DepressionDepressionHolistic Health Holistic Health

ApproachesApproaches

In MedicineIn Medicine

What is it?What is it?• Mental illness that takes such a firm Mental illness that takes such a firm

hold that the sufferer is unable to hold that the sufferer is unable to struggle out of its grip unaided and struggle out of its grip unaided and treatment becomes necessary.treatment becomes necessary.

• Major depression is the most Major depression is the most common depressive illness. It can be common depressive illness. It can be classified as mild, moderate, or classified as mild, moderate, or severe.severe.

SymptomsSymptoms

• Overwhelming Overwhelming Feeling of Feeling of EmptinessEmptiness

• Low Self-esteemLow Self-esteem

• Mood SwingsMood Swings

• InsomniaInsomnia

• FatigueFatigue

• DespairDespair

• IrritabilityIrritability

• Obsessional BehaviorObsessional Behavior

• A Concentration Upon A Concentration Upon Death and SuicideDeath and Suicide

• Loss of Interest or Loss of Interest or Pleasure in ActivitiesPleasure in Activities

• Anxiety AttacksAnxiety Attacks

• Difficulty Sleeping or Difficulty Sleeping or OversleepingOversleeping

Symptoms (Cont’d):Symptoms (Cont’d):

• Feelings of Feelings of Inappropriate GuiltInappropriate Guilt

• Difficulty Thinking Difficulty Thinking or Concentratingor Concentrating

• Loss of LibidoLoss of Libido

• Hallucination Hallucination /Delusions in /Delusions in Severe CasesSevere Cases

Physical SymptomsPhysical Symptoms

• BackacheBackache

• HeadacheHeadache

• PalpitationsPalpitations

• Gastrointestinal Gastrointestinal ProblemsProblems

• Change in WeightChange in Weight

CausesCauses• Depression may be caused by an Depression may be caused by an

overwhelming emotional trauma such as overwhelming emotional trauma such as bereavement or a stressful event like bereavement or a stressful event like moving.moving.

• Almost a quarter of women experience Almost a quarter of women experience depression after childbirth.depression after childbirth.

• There may be other physical origins, There may be other physical origins, however, there is no easily identifiable however, there is no easily identifiable cause.cause.

StatisticsStatistics

• It is estimated that 9.5% of adult It is estimated that 9.5% of adult Americans are affected by Americans are affected by depressive disorders in a given year.depressive disorders in a given year.

• In most industrialized countries, In most industrialized countries, women are at least twice as likely as women are at least twice as likely as men to experience sever depression.men to experience sever depression.

• In children, the rates of depression in In children, the rates of depression in boys and girls are approximately boys and girls are approximately equal.equal.

Children At-RiskChildren At-Risk

• Research confirms that offspring of Research confirms that offspring of depressed parents are at high risk for depressed parents are at high risk for depression, substance abuse, anxiety depression, substance abuse, anxiety disorders, and other mental health disorders, and other mental health disorders.disorders.

• Impairment may begin in Impairment may begin in adolescence or even earlier.adolescence or even earlier.

Child BehaviorChild Behavior

• Schools are reporting more and more Schools are reporting more and more children unable to meet the basic children unable to meet the basic demands of sitting, paying attention, demands of sitting, paying attention, and controlling themselves.and controlling themselves.

• Though the parents often feel that the Though the parents often feel that the child’s behavior is the source of their child’s behavior is the source of their distress, in fact more often the child is distress, in fact more often the child is reacting to the parent’s depression.reacting to the parent’s depression.

Depression in MothersDepression in Mothers

• Studies have found that depressed Studies have found that depressed mothers have difficulty bonding with mothers have difficulty bonding with their infants.their infants.

• They are less sensitive to the baby’s They are less sensitive to the baby’s needs and less consistent in their needs and less consistent in their responses to the baby’s behavior.responses to the baby’s behavior.

• The babies appear more unhappy The babies appear more unhappy and isolated than other children.and isolated than other children.

Depression in Mothers (Cont’d):Depression in Mothers (Cont’d):

• Babies may be more difficult to Babies may be more difficult to comfort, appear listless, and be comfort, appear listless, and be difficult to feed and put to sleep.difficult to feed and put to sleep.

• At toddler stage children are often At toddler stage children are often very hard to handle, defiant, very hard to handle, defiant, negative, and refusing to accept negative, and refusing to accept parental authority.parental authority.

Orthodox TreatmentOrthodox Treatment

• Mild depression can be treated by Mild depression can be treated by talking things through with a doctor talking things through with a doctor or a counselor.or a counselor.

• A depressive illness needs treatment A depressive illness needs treatment with medication or psychotherapy, or with medication or psychotherapy, or both.both.

• In severe cases, electroconvulsive In severe cases, electroconvulsive therapy may be used.therapy may be used.

