| Depression is the most prevalent of all the | | | | depression.The excessive and indiscriminate |
| emotional disorders. This may vary from | | | | use of drugs also leads to faulty |
| feelings of slight sadness to utter misery | | | | assimilation of vitamins and minerals by the |
| and dejection. It brings together a variety | | | | body and ultimately causes depression. The |
| of physical and psychological symptoms which | | | | use of aspirin leads to deficiencies of |
| together constitute a syndrome.Depression is | | | | vitamin C and antacids can cause deficiencies |
| the most unpleasant experience a person can | | | | of calcium and vitamin B. Diabetes, low blood |
| endure. It is far more difficult to cope with | | | | sugar (hypoglycaemia) and weakness of the |
| than a physical ailment. The growing | | | | liver resulting from the use of refined or |
| complexities of modern life and the resultant | | | | processed foods, fried foods and an excessive |
| crisis, as well as mental stress and strain | | | | intake of fats may also lead to |
| in day to day living, usually leads to this | | | | depression.The CureThe modern medical system |
| disorder. It also arises out of the monotony | | | | treats depression with anti- depression drugs |
| and drudgery of a daily routine, without any | | | | which provide temporary relief but have |
| meaningful variation in urban life. Suicide | | | | harmful side-effects and do not remove the |
| is the major risk in extreme cases of | | | | causes or prevent its recurrence. The harmful |
| depression.SymptomsIt is not always easy to | | | | side-effects include gross liver damage, |
| diagnose depression clinically. The most | | | | hypersensitivity, insomnia, hallucinations, a |
| striking symptoms of depression are feelings | | | | confused state, convulsions, a fall in blood |
| of acute sense of loss and inexplicable | | | | pressure which brings on headaches and |
| sadness, loss of energy and loss of interest. | | | | dizziness , blurred vision, difficulty in |
| The patient usually feels tired and lacks | | | | inhaling and urine retention. The plan of |
| interest in the world around him. Sleep | | | | action for self-treatment of depression |
| disturbance is frequent. Usually the patient | | | | consists of regulating the diet, exercise, |
| wakes up depressed at 4 or 5 in the morning | | | | scientific relaxation and meditation.Diet has |
| and is unable to return to sleep. Other | | | | a profound effect on the mental health of a |
| disturbed sleep patterns are difficulty in | | | | person. Even a single nutritional deficiency |
| getting off to sleep on going to bed at | | | | can cause depression in susceptible people. |
| night, nightmares and repeated waking from | | | | Dr. Pricilla, associate clinical professor at |
| midnight onwards.The patient often suffers | | | | the University of California, prescribes |
| from guilt, oppressive feelings and | | | | nutritional therapy to build up brain |
| self-absorption. Other symptoms of depression | | | | chemicals, such as serotonin and |
| are : loss of appetite, gidiness, itching, | | | | norepinephrine, that affect mood and are |
| nausea, agitation, irritability, impotence or | | | | often lacking in depressed people. She |
| frigidity, constipation, aches and pains all | | | | recommends eating foods rich in B vitamins, |
| over the body, lack of concentration and lack | | | | such as whole grains, green vegetables, eggs |
| of power of decision. Some persons may lose | | | | and fish.The diet of persons suffering from |
| interest in eating and suffer from rapid loss | | | | depression should completely exclude tea, |
| of weight while others may resort to frequent | | | | coffee, alcohol, chocolate and cola, all |
| eating and as a result gain in weight.Cases | | | | white flour products,sugar, food colourings, |
| of severe depression may be characterized by | | | | chemical additives, white rice and strong |
| low body temperature, low blood pressure, hot | | | | condiments. The diet should be restricted to |
| flushes and shivering.The external | | | | three meals. Fruits can be taken in the |
| manifestations represent a cry for help from | | | | morning for breakfast with milk and a handful |
| the tormented mind of the depressed persons. | | | | of nuts and seeds. Lunch may consist of |
| The severely depressed patient feels | | | | steamed vegetables, whole wheat chappatis and |
| worthless and is finally convinced that he | | | | a glass of butter-milk. For dinner, green |
| himself is responsible for his undoing and | | | | vegetable salad and all available sprouts |
| his present state of hopeless | | | | such as alfalfa seeds, mung, cottage cheese |
| despair.CausesDepleted functioning of the | | | | or a glass of butter-milk would be |
| adrenal glands is one of the main causes of | | | | ideal.Activity and ExerciseThe depressive |
| mental depression. Irregular diet habits | | | | mood can be overcome by activity. Those who |
| cause digestive problems and lead to the | | | | are depressive will forget their misery by |
| assimilation of fats. An excess of | | | | doing something. They should turn away from |
| carbohydrates like cereals, white sugar, | | | | themselves and consider others. At home they |
| coffee, tea, chocolates and comparatively | | | | can take to decorating, repairing or |
| less quantities of vegetables and fruits in | | | | constructing something new. The pleasure of |
| the diet may result in indigestion. Due to | | | | achievement overcomes the distress of |
| indigestion, gases are produced in the | | | | misery.Exercise also plays an important role |
| digestive tract, causing compression over the | | | | in the treatment of depression. It not only |
| diaphragm in the region of the heart and | | | | keep the body physically and mentally fit but |
| lungs. This in turn, reduces the supply of | | | | also provides recreation and mental |
| oxygen to the tissues, which raises the | | | | relaxation. |
| carbon dioxide level, causing general | | | | |