{"id":4792,"date":"2011-04-20T07:00:50","date_gmt":"2011-04-20T11:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/beyondblue\/?p=4792"},"modified":"2011-04-20T07:57:56","modified_gmt":"2011-04-20T11:57:56","slug":"coping-with-depression-a-mind-body-spirit-approach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beyondblue\/2011\/04\/coping-with-depression-a-mind-body-spirit-approach.html","title":{"rendered":"Coping with Depression: A Mind, Body, Spirit Approach"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I was interviewed recently for a cool site called \u201cPractical Spiritual Healing Guide\u201d <\/a>on ways I treat my depression and holistic techniques I embrace. Since it\u2019s a good overview of my health philosophies, I thought I\u2019d share it here. To get to the cool website, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n

1) You write a blog about dealing with depression. What motivated you to start writing this blog and what do you hope to accomplish with it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong> Interestingly enough, I didn\u2019t set out to write a blog. I didn\u2019t even know what a blog was when an editor at Beliefnet asked me to write one. I had just begun to publish articles about depression because I was inspired by Douglas Duncan, who bowed out of the Maryland governor\u2019s race because of depression. Many articles were published at that time about prominent people who had gone public with mood disorders in order to educate people about mental illness. Voices like Kay Redfield Jamison and William Styron led me through the worst of the darkness, and I wanted to join these missionaries of truth.<\/p>\n

2) There is a mind, body, spirit component to each of us. How do you feel that depression affects the physical and spiritual aspects of individuals?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong> Absolutely. You can\u2019t treat one without the other, which is why I try to involve all three in my recovery. Just like you can\u2019t concentrate after chugging down 30 ounces of Coke (I can\u2019t, at least), it\u2019s hard to pray when you are in mental anguish. It can be difficult to know where to begin. From my experience, I think it\u2019s easier to tackle the physical before you can approach the spiritual. Not to say that you can\u2019t attempt to pray when you\u2019re depressed. But I believe that if you go along with the motions, your mind and spirit eventually catch on.<\/p>\n

3) Many people who are depressed are interested in holistic ways to help
\nthemselves. What are some self-help for depression strategies that you have
\nused to feel better?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong> I adamantly believe that you need both traditional medicine and alternative therapies to best treat severe mood disorders, like bipolar and schizophrenia. I\u2019m not sure if you count exercise as alternative therapy, but it is one of the most effect antidepressants in my therapy. I exercise intensely five times a week, or else the death thoughts come back. It\u2019s that simple. I also take Omega 3 capsules \u2013 I order them from OmegaBrite to make sure they have the doctor recommended 7:1 EPA to DHA ratio. If I had more money I would get massages. I try to mediate every morning, and throughout the day I will repeat mantras to myself like \u201cYou are enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

4) Some studies have indicated that depressed people who are involved in some type of spiritual practice or community have better outcomes than those who don’t. Have you used spiritual practices with depression and, if so, how did they help you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong> Yes. My faith is the glue that holds me together. I am painfully aware that my faith has saved me from suicide. If I didn\u2019t believe in a creator who loved me and carried me in times of despair, I would have certainly taken my own life. Every morning I read the scripture passage for the day and two meditations or reflections. Lately I have also been praying a rosary every day. When I can squeeze it into my day, I will go to church and light a candle and sit in an empty church and just jabber to God about this and that.<\/p>\n

5) Sometimes people with depression feel so awful that they don’t want to do anything. Yet, when they get themselves to do something (take a walk, speak with a friend, etc.), they often feel better. Can you offer any suggestions as to how someone can take some positive actions when they are feeling really down?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Me: <\/strong>That\u2019s really hard. I\u2019ve been there, and I know how hard it is. Again, I guess I know from patterns in my past that if I go through the motions, eventually one day I will realize I\u2019m walking without much effort. I guess you just have to trust that you won\u2019t always feel miserable, but the steps to get there require your doing something that feels so counterintuitive. You have to steer right to go left, in other words. So if you can just say to yourself, \u201cThis feels like the worst possible thing I could do right now \u2026 but I\u2019m going to try to do it anyway in the hopes that it will, one day, make me feel better.\u201d You put a penny away every day in the hopes that one day you will be able to buy a small treasure with your coins.<\/p>\n

6) What are some of the subtle warning signs that indicate that someone is slipping into a depressive state? What are some self-help measures that people can use to prevent themselves from going into a major depressive episode?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong> The classic signs are:<\/p>\n