In this modern world most people are suffering from some disease or other, all these are the result of bad Food combining we eat, lack of notorious food, and no exercise at all. Among the diseases most of them are found to be related with psychiatric disorders or personality disorders. This interesting fact was pictured by Swami Akhilananda in1950 he pointed out that most diseases are related to psychosomatic or psychogenic that originated from Mental disturbance/ tension. He gave some good examples in regard to this such as hypertension (high blood pressure), peptic ulcer, asthma certain types of cardiac symptoms etc. These diseases are called psychiatric disorders, classified as “neurosis” because they affect the entire nervous system.

What is a Psychiatric disorder?

A psychiatric disorder is a mental illness that is diagnosed by mental health counselor when a person’s health get greatly disturbs by their thinking, moods and the behavior change sharply. It seriously increases your risk of disability, pain, death or loss of freedom. In addition, the symptoms become more serious than expected to response to a disturbing event, such as losing a loved one. There are large numbers of psychiatric disorders such as.

Types of psychiatric disorder

• Substance Abuse & Addiction.
• Anxiety & Panic Disorders.
• Bipolar Disorder.
• Eating Disorders.
• Depression.
• Schizophrenia

What is a psychogenic disorder?

Psychogenic disorder is also referred as psychogenic pain it is a pain disorder that are related with psychological factors of a person. Some time a person may evoke certain types of mental or emotional problems that can cause, increase in prolong pain. A person with psychogenic pain disorder may complain of pain that does not match to their symptoms.

Types of Psychogenic Pain

• Headaches
• Muscle pains
• Back pain
• Stomach
• Social rejection
• Broken heart
• Grief
• Lovesickness

Is There a Cure for Mental Depression?

The answer is clearly “NO” there is no permanent cure possible for mental depression (psychiatric disorders) it can only be controlled by restoring the mental health and overall health, but only to some extent it may be helpful. The question always arises to this issue, what is mental health and what is the overall health in particular.

Western view

 The western approach towards mental health is based on psychiatry, social work and clinical psychology. The clinical psychology way of treatment for “mental illness” is a medical treatment of psychotherapy, that deals with mental stress that arouses due to unsuccessful  of ambitions and conflicts in the mind. The other factors that are taken into account are the interconnections between the underlying psychological, biological and sociological processes.

The Western approach towards the mental health is still considered a fairly as it have a narrow view on the causes of mental disorders. It is largely accredit to biological frustrations and mental disorders which fail to explain the basis for it in terms of moral frustrations.

It does not have a broad view of human mental states by subordinating biological impulses of man for the main momentum of lasting happiness. It does not suggest a method to stabilize the mind and development techniques of dynamic performance of willpower.

It is said that it lacks in something that can only be given by the religious psychology. While in India understanding the total personality and the purpose of life, can be achieved by “super-consciousness” or “Nirvana” or “Samadhi”. Whereas the west approach towards mental has not given an effective method for the treatment of personality disorders, philosophy of life or educational theory that allows us to prevent it. These limitations are well established in the ancient wisdom of India, it is based on the inseparable connection between religion, philosophy and psychology, the integrated between mind, body and the spirit.

Eastern view

The Indian psychological approach towards the mental health is now a growing consensus among the people around the world. The view on the psychological approach is considered to be the best to short out of the problem than the Western approach. The psychology treatment of India is base on a development of the aspirations/hopes of Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. They are based on secular experiences transmitted in their cultural traditions. The India psychology places a great importance on the study of religious or spiritual experiences and the development of methods by which it can be achieve.

It also provides a comprehension of the different stage of consciousness and therefore it is able to make a definitive therapeutic contribution to psychological problems. It reveals that a holistic understanding of personality development through the integration of body, mind and spirit is vital for a successful and happy life.

Ayurvedic View

The Ayurveda text reveals that the natural condition of the body, mind and spirit as a state of happiness and  is very important for good health. In today’s world we lack in it so there is an epidemic of ‘depression’ and stress-related problems. There is a beautiful quote on the definition of good health in Ayurveda, that have been mention thousands of years ago that is given below.

“Samadoshah samagnishcha, malakriyah samadhatu,
prasannatmendriya manah, svastha abhidyiyate dad “

It means to say that, a healthy man is whose ‘doshas’ are in equilibrium, whose metabolism is well balanced, whose tissues and deletions- eliminations are normal, and whose senses and mind are cantered in self.  That is a perfect healthy man who can remain in full of joy and can enjoy the healthy life.

Mental Depression as Per Dosha

Treatments in Ayurvedic are not same for the individual. The treatment depends on the individual’s dosha and mind, body is taken into consideration. According to Ayurveda, each individual have its own dosha, there are three dosha Vata (air and space), Pitta (fire and water) and Kapha (water and earth). This dosha are the main psychobiological expressions of Nature, individually and cosmic. Ayurveda treatments are on the doshas that have undergone in an unbalanced state. On the basis of the nature of dosha following treatments are given.

