| Copyright (c) 2008 Mary Ann Copson | | | | However you spin it, depression (and other |
| | | | mood imbalances, too) becomes a closed system |
| Depression is awful � in whatever form | | | | that locks you within the system. Insidious, |
| you may experience it. You would think that | | | | crazy, and perverse. |
| something that feels so bad would propel you | | | | |
| to do anything to get rid of it. You know- | | | | Here is a little bit of the physiology about |
| like a noxious substance that we accidentally | | | | that: |
| eat and then get violent spasms to vomit. | | | | |
| | | | The thing about mood imbalances is that the |
| You�d think that if you are feeling | | | | biochemistry in your brain always seeks its |
| depressed you would be hightailing it to | | | | current baseline - which means that it is |
| engage in some of the known effective | | | | designed to stay the way it is. Your brain |
| strategies for getting rid of depression. You | | | | chemistry always seeks its neurotransmitter |
| might visit your doctor for an | | | | baseline and this baseline is kept in place |
| anti-depressant or your local therapist for | | | | by certain enzymatic processes in the body. |
| cognitive behavioral therapy. You�d | | | | It can take 6 months or more of consistent, |
| start exercising. You�d be getting out | | | | regular input to change those biochemical |
| in the sunlight more. You�d change your | | | | enzymatic processes and thus your |
| diet. You�d learn to meditate and | | | | neurotransmitter baseline. |
| develop a mindful approach to life. | | | | |
| You�d take some nutritional supplements | | | | Your brain chemistry drives you to think and |
| like 5HTP or St. John�s Wort. | | | | do things that will keep your brain chemistry |
| | | | just the way it is. Your current brain |
| But when you are depressed most of the time | | | | chemistry is driving you to avoid thinking or |
| you find yourself avoiding any and all of | | | | doing things that would shift your |
| those things. | | | | biochemistry and provide a physiological |
| | | | opportunity to shift your moods. |
| The insidious thing about depression (and for | | | | |
| that matter most mood imbalances) is this | | | | In order to find your way out of depression |
| � depression has inherent in itself a | | | | and other mood imbalances you have to reach |
| hidden pull to stay depressed. When you are | | | | deeply inside yourself and pull out a life |
| depressed, there is a part of the depression | | | | spark of yourself � a piece of your |
| that feels good because it is familiar- as | | | | inner spirit or your life essence -and take |
| illogical as that may sound. In some subtle | | | | the first step away from imbalance. And every |
| way, there is a tendency to keep yourself | | | | day you have to reach inside of yourself |
| feeling depressed. | | | | again and find that life spark again and take |
| | | | the next step toward balance again � and |
| Rationally you�d want to stop being | | | | again, and again. |
| depressed because it feels so bad. But | | | | |
| anything that will help you move out of | | | | As each step fans that life spark, it also |
| depression also comes with this heavy | | | | gradually and over time changes your |
| internal response �It�s just too | | | | physiology and shifts your neurotransmitter |
| hard� or some similar variation such as: | | | | baseline. |
| | | | |
| I can�t do that. | | | | Changing your physiology is important because |
| | | | it loosens the grip of that perverse |
| I tried that and it didn�t work. | | | | biochemical tendency to keep things the way |
| | | | they are. Changing your physiology opens up a |
| I don�t see how that would work. | | | | whole new world of thoughts, emotions, |
| | | | actions, and perceptions that weren�t |
| I can�t remember to do that. | | | | readily available at the old biochemical |
| | | | baseline. |
| I�m too busy, tired, overwhelmed, etc to | | | | |
| do that. | | | | Hand in hand life spark and physiology work |
| | | | together and nurture each other toward a new |
| That doesn�t seem like something that | | | | level of balance. |
| would work � something that would be fun | | | | |
| or something I want to do, etc. | | | | "Where the spirit does not work with the hand |
| | | | there is no art. |