Rediscovering Happiness: A Mind-Body-Spirit Guide to Healing Mind, Body, and Spirit

There are days when you don't feel happy at all. You don't feel like eating, you can't sleep at night, you feel like everything is boring. Maybe it's a family problem, a problem at work, or you feel a lot of weight on your mind for no reason. This is what we call anxiety-related depression, or ``Anxious Depression''. Don't think that you are alone at a time like this. Let's talk about this.

Is medication the only solution?

For someone in this situation, a doctor may often prescribe a medication for depression, an antidepressant. That's not wrong, because that medication can help reduce your stress and anxiety to a great extent, very quickly.

But imagine, when someone has a heart attack, does the doctor just give them medicine for cholesterol and blood pressure? No, right? Instead, they give a lot of advice to stop smoking, eat well, exercise, and manage stress.

Therefore, it is very important to change our lifestyle, what we eat, and how we think while taking the medicine. The chemistry of happiness is built on the nutrients our brain needs, such as B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids.

Let's bring Western and Eastern medical systems together

In seeking solutions to this problem, we can learn a great deal not only from the knowledge of Western medicine, but also from our ancient Eastern medical systems. In particular, the Indian system of Ayurvedic medicine and the meditation methods of Buddhist philosophy, Mindfulness, are very helpful in this regard.

• Ayurvedic medicine: We identify our body's nature (air, bile, phlegm) and provide guidance on how to balance our lives accordingly.
• From Buddhist philosophy: It shows us the path to happiness by practicing things like controlling unwanted thoughts that run through our minds, eliminating fear, forgiving others, and calming the mind.

Depression is more of a psychological crisis than a chemical crisis in the brain. So, if we can look at this deeply and see it as an opportunity to make a big difference in our own lives, that's the best thing.

Step One: Let's take care of your brain health

Simply put, our mood, energy, and outlook on life are determined by the balance of three chemicals in the brain: Serotonin, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine. When these are out of balance, we experience depression.

We can divide this situation into three main types. See how you feel about each of these.

In addition to this diet, it can also be very important to take some nutritional supplements. For example, vitamins B6, B12, folate, omega-3, vitamins C and E, and selenium. But remember, before starting anything like this, you should definitely talk to your doctor and get his advice.

Step Two: What suits your mind and body?

According to Ayurveda, our body has three elements: Air, Fire, and Earth. This is determined by many things, such as our body shape, skin type, sleep, and digestion.

• Air nature: People who are thin, always active, and have a restless mind. These people are more likely to develop `Anxious Depression`.
• Fire temperament: Strong, somewhat harsh, and quick to anger. These people may develop `Agitated Depression`.
• Earth nature: People who are somewhat overweight, calm, and lazy. These people are likely to suffer from `Sluggish Depression`.

If you are an air type, you need to do things that calm your nervous system. Light exercise (walking, jogging), spending time in nature are great. Also, it is very important to do your daily tasks in an orderly manner, according to a schedule, and to go to bed at a set time.

A breathing exercise (Conscious Breathing)

This is the simplest way to calm your mind.

1. Sit calmly.

2. Breathe in slowly while counting to four.

3. Hold your breath for a count of two.

4. As you count to seven, exhale very slowly.

Even if you do this for five minutes a day, your mind will feel great peace.

Step Three: Let's Think About Your Spiritual Needs

Depression is a signal that we receive. It tells us that something in our life needs to change. It could be our diet, it could be lack of exercise, or it could be a deeper emotional or relationship issue.

The best solution to this is mindfulness meditation, or ``Mindfulness''. This involves learning to live in the present moment , without regretting the past or fearing the future. This allows us to control the thoughts that run through our minds.

Also, it is very important to feel that we are not alone in this world. Having a group of friends and family who you trust and understand you, talking to them, and sharing your problems will be a great source of strength for your mind. The feeling that you are not alone is a great medicine for mental health.