Overcoming Depression-(Curative Measures)-Contd

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3. Practice of Detachment: Once, late at night, an old man was woken up by some crackling sound and was shocked to see his next-door building on fire. He stood near the window, badly shaken by what he saw, with tears trickling down his cheeks. A little later, his young son too came there and asked him why he was weeping. The old man replied, 'Look, our factory is on fire and you ask me why I am weeping?!' 'But,' smiled the son and said, 'You have forgotten that we sold away the factory last week.' Soon, the old man stopped weeping and stood there, self-composed and calm. So are our regrets. It is not the event in itself, but the 'self' that is involved that makes us upset. If we consciously practise detachment, we can overcome bitterness and pain.

4. Change in Life Style: For those who are deep in dejection and bitterness, it can help them if they make some changes in their daily life. Maybe, if they get up early, go for a walk in the refreshing morning air, balance their diet and other activities, and above all, develop a sense of humour, they can help themselves.
Sri Ramakrishna used to pray to the Divine Mother: 'O Mother! Don't make me a dry monk.' And indeed, whosoever came in touch with him experienced joy and happiness. 'Despondency,' said Swami Vivekananda, 'is not religion, whatever else it may be. By being pleasant always and smiling, it takes you nearer to God, nearer than any prayer. As goes the well-known saying, 'Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life!'

Conclusion
Depression is a virulent disease. But when we study its roots, we find that its real source lies in our attaching excessive importance to materialism, gross or subtle. When we overlook our spiritual strength and make too much of our weaknesses and failures, we prepare the way for a sad state of affairs. Sometimes our depression may wear a spiritual cloak and we may feel discouraged to rectify our own attitudes. Warning against these tricks of our impure mind, Sri Krishna counsels us to follow the path of self-transformation, 'This Yoga should be practised with perseverance, undisturbed by depression of heart.