Understanding Depression

Best-selling anti-depressants like Prozac and Seroxat are barely more effective than placebos in treating most people with depression, according to a study published on Tuesday.

The research, which analysed 47 clinical trials, breaks new ground by incorporating data not previously released by drug companies which researchers obtained under US freedom of information laws.

Its findings prompted some academics and mental health campaigners to question whether people with mild and moderate depression should be prescribed drugs like Prozac, which has been taken by 40 million people worldwide.

"The difference in improvement between patients taking placebos and patients taking anti-depressants is not very great," said Professor Irving Kirsch of Hull University, who led the team.

"This means that depressed people can improve without chemical treatments.

"Given these results, there seems little reason to prescribe antidepressant medication to any but the most severely depressed patients unless alternative treatments have failed to provide a benefit."

LONDON (AFP)

Beethoven's violent temper and moodiness can be blamed in part on his hearing loss. He was so angry and sad over his deafness that he thought of killing himself. He even wrote a suicide note to his brother explaining why he was going to kill himself. Thankfully, he didn't go through with it. He would learn to cope with his handicap and would go on to write some of the world's greatest music but most imporant he found his immortal beloved .

VERNON HOWARD LESSON

Q: Life piles on the difficulties of frustrated plans, ill health, domestic quarrels. I never know which way to turn.

A: Whatever the difficulty there is only one way to turn. Turn to study. Study your mind, study surrounding life, study human nature, study cosmic ideas. This is turning toward the Supreme Source of Solutions. This is rejected by the self-deceived who trust in social solutions. But it is perfect guidance and great relief to those who have caught a glimpse of something higher than themselves.

There are only two natures: The human nature and the spiritual nature. Here is a key point: We must alternately study both natures. We can't just study one. The first thing the spiritual does is reveal the human. If we focus only on the human nature, there's cynicism. If we study only the spiritual, the ego expands in self-righteousness and self-deceit. We must study both. This is a cosmic law

"My chief negative emotion is depression. What causes it?"

"Follow carefully. Your understanding rids you of the problem. Depression occurs when you catch a sudden insight into the emptiness of your life. A man thinks he is happy with all his business and social activities. But he catches a glimpse that it is all an act, which depresses him. It is like dreaming about a palace and waking up in a mud hut.

"And the cure?'"

"Be willing to see through your pretensions of having a Purposeful life. This is an awakening shock. But when we abandon a pseudo-purpose when we have nothing left of the false self, a true purpose enters the life. Then depression is absolutely impossible."

"I don't know what you mean by pseudo-purpose. There Is nothing wrong about building a business a career or having. A happy home.»"No of course not. Go ahead and be a successful business man or homemaker or whatever else you want on the worldly leve. Be as outwardly prosperous as you like. But don't think it can add anything to your interior life. You must not use worldly success as a means of psychological identity) such as picturing yourself as an important person. This creates anxiety. Remember you live in two worlds the material world of business and homes and the spiritual world. Keep each in its place. If you try to use exterior success to find your True Self you will fail and fall into depression. You cant paint the outside of your house and expect the living room to look any different.)'

"Is this why successful people like movie stars often live so unhappily?'"

They get depressed because they catch a glimpse of their inner poverty. This frightens them, for they fear there is nothing besides this showy sham. There is something else. We find it by daring to abandon the false. Then, we have no problems whatsoever with our exterior affairs. This is what the New Testament means by seeking first the Kingdom of Heaven. But no one really pays attention, do they? That is why everyone suffers from depression. Work with these ideas so that you don't suffer."

Let's pause to inquire into the reason for our investigation of negative emotions. 'Why spend so much time discussing unhappiness? The reason is: it finally awakens us to the very life we seek. We cannot become happy by altering our exterior affairs any more than we can improve our handwriting by getting a new pen. The understanding of unhappiness brings happiness. To see what is false is also to see what is true." We are exactly where we have chosen to be. But we belong where our original nature longs to be
Vernon Howard