Vata Dosha Characteristics: It is lighter, dry, dispersants, subtle, cold, mobile, minutes and changing, and therefore is associated with conditions such as worries, anxieties, fears, phobias, terror, delusions, compulsions, irrelevant talk, monologue or dialogue with oneself, attention deficit disorder, bipolar disorder, social anxiety and auditory hallucinations. Vata governs all functions of the nervous system.

Vata type depression

• Make changes in the diet, make an effort to consume incorporate elements of food that pacify your vata. Follow the food pyramid chart.

• Eat warm, heavy and nourishing foods that give strength to your body.
• Avoid eating salads, fruits, etc, eating spicy food and dairy products.

• Do not consume food that contains caffeine in higher proportion.

• Eating hot and heavy foods such as soups, rice, pasta etc. are beneficial.

• Go to bed early so that you get enough sleep and your body gets complete rest.

• Massaging feet and head will keep your brain calm and cool. If full body massage is done with oil daily it will be the best.

• Activates like yoga and gentle exercises is beneficial.

• The herbs such as cinnamon, cumin, ginger and gotu kola will be benifical.

Pitta Dosha Characteristics: It is hot in nature, sharp, pungent, bitter, intense and propagation is responsible for comparison, control, criticism, jealousy, frustration, obsession, territorialism, anger, rage, violence, suicide, murder and visual hallucinations. Pitta is associated more with digestive and hormonal functions.

Pitta type depression

• Make changes in the diet and try to consume incorporate elements of food that pacify your Pitta.

• Do not consume spicy food and high calorie food such as cheese, vinegar, fish, red meat and avoid tobacco products.

• Consume the food that cool’s your body such as dairy products such as Lassi, Jaljeera, Chaas, Mango Lemonade, sweets, cool drinks and be vegan.

• Avoid outdoor activates so that you refrain from the sun.

• Activates such as yoga and other meditation program will be beneficial.

• Avoid hot baths or showers; taking bath in cold water is best for you.

• Massage like Panchakarma is best for the body.

• Use some herbs like mint, aloe,  shatavari, coconut, sandalwood is helpful as it have cooling effect.

Kapha Dosha Characteristics: It is cooler in nature, slow, heavy and static, inert, smooth, thick, soft and still, and therefore it is more associated with sadness, melancholy, prolonged crying, stubbornness, dark depression, hiding, hoarding, catatonia, overeating and kinaesthetic hallucinations. Kapha governs mainly fat, blood sugar and heart circulation.

Kapha type depression

• Make changes in the diet and try to consume incorporate elements of food that pacify your Kapha.

• Avoid eating fat food such as  sweets, desserts, meat, consume low oil foods and the food that are cold (not warm).

• Consume food that are hot and spicy and add soups in your daily diet.

• Using honey is also very good for as it can calm the  aggressive Kapha dosha  consuming daily in small quantity will be beneficial.

• Avoid outdoor activates so that you can avoid the sun as much as possible.

• Activates like yoga meditation and gentle exercises like running is beneficial.

• Use some herbs that generate heat in the body, spices such as turmeric, pepper, chilly, ginger tea etc. are beneficial.

Daily Structure for Mental Health (Dinacharya)

Morning Activity: The morning should begin on the daily habits with awareness, the rising of the sun, with the elimination of toxins, cleanse of the body and begin your personal practice of worship. The worship helps to recognize our place in the family, the community and the cosmos. The rising of the sun is a special moment of enlightenment to you and your body; it helps to activate our gifts to the world. Daily cumulative helps you to purify the mind, emotions and body.

Eating Activity: Choosing the right food combining is must to fulfill your appetite and metabolic needs, it is the basic requirements to show respect for our body and life. The lack of food combining, eating of fast foods, soda drinks etc disturbs the natural process of our brain and body. This habits can cause the disturbances in the dosha may result to a ‘secondary’ terrible effects such as Mental Depression.

Exercise Activities: Activities such as study and work are the main area that can improve our life healthy, helping others maintaining relation and responsibilities as a citizen can also make us happy and prosperous. In earlier times, the patient suffering from psychosis was assigned service tasks to generate “merit” to help more and the “demerit” repetitive negative or ‘false’ thinking.

Evening Activities: To be healthy we must respect time that means, eating when hungry, drinking as per body requirement and activates such as walking is important make time to play for nurturing creativity. This can maintain physiological balances that is very important .

Ayurveda believes that sleeping late night, eating rancid food, having sex in a improper time such as during menstruation, sex with an inappropriate partner or in a self-indulgence way. The Misuse of any of the senses can leads to an imbalance in dosha; it may create the misuse of the mind and wishing for another more. This Psychosis is called ‘unmad’ which is a Sanskrit word, meaning forgetfulness of God.

Ayurveda and Yoga as therapeutic teachings that are based on Indian psychological, philosophical and religious traditions. It is believed to have sufficient methods for achieving the definitions of mental health.However, people want quick-fix medical solutions and in doing so, they miss the conventional psychiatric practices and cause serious side-effects which   drug they use. There is always a questions which is beneficial for you, it must be your choice what to choose for your healthy life.