Depression Mantra

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