Alternative TreatmentsAlternative Treatments

•HomeopathyHomeopathy•Alexander TechniqueAlexander Technique•Arts TherapiesArts Therapies•YogaYoga•Nutritional HealingNutritional Healing•HerbsHerbs•Other TherapiesOther Therapies

Nutritional HealingNutritional Healing

• Neurotransmitters in the brain control our Neurotransmitters in the brain control our moods, and the foods we eat control the moods, and the foods we eat control the release of neurotransmitters.release of neurotransmitters.– Complex Carbohydrates to CalmComplex Carbohydrates to Calm– Proteins to Increase AlertnessProteins to Increase Alertness

• Dietary SupplementsDietary Supplements

HerbsHerbs

- Gingko -- Gingko -

- Ginseng -- Ginseng -

- Lemon Balm -- Lemon Balm -

- Siberian Ginseng -- Siberian Ginseng -

- St. John’s Wort -- St. John’s Wort -

Herbs - GingkoHerbs - Gingko

Herbs - GinsengHerbs - Ginseng

Herbs – Lemon BalmHerbs – Lemon Balm

Herbs – Siberian GinsengHerbs – Siberian Ginseng

Herbs – St. John’s WorkHerbs – St. John’s Work

HomeopathyHomeopathy

• A holistic medicine which uses A holistic medicine which uses animal, vegetable and mineral animal, vegetable and mineral preparations to cure a person’s preparations to cure a person’s illness. Its philosophy is to treat illness. Its philosophy is to treat “like” with “like” to heal a person.“like” with “like” to heal a person.

HomeopathyHomeopathySpecific Remedies for Specific Remedies for Depression:Depression:

• ArsenicumArsenicum if the person is restless, chilly, if the person is restless, chilly, exhausted , obsessively neat and tidy.exhausted , obsessively neat and tidy.

• AurumAurum if the person feels totally worthless, if the person feels totally worthless, suicidal and disgusted with himself/herself.suicidal and disgusted with himself/herself.

• IgnatiaIgnatia if the depression follows deep grief if the depression follows deep grief or a failed love affair.or a failed love affair.

• PulsatillaPulsatilla if the person bursts into tears at if the person bursts into tears at the slightest provocation, wanting a lot of the slightest provocation, wanting a lot of reassurance and attention.reassurance and attention.

Alexander TechniqueAlexander Technique

• A special method that is taught in A special method that is taught in lessons to reeducate us to regain our lessons to reeducate us to regain our natural posture and use our bodies natural posture and use our bodies more efficiently.more efficiently.

Alexander TechniqueAlexander TechniqueObjectivesObjectives

• Chronically contracted muscles are Chronically contracted muscles are associated with mental and emotional associated with mental and emotional imbalances.imbalances.

• The Alexander Technique enables a The Alexander Technique enables a redistribution of muscle tension throughout redistribution of muscle tension throughout the body, which seems to go hand in hand the body, which seems to go hand in hand with an improvement in mental functioning.with an improvement in mental functioning.

• It may also teach a person how to react to It may also teach a person how to react to life’s challenges and stresses in a positive life’s challenges and stresses in a positive way, avoiding overreactions and distressway, avoiding overreactions and distress

Art TherapiesArt Therapies• Made up of four different therapies:Made up of four different therapies:

– Art TherapyArt Therapy– Music TherapyMusic Therapy– Drama TherapyDrama Therapy– Dance Movement TherapyDance Movement Therapy

• They can provide support as well as They can provide support as well as a chance for sufferers to discover a chance for sufferers to discover aspects of themselves of which they aspects of themselves of which they were previously unaware.were previously unaware.

YogaYoga

Yoga is an ancient exercise system that uses Yoga is an ancient exercise system that uses stretching movements and meditation stretching movements and meditation techniques to relax both body, mind, and techniques to relax both body, mind, and spirit. The following poses are good to spirit. The following poses are good to help depression.help depression.

•Cobbler’s PoseCobbler’s Pose

•Corpse PoseCorpse Pose

•Bridge PoseBridge Pose

•Wheel PoseWheel Pose

•Upward-Facing Upward-Facing DogDog

Other TherapiesOther Therapies

• NaturopathicNaturopathic

• Hellerwork and Hellerwork and RolfingRolfing

• Acupressure and Acupressure and ShiatsuShiatsu

• Auricular TherapyAuricular Therapy

• MassageMassage

• AromatherapyAromatherapy

• KinesiologyKinesiology

• ReflexologyReflexology

• Spiritual HealingSpiritual Healing

• HypnosisHypnosis

• Autogenic TrainingAutogenic Training

• Bach FlowersBach Flowers

• AcupunctureAcupuncture

• AyurvedaAyurveda