Alternative Solutions to Depression

EXERCISE AND RELAXATION TO COMBAT DEPRESSION

First, given our depressed state, we should redefine our concept of exercise. Exercise then becomes any physical endeavor which is more than what is done on a typical day. In other words, if you have been confined to your bed most days because of your depression or if you spend most of your day vegetating in front of the TV or on the computer, then a beneficial form of exercise might be as simplistic as taking 15 minutes time to perform deep breathing exercises.

Remember we are not looking for the magic silver bullet, just a slight improvement. How might we benefit from that very simple start? That's just it, we have actually begun something to improve our depressed state. We, for that 15 minutes, have focus, direction and purpose. It is a 15 minute respite from the constant negative thoughts. This exercise helps oxygenate our blood, release calming endorphins and some would say, helps regenerate and awaken our Chi or life force.

What else? If we were to do this 15 minutes twice a day for a one week period, the unconscious mind would begin to respond. The unconscious loves repetition, that is, repetition which helps it control stress. That is how we began to rely on suicidal thoughts or self inflicted pain, etc. in order to control stress, in the first place. We use ETS to stop the negative and replace the negative with a more positive, therapeutic method to reduce stress, such as deep breathing exercises and this manuscript. The unconscious will begin to present automatic thoughts that we should breath deep when confronted with excess stress, instead of a flight to suicidal thoughts, self-mutilation, anger or despair.

If you are functioning at a level where it is difficult to begin a regimentation of 15 minuet breathing exercises, here are a few exercises I have used which begin with compulsive acts and change them into therapeutic exercises.

When I am very stressed I have a tendency to pace back and forth. Traditionally I would pace while engaged in a 'problem solving' session, where I would think of a hundred different solutions to my problems, and would end with a hundred and one reasons why those solutions would not work. Eventually I began to realize, at that point in time, my life problems were indeed, unsolvable. At that point I decided to begin working on my depression, instead of trying to solve life problems, over which I had absolutely no control.

My pacing began to be very animated, almost aerobic in nature. I would flail my arms about, do a sort of walking dance or clasp my hands in a isometric fashion. I found it best to keep my shades drawn as my neighbors might not understand the therapeutic nature of my antics. Most importantly my thoughts were preoccupied with what I might do to end my depression, rather than rehashing and reinforcing the constant negative in my life.

There were times when things were so bad that I would sit and rock back and forth, wringing my hands. This is not unlike many repetitive compulsive acts where the unconscious mind has lost control of our emotions, the conscious mind cannot provide solutions and is subsequently put on hold. These acts are a last resort to relieve stress and are highly addictive.

In my search to find ways to end my depression (this was in the days before Prozac and the Internet) I had been casually investigating the Indian and Chinese disciplines of Yoga, Qigong (Chi Kung) and Taiji (Tai Chi). Although I never did much with deep meditation or the spiritual aspects, I did find relaxation, fasting, cleansing, deep breathing and herbal treatments to be extremely beneficial when trying to focus and relieve stress.

I decided that when I had the urge to do nothing but sit, rock back and forth and wring my hands, I would instead perform self applied massage to my hands, feet and ears.

CLEANSING OUR BODIES

Proper nutrition and supplements of beneficial herbs, vitamins and minerals will help us combat stress. When we are depressed it is important that we also pay attention to what we should not eat and drink, and that we from time to time cleanse our body of harmful toxins.

There are many ways to cleanse our body, the most efficient way is to fast. I prefer, and recommend a juice fast of 3-7 days length. If you have abused your body and never fasted, if you are on any type of medication or drug, if you are anorexic or bulimic, or have any type of eating disorder, then you MUST check with your doctor before starting a juice fast. If your doctor is against alternative medicine or fasting in any form, then maybe it is time for you to look for a doctor who is truly concerned with your health, rather then simply treating your continued sickness.

I have been forced to combat depression several times in the past twenty years and I continually need to monitor my mind set during periods of increased stress. The most effective tools I have used to combat depression and suicidal thoughts are a combination of Emotional Thought Stopping, exercise/relaxation, and cleansing/juice fasting.

A CHANGE IN MIND SET, A CHANGE IN LIFE STYLE.

Do your homework. Start a through investigation of cleansing/juice fasting, gentle movement exercise, relaxation, herbs, and improved nutrition. Do it. Do it. Do it now! Design a personal program which reflects your needs and your ability (given your depression), one which you are able to start and to maintain over a period of time, be realistic. Your individual program may begin as simple as performing a deep breathing exercise twice a day while sitting on the edge of your bed, drinking 4-6 extra glasses of filtered water each day, and using ETS in order to combat suicidal and self defeating thoughts. Or, you may have the strength to start with aerobic kick boxing, yoga or Tai Chi, a 3-5 day juice fast, supplements of vitamins, minerals and herbs, and using ETS in order to reprogram the unconscious mind in ways which are personally beneficial.

CONCLUSION

Whatever level you start at, there are some common concepts to keep in mind:

-Do not start with a program which is too ambitious, you must be able to maintain your program for at least a two or three week period of time. This provides the unconscious with the needed repetition in order to replace negative thoughts with reinforced positive actions and thoughts.

-When you begin to stop reinforcing your negative and self-destructive thoughts, they must be replaced with alternative methods which combat stress, both in the long run (exercise and proper nutrition) and at the time of incidence (breathing exercises which could be used at work or in a social setting).

-Do not allow the addicted unconscious mind to sabotage your efforts with thoughts such as; 'This is too hard, I could never follow through with such a complicated program, I can't even get out of bed in the morning'. Remember you are allowed to begin at any level of difficulty, which might be as simple as a progressive body relaxation exercise done while lying, spread eagle, on your bed.