A Powerful Method for Healing Depression

Dealing with depression often requires a multi-dimensional approach. In this article, discover a major underlying cause of most depression and what you can do about it.

Kendra had been depressed on and off for the last three years before consulting with me. "I've tried various medications and they help somewhat, but I still feel depressed. I've tried psychotherapy and it also helps a little but not enough for me to feel happiness or peace inside. I hate feeling this way and I just don't know what to do."

The first thing that I did with Kendra was to help her create a personal source of spiritual guidance. I asked her to make up a being who was very loving, wise and powerful - a man, woman or animal to whom she could turn to, in her imagination, for help and guidance. Kendra made up an older Indian medicine woman whom she called Elder One.

Next I asked Kendra where in her body she felt the feeling of depression. "In my heart and stomach. My heart and stomach often feel so heavy and sad."

"Kendra, imagine that your feeling self, the part that is presently depressed, is a child within. How old is this child?" She told me she thought the child was around six.

"Now, imagine that you are sitting in a beautiful place in nature with Elder One. Imagine that Elder One is surrounding you with love so that you feel safe. Now imagine that little six-year old depressed Kendra is also with you. Ask her how she feels about you as her inner parent, her inner mom and dad. Ask her how you are treating her that is causing her to feel depressed. Ask her out loud."

"Okay. Little Kendra, how you you feel about me as a parent? How am I treating you that is causing you to feel so depressed?"

"Now go inside and imagine that you are little Kendra and that you are talking to you as the adult, the inner parent. What do you as little Kendra want to say to adult Kendra? How does adult Kendra treat you? What is adult Kendra doing that causes you to feel so bad?"

Little Kendra: "I barely exist for you. You really don't care about how I feel. You never stand up for me with other people. You decide on things without ever asking me how I feel about it - like having dinner with Kathy tonight. I don't want to have dinner with Kathy. All she does is talk about herself and I just end up feeling drained. But you don't care about how I feel. You don't want to say no or tell Kathy the truth because she might feel hurt or angry, but what about me?

"You never speak up for me with Harold (her husband) either. I just feel like I don't exist in this marriage, just like with Mom. You treat me just like Mom treated me - like what I want and feel doesn't matter. Other people are always more important than me. Of course I'm depressed! How else would you expect me to feel?"

Kendra started to cry at this point, and little Kendra continued. "I'm so mad at you! When are you going to care about me!"

"So," I said, "You are a caretaker with your husband and friends. You take care of them but neglect yourself. You allow them to control you without standing up for yourself. Can you see how this would lead to depression?"

Kendra was quite stunned by this information. She had believed that her depression was caused by outside events rather than by how she was treating herself.

She thought it was due to a chemical imbalance and to her husband's controlling behavior. She may have indeed had a chemical imbalance that resulted from the stress of not taking care of herself, but the imbalance was likely the result rather than the cause of her stress and resulting depression.

Her husband was indeed controlling but it was her response to him and others that was the cause of her depression, rather than her husband's or friends' behavior.

Kendra began to see that until she had the courage to take loving care of herself, she would continue to be depressed. Through practice, she learned to open to Elder One for guidance about loving behavior toward herself.

As she began to take loving action for herself - for her Inner Child - her depression gradually diminished until she was able to get off the medication. Now, when she feels the depression coming up, she knows that there is some way she is not taking care of herself.

She speaks with little Kendra to find out what it is and with Elder One to discover the loving action. When she has the courage to take the loving action, her depression goes away. Kendra has learned a powerful, spiritually-based method for healing her depression.

About The Author:
Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?
She is the co-creator of a powerful self-help, 6-step emotional and spiritual healing process called Inner Bonding. Learn Inner Bonding now! Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course:innerbonding.com or margaret@innerbonding.com. Phone Sessions Available.

Article Source: talentdevelop.com

The Surprising Benefits of Stress

Although relaxation ought to be, um, relaxing, stress management has somehow become yet another pressing item on our to-do lists. We're made to feel like failures if we can't live in a state of balance. But stress is good. Great, even. The discomfort of stress is a sign that you are tackling life's problems head-on. Stress also improves productivity and performance — at work, at the gym — and your body will be stronger if you alternate periods of calm and heart-pounding excitement.


Are you as healthy as you think?

If you want a pretty healthy life, your goal is not to completely avoid stress and lounge in your pj's all day. Not only is the couch-potato life boring, it's a classic sign of clinical depression. Your goal is to bring on a reasonable amount of challenge and excitement — and amass a repertoire of strategies to keep you from being overwhelmed when life throws you a few too many curveballs.


How much sleep do you really need?

Once stress reaches a certain level, however, productivity goes down. Too much stress can lead to sleep problems and irritability and, over the long term, is linked to high blood pressure and a weakened immune system. Know this: Sometimes stress will get the better of you. A crucial aspect of stress management is self-acceptance — knowing that you are, for example, a stress eater. There may be days when you are so frustrated that you eat a pound of fettuccine Alfredo. It happens. Do what you can to prevent these reactions — meditate, keep a food diary — and then move on.

