How to help a friend in need

When we begin to notice that one of our loved ones is suffering depression, we usually have a feeling of helplessness. We hope that there’s something we could say to make all their pain go away. Although our intentions have only our loved one’s well being at heart, this approach tends to complicate things even further. The truth is that the best help is not saying the right thing, it’s undivided and active listening.

As stated in the description of depression, the key to our emotional well-being is

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New Year’s Blues: What is depression?

Depression is a psychological condition in which we lose appetite for life. Symptoms can be lack of self care, unchanging and prolonged low moods, loss of appetite, insomnia, etc. Depression can be understood in two non exclusive fundamental ways. The first is the preferred approach of western medicine that believes the condition is caused by chemical imbalances in our brains. This school of thought often prescribes a pharmacological solution (Meds). Fortunately, many doctors are now aware that the use of antidepressants, when combined with talk therapy, gives the person the best chance to improve. The second approach is that depression is caused by unhealed (unfinished) past events. Specifically, depression is caused by

Depression: 52 pick me ups

Taking medication as a way to deal with depression is not for everyone. The good news is that it’s far from being the only path towards emotional well-being.

Our colleague, Nicole McCance, has compiled 52 tips on how to breakthrough your depression naturally. To help her become an Amazon best seller, many industry leaders are offering over $2000 in perks to support her in her quest against depression.

As seen before, the key to working through our depression is

American Psychological Association Resolution on Psychotherapy

“Be It Resolved that, as a healing practice and professional service, psychotherapy is effective and highly cost-effective. In controlled trials and in clinical practice, psychotherapy results in benefits that markedly exceed those experienced by individuals who need mental health services but do not receive psychotherapy. Consequently, psychotherapy should be included in the health care system as an established evidence-based practice.

Be It Further

Aromatherapy and the 5 Stages of Grief

Grief is a wise, mysterious and frightening healer. It has an elemental role in emotion and relationship, but it will not be controlled or befriended. Grief’s nature is watery. Powerful, slippery and unpredictable, it seems to fill every space. One moment it will allow a float in a moment of respite, then gently bring a sweet memory, to suddenly crash down with relentless and choking waves. Grief is organic and chaotic. It is a feeling that will visit everyone, and most of us dread it.

In her seminal book ‘On Death and Dying’ Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross first introduced her now-famous idea that

The 8 Limbs of Yoga

II. 28-29
If you engage earnestly in the various practices
of making yourself whole,
all your impurities will be destroyed;
and then you will gain the light of wisdom,
a revelation beyond even discrimination.
The eight limbs are self control, commitments,
the physical poses, control of the breath,
withdrawal of the senses,
focus, fixation, and perfect meditation.

– Yogasutras

Yoga is more then poses. It is an ongoing holistic practice of refinement and purification through which we may reduce suffering and come to know the peace of our true nature.

Thousands of years ago there lived an amazing Indian yogi, mystic, dancer, doctor and intellectual named Patanjali. He compiled centuries of yoga philosophy and technique, and brilliantly distilled them into one clear and poetic statement or darsana.

Leaning Into Discomfort

Brene Brown’s talks on vulnerability and shame have ignited many memories, thoughts and reflections for me. There have been countless times where I have numbed myself to vulnerability, many occasions when I have made myself vulnerable and been hurt and other times when I was open hearted and felt deeply connected. When I considered what I could write about today, this was the story that came to mind.

I was given Demerol and an epidural when delivering my first child. During that two days of protracted labour