Overcoming Depression-(Curative Measures)

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Though it is true that prevention is better than cure, sometimes, we already have had the experience of falling into depression. How to cure it? Almost the same factor that could help us prevent depression can help us cure depression. But these have to be restated in a different perspective. One thing we should not forget is that it is possible to overcome the state of depression, which is after all not permanent. Depression is nothing but a focus of the mind on something negative and depressive. All that we need to do is to change the focus.

1. See the Brighter Side of Life: Life is not all a very depressing sight. It has a brighter, refreshing side as well. We must learn to see the brighter side. If you have a healthy body but are depressed, then think of how many millions are sick and diseased. If you are ill, think of how many millions cannot afford medical help, and so on. When we learn to see the brighter side of life, it naturally makes the size of our problems small. By counting the good that we have, and neglecting what we do not have, we can change the focus of our mind and bring a greater sense of happiness in our daily life.

2. Recalling Our Divine Nature: In the Gita, Sri Krishna reprimanding Arjuna who refused to engage in his prescribed duty (swadharma) said, 'Give up this faint-heartedness; it doesn't befit you.' Swami Vivekananda, commenting on this verse, said, 'It doth not befit thee. Thou art that Atman imperishable, beyond all evil. Having forgotten thy real nature, thou hast, by thinking thyself a sinner, as one afflicted with bodily evil and mental grief—thou hast made thyself so—this doth not befit thee.'

One should, therefore, reflect over Krishna's call for strength and courage. What he meant by saying that it doesn't befit you, is, though we have such enormous reserves of strength and wisdom, we haven't tapped them, and this neglect or inactivity does not befit us.

It is like a rich man, under the effect of amnesia, going out to his gatekeeper and begging for a dime to buy a plantain! We must make it a habit to dwell more and more on our divine Self. This can be done by reading authentic spiritual literature, or listening to talks by competent people, but above all, by thinking deeply over what we have read or heard. When we get up in the morning, says the Pratah-smarana stotram, we must meditate on that Effulgent, Sinless Being which resides within us. This leaves a deep impression on our self-image and frees us from the load of body-mind complex to a great extent.

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