Is stress making your body ache?

If stress gets to be too much, try these solutions:
Ask for what you need. You have to stop feeling guilty or weak for relying on others. Remember: When you ask for help, you're giving your friends or family the gift of being needed. Conversely, just say no to requests that will only boost your anxiety levels.

Meditation. People get nervous about trying this, but it's not hard. Find a quiet place to sit. Then think of a mantra, which is a sound, word, or phrase that has a peaceful or neutral meaning to you. The classic mantra is "om," but you can also try "stillness," or "calm blue ocean," or anything that feels right. Breathe in and say your mantra to yourself; exhale and say it again. Repeat this for 15 to 20 minutes, trying to focus on your mantra. Your attention will wander, and that's okay; gently bring it back to your mantra. That's it! And it's so worth it: Meditation evokes your body's relaxation response — meaning it physically calms you down, helps you tune out stress and other distractions, and even lowers your blood pressure.

Eight ways to declutter your mind

Deep breathing. Mentally count "one, two, three, four" while you inhale deeply. When you exhale, count "four, three, two, one."

Guided imagery. Imagine yourself in a calming situation — say, a field of wildflowers or a beach. Use each of your senses to put yourself fully into the scene. Can you smell the flowers? Is the water warm against your toes?

Keep a journal. Expressing your emotions in writing can be highly beneficial to your health and happiness, studies show.

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6 Ways Diet Can Impact Your Brain

Many of us have been affected by family members, friends or loved ones who suffer or have suffered from mental illness, learning or behavioral disorders, or memory loss. These conditions and illnesses affect us as much as they affect the patient or loved one who has them. They take a toll on ourl happiness, can require a lot of time and money and can be debilitating to our relationships. Without memory, without mental wellbeing, life just doesn’t seem to be as worthwhile as without it.

Diet, not only is important to our physical health, but it is important to our mental health. Further, there is scientific evidence that a lot of these conditions may very well be preventable through diet. In my interview with Dr. Alan Logan – author of The Brain Diet: The Connection Between Nutrition, Mental Health, and Intelligence - on the Healthy Living Show, we discussed how diet correlates to brain function and health. According to Dr. Logan, leading health research clearly shows a direct link between the decline of healthy eating and the rise of mental disorders including ADHD, depression, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and more.:

1.Depression: A number of studies show that individuals with low blood folate levels are more likely to have depression relapse. It is recommended that individuals who suffer from depression take 800 mcg of folic acid (as compared to 500 mcg for average adults) and 1.0 mg of Vitamin B12 in order to ward off and fight symptoms of depression. Additionally, plant based foods rich in purple pigments have been shown to maintain levels of “mood-enhancing” hormones around for a longer period of time.

2.Behavioral Disorders: There has been research that shows hyperactivity can be reduced when preservatives, dyes, and other artificial and synthetic ingredients are eliminated from our diet. Even in children without ADHD, dyes, preservatives and benzoates can provoke symptoms of hyperactivity and other behavioral issues. Dr. Logan tells us that diets rich in Omega-3 EFAs and Gamma Lineoic Acids (GLAs) can be highly beneficial to reducing symptoms of hyperactivity. With ADHD and other behavioral or learning disorders, there is an increased need for GLAs for their anti-inflammatory impacts and their ability to preserve the integrity of Omega-3s, which are important to the development of “brain scaffolding” or structure. Children who have diets containing GLAs, which can be found in Borage, Black Currant and Evening Primrose oil, show significant improvement in test scores and attention as a whole as compared to those without it.

3.Learning and Cognitive Function: A well-balanced breakfast is important to our ability to function and maintain cognition throughout the day. An optimal “learning breakfast” is high in fiber, lean proteins and healthy fats. Dietary fiber keeps blood sugar and energy levels stable and balanced, which is important in reaching full learning and cognitive potential. A breakfast with these three components helps sustain energy and brain function levels throughout the day. Click here for some ideas on healthy breakfasts.

4.Aging: Deeper colored and pigmented plant foods are most crucial to brain health. Researchers from Tuft’s University conducted a study where they fed four different groups of animals various plant foods: blueberries, strawberries, spinach and broccoli. Those who consumed blueberries showed the highest level of prevention of many symptoms of aging, such as loss of memory, balance and cognitive skills.

5.Extra Weight: Extra abdominal weight and fat are the worst enemies of optimal brain health. They contain bio-active tissue that enhances the secretion of inflammatory chemicals at the brain level. The greater the amount of mid-life abdominal fat, the greater potential for brain decline later in life.

6.Organics: If you aren’t already convinced of the benefits of buying organics, you may have yet another reason to reconsider. Studies have shown that the more we consume pesticides and herbicides, the more likely we’ll have cognitive and neurological issues as we get older.

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