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Major Depression
Major depression is
rampant in our society. Millions of people are on anti-depressants and
seek professional help to alleviate their suffering. Millions more are
on alternative healing remedies such as St. Jones Wart or amino acids.
Do these remedies work? What can be done to feel better when major
depression comes about?
The answer is obviously not simple, and each person must ultimately be
helped in a tailor-made fashion. However, whether you are seeking help
or not, whether you are using remedies or not, the single most
important thing to keep in mind is this: the experience of major
depression should be seen as "not you." It is vital to understand there
is "you" and there is "depression." These two things are not the same.
Realizing this deeply is one way to help cure depression.
Begin by being acquainted with depression as if it were a like "another
person" living in your head. Notice it. I am sure it feels like it just
takes you over, so start exploring that feeling. In other words, begin
to gain a little distance from the depression. Begin to think of "it"
and "you."
You are a human individual; you are not "depression." You are not your
feelings and emotions. Feelings and emotions move through who and what
you are, but they are not you. Underneath the feeling of depression,
there is what could be called you: your self. However you define
yourself, do not define yourself under the umbrella of depression. You
have to get your self-definition from your full self, the wholeness of
what you are. Alternatively, if you do have that label of "depressions"
on your self, do not take it so literally. Do not take it seriously.
Instead, see it as a label.
This un-labelling, to whatever degree it can be done, will offer some
distance on any form of major depression. Then, you will be able to see
if there is something else there.
Major depression is usually a layer over another feeling. Find out if
that is true in your case. Is there another feeling you were avoiding?
Are you angry under the depression? Sad?
Ask you answer this question, you will start to heal depression because
your sense of self definition will not be so caught up in it. When you
derive your sense of self from all aspects of your personality, not
just the one feeling of depression, you will have a better chance to
feel at peace.
When you do inner work like the above in addition to seeking
professional help and you will truly be helping to cure
depression.
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A Healthy Dose of Good Advice
