Depression deconstructed
Non clinical depression or situational depression has many shades, it affects us in many ways and it has many different root causes. This form of depression does not require medical attention or treatment. It feels like a low feeling many people experience occasionally or regularly. They describe it as feeling stuck, feeling low, having a persistent bad mood or not feeling motivated to do anything. Something seems missing, but they can’t put a finger on it.
Non clinical depression can result from stagnation in either the body, mind, physical space, spiritual progress, career, aspirations, social life, ideas or inspiration.
Change is the only constant in life. Every particle/atom in the physical space is in continuous motion and is changing every moment. Even the atoms in a stationary stone are in flux but are invisible to naked eyes. Continuous change is required to sustain life. Our soul has come to this earth with a purpose and any form of stagnation on this journey will result in some kind of uncomfortable reminder from the universe. Stagnation leads to suffering and we will see how.
Personally I like to call any form of depression as stagnation. This change in terminology helps look at the same situation with a bit more ease and practicality. Below are few areas of life where stagnation can disturb mental wellness. I would recommend for you to look at each section and rate on a scale to 1 to 10 how stagnated you feel. You could have one or more areas with high stagnation and rest with low or moderate stagnation. Addressing high impact area will start to give to immediate relief and support your progress towards peace.
Let’s look at how we stagnate in various areas of our life and how it affects our mental well-being.
Physical space - If an object is not moved from its place for a long time, a stagnated stale negative energy is created around it. This energy can be detrimental to people living or passing through this space. In horror movies the ghost always lives in an old mansion that has not been sweeped for years. :) With rise in consumerism and digital one click shopping, we collect more than we need and it gets stored away for probably later use. This storage can be the breeding ground of negative energy which could potentially affect the physical and emotional health of the people living in it. Simple things like unfolded laundry and dirty dishes can be feed into situational depression.
If you are hoarding, know you are feeding your depression. Minimalism can be life transforming and freeing.
Body -When our body is not moved, it becomes lethargic and invites diseases. When our arteries and veins hold cholesterol, it results in high blood pressure. When our intestines store food, it rots and forms toxins in our body. Proper functioning of Liver, Kidneys and Sweat glands support vitality. Yogis recommend that our exhales should be twice as long as our inhales to manage stress. I like to term it as- give more than you receive.
Excretion and movement are vital for a healthy body. Prolonged sickness can be a huge contributor to non clinical depression. If you can’t seem to find answers, you feel stuck. Sometimes labelling this feeling as frustration or boredom from sickness instead of depression can be deeply relieving.
Stagnation of any kind in the body can be dangerous and detrimental to our health. Healthy mind lives in a healthy body. Regular movement of the body through exercise, play, detoxification, and sweating can significantly improve the health of the mind.
Mind - We have about 70,000 thoughts a day and 80% of them are the same. We tend to repeat our version of the story on and on in our mind. Stagnation of thoughts over several years form deep rooted limiting beliefs which block our progress at many leaves. Repetitive thoughts are like weeds in a garden and they deplete us of our vital energy. Processing memories that hold emotional charge and getting new and fresh perspective on our thoughts can significantly improve our mental well-being.
Seasons play a big role on how we feel. Change in seasons, onset of falls, long cold winters and even holiday season can have a role in deciding how you feel. It will help to see what belief or memories you are holding about seasons, change or holidays to get a clue on why they are stagnating are depressing you.
Sometimes seeking help through therapy or energy healing can be the best route. It is hard to solve a problem with the same consciousness that created it.
Family/ Community/ Social life - Our definition of community has significantly shifted in the last decade or so. Quality of human interactions has diluted through social media and individualistic lifestyle.
Depletion in community living can stagnate a significant aspect of our being that thrives on human connection. If you struggle to know where you belong, know that you have created a breeding ground for depression. Family can be the greater source of suffering and healing at the same time. Broken bonds and hang ups with bear and dear ones can bring in perineal suffering and depression.
Finding your tribe through deliberate effort, being of use to another human through service and opening up to asking and receiving help can go a long way in healing.
Purpose/Career - They say, the purpose of our life is to find its purpose. Our careers are to some extent helping us fulfill that purpose. Career is not restricted to a job or business. Being a mother, volunteering for non profit, being available to family and community when they need help also fall under this category. Vocations or hobbies that fill our heart with joy are fundamental in bringing joy and happiness.
When we are unhappy with what we do on a daily basis and we don’t take action to change to improve it, we create stagnation. When we let our laziness take over we stop progress. When we procrastinate and wait for another day to finish a task, we feed depression.
Inspiration and motivation - The seed thought that inspires you to do something plays a significant role in how it affects your life. In most cases the motivation behind our actions is emotional or financial reward. We are unknowingly filling a gap in our heart through the results of our actions. E.g. a perfectionist will go all out to create a fine piece of work to prove to himself that he/she self is worthy of their parents love.
If self motivation is missing, we are in a downward spiral. We should be our only completion and we should strive towards doing all we can to be better than what we are today.
Aspirations and ideas - Siting on ideas without taking action can stagnate us. Every thought, idea or inspiration comes to us for a reason. When we don’t take action out of fear or laziness, we are hampering our progress.
Spiritual progress- Spiritual progress is a privilege only humans have. No matter what your belief system is, deep down our soul desires awakening.
To summarise, remember that depression =stagnation. If you are feeling depressed and stuck, check which aspect of your life needs movement. Answers are in your thoughts. Sit back and list all the thoughts that are repeating in your mind. List down what is bothering you. A problem is a problem until you find a solution. Bring in a fresh breath of change and let progress happen.
Happy to talk to anyone who is curious to know more!
Love,
Sapna