Depression Information

Everyday I have the Blues: A Medical Intuitive look at Depression


It may come in waves, it may control our lives. Depression is something that many of us struggle with.

For some people, depression has been a part of their experience for so long that they've begun to believe it's what they are. They become experts at "doing" depression--hiding it, working around it, even achieving great things (but at the price of great struggle and little satisfaction).

Recent research suggests some genetic cause, or other biological pre-disposition towards depression. However in my work with depressed clients, I have not found a single paradigm that explains all of its elements.

Here is an outline of a more holistic approach that has worked for many of my clients.

1) Feel your feelings (depression is the suppression of feelings -- acknowledging those feelings often causes depression to improve). I find that what limits a person's capacity for love or recognition is what they are afraid to feel. Wherever I go, whomever I talk with, their ability to stay in a marriage, to work consciously, to be without fear and to experience joy depends upon what they have the capacity to feel.

Remembered pain is hostility and anger, anticipated pain is fear and anxiety, pain directed at yourself is guilt. The depletion of energy with all of the above is depression.

(2) Realize that nothing comes out of the blue (your depressed state has a root cause that you should look for in events or situations).

(3) Challenge your depressed thinking by questioning your assumptions, especially ones that center on meaningless perfectionism.

(4) Establish priorities so that your energy focuses on what's most important to you.

(5) Communicate as directly as possible to everyone around you. Depressed people are often poor communicators who don't get their emotional needs served. With better communication, they can experience a more supportive emotional environment.

(6) Take and expect the right responsibility for yourself -- for your own actions. Depressed people often feel guilty about things that they have no responsibility for (like the death of a parent or the divorce of their parents). Eat good whole foods. A new study published in the February 15, 2005 issue of Biological Psychiatry shows that certain foods are better at treating depression than antidepressant drugs. The study found that omega-3 fatty acids and foods high in a compound called uridine were able to reduce the symptoms of depression as well as or better than three different antidepressant drugs that were tested. In addition to the omega-3 fatty acids, these health enhancing substances are found in walnuts, molasses and fish, according to researchers. This research was conducted at the McLean Hospital, affiliated with Harvard.

(7) Look for heroes. These role models can empower you to see the way to improve, especially if they were also depressed like Abraham Lincoln.

(8) Be generous. Helping others puts your own situation into perspective.

(9) Cultivate intimacy. This means letting down your defenses so people can see you as you are, and accept you for that. Depressed people often feel disgusted with their true selves, and hide that self from everyone.

(10) Get help when you need it. This may be the most important piece of advice since so many people do not. Medicine often has value and can help a person achieve a level of stability so that they can tackle the other causalities of their depression. A severely depressed person should seek professional help and find a medication of some kind before starting this work. It could be very overwhelming for someone who is in complete despair.

There are many other actions that you can take to lessen, lift, and heal your depression.

Opening to your feelings, communicating your needs, and cultivating intimacy are powerful life tools for healing and for living.

© Christopher Stewart

Christopher Stewart is a Clairvoyant Counselor and Medical Intuitive assisting others in their healing process.

His work is compassionate, uplifting and empowering. You can visit Christopher's website at http://www.clairvoyantguide.com for further information and to schedule a private consultation.

You can also look for frequent updates to his blog at: http://intuitiveliving.blogspot.com/

Publisher's Guidelines: You may freely publish this article online, in email newsletters, or in print so long as the resource box and byline are in tact. Author would appreciate a notification, however that is optional.


MORE RESOURCES:

The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

'Helen' movie review: Sadly, this film about depression isn't very good
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
One of the thousand depressing things about depression is just how difficult it is to get on the screen. Other illnesses — manic-depression, ...
Ashley Judd on Battling Depression and Her Political ActivismBlackBook Magazine
Interview with Sandra Nettlebeck: Writer/Director of HelenHuffington Post (blog)
Exclusive CS Video: Ashley Judd is HelenComingSoon.net

all 4 news articles »




For your inner fanboy
Los Angeles Times
A TOPICAL DEPRESSION: Rowling had plenty of personal challenges in her life -- there are many stories about the single mom's lean-money days before the ...

and more »


CBS News

Obama Says `Tough Decisions' on $60 Billion Automaker Aid Now Paying Off
Bloomberg
... Co. and Chrysler Group LLC have led to a “hopeful story” of economic recovery following the nation's worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. ...
Autos, banks, jobs: Obama's political challengeUSA Today
Visiting Obama deserves credit for saving GM, ChryslerDetroit Free Press
President Obama Visits General Motors and Chrysler TodayThe Brilliant Stories (blog)
Los Angeles Times (blog)
all 1,232 news articles »


Is the Republican Victory Plan Another Great Depression?
OpEdNews
Every time they reach the economic concentration levels that currently exist, we have a serious depression. This is a direct result of increasingly ...
LETTER: Why should wealth be redistributed to others?Clarksville Leaf Chronicle

all 3 news articles »


New York Daily News

Zac Efron loses kid brother, slips into serious depression, and still retains...
Philly2Philly.com
Zac Efron loses kid brother, slips into serious depression, and still retains flawless skin in 'Charlie St. Cloud' By Jim Teti at 2:51 am on Friday July 30, ...
Nonprofit screens Zac Efron movie tonightFlorida Today
Zac Efron gives a shout out to TWLOHA supportersHollywoodnews.com

all 1,202 news articles »


Telegraph.co.uk

Extravagant Chelsea Clinton Wedding a National Disgrace
NewsBlaze
America is suffering thorough the worst economic period since the Great Depression. There are millions of unemployed and underemployed ...
Chelsea Clinton's Wedding Day DetailsCBS News

all 4,823 news articles »


Prints from the Great Depression being featured at DAI
Dayton Daily News
“Prints from the Great Depression” — on view through Sept. 26 — includes 40 prints from the collection of Linda and Richard Scott of Sidney. ...



Top Doctors: Understanding depression
Newsday (subscription)
Depression is a recurring theme in television dramas and celebrity tell-alls. Yet many Americans keep their own ill feelings bottled up, suffering in ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006