How to Handle Depression and Live Happily: Practical Approach Without Medication
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About this ebook
This book is written for those who have suffered depression, those who are suffering depression, those who want to keep depression at bay, and those who have depressed people around them.
This is a self-help book on health and happiness for every family.
Raphael T. Ikedi
I have written this book, because I see so much suffering around me, so many people seeking answers, about who they are, about love, life and other subjects that I felt I had no choice. This book contains in short more then 25 years of research and interviews with 1000nds of people and couples of all ages. For me started it with one question: "Is it possible to be happy in a relationship?" this was because I saw many marriages and relations fall apart. Now I also believe that you can only write about something personal as love, when you have experienced it, that I didn't have till after 2008. It's a long story but, it comes to this, I just wasn't ready to love before then. After I helped another young man with his personal problem, he asked me: "why don't you write a book about life? It didn't took me long to realize that indeed I had the knowledge to start, so I started late 2009 with my first chapter called friendship. Now more than 2 years later and dozen times of editing and improving, I believe that this version is the ultimate version. I am Jorgen Klein, born and raised in the Netherlands, however my dutch isn't as good as I wish it too be, so when I first offered my (translated) book to the dutch publishers (they loved the original English version) they wouldn't publish it because it had too many grammatical and word mistakes in it. Honestly I couldn't blame them. My life has been softly said been like a roller-coaster ride, have seen and done lots of bad things. Learned even more from my Martial-arts master, but the difference is that I have learned from all of it and when I received a 2nd chance to have a better life, I took it. Now that same experience, all that I have learned and all my research is what I want to share with everyone, so that everyone who wants to learn, to become a better person may have just that possibility.
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How to Handle Depression and Live Happily - Raphael T. Ikedi
© 2012 by Raphael T. Ikedi. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
Published by AuthorHouse 09/11/2012
ISBN: 978-1-4772-2999-6 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4772-2998-9 (e)
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,
and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
CONTENTS
Dedication
Acknowledgment
Introduction
Chapter One Depression And What It Does To Our Lives
Chapter Two Causes Of Depression
Chapter Three How To Handle Depression
Chapter Four Agents Of Happiness
Chapter Five How To Handle Depression: Food Plan And Fittness
Chapter Six Spiritual ‘Back-Up’ In Handling Depression
Chapter Seven For The Concerned
Chapter Eight Discover Your ‘Comfort Zone.’
References
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to the memory of a lady of inestimable value, who gave meaning to my life—my mom,
Late Mrs. Juliana A. Ikedi
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
My greatest appreciation and reverence goes to Almighty God who is the spiritual author of this book, I am only but a pencil in His hands. Oh God, may your throne be highly exalted forever.
I can’t forget the lady of inestimable value who gave meaning to my life—my late mom. I love you mom, and will forever be proud of you. Thanks to my father whose actions made me a man.
Thanks to my siblings and in-laws, I love you dearly.
I am deeply indebted to the couple, Barr. & Mrs. Charles Ohaja who painstakingly proof-read this work—I love you. May the good Lord bless you; may he enlarge your coast and sustain you in all your endeavours.
To all my friends, the publisher and everyone that has contributed in one way or the other to my life and to the success of this book, I say a big thank you, and may the good Lord bless you all.
INTRODUCTION
Depression is a global burden which seriously reduces quality of life, for individuals and their families. It is a risk factor for suicide, self-mutilation and other physical health problems. The World Health Organization predicts that by 2020, depression will be the greatest burden of illness after heart disease. This prediction means that depression will be rampant and cause more worry in future years. This prediction is not far-fetched in our society, because of its common evidences in our individual lives. Unfortunately, depression is not openly spoken in African society, but it is pervasive. Depression affects many of us; in fact, no full-fledged man will deny the experience at one time or the other in his natural life. But the issue is the approach in handling it which goes a long way in determining the resultant effect. This book centres on practical approach without medication in handling depression.
Moreover, this book is for everyone, precisely for those who have suffered depression; those who are suffering depression; those who want to keep depression at bay; and those who have depressed people around them. It captures the true life experiences of depressed people we have in our society today; the level of decimation depression can cause in our lives if not handled in a healthy way. However, this book proffers a-way-out for this disorder and for those who have been struggling to find a meaning for their lives but failed. It is also for many people who see themselves as less human and those who have contemplated suicide or self-mutilation as a respite to hard times. By His Grace, I hope that this book will offer help, hope, assurance and usher into a long-awaited happiness to those who suffer every day in the cause of this mental disorder.
Chapter One gives a detailed definition of depression and what it does to our lives. It also brings to book some true life experiences of depression in our society. While Chapter Two chronicles the possible causes of depression in Africa—these are my experiences, what I witnessed and experiences other people have shared with me. Road to recovery is also treated in this chapter i.e. the plan to the ‘promised land’. Chapter Three is on how to handle depression: practical suggestions that discourage the use of medication, while consolidating on the overlooked practices that will help us handle depression effectively. The following is Chapter Four, and it centres on the agents of happiness—things that create room for happiness like giving, honesty, optimism, etc.
Besides, Chapter Five is on food and fitness which plays a vital role in handling depression. It also captures the calming acupuncture treatment effect and spa treatment—whirlpool bath. Chapter Six is on the spiritual ‘back-up’ in handling depression. This chapter expects you to back-up your practical approach with prayers; not neglecting the fundamental.
The last but one chapter is termed ‘For the Concerned’, it is addressed to people who are concerned and should be taken seriously irrespective of age or social status. These are ways of freedom for those who are deeply entrenched by depression, those who will like to avoid it in the near future and those who will help others beat depression; everybody has a stake. The last but not the least chapter centres on what I termed ‘comfort zone’—finding out what tickles you and indulging in it, no matter how funny or childish it might look. Also, this chapter outlined things to beware of in living your individual live in order to keep depression at bay.
Whether you read one chapter in its entirety every day, or read them at different paces, my earnest prayer is for this book to touch every nook and cranny of your life that may have been in the dark.
CHAPTER ONE
DEPRESSION AND WHAT
IT DOES TO OUR LIVES
Depression is derived from the Latin verb ‘de`primere’ meaning ‘to press down’. The World English Dictionary defines it as ‘low in spirit; downcast; despondent. Also: distress characterised by relative economic hardship, such as unemployment.’ This means that depression can be caused by anything, in the sense that, whatever gives happiness can as well cause depression.
Medically, depression is believed to be caused by chemical imbalance in the brain. Besides, our daily experiences of depression and what it actually feels like is that a dark cloud has settled on the soul. This is a stubborn feeling and it can drive a person to despair. Depression defiles our very essence and darkens our vision. It opens a gateway for satanic infusion and evil thoughts. It defecates on the soul and accuses it of being dirty and smelly. At this stage, the soul seeks no other remedy than destruction.
Depression usually catches us off guard to the extent that we no longer take cognizance of our own potentials. We only see the bad side of us. It deposits inferior thoughts in us like, ‘you are stupid’, ‘good for nothing fool’, ‘idiot’, ‘not man enough’, etc. in order to