Depression – Let’s Talk Lifestyle

By Dr. B.R. Pai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his latest Mann Ki Baat, highlighting the scourge of depression has given a clarion call for ending its suppression. The call hasn’t come a day sooner. World Health Organisation (WHO) characterising depression as one of the most disabling of disorders, has made “Depression: Let’s Talk” the theme for its World Health Day on April 7.

WHO says India is one of the most depressed countries in the world with a whopping 36% of Indians likely to suffer from depression at some point in their lives. It predicts that by 2020 depression will be second-most common disease in the world.

Most of those affected by depression do not talk about it and suffer silently, because of the stigma attached to it. Hence depression is called the silent epidemic.

In October 2016, NIMHANS released a survey report that said one in every 20 Indians suffered from depression. Indians popped more antidepressants in 2016 than ever before. Top Bollywood star Deepika Padukone was so depressed that she felt empty and meaningless at the height of her career.

We all feel sad at times but frequent bouts of sadness can lead to melancholy and bouts of depression. It is a terrible disease of loneliness, one that hijacks the mind and eats away at a person.

But depression can be managed. One can connect with professionals and find comfort knowing they’re not alone. Great care, love and understanding on the part of people around and proper medical attention are sure to bring back the vibrancy of life.

We have people like Abraham Lincoln who with all his bouts of melancholy coped enough to lead his country out of slavery; Winston Churchill with his fits of depression led his country successfully in World War II; and Stephen Hawking in spite of his debilitating neurological disorder and resultant depression is among the greatest physicists of all time. Deepika Padukone has her ‘Live, love, laugh’ foundation to provide support. CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) and Logotherapy are some powerful counselling techniques that are effective. Consult a medical doctor.

But prevention is always better than cure. So what do we do, so that we don’t become a victim of this silent killer? The solution is in our hands — we need to make some modifications to our lifestyle that we can adopt into our daily routine.

Medicine of the future is Energy medicine. It recognises energy as a vital, living, moving force that determines much about health and happiness. Energy medicine heals the body by activating its natural healing energies; by rebalancing energies that have become weak, disturbed, or out of balance.   Life Style: Small Steps – Big Results: As one of the first implementers of the Kaizen process in my industry, I suggest a approach of sustainable continuous step-by-step improvement into my Wellness lifestyle to prevent depression and live longer, healthier and fulfilling lives.

• Be aware and in the present moment in whatever you are doing.
• Manage your Stress.
• Laugh wholeheartedly and keep smiling to elevate the moods and reduce stress.
• Let Food be thy Medicine: Go for a healthy diet.
• Be in harmony with the LAW of Nature — optimum exposure to (sun) Light, deep breathing of good unpolluted Air, drinking good quantity of quality Water
• Sleep well.
• Practice affirmations.
• Listen to pleasing music.
• Move for health, exercise for fitness — walking, swimming, outdoor games, etc.
• Cultivate hobbies — Read well, do gardening or whatever is your area of interest.
• Spend quality time with family.
• Don’t do anything: Shift from medication to meditation.
• Attitude of Gratitude.
• Love one and all.

Depression is a disorder that can be treated and managed. What is required is open sharing with colleagues, friends, parents, relatives and teachers.

We can safeguard our health and protect ourselves by taking simple preventive measures. We need to invest in our health today to make a better future.  Every moment we are moving either towards Wellness or Illness. The choice is ours.

[Dr. B.R. Pai is a wellness promoter of long-standing. He has delivered numerous talks on wellness at multiple platforms, participated in a number of international Wellness conferences and is a living example of his passionate concept — Total Wellness Management. On World Health Day every year, he takes up its annual theme with renewed commitment and spreads its awareness through his Vijay Wellness Facility. Contact: 0821-2412284.]

Talk on World Health Day

Rotary Mysore has organised a talk on World Health Day by Dr. B.R. Pai at Rotary Centre on JLB Road in city on Apr. 6 at 6.30 pm.