How to Beat Anxiety and Depression
by Brett Jones
OM Times
Depression has become an illness and something that you must go to the doctor to solve. The Google definition of depression is:
A depressive disorder is not a passing blue mood but rather persistent feelings of sadness and worthlessness and a lack of desire to engage in formerly pleasurable activities. A complex mind/body illness, depression can be treated with drugs and/or therapy.
Why Medication Is Not Always the Answer
As most who suffer depression know, taking anti depressants doesn’t solve the issue. Rather, it only places a blanket on the problems and numbs out feelings. This observation is from feedback from hundreds of sufferers.
Harvard professor, Irving Kirsch, writes of the “The serotonin myth” in a peer reviewed paper taken from many clinical trials, and how it is not serotonin that affects depression at all. Most noteworthy, the truth is every human behavior has a benefit, even if that benefit seems ridiculous to most people. Depression and anxiety are the result of perfecting a state that we all use, all of the time. Everyone feels down sometime and some feel down a lot of the time.
However, as any depression sufferer will testify, it cannot and does not last ALL of the time. All sufferers go in and out of depression. The reason is simple. Depression sufferers have perfected that way of feeling and use it as a place of withdrawing from the world and giving themselves comfort. Once this pattern begins, then it becomes very difficult to withdraw from this method of dealing with issues that arise in life.
Do Sufferers Depend On Their Depression?
One of the largest challenges for depression sufferers is the inclination to “defend” their depression. As it meets a lot of needs that others will not or can not meet, they defend that they are “sick.” Thus, further keeping themselves trapped in a cycle of despair and anger, which all depression suffers go through. The solution is to awaken to this reality and take control of the situation by recognizing it as a pattern of behavior; something that is actually in their control.
Depression seems unsolvable and unmanageable and, therefore, people appear to be stuck with it. You can take control and recognize that whilst you may experience depression, it is not the best way to comfort yourself. Recognizing how beautiful you are and to moving from the internal voice that tells you the opposite, therefore, is the solution.
Also, this involves awakening to who you really are. You are a beautiful soul who can think, feel and make a contribution to the world. You have something of value to give, and you are not a victim to it. The way you think and feel controls the physiology of your body. Hence, this interconnection has become mainstream medicine. It, therefore, is ludicrous that the connection has not been made when it comes to psychology and medical treatment of depression.
A Path to Self-Healing
Whilst drugs may have a stabilizing effect, they are not designed to cure. To be free takes self-awareness and mental stability, all of which mindfulness and spiritual practices can give. Therefore, begin your practices with learning to meditate and becoming self-aware. Listen to and observe the internal dialogue you use to speak to yourself. In addition, choose to control your day. Combining this with daily Tai Chi or Qigong practices helps to move the chi energy within your body, which will begin your path to freedom.
To move away from dependence on the old way of being takes time and a good teacher. However, the old paradigm of using drugs to maintain one’s mental state will eventually disappear as awareness grows. The old way of dealing with the challenges of life do not work. As a result, we can find a new path that enables us to become more powerful and contribute to the world. This, in turn, will help many others, by our example of overcoming what seems to be normality for a large percentage of the world today.
Exploring the alternative is well worth the effort.
Health Disclaimer:
The purpose of this article is to promote broad understanding and knowledge of various health topics. The information and opinions expressed are believed to be accurate, based on the best judgment available to the authors. Readers who fail to consult with appropriate health providers assume the risk of any injuries. This is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
References:
1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4172306/
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1456909/
About the Author:
Brett Jones is a teacher of inner peace, enlightenment, and awakening. He is the author of the best-selling book Awaken on Amazon and iTunes. Find Brett at www.brettjones.global and on social media via that website.
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