Spiritual Living

          There are several remedies for depression on the market today, knowing which ones are effective and safe takes research. Treating depression with antidepressants can be tricky as these are manufactured to treat different types of depression. Depression is not the same for everyone and has many root causes. Making a list of your symptoms is advisable, but the general symptoms are irritability, lack of interests including friends, family and other activities, anxiety, fear, tearfulness, lack of energy, restlessness and inability to sleep. This is the short list of symptoms for some crying for no reason and easily angered are also common. Generally there is just that overall blah feeling and always tired.

            Depression can be caused by organic imbalances in the brain brought on by low quality nutrition. Not eating correctly can cause many health problems including cancer, diabetes and irritable bowel syndrome. There are thousands of research reports that demonstrate how important proper nutrition is. To balance the system you will want to look at changing the way you eat, this will help with healthy bodily functions and begin eliminating the toxins that can contribute to depression. This includes sugar, starches typically found in bread and pastas, processed foods, majority of canned foods because of the salts and preservatives, fast foods filled with fats, salts and sugars. Switching to a natural form of diet for your body type and blood type will be a great step towards eliminating depression and food cravings.

           St. John’s Wort, an herbal product that you can purchase as a capsule is reported to work well for depression. The standardized dose is based upon what is called an average human body, 5’3” to 6’ with a body weight of about 125 to 150. This is not exact but it is close to what is considered a standard, average person. Start with the standard dose and track your progress, this herb takes 6 to 8 weeks to begin working. So take it at the same time and according to the directions. DO NOT take this in conjunction with your antidepressants it has been known to intensify the depression with suicidal thoughts. Do not take if your are pregnant without proper medical advice. Anything you take will affect the fetus. Do not go sunbathing while taking this supplement, and watch for signs of constipation or allergic reactions. Other herbs you may wish to try includes basil, lemon balm, California poppy, mate, mugwort, passion flower, poppy seed, scarlet pimpernel, sweet marjoram. As with all herbal remedies watch for signs of allergic reaction, if your depression seems to worsen stop taking them. Each of these has their own personalities and can be very beneficial to your health. They may be used as a tea or in capsule form. Teas may be used three to four times daily, every day to be effective.

            Homeopathic remedies are prescribed according to your accompanying symptoms since homeopathy is based upon the premise that like treats like. One general remedy is nux vomica, the parts used of this plant are the dried bark and seeds. Nux vomica is a native tree to Asia, Pakistan and Vietnam. If using the herb be extremely careful as too much is toxic and deadly. Purchasing the homeopathic version in pill form is safer and nux vomica will treat more than just depression. The other symptoms include inflammation, gastric problems, stimulate the appetite and rheumatic pain, to name just a few. To purchase and read more click here! (link)

            The next supplement today is SAMe, the technical name is S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine. SAMe is a natural occurring molecule in our cells and is reported to treat not only depression but arthritis and liver disorders (WebMD). SAMe comes in doses of 400 and 800 mg. and can be taken twice daily in either dose. There does not seem to be any side effects or warnings.

            WARNING: Do not stop taking your medications without first discussing it with your doctor. It is unsafe to just stop taking medications; you should talk with your doctor about weaning you off of them. Withdrawal can cause suicidal thoughts, create worse depression and other problems.

            This is not intended as a diagnosis or medical advice. The information printed here has been collected from the following resources:

WebMD http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20041202/dietary-supplement-ups-antidepressant-effect

PDR for Herbal Medicines 4^thed (2007) Thomson Healthcare, Inc Montvale, NJ

See my resources page for more information.

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a relatively new diagnosis, despite the time it seems to be in existence. A diagnosis for war veterans, it now includes anyone who has experienced trauma. Trauma is the result of any event that is deemed catastrophic by an individual. This can range from witnessing a crime to being the victim of a crime or accident. The after affect is what this diagnosis is concerned with, including but not limited to the nightmares, reliving the event, ruminations that cause stress and anxiety and the physical ills that follow. Disorder is the terminal affects of trauma, which ranges from seemingly minimal impact to catastrophic impact where the person is near incapable of coping in her/his world. It is a constant state of hyper vigilance, always on the watch for another attack, the flinching reaction when there is motion that occurs near the person, emotional responses that seem out of control, the withdrawal from the world, and several other symptoms that tell a story. Without help the condition can become worse, but with improper diagnosis it can be worsened. Living in this state of stress is an experience not to be wished upon anyone. Finding help is near impossible when your income is low and the promise of work is empty. County programs are insufficient, the placing one on medication and very little support because there is not enough to go around. Falling through the cracks is the result.

            Medications can offer a temporary solution that is until the body adapts and the side effects take hold. After a period of time the side effects increase, for example the increased blood pressure, worsening vision, heightened emotions, and that sense of going crazy because it is next to impossible to grasp some of the simplest concepts. This last is difficult to describe, but that sense something is forgotten is always there, then there is that awareness of being mistreated by others. A part of a belief system created through the years of trauma. This brings yet another aspect to this problem, the repetition of patterns, matters not if they are good or bad.

