Depression and Homeopathy

One day you will wake up and there wont be any more time to do the things you have always wanted. Do it Now.

Depression can be a scary word.

A study reported in WHO, conducted for the NCMH (National Care Of Medical Health), states that at least 6.5 per cent of the Indian population suffers from some form of the serious mental disorder, with no discernible rural-urban differences. There is an extreme shortage of mental health workers like psychologists, psychiatrists, and doctors. As reported latest in 2014, it was as low as ”one in 100,000 people”.
The average suicide rate in India is 10.9 for every lakh people and the majority of people who commit suicide are below 44 years of age.

• One in six people aged 10-19 years is suffering from depression
• Mental health conditions account for 16 per cent of the global burden of disease and injury in people aged 10-19 years
• Half of all mental health conditions start by the age of 14 years and most cases are undetected and untreated
• Globally, depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents
• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15-19-year-olds.
• The consequences of not addressing adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults
• Mental health promotion and prevention are key to helping adolescents thrive

About one in five adults in the U.S. experiences some form of mental illness each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, but only 41 per cent of those affected received mental health care or services in the past year. There is again a shortage of medical professionals. According to most people, they’re just expected to get over it without spending a dime on treatment.

Depression is more than just feeling sad. Everyone feels upset or unmotivated from time to time, but depression is more serious. Some people prefer saying that they are “sad,”“blue,” or “feeling down.”Whatever you call it, depression is a normal reaction to chronic illness. Sometimes it is not easy to recognize when you are depressed. Even more difficult is recognizing when you may be becoming depressed and then catching yourself before you fall in to a deep depression. It is a mood disorder characterized by prolonged feelings of sadness and loss of interest in daily activities. If these symptoms persist for a period of at least two weeks, it is considered a depressive episode. Just as there are many degrees of pain, there are different degrees of depression.

If your disease is a significant problem in your life,you almost certainly have or have had some problems with depression.Depression is felt by everyone at some time.It is how you handle it that makes the difference. While there are many signs of depression, which will be discussed later, there are also several emotions that can lead to depression. These include the following:

• Fear, anxiety, and/or uncertainty about the future. Whether these feelings result from worries about finances, the disease process, treatment, or your family, these issues can lead to depression if they are not addressed by you and those involved.By confronting these issues early on, both you and your family will have less time to worry about them and more time to enjoy life.

Clinical depression has to be diagnosed by a doctor based on symptoms, functioning and the ruling out of other medical causes that can mimic depression. A diagnostic criteria for depression include either feeling low or sad for most of the day, nearly every day for two weeks or more, and/or decreased interest in activities that one may have previously enjoyed doing for two weeks or more, along with other symptoms such as change in appetite, sleep, worthlessness, feeling slowed down and thoughts of death or dying.

Types of Depression

Just as there is no one cause for depression, there isn’t only one type of depression. It can take many forms. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders lists nine distinct types:

1. Major depression – It is the most common type of depression. Often, people with major depression experience recurrent episodes of depression throughout their lives.
2. Dysthymia – It is a persistent low mood over a long period of time, even a year or more. It could be described as feeling like you’re living on autopilot.
3. Seasonal Affective Disorder –Some people are more sensitive to the lower amount of light in the winter time. It is a type of depression brought on from a lack of natural sunlight.
4. Atypical Depression – In this people often report feeling a heaviness in their limbs. They may suffer from irritability and relationship problems, as well as be prone to overeating and oversleeping.
5. Bipolar Disorder – It is also called Manic Depressive Disorder because it involves alternating between mania and depressive episodes.
6. Psychotic Depression – Sometimes depressive episodes can get so severe that hallucinations or delusions are present, the person becomes catatonic, or they feel stuck in bed. This is known as Psychotic Depression.
7. Postpartum Depression – It occurs after giving birth. Mothers may feel disconnected from their new baby or fear that they will hurt their child.
8. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder – Severe depression that shows up during the second half of the menstrual cycle is called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. It affects the individual’s ability to function normally.
9. Situational Depression – It is triggered by a life-changing event. It could be anything, from losing your job to the death of an immediate family member.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression –

