Depression

Depression

            Depression is an uncomfortable mental state that may be characterized by such adjectives as blue, dejected, or discouraged. In ordinary usage the word refers to a mood state that in medicine is called dysthymia, as contrasted with the normal state, euthymia, and the opposite state, elation. In psychiatric usage, disorders of mood are called affective or mood disorders. Depression may be this in itself or a symptom of another mental disorder. Normal human responses to some situations may also include transient depressions. For example, mourning usually involves a depressed mood, but this is considered to be an expected response to loss. 

Characteristics

Depression is defined by its symptoms. The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists:

1. poor appetite and significant weight loss, or the reverse;
2. insomnia, or increased sleep;
3. agitation, or retardation, of movement and thought;
4. loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities or decrease in sexual drive;
5. fatigue and loss of energy;
6. feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach, or excessive or inappropriate guilt;
7. diminished ability to concentrate, or indecisiveness; and
8. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts.

                                                                                                                        Robert Byck, M.D.

Buddhism

            Buddhism is one of the world's great religions, Buddhism is practiced today throughout most of East and Southeast Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), and the countries of the Indochinese peninsula. The religion, however, is not universally practiced in the same way. Moreover, the great division of Buddhist doctrine into the Mahayana and Theravada (sometimes called Hinayana) schools prevails—Theravada Buddhism being predominant in the countries of Southeast Asia, whereas Mahayana is favored throughout the rest of Buddhist Asia.

·         Practices: – Meditation, six perfection, practices that contribute to good karma

Taoism

            Taoism is a philosophical and religious system of China. As a philosophy its influence has been tremendous. It has supplemented and enriched Confucianism and contributed to the growth of Buddhism. It has provided spiritual inspiration and moral standards for the Chinese, while imbuing Chinese poetry, landscape painting, and other art forms with its love of nature and sense of serenity. As both a philosophy and a religion Taoism has supplied strength and refuge to the old, the poor, and the oppressed, and also to rebels and secret societies.

·           Practices: - Tai Chi, Chinese medicine and Acupuncture, Meditation

Jainism

            Jainism is an ancient monastic religion of India. It is a heterodox religion in denying the validity of the Vedic (ancient Hindu) scriptures, pantheon, and ritual and the authority of the Brahman priesthood. Its approximately 2 million followers are known as Jains (Sanskrit, Jaina).

·         Practices: vegetarianism, meditation and prayer, 5 practices

           

Quotes

“Noble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression.” 
― Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly”
-Buddha

“If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present”

- Lao Tzu

Sources

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

http://www.goodreads.com 

http://www.famousquotes.com

http://www.wisdomcommons.org

http://go.grolier.com