Ups and downs or mood swings, as we call them, are a part of life. In most cases, the feeling passes, the sun shines and we go back to being ourselves. Sometimes, this can linger, causing it to infect our minds and our spirit. And, how do we cope up with this affliction?
Down the ages, the terms used to describe depression may have changed, but the symptoms remain the same. Depression can lead to emotional and physical problems. One is engulfed by a constant feeling of sadness which leads to lack of interest in our daily activities. In extreme cases, patients think life is not worth living and experience despondency, anger, fear, helplessness, dejection and delusion. It is up to us to fight these feelings.
We have to first identify the problem. Note whether the problem is temporary or permanent. Depression changes the way people feel about themselves, impacting energy levels and sleep patterns. No one knows for sure what causes depression. Sometimes, a life changing event like death, loss of employment or divorce could trigger it off. Or it could be genetic or brought about by drug or alcohol abuse.
Western psychology calls this mental condition of staying away from the world in a state of inaction and indolence in the darkness of loneliness, the decease of depression. But depression is not a decease. When a mentally evolved person or an emotional and sensitive person finds the world without meaning, then a kind of a state of plateau is created. The wise person, however, recognizes these symptoms, does self-analysis, suitable changes in his routine and daily activities and maintains discipline. He uses his will power or soul power to get a new life, new energy to move forward. He doesn’t indulge this state, as it leads to mental imbalance – an insult to his inner powers.
Medication may provide temporary relief, but the root cause remains to be tackled. We need to help ourselves, and this is the most effective way to beat the insidious malady. Medical science may not have all the answers, so we need to look within ourselves to find them.
There may be many reasons to be sad, but there are reasons to be happy too, and on these we need to focus. o, take charge. We must be strong to control our depression, and not allow it to control us.
Depression is not an illness that can be fixed with anti-depressants. It is a feedback from nature that it is time to learn something. Taken in the right perspective, depression leads to improved awareness and spiritual growth, to knowledge and wisdom. Regular mediation and adopting of a spiritual way of life, including service to the needy and less fortunate, can be of great help in your progress.
Only the person who goes through depression and emerges as a better human can contribute towards humanity, as also face effectively all his future challenges.
