Thank you so very much for your kind note regarding Healing Depression the Mind-Body Way. Sandra and I so enjoy knowing that our book is being utilized and is helpful. You have made our day!

You asked about further information. Well, Sandra and I wrote this book because we could not find much “out there” about the holistic aspects of depression. We still have not located any other books that deal with this subject in the same way that we did. However, if you wish to read more about Ayurveda I recommend Contemporary Ayurveda by Sharma and Clark.

If you are embarking on a healing journey I would suggest that you choose something from the book which you can easily do and begin to incorporate that into your lifestyle. Add other interventions when you feel ready. The mind-body will move toward health when it is nudged in that direction. Ayurveda teaches that we never should stress or strain and never make too many changes at one time. If you move slowly then changes will become permanent. If you have a mixed type of depression (imbalances in more than one dosha) focus on balancing vata dosha first. Vata is the principle of movement and it can move the other doshas out of balance. When we balance vata we are making a major step toward feeling good, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

I wish you the best for perfect health and happiness.
Nancy

When I say move toward “more workable solutions” for depression I am speaking not only of TM.

The condition of depression is all-encompassing. Depression is a physical problem that is beyond the reach of pills, it is a mental problem that is beyond the reach of words, and it is a spiritual problem that requires techniques to help us connect with the abstract qualities of life. To heal depression we need to improve our overall health and activate our inner source of healing. This can be accomplished through a wide variety of interventions such as nutrition, exercise, breathing techniques, yoga, herbal medications, sleep and TM.

Episodes of depression recur in 50 to 85 percent of people who have had none episode and used only the conventional techniques of drugs and talk therapy. In addition 70 percent of all people using only conventional methods of treatment remain depressed. And 40 percent stop taking the medications in the first month because of side effects. The anti depressants have been shown to be no more helpful, in most cases, than placebos. Talk therapy is helpful for mild depression which is time limited anyway, however, seriously depressed people do not have the energy to incorporate insights and no matter how compassionate the therapist talk therapy fails for these people.

TM is sometimes a total solution for depression, but often it is not. TM will always offer some help but research would agree with you that TM alone will frequently not cure depression. This is because the roots of depression are not only in the mind and spirit they are in the body. The physical needs purification and nourishment. Treatment for depression must be holistic as the mind-body and spirit is one seamless energetic system.

Thank you for expressing your concern.

Health and Happiness,

Nancy