Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Kicking Depression

Statistics from research conducted by Organon (Australia) on behalf of the Mental Health Foundation of Australia in 2003.
  • One in four women and one in six men will suffer from depression at some stage in their lives.
  • Each year, almost 800,000 Australian adults will experience a depressive illness.
  • Depression is the third most common cause of illness among women and the tenth most common cause among men.
  • In 2001, Australian GPs reported depression as the fourth most common illness that they dealt with in their practices.
  • Depression is the leading cause of disability in Australia.
  • Depression alone counts for more days lost to the workplace than those lost to industrial action.
  • The World Health Organisation (WHO) has predicted that by 2020, depression will be the second biggest health problem world-wide, behind heart disease.
What is happening to us? is it the stress of modern living? Is it the insidious effects of the high exposure to toxic load in our environment - our food - our pollution? and what can we do about this?
There are so many factors that can be considered in this debilitating state of imbalance and I could write a whole book about it - let alone a short blog post.

But for now - I would just like to remind us of the six human needs - because if you have been 'in the cave of your depression' using alcohol possibly or drugs, or food or simply sleeping a lot and not talking to your friends and family - there will be at least one of these areas - if not more -that are simply not being met for (or by) you.

These needs are:
Comfort and certainty, (and paradoxically) - uncertainty and variety, significance, connection/love, growth, and contribution.

When we look at our lives in relation to these, and when we understand in what area we are not being fulfilled, this awareness can assist us to fill those gaps and when the wholeness can return to our lives, our mood lifts and we can once again turn our face to the sunshine.

Sometimes it is as simple as giving to another - giving of yourself - the emotional labour of love - the spontaneous smile to the check out girl in the supermarket, the hand to the laden Mum, the pat for the dog you pass in the street, the choice to go out to walk, the recognition of yourself by looking at your image in the mirror and telling yourself you are loved even if it sounds like a lie.

Do it anyway.. make a change - make a shift - move yourself toward the meeting of your needs.

You have a responsibility not only to yourself but also the rest of the world to be the fully realised human you were meant to be.

Live the life.. love yourself - just that little bit more each day.

It will help.





1 comment:

Raj said...

Depression is more likely to break your heart than smoking or eating fatty food. Says William J. Cromie(Harward News Office). "Recurrence of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, strokes, cardiac arrest, severe chest pain and other problems is more closely linked to depression than to high cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, or diabetes," according to a Harvard Medical School publication. According to a new study, antioxidants contained in pomegranate juice may help reduce the formation of fatty deposits on artery walls. Antioxidants are compounds that limit cell damage. One serving of Proleva contains 4 glasses of pomegranate juice.