How Do You Handle Depression And Anxiety?

Depression may be expressed in any number of ways such as increased irritability and dissatisfaction, withdrawal from others, crying spells, moodiness, nervousness, anxiety, unwillingness to get out of bed in the morning, tiredness, insomnia, headaches, muscle aches and pains and/or palpitations. Depression may also be expressed through "sudden" anger and aggressive behavior.

Depression has become so widespread, particularly in the U.S., that Europeans call this country the "Prozac Nation". It is very common for those with symptoms of depression to turn to antidepressants. It is not unusual for women to experience mild depression before or during menses, after childbirth or through peri/menopausal years. 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there are actual physiological causes for depression that can be treated and improved. Thus, it is important to determine and correct the root cause of depression. While there are many patterns and causes for depression like hormone imbalance, deficient Kidney chi due to chronic stress, pregnancy and childbirth, in TCM, the most common is stagnant Liver Qi. Just as a tree spreads out freely in all directions, so does the Liver promote unrestrained and regular movement of Qi and Blood throughout the body. In its ideal state, Qi flows smoothly and disperses and circulates freely. When imbalanced, its flow is irregular and Qi doesn't flow smoothly, evenly or in the right directions. This can occur in anyone - male, female, young, or old - but because the Liver is so intimately involved with women's monthly cycles, menstruating women tend to experience it more often (this is probably why more women feel depressed). When Liver Qi stagnates, it has far-reaching effects, many of which co-exist with depression: pain and distension in the ribs, breasts and lower abdomen, moveable or fixed cysts, fibroids and other lumps in the abdomen and breasts with little to extreme stabbing pain; irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea or amenchronic diarrhea, abdominal distension, loss of appetite, or jaundice.

Smooth Liver Qi harmonizes emotions with the Mind by keeping a happy state, sensitivity, ability to reason, an even disposition and a sense of ease. Thus, obstructed Liver Qi adversely affects emotions, causing emotional swings, irritability, frustration and depression. It also triggers pain in chest or under ribs, sighing, a feeling of a "lump" in the throat and PMS symptoms.
As well, the Liver is associated with the Ethereal Soul (Hun) in TCM, the part of us that dreams, plans, envisions, creates and imagines. If the Ethereal Soul is unsettled, Mind (Shen) is cut off from the Universal Mind, resulting in a lack of direction in life, feelings of aimlessness, and unrealized dreams and plans. Such "isolation" leads to moodiness, sudden outbursts of anger or aggression and depression.

GENERAL TREATMENT
At first signs of depression, physicaly move your body - this is the most efficient way to move stagnant Qi and change emotions. Do whatever is easiest and most satisfying - walk, run, dance, pound pillows, garden or do yoga, Qi Gong or something similar. A half an hour is ideal but you should feel noticeably better after five or ten minutes. Moving in nature is even better, as nature is powerfully healing.

In general, daily exercise is beneficial for preventing and treating depression, as it keeps Liver Qi healthy and stimulates production of endorphins, natural mood-elevating chemicals.

And if you are angry know that anger is energy so it must be expressed and released in healthy ways. Bottled up it can morph into anxiety and acute panic attacks that can be dibilitating. If you are feeling anxious, angry frustrated and resentful, move, cry, scream, clean up the kitchen, unload old drawers/closets, or run around the block -express and release anger energy in healthy ways.

Since stagnant Qi results from any long-term suppressed or repressed emotions, it is important to discover their underlying causes and outlets. Do not repress or stuff emotions, as this creates more depression and anxiety. Take time to explore your feelings with a spiritual counselor/therapist. Journal write, as this unloads repressed feelings, moving energy and inviting insights, solutions and ideas that may help sort through painful emotions and clarify decisions. Go on a retreat, take time off and explore what is not working in our life so you can come up with a plan for change. Identify stressful factors in your home and work environments and modify them. Put energy into creative outlets since creativity opens doors to your subconscious mind, allowing energy to flow again. It doesn't have to be a big project, simple activities as decorating or gardening or singing is beneficial. Any form of appropriate self-expression moves stagnant Qi.

To relieve depression, it is extremely important to refine your diet by eliminating depression-causing foods and including stagnation-moving ones. Foods that congest Qi are, unfortunately, very prevalent in the Western Diet. Eliminate: fried, greasy and fatty foods, nuts and nut butters, avocados, cheese and dairy, chips of all kinds, turkey and red meats, alcohol, caffeinated foods and drinks (coffee, black tea, mate, cocoa, colas and chocolate) and recreational drugs. Beneficial decongesting and Liver-aiding foods include vegetables, lemons, dark leafy greens such as kale, collards, dandelion, mustard, beet and other bitter foods.

Lastly, reflect on your lifestyle habits and balance them as appropriate. Excessive activity, sex, or exercise deplete Qi, as do keeping late bedtimes (after 11 PM), working at jobs one doesn't like, overworking physically and mentally, and insufficient activity. To rebalance the Liver, go to bed before 11pm at the latest, get plenty of physical exercise, find enjoyable and fulfilling work and jobs and alternate work with rest and play. Regularity of habits regulates Liver Qi.

Examples of herbs that regulate Liver Qi, moving stagnation and easing depression include vitex, citrus (tangerine peel, both the ripe and unripe fruit of the bitter orange), cyperus (sedge root), sandalwood, Chinese chive, rose petals, mint, lemon balm and cumin, as well as the Chines herbs bupleurum and saussurea. 

To release postpartum depression and acute anxiety I first had my hormones and blood tested and found out I needed progesterone cream and iron. I then turned to an integrated therapist at www.breakingfreemedical.com for 90 minute therapy/bodywork to release the pain on a cellular level and move out of an abusive relationship. I eliminated bad food and ate whole foods and greens and drank plenty of clean ionized high alkaline water fromwww.beyondo2.com. To help provide the necessary precursers for healthy neurohormonal chemistry I drank aminio acid protein shakes and took Coenzyme Bcomplex supplements during the day, Calcium magnesium at night to help me sleep and deer placenta, Women's Jing and Bupleurum and Peony fromwww.dragonherbs.com to balance liver and hormones.

How do you handle Depression and anxiety?