Though there are multiple types of depression, many of them have similar recognizable symptoms. This list scratches the surface, but it provides a general idea of what comprises depression:

• Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, or emptiness
• Irritability, frustration, or restlessness
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies that used to be enjoyable
• Difficulty sleeping, sleep disturbances or sleeping too much
• Fatigue and lack of energy
• Difficulty thinking clearly, remembering, concentrating, or making decisions
• Appetite or weight changes
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
• Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, or back pain

Experiencing some combination of these symptoms for a period of at least two weeks likely signifies that you are in the midst of a depressive episode.

Management

Remember that recovery is a journey, not a destination.

Depression feeds on depression, so break the cycle. The success of your self-management program depends on it. Depression is not permanent, and you can hasten its disappearance. Focus on your positive surroundings. When you believe that things will get better, they will.

 Use positive self talk – This cognitive technique is a very powerful weapon against depression.

 If you feel like hurting yourself or someone else, call your doctor, suicide prevention center,friend,spiritual counselor. Do not delay. Do it now. Often, just talking with an understanding person or health professional will be enough to help you overcome this mood. Early recognition and treatment are important aspects of depression management.

Treatment for depression should coincide with a healthy diet and a regular sleep schedule. It may sound simplistic, but the importance of taking care of your body cannot be overstated.

There are various methods you could use to sooth the symptoms of depression.

• Exercise is especially helpful for the depressed mind. It enables you to better handle stress, and the endorphins released during exercise give you a mental boost. Aside from the mental health benefits, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that physical activity helps you sleep better at night.Yoga is a more accessible form of exercise, because it doesn’t require equipment and because many of the moves and poses do not require much effort.
• Volunteer – People who help other people are seldom depressed. Make plans and carry them out. Look to the future. Plant some young trees. Look forward to your grand children’s graduation from college even if your own kids are in high school. If you know that one time of the year is especially difficult, such as Christmas or a birthday, make specific plans for that period. Don’t wait to see what happens. Be prepared.
• Meditation is a highly effective way of clearing your head and calming your body. It’s also easy to do, with guided meditations available through phone apps, online in text and videos, and in books.
• Continue your daily activities – Get dressed every day, make your bed, get out of the house, go shopping, walk your dog. Plan and cook meals. Force yourself to do these things even if you don’t feel like it.If you enjoy keeping a diary, you may find that it helps to express your thoughts on paper instead of bottling them inside. It’s helpful to have close friends and family who you can confide in, but they’re not always available or may be dealing with stress of their own. This makes keeping a diary a good idea to have an alternate way to vent.
• Are you drinking alcohol in order to feel better? Alcohol is also a downer.There is virtually no way to escape depression unless you unload these negative influences from your brain. For most people, one or two drinks in the evening is not a problem, but if your mind is not free of alcohol during most of the day, you are having trouble with this drug. Talk this over with your Doctor.

Therapy with anyone from a guidance counselor to a certified therapist can work wonders, and many may prefer therapy over the medication route.

Situational depression especially can be relieved by having a way to get everything off your chest and receive practical advice.

For a more hands-on approach, try experts like psychiatrists or psychologists. They offer many types of therapy, from light therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder to cognitive behavioral therapy that works to change your thought processes.

Other alternatives include drinking special teas or taking supplements. The properties of green tea and chamomile tea give them a calming effect.

There is no shame in taking medication to manage your depression. People routinely take medication for physical ailments, and having a mental illness isn’t any different. If you’re worried about the possible side effects, call your doctor to discuss them.

Bad days will still come, but with well-targeted treatment, you should be able to overcome extreme lows.

Homeopathic Approach –

There are several remedies for depression in Homeopathy, as homeopathy gives priority to mental aspect more than physical aspect. Some of the major ones I am writing it here.  

Aurum –

• Guilt Feeling
• Thinks as if now the spark of life is gone
• Excessive sense of duty within (These are individuals with many good qualities: they are intelligent, well-mannered, honest, responsible, hard-working and successful).
• No reason to live further
• Work is the most important aspect of the Aurum individual’s life.They value gold (money) – material possessions are important to them, which is why they work so hard.

