Is Depression Spiritual Or Physical

Some individuals believe that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, which is a simple view. It's commonly attributed to a low amount of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, and depressed persons are routinely offered medicine to raise serotonin levels in their brain. However, as I already stated, viewing depression in these terms is extremely problematic.

We should consider depression in terms of environmental and existential variables rather than as a neurological disorder. It's not always easy to pinpoint what's causing a person's despair. People get depressed as a result of the breakdown of relationships, the death of loved ones, or the loss of their jobs. They get depressed as a result of being poor, living in underprivileged neighborhoods with high crime rates, or being the victim of bigotry and disdain.

However, as we all know, depression can manifest itself in a variety of ways, with roots that are difficult to trace. Depression can be caused by “hidden” psychological elements like a person's negative thinking style or suppressed childhood trauma that causes psychological conflict. It could be because to a loss of purpose and meaning, love, or even touch with nature. Antidepressants may or may not address the fundamental cause of a person's depression.

There is another source of depression that I've come across regularly in my studies but that isn't well-known. This is the kind of spiritual sadness I'm talking about.

When depression emerges as a result of a separation from our own natural spirituality, we are said to be depressed. As a transpersonal psychologist, I've encountered many people who had a profound spiritual experience as a child but suppressed it because they didn't comprehend it. In some cases, this was a near-death experience in which they were immediately out of their bodies, engulfed in light, filled with joy and liberty, as well as a consciousness of an all-pervading love. In other situations, it was a spiritual awakening during a period of high stress, while participating in sports, or while wandering in the countryside.

The environment around them became profoundly real and beautiful for no apparent reason, and they felt one with their surroundings, filled with a feeling of significance and harmony. However, they found the experiences perplexing and scary since they lacked a framework to make sense of them. After all, such experiences run counter to our culture's mainstream worldview, which regards all anomalous states of consciousness as unhealthy.

People who have a natural spiritual sensibility that they don't comprehend or appreciate may experience spiritual depression. A naturally spiritual person may have a strong sense of connection to nature, a strong desire for solitude and calm, and a high level of empathy and compassion. However, because it contradicts our cultural conventions, they may repress this inner spirituality.

When a person conceals their inner spirituality, a deep sense of dissonance develops, along with a terrible sense of unhappiness and frustration. It's like a gay person trying to hide their sexuality and live a heterosexual life.

In my book The Leap, I offered a few cases of spiritual sadness. For example, I recently shared the story of Peace Pilgrim, a wonderful American peace activist. Peace Pilgrim was born Mildred Norman and raised with standard American principles of materialism and status seeking. She married at the age of 25 and lived comfortably in the middle class till her early thirties. She became increasingly depressed and dissatisfied, believing that her existence had no significance, until one night, in the midst of her despair, the spiritual self she had been suppressing emerged. As she remembered, “I felt a perfect willingness to commit my life — to dedicate my life — to service, without any reservations… As a result, I entered the second stage of my life. I began to give what I could, and a new and lovely world opened up for me.”

Is depression considered a physical illness?

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a widespread and significant medical condition that has a negative impact on how you feel, think, and behave. It is also, thankfully, treatable. Depression produces unhappiness and/or a loss of interest in previously appreciated activities.

How does spirituality affect depression?

Higher overall spirituality ratings corresponded with lower depressive symptoms in our impoverished, urban, multiethnic group, as in prior studies7–12,17. In contrast to earlier studies of middle-class populations in which church attendance was associated with a lower risk of depression,7–10,12,17 the quantity of prayer and attendance at religious services in this sample had no effect on depressive symptoms.

This research raises a number of intriguing questions. Belief in a greater power, a higher purpose in life, or the power of prayer can help people avoid despair, especially in the face of the potentially overwhelming social stresses that come with living in the inner city. However, a lack of faith could simply be a symptom of the problem “Clinical depression is characterized by feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and anhedonia. Although it's easy to attribute a causal relationship between spirituality and sadness, these findings are just correlational.

Attendance in religious services has been linked to a lower risk of depression in numerous studies.

7–10,12,17 The social support provided by the church has been suggested as a reason why churchgoers are less depressed. 9,10,12 However, there may be a selection bias at work here: depressed individuals may be too ill to attend religious events. However, there was no link between religious service attendance and depression symptoms in our cohort. Depressed people were just as likely as non-depressed people to attend religious services, pray, and meditate. Is the influence of the church community insufficient to alleviate depression in the face of inner-city stressors? Is the church a safe haven for both depressed and nondepressed people? Is it possible that the quality of worship, prayer, or meditation, rather than the number, is more useful in treating depression? Many of these issues could be answered with more research in this area.

