Depression is a frequently diagnosed condition, yet it is poorly understood in relation to energy. As yogis, we address depression in terms of energy flow. One way vitality moves is from soul to mind to body. The amount of spirit, the wattage, is important, since spirit determines the quality and nature of our thoughts. Spirit sets the vibration of the mind. Our thoughts then regulate how we feel, and our feelings then guide our behavior. Thus, the thoughts we hold, how we feel, and how we behave are a direct consequence of the level of spirit or energy. When internal energy is low or blocked, we experience inertia, tiredness, and little enthusiasm for life. We feel cut off from our essential source of energy, our inner spirit. Problems, even the ordinary events of life, seem insurmountable.
Yogis describe this cutoff from inner spirit as the "Silence of the Self." It occurs when one's feelings and original identity of spirit are not experienced or even acknowledged. According to the science of Humanology-the yogic approach to the psychology of the whole person-Silence of the Self results in cold depression.
When we are in cold depression, we forget we are spirit. We forget our identity, who we are, where we came from, where we are going, and to whom we belong. We become silent to our Self. And thus, cold depression can best be defined as a state of being when tolerance is low, patience is low, energy is low, and clarity, wisdom, and understanding are less available. "If I didn't have to go to work or prepare the children's meals, I would not get out of bed at all," Ruth, 37 years old, described how she felt most of the time. "For months I have just dragged myself through the day. I want to cry over small setbacks. I used to feel better by making up sleep on weekends, but that doesn't begin to help now. I need my life to be different."
Before Ruth takes steps to make her life "different," she needs to raise her spirit, her inner energy. If she attempts to make change without enough energy to put the changes into effect, likely she will feel more defeated. Spirit gives us the support to deliver and the energy to come through. By raising spirit, we feel the sense-memory of our original self, our identity. We break the Silence of the Self and overcome cold depression.
Instead of building inner spirit, however, we often seek outside stimulation to increase energy. Drinking caffeine, eating sugar-filled foods, overeating, overworking, or overspending are common strategies to raise energy externally. We may unconsciously find ways to create crisis or chaos during the day to keep the adrenaline up, or we may use alcohol or recreational drugs as a distraction from feeling low.
Often emotions are used as a passion to propel us. Emotional patterns formed from low energy become a substitute for genuine energy. Anger, grief, and fear are often cofactors in cold depression.
Anger
"When I am angry, at least I feel alive and effective, even if it is for just a short time," 28-year-old Mark, a Web designer, observed. "The downside is that anger also closes my heart, makes me numb and insensitive to myself, and just barely keeps me from feeling the fear and sadness that are underneath. I started yoga for stress reduction, yet as the months passed, and I felt more renewed, I noticed the anger that had been there for years. Continued practice helped me to replace it with energy more true to who I am."
GRIEF
Grief and sadness are not only a result of loss, but often result when we don't resolve conflict. Unresolved conflict with ourselves or with others creates further cutoff and can leave feelings of hopelessness.
FEAR
Fear, anxiety, and insecurity freeze us into inaction or repeated self-defeating patterns. Ruth discovered this for herself when she realized she needed to make some changes at her job and to not keep accepting more assignments. "Once I made the decision to work just 40 hours a week, I noticed how anxious I was about telling my boss. Setting boundaries has always been difficult for me. I don't want to make waves or hurt someone's feelings by saying no. Yet the depression was so overwhelming I had to overcome the fear if I was going to get my life back. I made it clear to my boss that I am committed to the job and will give my best in these 40 hours. When I got the courage to determine how I spend my time, my depression lifted." Ruth no longer takes refuge in sleeping too much. Now she says simply, "When I am honest with myself, and present myself honestly as I am, I am not depressed."
More women are diagnosed with depression than men. Is this because fewer men than women get depressed? More likely, men are misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. Many men who are depressed don't demonstrate depression in ways we commonly think of as "being depressed." Instead, they may self-medicate by attempting to raise inner energy through external means such as reckless behavior, constant anger, participation in extreme sports, or risk taking. These men, their friends, and family members may not recognize these behaviors as signs of depression, and thus they do not seek treatment.
In self-assessing cold depression, begin to pay attention to how you feel over a period of more than a week and ask yourself, "Am I generally calm, but have no energy?" A "yes" answer can be an indication of depression. "Do I generally have energy, but no calm?" A "yes" to this question can indicate anxiety or anger in the form of inner agitation. "What behaviors do I engage in that buffer these feelings, yet may be harmful to me or to my relationships? What am I doing that keeps me silent to myself and cut off from my inner spirit?" As practitioners of yoga, we look for the presence and balance of both energy and calm and behaviors that support a strong inner energy over the long term.
Yogi Bhajan has stated, "Kundalini Yoga is to create inner energy, not provoke outer energy." To increase the flow of inner energy, to raise the wattage of spirit, we must breathe, move, and chant-the basics of Kundalini Yoga. Yogic breath meditations often result in increased energy and reduced anxiety. The physical movement of a kriya1 changes the nervous and glandular chemistry of the body. Chanting releases emotional pain, increases energy, and changes thought patterns. When we are low in spirit and stuck in a cycle of self-limiting thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, chanting is the practice that clears the subconscious, retrains the vibration of the mind, breaks the emotional hold, repatterns behavior, and helps us identify with our real self.
"That all sounds good in theory," Brian, a 42-year-old technical writer, told his yoga teacher. "I am depressed. Don't you understand that I don't have the energy to move in the first place?" Yes, we do. Most people, even yoga practitioners, have felt depressed at one point or another. To get started, consider these thoughts: Doing something is better than doing nothing, and a little movement goes a long way. Then, if you stop for a few days or even weeks, just start again. Begin with something simple and brief. You can always choose to add more time or other practices. When making any important life change, yogis teach that two things are helpful for success-sadhana and sangat-a specific practice and social support. Invite a family member, friend, or coworker to participate with you.
Following are simple, short yogic practices that have helped many people overcome the symptoms of Cold Depression. Review the list, consider one thing you would like to do, and start with that. Notice how you feel after a few days of practice. May you be ever blessed with the joy of life.
1) The Seven-Wave Sat Nam Meditation is easy-to-practice to open the chakras to the flow of energy and relieve depression.
2) The Meditation for Release of Cold Depression includes the sound current of joy, Wahe Guru.
3) When your energy has increased, and you want to keep it consistent, consider a daily practice of a Kundalini Yoga kriya. The kriya does not have to be long, but you do need to sweat so that the nervous system and endrocrine system are stimulated from inside. Choose any kriya that gets you moving, or practice the Kundalini Yoga for Inner Anger that is included in this article.
Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa, Ph.D., is a Medical Family Therapist and Director of the Guru Ram Das Center for Medicine and Humanology in Espanola, New Mexico. Dr. Khalsa is a certified Kundalini Yoga Teacher and lectures widely on the behavioral, psychological, and spiritual aspects of getting and staying well.
The Guru Ram Das Center for Medicine & Humanology is a non-profit center offering innovative health education and yogically based programs to assist persons recovering from chronic or life-threatening illnesses. For more information, call us at 800/326-1322, send us an email at healthnow@grdcenter.org, or visit our web site, www.grdcenter.com.
DISCLAIMER:
The practice of yoga has benefited millions of people, but this article is not intended as medical advice. Its intent is solely for information and education. The therapeutic benefits attributed come from centuries-old yogic tradition. Please consult a mental health professional should the need for one be indicated.