Arsenicum Album –

• Anxiety and depression
• OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)
• Fear of catching diseases like cancer, fear of death
• Great anguish and restlessness
• Suicidal
• Hallucinations of sight and smell
• Miserly, malicious, selfish, lacks courage
• Pessimistic
• Hypochondriac
• Perfectionists
• Overcritical
• Suffer mostly in midnight (2AM)
• Sensitive to disorder and confusion

Calcarea Carb –

• Outwardly strong, dependable and industrious appearances hides a shy and introverted nature
• Anxious, withdrawn, fatigue and self pity by overwhelming work pressure
• Fat, fair and flabby people who fears misfortune, contagious diseases and are apprehensive
• Averse to work or exertion
• Anxiety with palpitations
• Chilly patients who lives a sluggish life style
• Insomniac
• Great sensitiveness to cold and craves egg, indigestible things like chalk, mud etc

Causticum –

• Paralysis of mind
• Ailments from shocking news one after another
• People needing Causticum tend to mask their emotions and are stoic in nature.
• Sad, hopeless, Intensely sympathetic
• Aggravation from thinking of complaints

Kali Phos –

• Clear sighted and extrovert
• Suffer from exhaustion from overwork , Brain fag
• Hysteria, night terrors
• Loss of memory due to overwork.
• Muscular weakness. Slightest labour seems like heavy task
• Yellow discharges
• Wake early with huge pangs

Ignatia –

• Broken heart and betrayal (both acute and chronic state )
• Sighing, sobbing and sitting there immobalised.
• Stiff neck, globus hystericus (feeling of lump in throat making it impossible to swallow)
• Weep for help and attention
• May even have convulsions

Lachesis –

• Repression, jealousy or suspicion is marked in people who need lachesis
• People who hate commitment or confinement
• Worry about world affairs
• Mental labour best performed at night.
• Great loquacity
• Women may suffer from menstrual depression

Natrum Carb –

• Gentle, unselfish people who care deeply for their feelings and friends and becomes depressed after loss or disappointment.
• Unable to think, difficult slow , comprehension.
• Worries
• Sensitive to cold, change of weather
• Try to hide their feelings
• Weak digestive systems
• In isolation they like sad music. (Sadness, weeping from music).

Natrum Mur. –

• Too many heart breaks, person turns into silent grief, never crying except when alone listening to silent music.
• Doesn’t want to talk about depression
• Aggravation consolation
• Irritable, gets into a passion about trifles, awkward, hasty
• Tears with laughter
• Wants to be alone
• Dwells on past painful event sometimes with great vindictiveness
• Easily offended, never forgets past pain
• Charitable institutions – they want to go or find some worthy cause
• Dry skin, oily face, unexplained hives/rosacea
• Migraines, Ailments from sun

Phosphoric Acid –

• Life is flat
• All spark gone
• Debility especially mentally
• Indifference, Apathetic
• Want of space
• Loss of memory, unable to find right word
• Insomnia, hair loss
• Homesickness
• Chronic fatigue syndrome

Pulsatilla –

• Child like emotions – moody, clingy, yielding, sensitive
• They cry readily, Timid
• They like consolation and wants support
• Fear in evening of being alone, Fear of ghosts
• Easily discouraged
• Morbid dread of opposite sex
• Religious melancholy
• Depression due to hormonal changes
• Crave sweet food and put on weight

Staphysagria –

• Complaints are due to suppressed emotions particularly rage
• Initially a person is mild and yielding
• High sex drive
• Stress related headache, toothache, stomachache etc
• Very sensitive as to what others say
• Peevish
• Child cries for many things but refuses them when offered

Sepia –

• Indifference to loved ones, family
• Easily offended
• Very sad
• Weeps while narrating complaints
• Exhausted, burned out
• Want of space
• Feels death is better

Every flower blooms at their own pace. Hence be Happy and Never compare yourself with others.

“Nothing ever happened in the past that can prevent you from being present now”