Nonetheless, encouraging proper participation in spiritual activities or introducing religious imagery into a therapy regimen may have a benefit among disadvantaged patients, whose daily constraints might be severe13–16 and depression levels high. Identifying a winner is based on your ability to identify a winner “The use of spiritual language in 12-step programs for the treatment of alcoholism and narcotic addiction implies that it may be beneficial. 60 percent to 80 percent of alcoholics can drink less or not at all for up to a year after joining Alcoholics Anonymous, and 40 percent to 50 percent can stay sober for many years. 27 In a 1981 study, patients suffering from opioid addiction who employed religious imagery and language had higher rates of abstinence after one year than those who did not (41 percent vs. 5 percent ). 28

Two research demonstrate that adding religious beliefs into the treatment of depressed people results in improved depression ratings when compared to treating patients conventionally.

29,30 However, three studies have found no difference in the effectiveness of religious imagery as a supplement to therapy for depressed patients. 31–33 A proper study of the urban poor has yet to be done.

There are various potential drawbacks to this study. The 40% completion rate raises the possibility of selection bias, as seen by participant refusal. However, an examination of the partially completed surveys found that the last remaining items were frequently left blank, implying that failure to complete the survey was due to the arrival of appointment times for patients in the waiting room, as confirmed by multiple patient complaints. In addition, the criteria for include questionnaires in the analysis were stringent: the instrument had to be entirely filled out in order to be included in the analysis. There was no statistical difference between patients who completed the questionnaire and those who did not, according to the demographic data (data not shown). Low educational levels and high levels of depression, which can lead to a slow reading speed, may have slowed the rate of return.

In conclusion, this study polled an urban population and discovered that higher spirituality ratings were linked to lower depression symptoms. Belief in a higher power, having a relationship with a higher power, and belief in prayer, in particular, were found to be significantly different between depressed and nondepressed people. Finding patient-centered approaches to bolstering patients' inherent belief systems may help them cope with their depression symptoms. Furthermore, knowing a patient's spiritual life and how it affects their mental health provides insight into an important coping mechanism. This is an intriguing area of research where the interrelationships between spirituality, medicine, and mental health may find common ground to introduce a new modality into the care of our poor, depressed patients.

What does the Bible says about depression?

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not alarmed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, assist you, and uphold you with my righteous right hand.” The Good News: Dealing with depression may be a frightening experience. The Good News: Rest assured that God is always there for you, no matter what your problems are.

What is anxiety spiritually?

Anxiety is a universal characteristic of all living things, even the tiniest animals whose lives center around survival. However, these species suffer from reality anxiety, a fear of survival-related events such as dog bites or surviving a severe winter, as described by Sigmund Freud. Reality anxiety affects humans as well, but our brains have developed to allow us to reason—a capacity that causes worry on a different level, stemming from deeper existential issues about the nature of our existence.

This level of worry is referred to as sacred anxiety by Robert Gerzon, an author and holistic psychotherapist. Gerson's approach to holy anxiety reflects the concerns raised by persons going on spiritual journeys, whether religious or not. “Sacred anxiety characterizes our experience with the ultimate, the fear of death, and the wonder of existence,” he stated. “This is existential concern about our place in the universe on a cosmic scale.”

The understanding that, at the end of the day, each of us is alone within our head, viewing the world differently from others while simultaneously inhabiting it. The feeling of dread that comes over you when you worry what happens when you die, if you'll be able to see your loved ones again “You will either continue to exist in some manner or will fade away into another realm of existence. Sacred anxiety incorporates both of these worries, and although Gerzon compares it to a fear of the unknown, it is a fear of the unknown “Regardless of our religious views, our uniquely human ability to reason has the potential to lead us into deeper anxieties.

How can I stop being so miserable?

1. Recognize the source of your dissatisfaction.

Accepting your unpleasant feelings, contrary to popular belief, has been shown to improve your well-being. Accepting unpleasant emotions like disappointment, rage, and despair can help you relax. While it's unclear why accepting bad sensations is so effective, past research has shown that naming negative feelings—”I'm feeling resentful,” “This is grief,” and so on—shifts your feelings from the emotional to the reasoning parts of your brain. You can put your sentiments in perspective once your “thinker” (the prefrontal cortex) is on board.

2. Be compassionate to yourself.

Speaking nicely to yourself might provide a sense of relief. You may not have many individuals in your life who can provide you with the profound empathy you require right now, but you do have one—you.

3. Allow yourself to feel cheerful whenever possible.

Tell yourself that you don't have to feel bad about wanting to feel relieved, happy, and joyful in your life.

