Depression, By Any Other Name …

By Troy Rampy, Editor, The Wellness Blog™

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”  — Helen Keller

Several years ago, I was describing to an associate how discouraged I was regarding a particular project. It seemed to be dead in the water … but I couldn’t quite let go of it. Nor could I figure out how to resuscitate it. I was frustrated.

My friend, who was a psychotherapist, pointed out that I was a bit more than frustrated. In fact, I was displaying several symptoms of outright depression.

And so it is. Depression sometimes has a way of creeping up on us. We can be held captive in its icy grip and not even know it. But hey, so what? Whatever label we put on it, we are still right where we are. Correct?

Well, yes that’s true. But I’ve found that it’s generally helpful to have some understanding of what’s going on. It almost always gives me a clearer sense of direction and purpose. In this case, once I realized I was depressed, and accepted it … after a few more rounds of robust denial … I at least knew where to start looking for help.

I ultimately let go of the project and moved on. Doing that opened up a lot more room for new possibilities. As my sense of futility morphed into one of new found optimism via my movement and change, the black clouds of depression lifted. Huzzah!

So here’s the important stuff. Remember that no one is totally immune … depression can affect anyone, anytime. According to current research, more than one in five Americans will experience some form of depression in their lifetime. Women appear to be twice as likely as men to suffer from it.

Depression is not caused by weakness of character. Nor can it be cured by an act of will, or by just “snapping out of it.”

If you are depressed, get help. There’s no reason to prolong your suffering. Even everyday, garden variety depression, and especially moderate to severe depression, can be debilitating and rob you of both the joy and meaning in your life.

Today’s gold standard for treating clinical depression involves cognitive psychotherapy in combination with medication and/or healing herbs (e.g., St. John’s Wart), and exercise. (“Clinical Depression” is the term used to denote a mental state that is beyond the bounds of “normal” grieving and/or the temporary mood swings that can be associated with life’s usual ups and downs.)

However, the best way to treat depression is by preventing it in the first place. There are a number of ways you can prevent depression. Here are a few of the easiest and, as the gods of wellness would have it, the most effective:

• Eat well. Low blood sugar can make you more susceptible to mood swings. To keep your blood sugar level from dropping too low, eat smaller meals and eat more often. In addition, eliminate, or at least greatly reduce, your intake of sugar, caffeine and alcohol. These three can dramatically affect blood sugar levels.
• Meditate. Meditation has proven to be extremely effective in helping reduce depression by directly affecting your mood and outlook.
• Exercise. Exercise releases endorphins, which are nature’s “feel good” elixirs. Extensive research has shown over and over that exercise is particularly helpful in relieving depression.
• Get enough sleep. When you get a good night’s sleep, and the reticular activating system is priming your emotional brain properly, your norepinephrine and dopamine infusions create a positive, energetic ‘background music’…. Without these elements you more easily can become depressed.
• Review your primary values and life goals. Be sure you’re living your life consistent with your core values and your life goals. If you’re not, this can be a cause for depression. For some quick and easy tips regarding how to do this, click here.
• Engage in play, pleasure, and laughter. These three elements are a balm for rejuvenating your mood, your outlook, and your very soul. They release endorphins and bring you into the present, leaving you feeling lighter and revitalized. Especially now … in this culture, at this time.
• Raise your personal vibration. There’s a lot of new research indicating that by raising your vibration you can directly improve many aspects of your life, including your mood and outlook. To learn more about what that means and how to do it, click here.

FYI: The researched information in today’s blog posting, and much more, is available through the 52 weekly emails contained in our popular Wellness Wednesdays™ stress reduction online coaching program. To learn more about it, click here.

I’m happy to announce that Wellness Wednesdays™ soon will be available in a handy eBook version as well. If you’re interested in learning more about that, let us know and we’ll send you additional information.

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