TIPS TO CURE DEPRESSION NATURALLY

Globally, depression is a big challenge, and according to WHO 280 million people worldwide suffer from this mental disorder. Undoubtedly, a depressive state is experienced by almost everybody at some point of their lives. While most of us are able to overcome temporary bouts of melancholy and sadness that engulf us occasionally, there are many who are unable to come out of this negative encirclement. They are the ones who seek medication from psychiatrists.

OUR IGNORANCE

We believe that there is a medicine for every ailment, including that of mental health. But these medicines, which are mostly sedatives and anti-depressants do more harm than cure to the body in the long run. In a majority of cases it is observed that patients' sufferings continue to worsen with time, and prolonged medication is likely to leave behind serious side-effects too.

Surprisingly, what many of us don’t know is, mind and not medicines, has immense power to cure the mind, and that too naturally without consulting a psychologist or a psychiatrist. So here we will discuss ingenious ways to cure the troubled inner feelings.

YOGA & MEDITATION

Human body behaves in a pattern. Yoga, which is a set of breathing exercises, movements of different joints and workouts of the body, changes these algorithms and takes one to a different mental state. This removes one from depressive thoughts.

On the other hand, meditation or the ancient practice of bringing the mind and body to stillness, attract greater concentration of the mind to focus on the present moment and activity without any distractions, and thereby helps one stay away from all negative feelings.

SPIRITUALISM & PRAYERS

While Yoga and meditation make one energetic, focused and endows a positive outlook, spiritualism and prayers add a supplementary soothing effect to this feel good mood. Connecting oneself to the supreme is so eternally pleasing and overwhelming that it calms down one’s frayed nerves and that takes away the fears, anxieties and melancholy feelings.

FASTING

Fasting, which is an integral part of every religion, is a very effective way of getting rid of depression. Abstaining from food for a specified period in deep faith creates an inner awakening leading to higher self-realization. This is like establishing greater control over your senses as one beats hunger. More importantly, abstinence gives a meditative impact of a feel good inner energy, which enhances one’s confidence to overcome hurdles. Ideally, one should fast 2-4 times a month.

And fasting is not just the best medicine for mind, but also has great holistic health benefits. This restraint gives rest to your stomach to get it out of fatigue just as we give a breather to our body through sleeping. Abstention from food induces autophagy by sending our cells in survival mode, which then consume the fat in our body, leading to lowering of cholesterol, a drop in blood sugar and pressure levels. Most importantly, it is a huge immunity booster. And a robust health would always keep one happy!

Yoshinori Ohsumi, who was conferred the Noble Prize in Medicine in 2016 had won the coveted award by establishing how fasting leads to the body surviving on its existing energies, thereby destroying poison, fat and cholesterol that accumulate inside the body with time. No doubt, our centuries-old spiritual practices had in-built solutions for many of life's problems, which science discovers today.

CAMPHOR OR KAPOR

Camphor is a great anti-depressant, which very few are aware of. This crystal-like white compound is widely used in Hindu spiritual events. This substance has several medicinal applications, which is why many body oils and ointments have a mix of camphor in them.

But the most distinctive property of camphor is its calming down effect - the aroma of this substance when burnt or even kept in the open cools down the mind and brings stillness to the thoughts. This not only removes unpleasant and fearful possibilities that haunts one but also reaching a state of static oblivion enhances one’s concentration and productivity as the person gets deeply engrossed in his present activity with all other thoughts removed. While achieving a state of static stillness of the mind is the objective of meditation, the aroma of camphor can easily reach you to that condition. The meditator is elevated to a zero thought zone.

CAMPHOR FOR INSOMNIA

Even those suffering from insomnia or sleeping problems can try camphor rather than taking sedatives. In simple terms, when a mind is without anxieties, fear or disturbance, one gets good sleep. Sleep requires a meditative state of stillness of the mind – which the aroma of camphor enables.

However, users must buy only good quality natural camphor to get the desired effects, and avoid synthetic version of the substance, which is more widely available.

LIFELONG LEARNING

Lifelong learning is the best anti-depressant, without any side effects and more importantly, comes free of cost.

Yes, these individuals are always in vibrant mood, thinking of knowing the unknown, deciphering the new or moulding a creative masterpiece. That is the enthusiasm lifelong learners live with, which drives away all negative and depressive thoughts. After all, the journey ahead is far more promising and exciting than disheartening circumstances one might have encountered in the past or thoughts that haunt you for future.

GET IMMENSELY BUSY

If one can get himself immensely busy whether in family work, social life or professional spheres, there would not be a moment to think of anything other than your immediate engagement. So with no distractions, but with the pressure of work and nothing else to wander on, you remain depression-free.

OUR DISCLAIMER

We are in no way advising our readers through this article that they should avoid medical practitioners and their prescribed medicines for depression related ailments. Rather our suggestion is there is no harm in trying out steps like yoga, meditation, spiritualism and the use of camphor before starting allopathic treatment. If these practices are able to solve your problems, one can avoid the side-effects and costs of medicines as also that of psychiatrist’s consultation.

In our opinion, one should always seek a registered psychiatrist’s advice in case natural therapies don’t yield positive results.