 times a minute, slow down to 6 – 10 breaths. Breath slowly, hold for about the same length and then breath out slowly for the same duration. It will not only reduce the high blood pressure but also calms down the nervous system if you are anxious.

Practice mindfulness: Doing any activity with mindfulness offers good relaxation. For instance, while walking notice the movement of your legs, arms, and the breathing. Notice very carefully how you take every step, be attentive to traffic or people around you. Notice as many things as possible without any mental analysis. In fact, you can practice mindfulness doing any activity: cooking, eating, doing dishes, talking, and so on. Ideally you would want to be mindful all the time. It significantly reduces useless or negative thinking. You may like to read: How to Learn Mindfulness Effectively.

You may Also Like to Read

Practical Steps to Balance Your Life
Whole Brain Functioning and Meditation for Ordinary People

Mark Gordon Brown moderated this page.
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