Treating Depression Naturally: Guest Post
by Floris Books • 12 June 2018 • Holistic Health • 0 Comments
Today’s guest post comes from author of Treating Depression Naturally and flower essence therapist for over 30 years, Chris Philips. Here, he explains how using flower essences as part of a considered treatment programme can help with the underlying causes of depression and related illnesses.
Depression and Men’s Health
Depression is a serious health issue which affects more than 300 million people worldwide. The World Health Organisation states that depression is now the leading cause of disability. Statistics show that women are more likely to be affected by depression than men; according to RAMH, 1 in 4 women in the UK will require treatment for depression compared to only 1 in 10 men. But the reality may be rather different.
Depression can be understood as a signal that there is something wrong in one’s life. Often, this is something that originally went wrong a long time ago. The many difficulties we experience as we grow up – which may become an underlying cause of depression later in life – affect boys quite as much as girls. So why do so many more women seem to be affected by depression?
There has traditionally been a societal pressure on men to perform, to be tough, to be strong. In many situations, it is taboo for men to express their feelings, and so often, men are simply not allowed to experience depression: to express it is to express weakness. It is likely that there are far more men affected by depression, albeit unacknowledged, than is commonly realised.
Treating Depression Naturally
The best way of dealing with depression is to identify those original causes and work through the negative emotions which they aroused. How does one achieve this? Whilst anti-depressants are widely used to treat the symptoms of depression, they do not address it at its roots. But there are other therapies, and I have flower essence therapy particularly in mind, which do go to the roots. Since Dr Edward Bach‘s discovery of his 38 flower remedies in the early 1930s, we have had a very powerful tool for treating depression naturally. Flower remedies can be used to ease the difficulties of childhood which are so often the cause of depression in the adult.
Depression varies hugely from individual to individual; even for the same individual, different episodes of depression can vary a great deal. In general, energy and the zest for life is lost, sleep is affected and self-esteem plummets. For such cases, what you might call “general depression”, you might experience some relief from Dr Bach’s Gentian which restores faith, or from Gorse, which inspires hope.
I tend to look at depression quite broadly. Anxiety is often an aspect of depression, although when you are in the throes of a panic attack, ‘I am depressed,’ is not the thought which comes to mind. Anxiety and panic are also aspects of fear. Dr Bach distinguished two kinds of fear. The first relates to known things, for which he recommended Mimulus. The second is the fear of the unknown, for which he gave Aspen or Rock Rose.
But the possibilities do not end there. More than 80 years after Dr Bach’s death, there are many other essence makers with a rich repertory available online. For example, the BAFEP (British Association of Flower Essence Producers) showcases essences from Britain and all over the world.
Note
Flower essences are concerned with personal healing and growth at all levels of body, mind and spirit. They do not conflict in any way with conventional medicine and can be taken safely alongside any prescribed medication.
About the Book
Feelings of depression are as unique as you are. Whether you find yourself overcome by the strain of day-to-day life, experience extreme anxiety or are dealing with a loss or other traumatic life change, flower essences can effectively help you to manage and overcome depressive thoughts.
Readily found in pharmacies, health-food shops and online, flower essences help to restore balance between mind, body and spirit, when they are used as part of a considered treatment programme. Flower essences can tackle the emotional and mental blockages that often lie at the root of illness.
First popularised by Dr Edward Bach, creator of Rescue Remedy, millions of people use flower remedies daily. Chris Phillips incorporates Bach’s and other flower essence systems in this helpful handbook, allowing you to tailor treatments to your unique needs and circumstances.
Packed with insight, inspiration and real-life stories, Treating Depression Naturally offers a new way of thinking about and managing your anxiety and depression.