Kayse Budd, M.D.
May 01, 2020
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses worldwide, affecting approximately 300 million people (4.4 percent of the world’s population) and 17.3 million US adults (approximately 1 in 12). Women are nearly twice as likely as men (8.7 percent vs. 5.3 percent) to suffer from depression, with adolescence, postpartum, and perimenopause being especially risky times. Depression has a significant economic impact. It is the leading cause of disability worldwide. It is also one of the most common reasons people seek out integrative or complementary therapies and providers.
Psychological Perspectives
Healing depression is something that requires time, focus, and effort on multiple levels. Here are five key psychological steps that can provide a useful foundation for the endeavor.
1. Choose to accept the self exactly as it is—with the parents, the body, and the circumstances present. Trust that things are as they are for a reason, even if you do not understand it. Few people live up to the exact ideal they have for themselves. To be happy, you have to choose to care for (and eventually love) yourself as you are, including your perceived flaws and difficulties.
2. Make constant inquiry into your mind and heart. Be mindful of your emotions throughout the day. This could mean catching a stream of negative self-talk and substituting more supportive affirmations (classic cognitive therapy and pratipaksha-bhavana in ancient yogic philosophy). It could also mean changing what you are doing (behavioral therapy).
3. Honor your yes and no. A factor in many cases of depression involves not honoring your truth. The question, “What do I want (right now)?” is important. Take action to follow things that feel aligned with your authentic yes. Say no to things that feel uncomfortable in your body or heart.
4. Take responsibility for your choices. If you feel your goals and wishes (your “yesses”) are being rejected—by life, yourself, partner, or family—you often end up unhappy. This is a complex issue, however. Dreams and wishes are not always straightforward. “Yes” is not always crystal clear. It is important to acknowledge this. Otherwise, you can mistakenly blame other people for your choices and your happiness. Remember: You need challenges to develop specific strengths, which are the fuel for spiritual growth. In turn, you can help others in similar situations.
5. See the self holistically. All seemingly negative traits have positive aspects. The core qualities of people’s most “negative” traits are often tied to their greatest strengths. As a psychiatrist who is also an astrologer, I have found several patterns of susceptibility to depression in people’s astrological charts. Saturn (order, restriction, heaviness) is usually involved, as is Pluto (intensity, transformation, obsession). A prominent Saturn may make someone depression-prone, but it also makes them conscientious, reliable, and capable—very useful traits. A prominent Pluto can make a person depressed but also determined, resilient, and charismatic.
Ayurvedic Perspectives
Viewed through an Ayurvedic lens, depression is usually thought of as a Kapha imbalance—heaviness, sadness, and general stagnation. Apathy, low energy, poor mood, and reduced movement are part of the official criteria psychiatrists use to diagnose depression. These symptoms are all Kapha problems, which suggests that the Kapha element is indeed out of balance in most cases of clinical depression.
