Depression is
a medical disorder which affects the thoughts, moods, feelings, behavior
of a person it can also affect the physical health. There can be various
factors like loss of close people, Stressful life situations, difficulty
in adaptation to the surroundings which can trigger depression.
In certain cases depression might occur spontaneously
without any specific cause. In some cases the depression can be due to
some organic brain diseases or a space occupying lesion (tumor) in the
brain.
Signs and symptoms
Depressed mood The person feels Sad, Weeping spells, Hopeless and Helpless
feeling
Loss of interest in the daily activities that the person enjoyed
The above two symptoms are the most important symptoms in diagnosing
depression.
Besides these most of the following symptoms
should be present for more then 2 weeks to diagnose a case of depression
Sleep disturbances
Impaired thinking or concentration
Changes in weight
Agitation
Fatigue or slowing of body movements
Low self-esteem
Less interest in sex.
Thoughts of death.
Types of Depression
Major depression or clinical depression
1. Depressed mood, feeling of worthlessness, guilt.
2. Behavioral symptoms include agitation and social withdrawal
3. Difficulty in concentration and decision making
4. Sleeplessness (Insomnia) Too much sleeping (Hypersomnia)
Dysthymia
It is a chronic form of depression in this the person might be free from
the symptoms for a period of time and this will alternate with a state
of depression. It is a less severe form of depression but it also places
the person in the increased risk to suffer from major depression.
Adjustment disorders
This can happen when one losses a close person or a close relative or
loss of job one becomes overwhelmed by this. This is a normal process
and with passage of time one comes to terms with the loss.
But if the person is unable to come to terms with the loss and he/she
develops the signs of depression then it is termed as adjustment disorders.
It can be acute if it lasts for less then 6months and chronic if it lasts
for more then this period.
Bipolar depression or manic depression disorder
The person suffers from recurrent episodes of elation (mania) and depression
is a characteristic symptom of bipolar depression. The person when he/she
is in the manic phase will affect the judgment of the person and it might
also have periods when the person has increased creativity in his work.
In this type of depression there is a swing of moods to the extremes (poles)
that’s why it is termed as bipolar depression or manic depressive
disorder.
Seasonal affective disorder
It is a pattern of depression related to the changes in season and a lack
of exposure to the sunlight.
Causes
Heredity
Stress
Medications
Illnesses
Personality
Postpartum depression
Hormones
Alcohol, nicotine and drug abuse
Diagnosis
It is diagnosed on the basis of the signs and symptoms that are present.
Also your physician will do the physical examination to rule out any other
abnormality that mimics depression.
If the person is having strong suicidal tendencies then he/she might have
to be admitted to the hospital for observation.
Complications
Suicide
Dependency
Role of homeopathy in the treatment of Depression
The first question that comes to the mind is how these Homeopathic medicines
are going to help in fighting the disease. As we all know in a diseased
state the internal bodily mechanisms do not work in a harmonious way.
So to bring back the lost harmony to its original balanced state the correct
Homeopathic medicine has to be given.
The homeopathic medicine acts at 3 levels the Psyche, Neuro, Endocrines
at the level of the psyche it helps to bring balance which in turn will
affect the neurological balance and the correct secretion of the hormones
which play an important role in maintaining the harmonious flow. The homeopathic
medicines do not treat the disease but it helps in bringing back the lost
imbalance back to its normal state.
To find the correct Homeopathic remedy one needs a complete case study
so all the aspects of the emotional nature, Fears, Social relations, family
relations, ups and downs in life have to be taken into consideration.
Also the past history, problems in adjusting, Family history of any major
illnesses have to be mentioned.
What has caused the present state is very important and how the person
has reacted to it will be very useful. We will consider few remedies in
brief and how they will be represented in the depressed state.
In Digitalis
There is depression; sadness melancholy after love disappointment. The
patient develops pain in the heart and is sleepless due to this. He is
low spirited.
In Natrum.muriaticum the classic medicine we all know which is very useful
in ailments coming on after love disaapointment.The patient will brood
over the events again and again and cannot forget it even after years
have passed. The Natrum.mur patient will cry when alone and consolation
aggravates all the complaints.
I will narrate a case in brief which will tell how deep a role the emotions
play the patient had been referred to me by a colleague as the patient
was not responding to the medicines
The patient has developed multiple uterine fibroids and she has severe
pain due to them.
It took me over an hour to get the correct information the lady was very
hesitant to divulge this information she is a married lady for over 30
years but she is unable to forget her first love affair which was broken.
She said she is very sad and cries when she is alone, she loves music
and she just cannot forget the affair and it makes her miserable and also
she feels guilty about it. This is a brief information we confirmed the
other points and prescribed her Natrum.muriaticum 200c 1 dose. The result
the patient never came back to me. After a months time I go a call from
the doctor who had referred the case to me.
She told after that dose the pain had disappeared and the sonography
showed regression in the fibroids. I asked why the patient didn’t
report back. I was told she felt embarrassed as what I will think about
her . But I was very happy to solve the case.
So what I want to stress on is finding the “Cause” what has
led to the problem in most of the cases if we are able to develop the
rapport with the patient they will express as it is told by Doctor Pierce
Schmidt we have to find where the shoe pinches. This will help us in finding
the right remedy and also we can offer solution.
The other important remedy is Ignatia.amara the complaints come on after
a loss of close person or love disaapointment.The “Sighing”
in this remedy is so marked that it is impossible to miss this remedy.
The patient is silent complaints coming on after emotional shock. The
patient is non communicative will sit silently will brood and weep.
The depression of Aurum is extreme there is loathing of life, no desire
to live, Suicidal disposition, and constant thoughts of suicide. There
is also marked fear of death.
Depression can be treated with Homeopathy but a correct case history
and perceiving the patient is very vital. Along with treatment the patient
also will need counseling which should be provided as per the requirement.
While handling patients with strong suicidal tendencies it is the responsibility
of the treating physician to talk about the state to the parents or the
care giver.
If there are any queries feel free to write to me on the following address
or Email me.
