Fresh crisp air, leaves revealing their golden-auburn hues, the smell of pumpkin lattes at our favorite coffee shop, and wanting to snuggle under our warm blankies a little longer in the darker mornings - all signs that Fall is here, and winter is around the corner! For many of us, it's our favorite time of the year, full of promise, renewal, and delight. For others, the darkness and approaching cold is unbearable - depression increases and hopelessness and despair try to take hold like an invisible strangling force that we can't be freed from.
These days, the term, "depression," is used as loosely as the word love - I love pizza, I love hiking, I love my dog, I love you...uh what's your name again? We say we are depressed because of the weather, or because we've gained a few pounds, or because we were passed over for a promotion, or just because everyone else is saying they're depressed (or maybe it's contagious?). Depression, however, is a very real illness that should not be minimized or ignored. How do we discern between a gloomy mood and clinical depression? There is never one dimension to explore, when it comes to the complexities of assessing depression; however, the following are signs and symptoms that may require professional mental health expertise and treatment:
The inability to function normally on a daily basis - missing work, staying in bed all day, or a lack of motivation for anything or anyone.
Constant anxiety, obsessing and worrying.
Fatigue and exhaustion for no apparent physical reason.
Reasons for feeling depressed cannot be defined or clarified.
Emotional overeating
Blowing issues out of proportion for an extended period of time.
Withdrawal, antisocial behaviors, or unusual and abnormal introversion.
Sadness for no apparent reason, and the inability to find joy in things that once provided pleasure.
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
In the case of depression, if you have experienced a chronic low for more than three months, a consultation with a reputable therapist is recommended, along with a nutritional analysis from a holistic nutritionist. Oftentimes, depression may be caused or triggered by malnutrition, dehydration and stress, which all affect our bodies' ability to achieve homeostasis (biochemical balance).
For those suffering from temporary blues, or short-term bouts of depression due to difficult circumstances, seasonal fatigue, or gloomy weather, there are several ways to elevate mood and improve mental and physical vitality.
First, keep a positive attitude. There is a close connection between how an individual thinks and how the body responds to those thoughts. Some studies show that negative emotions and feelings, and the resulting stressors, are as real as physical germs and bacteria. They affect our entire biochemistry, weaken our natural immune defenses, and allow disease to invade our bodies and souls. Irritation, anger, hate, and resentment have a powerful effect in producing ill health and depression.
Dr. Masaru Emoto, a physician from Japan, demonstrated that human thoughts and emotions can alter the molecular structure of water. When water was imprinted by thoughts of love and gratitude, it responded by the development of complex, beautiful crystalline patterns, and when water was imbued with negative intentions, the patterns became disordered and took on grotesque forms. His work suggests that thoughts can change our external world as well as our inner one.
Once we learn to think positive, the second recommendation to stave off the "blues," is to provide complete nourishment for our bodies through a whole foods diet, rich in nutrients essential for both mental and physical health. If you are unsure about nutritional deficiencies and excesses in your diet, a nutrition consultant can provide a complete nutrition analysis customized for an individual's unique biochemistry.
Other mood lifters include regular exercise, fresh air and sunshine, sufficient rest and sleep, hydration, and minimizing daily stressors. Sharing troubling issues with friends, loved ones, or a counselor lightens the load and helps us not feel alone in our struggles. Find joy in simple things, Help someone, and live a purposeful life - all recommendations that contribute to contentment and ameliorate depression.
Above all, remember you are unique and special, and have the power to choose your destiny. Education is empowerment. With the right guidance, holistic health education, and individualized health protocol, gloomy days and bouts of depression can be transformed to bright days full of hope and possibilities. Just like winter giving way to spring, let gray moods give way to a sunny disposition!
Comments