4. Engage in pleasurable and healthful diversions.

When you give yourself permission to be joyful, you may better enjoy minor pleasures like a walk, a cup of coffee, a conversation with a friend, or a trip to the park. Music, books, and movies can provide both an escape and a sense of fulfillment. Even if a section of your life is falling apart, remind yourself that it's OK to have fun.

5. Stick to your self-care schedule.

If you don't already have one, start one. Exercise, eat well, make time for friends, and get enough of rest. Resist the “false friends” of binge drinking, overeating, and living on the sofa.

6. Look for activities that are both innovative and meaningful.

Make a pastime or a creative endeavor out of your emotions. According to studies by James Pennebaker and others, writing in your journal can help you focus and may even be therapeutic.

Is depression psychological or physiological?

This, however, gives the impression that significant persistent depression is solely a psychiatric condition. By disregarding the physiologic and contextual components that the mind interacts with, it oversimplifies the nature of the condition.

Is depression more physiological or psychological?

When injured or ill, most people feel sad, fatigued, and inactive. The stimulation of the body's immunological response causes this “illness behavior.” It's a mechanism for the brain to conserve energy so that the body can repair.

This immunological response can also be seen in depressed patients. Some researchers and physicians believe that depression is a side effect of the inflammatory process as a result of this.

However, while there is a link between inflammation and depression, one does not always lead to the other. As a result, saying depression is a physical rather than a psychological condition is oversimplified.

What are 4 major causes of depression?

Depression isn't a disease that has a single cause. It can occur for a variety of causes and can be triggered by a variety of factors. Depression isn't usually treated fast or abruptly. Instead, it takes time to develop and might result in a “downward spiral.”

• 1. Your ancestors. Though there are no specific genes that may be linked to depression, if someone in your family has been depressed, you are more likely to be depressed as well. Whether this link is attributable to learned behavior or biology is still up for debate.
• 2. Illness and medical problems. Physical ailments or injuries can have a major impact on your mental health. Depression can be caused by chronic health problems, long-term health problems, or physical health problems that radically alter your lifestyle. Your doctors will often recognize this and may even include mental health treatment in your overall treatment plan. Brain, hormone, menstrual cycle, or menopause issues, low blood sugar, or sleep disorders can all have a big impact.
• Medication, narcotics, and alcohol are three of the most common causes of death. Many drugs have the terrible side effect of depression as a side effect. If you become depressed after starting a new prescription or treatment, look into the possible side effects or consult your doctor. They might be able to offer you a better option. In addition, recreational drug and alcohol use can contribute to or exacerbate depression. While they may appear to alleviate depression symptoms at first, they will eventually make you feel worse.
• 4. Individuality. Some persons and personalities are simply more prone to depression than others. People who keep their anxieties and tension inside, have low self-esteem, are perfectionists, and are sensitive to criticism, for example, are more prone to be sad.

Is depression caused by lack of faith?

Religious affiliation is a poor measure of religious involvement or commitment due to its superficial character. It does, however, provide some general data on the prevalence of depression among various religious groups. People of Jewish ancestry, Pentecostals, and those with no religious connection have higher rates of depression than those of other religious groups. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal research have found that people of Jewish heritage, particularly those who are not actively religious, had higher incidence of depression. A number of variables could explain why people of Jewish ancestry appear to be at an increased risk. One possibility could be that depressive symptoms are only reported selectively. To put it another way, people of Jewish ancestry may be more inclined to disclose depressed symptoms and seek help from mental health professionals rather than resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with emotional distress (e.g., people of Jewish descent also demonstrate lower rates of alcohol abuse ). Depression rates are highest among Jews of Eastern European ancestry, and it has long been suspected that hereditary factors play a role in depression (melancholia agitata Hebraica) among Eastern European Jews. However, according to Glicksman, Jewish persons of Eastern European heritage are far more prone than Irish or Italian Catholics to display negative affect in research studying reaction styles.

People with emotional difficulties may self-select into Pentecostal groups because of the latter's strong focus on conquering emotional problems (many uplifting hymns, heavy emphasis on socializing, and positive content of sermons), resulting in higher incidence of depression in Pentecostals. Another factor could be Pentecostals' strong emphasis on evangelism, which attracts people from lower socioeconomic categories who are more likely to suffer from depression and other mental diseases.

Higher rates of depression among those who are not religious could be attributed to a lack of social support from their religion community or a lack of commitment to a belief system that makes sense of traumatic experiences and challenging life circumstances. Nonreligious societies and secular belief systems may provide alternative sources of support for the unaffiliated, compensating for their lack of religious attachments. Furthermore, even persons who do not identify as religious may retain deeply held religious views that are exhibited in non-organizational ways.