I’ve just finished the book, Lost Connections, about the “real causes of depression and the unexpected solutions” the author, Johann Hari found in his exhaustive investigative work on the subject. If you are anything like me (and my hunch is, you are, or you wouldn’t be reading this) your life has been touched by someone (or in my case- many someones) who suffers from anxiety and/or depression.
Whether you, yourself, or someone you love has been diagnosed with anxiety or depression, the fact is that the world we now inhabit can be a lonely, scary, confusing, distressing and often heartbreaking place. Personally, I tend to be an optimist; I practice gratitude with all the vigor of a tent revival preacher and yet, there are times that the weight of the world lands squarely on my narrowish shoulders (they are the skinniest part of my body so I feel compelled to share that fun fact). And when that cloud comes? Fortunately, I have a stash of anti-depressants. Before you get concerned about what I’m hoarding in my medicine cabinet allow me to tell you a story.
In Hari’s book he talks about a village in Cambodia where a South African psychiatrist had come to study the affects of the inhabitants’ mental health in living with land mines in their rice paddies. Coincidentally the doctor’s arrival coincided with the introduction of antidepressant medications into the country. The drug companies were having a tough sell as there was no translation for the word “antidepressant” and in fact, it was a puzzling term to the natives. The good doctor tried to explain what depression was and the villagers seemed to understand that yes, there were some people that had this problem but that they had their own form of antidepressants. The psychiatrist figured it was some sort of herbal remedy. Someone explained to the doctor that one of the villagers had indeed had his leg blown off by one of the mines left from the war and he did become depressed and despondent. It was then that the village employed the “anti-depressant”, which was to sit with him and talk to him about what was happening to make him depressed. One of the main things causing his distress was that this man could no longer work in the rice fields and had no way to support himself or his family. The doctors and neighbors listened to him and then they came up with a solution- the perfect antidepressant- a cow. The man would now be able to provide for his family and earn a living by becoming a dairy farmer.
The people in this village understood on a visceral level what we westerners have been ignoring- that connection is one of the best antidepressants out there (besides cows, of course).
So back to my stash of antidepressants- here in noparticular order are some of my favorites (because I live in the city limits of Atlanta a cow is out of the question, unfortunately)
- Exercise
- Mindfulness/meditation
- Gratitude
- Creativity
- Self care and compassion
But my number one anti-depressant? Connection. I call a friend, talk to my coach or my mom or my husband or daughter.
There’s a reason Johann Hari calls his book Lost Connections- because that loss is a huge contributing factor to our high rates of depression and anxiety. In fact, according to a Harvard study, people who are more socially connected to family, friends, and community are happier, healthier, and live longer than people who are less well connected.
The more I learn about happiness and joy and wholehearted living the more I realize I have been practicing a sort of prophylactic approach to preventing depression for many years, starting with my gratitude practice almost two decades ago. Over time I’ve included other antidepressants like exercise, prayer, journaling and creating work that is meaningful to me.
So, what about you? Do you have a stash of antidepressants at the ready? If not, I’d like to help you stock your life (instead of your medicine cabinet) with some inspiration. I just finished a class with a group of women who showed me once again the power of connection. We are going to continue to meet to inspire and help and cheer each other on. Would you like to be a part of this uplifting and inspiring virtual group? If so, click here for more info or message me to chat about how you can find your own cow!