Talk therapy is a great start to any issue; it begins to sort the information that sits in the back of one’s mind causing chaos. It is not enough, there comes a time when action must occur otherwise you keep rehashing the same information, doing the same things, making the same mistakes and nothing really gets better. You find there is something missing, just never sure what. Yet for some spending their days in talk therapy is perfectly alright. For me, there is more to do, moving beyond the dependence of talking everything to death.

As one who has been living inside of the disease I can tell you that each treatment has its limits and serves to ignore the most important aspect of the human, the entire person. What this means to me is the mental, physical, spiritual, somatic, emotional, neuro-physical, and all the other parts that seem to get clumped up into one mass solution. Until the disorder is treated holistically recovery is not possible. A difficult quest, exhausting and at times a sense of helplessness, there is no other choice but to face the problems, look within and make the changes that healing will bring. Somatic healing is the key to a holistic balance in life. Somatic healing takes you to those memories that the mind just cannot seem to reach on its own. The journey is very rewarding and healing feels terrific.

Begin with listening to the breath, listen as it enters through the nose and into the lungs. Feel it as it move out through the throat and passes over your lips, keeping a slight smile. Follow this breath for the count of three. No thought but the focus of breath, no action but the stillness of body and the slight smile upon your face. Just be, sitting in the emptiness for the count of three breaths. Upon the last exhale, let it hang a bit longer and hold for the count of three. Stretch and feel your muscles reach out and expand. Reach over your head, then reach for your toes, stretching for as far as you can, then stand up and reach outward on all sides and for the ceiling. Stretch down for the toes. Let your muscles move freely and listen reminding yourself that this is your body, your muscles and your breath. Then get into your day. Practice this at least twice a day for the next week pay attention to the tension, let it rest. Use your journal after each meditation and record what you hear. Free journal, no monitoring of thoughts or reflections, let it flow. This is your dialogue, for your eyes and ears only. Then set it aside with a statement of gratitude and move into your day.

If you have difficulty sleeping at night keep your journal handy, repeat the breath exercise and record your thoughts in the journal. Let the thoughts rest there, written on the page and close the cover, quietly stating this is where I leave the worry and fear, written on this page. Express your gratitude to the Deity you believe in. As you close your eyes count backwards from 25 to 1, with each number state “I am relaxing my body, letting the stress release into the care of my guardians.” With each breath and number relax and let sleep come peacefully. If you reach the number 15 then begin reciting quietly “I am resting peacefully, I will sleep comfortably and awaken refreshed.” Repeat this at least three times and let yourself sleep.  

These meditations will take regular use to begin to work comfortably for you. In the beginning it is difficult because of expectations, but set those aside and remind yourself there is no perfect way to meditate or heal the wounds. Practice is how we learn and become expert in all things. It has taken you years to learn to care for self the way you have been, it will take you time to undo those things that no longer serve you.

I have faith in you. You can do this, you can learn to care for self and overcome the burdens that were placed upon you by others. If you require further guidance see my contact page. I am there for you. I believe in you.

My next article will cover the holistic supplements to help you with depression and pain. If you cannot wait, contact me now.

Runes can be very informative once you learn the meaning of each symbol. However, like all guides, books, written words, they are decipherable according to the individual. What I mean by this is as humans we tend to lend our needs and wants to the source of inspiration. Our autobiography gives us meaning to all things life.

Today I dusted off my rune bag and book, pulled a rune. Seeking to grant an idea and concept for you to meditate on.

The chosen rune X, Gifu, means gift. This rune cannot be cast in a reverse position, however it can be negated by surrounding runes in a spread. Alone as I have pulled it today says that this day offers many wondrous opportunities. Gifu offers many surprises such as a possible partnership, a romantic connection, relief from troubles, heralding a time of peace, just a few ideas to consider.

Gifu is a gift, the coming of gifts, it can also mean it is time to gift. Do you offer assistance, even a smile to someone who seems to be in need? When you are in public do you smile at people as you pass them by or do you avert your gaze? Especially with the homeless and seemingly less fortunate? Give the gift of a smile and warm hello, then move on through your day. Random kindness without regard to return or what is in it for you.

We face a rough economical time, one in which there is need for teams, working together and lending a kind word if you have nothing else to give. Show kindness through out your day even to those who seem to be a bother. The reward will be present, by the end of your day the calm and peace will embrace you and give back the wonders gifted in your day.

All any of us want is to be treated with kindness and respect. To be treated as a human being, it matters not the station in life. A smile is the one thing you can give that will not harm you or anyone else, will not detract from your finances and make you go hungry.

Gifu, the gift. Runic symbol: X

PS The book I use to guide me is written by Lisa Peschel an experienced woman in rune creation and castings.