Depression
I was made redundant three months ago and am feeling very despondent. I have difficulty sleeping and feel anxious. I recognise I am depressed but have been putting off going to my doctor, as I am reluctant to start on medication. What are the alternatives?
Conventional remedy:
Losing your job is a stressful event. As with all major changes, such as loss of a loved one, illness, marital separation or changes in financial circumstances, it is natural to experience an adjustment reaction.
We mourn the changes in our lives, and it is important to express these feelings and work through them. If we do not, we can become clinically depressed. Whether mild, moderate or severe, depression is characterised by changes in the way you think, feel and behave.
Symptoms vary, and you may experience anxiety, sleep problems and feelings of not being able to cope. Loss of appetite, decreased interest in sex and irritability are also common. You may feel tense or fearful, have difficulty concentrating and experience physical symptoms such as headache, constipation and profound tiredness.
Some people require medication to help lift their mood and give them the mental energy to deal with their depression. There are many types of antidepressant available, all of which aim to increase brain chemicals that tend to be depleted during depression. It can take two or three weeks before the benefits are felt, and there can be side effects.
You should take the medication as instructed and plan to take it for at least six months, to reduce the risk of relapse. Avoid alcohol and, if the tablets have a sedative effect, take care if you drive or operate machinery.
A recovery plan, incorporating medical and psychological elements, is essential. Cognitive behavioural therapy has been found to be particularly useful. It will help you challenge your negative thoughts, help you develop new ways of relating to others, recognise your vulnerabilities and help you to reduce stress in your life. A therapist will guide you through a recovery programme, and it is important that you are referred to a qualified psychologist who has trained in the area. Make an appointment to see your doctor, who can help you and recommend a therapist.
There are a number of good self-help books available. One, in particular, I recommend to patients is: Depression: The Common Sense Approach (Newleaf, £5.20), by Dr Tony Bates, a clinical psychologist.
Dr Muiris Houston
Alternative remedy:
First, it is important to realise that depression is no respecter of status. It is an illness of the spirit that may affect anyone, from the Pope to an abandoned puppy.
In your case, it is tempting to put this onset of the blues down to your redundancy. But there are deeper issues relating to self-esteem that should be addressed. A healthy psyche does not depend upon the maintenance of a particular job.
There are many paths to elevation: Buddhist monks spend lifetimes doing mundane, repetitive tasks in the quest for enlightenment. My point is that depression may be tackled from a different angle.
Admittedly, some patients are programmed to respond to medication. It suits their mentality. Others, like you, want to tackle the problem head on.
Medication suppresses the pain and underlying causes of depression. True healing brings them out into the air, so the negative energy can be transmuted. Even one session of healing may shift a depression that is ready to depart. I have had many clients who became despondent with medication because they had an in-built sense of its futility.
Depression has so many manifestations. A treatment that unlocks the demons in one mind may in fact compound them in another. This is the beauty of spiritual healing: it caters for the uniqueness of the client.
On a practical level, the crystal haematite is very grounding and helps us source the correct plan of action for survival. If your depression is caused by grief and loss, amethyst is indispensable. It is highly protective and helps us process our upset in ways that are not destructive.
There are now many flower essences available that address the causes of depression energetically. Muscle-testing ensures that they exactly complement your energy.
Swimming in the sea is highly beneficial. It cleanses the body at a deep level, and the daily detox will boost healing. With any depression, it is a good idea to persist with exercise, as this naturally elevates serotonin levels. Finally, nothing beats a good cry. In the context of a healing session, such a release of emotion shifts depression quickly. It is eminently preferable to months of pill-popping.
Sarah Delamere Hurding
Sarah Delamere Hurding is a psychic healer. She can be contacted at 087-2270034
Today is the start of Aware's Depression Awareness Week (01-6617211)