FREEDOM WITH MEDITATION
PUBLISHED: SUNDAY PLUS, THE NATION - Jan 04, 2009
S Roman Ahsan discusses a meditation technique to help
minimize depression
This life treats all of us differently. Here’s a story
which tells of a struggle which is not common to most of us.
Different fates await different people in this world. Obaid was 17 years old when he had a nervous breakdown after a depressive phase. At that time he had just joined college after
completing his high school education. Though he was not exactly a bright
student yet he used to achieve top grades in school and was a hard worker. He was an extremely shy and a sensitive person, still well-liked by everyone at school and family. The
breakdown episode brought a storm in the lives of his family. Since he was the
youngest of all siblings, the whole family was shaken. The manic episode lasted 2-3
weeks and accompanied such symptoms as rapid speech, racing thoughts and
hyperactivity like going out in the streets though without any violent behavior. With the help from psychiatrists
the mania subsided, but he was relapsed in the following two months,
with one episode per month. Hence, Obaid had a total of three manic episodes successively in a single year.
While under the influence of mania, he was taken to
different psychiatrists and kept on a variety of drugs. Some psychiatrists
considered him a Schizophrenic while others differed, which meant a lot of
experimentation. The recuperation period for each episode was slow during which
Obaid experienced restlessness and depression. As a result of all this, the
doctors advised him a complete rest of one year, and he had to discontinue
college. Due to little awareness, the family took him completely off
medication. Obaid continued a normal life, and rejoined another college a year later.
After studying in the college for one year, Obaid started
getting depressive thoughts again. He became more sensitive to college fellows
mocking him, and the world appeared to him as a dangerous place where there
were aliens all around him in his daily commuting to college. Another symptom,
which was dominant in his behavior, was becoming too quiet. What he and his
family did not know was that the disease had returned again, like a volcano
erupting after some silence. He was close to twenty years then. The mania
struck again and this time it was more painful for him since he was overcome
with a marked amount of fear and confusion. In the nights, he felt as if he was
surrounded by demons yet he was unable to express himself due to the severity
of overlapping thoughts.
Eventually he was administered drugs, which slowed him
down. His nervous state prolonged till 20 days, and then the recovery stage
followed like the earlier episodes. The overdose of anti-depressants and
sleep-inducing agents caused physical and mental sluggishness as usual, and it
took some weeks before he was back to normal. He rejoined college but it seemed
his trial was not over yet. He had a relapse after a few weeks of rest, and
this time he was totally bed-ridden. That was the fifth episode, and in the
years to come he was to face 6 more episodes making the total number of
episodes equal to 11.
What we have narrated above is a case of Bipolar Disorder
previously also known as Manic-Depressive Disorder (MDD). In this mental
disorder, the patient goes through phases of depression followed by mania or
vice-versa though there is always an emotional factor which triggers any episode. However, the good news is that, Obaid’s story gives hope to those
suffering from any form of Depression. When Obaid had the first nervous
breakdown, he was a college freshman. In spite of his setbacks, he went on to
attain his Bachelor’s degree followed by a Master’s degree. Not only that, but
he got a job on merit, though due to the pressures of the job, he succumbed to
a nervous breakdown, it being his last one. He rejoined the same firm because
in his words “he wanted to get back his lost ground”, and his employers also
consented to take him back. The disorder was diagnosed much later, and the
combination of Haloperidol (Serenace) and Procyclidine (Kemadrin) always helped
greatly in subsiding his nervous state. The episodes mostly happened in early
spring though the symptoms would appear before the advent of winter in a few
cases.
Something worth noting is that from mental or psychological illness, we usually think of only 'bad news'. The
positive thing is that though this ailment is not to be wished for but many famous people in history in the category of creative arts have suffered
from Bipolar Disorder. It has been revealed that some famous musicians, painters, writers,
poets, philosophers and actors have had
this disease. Cycles of depression and mania cause abnormal level of
feelings and thinking in the patients. However, such individuals can be
productive only in their normal phases. Some famous people with Bipolar
Disorder are Earnest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, Abraham Lincoln, Lord
Byron, Jean Claude Van Damme, Beethoven, Edgar Allan Poe, Ralph Waldo
Emerson etc. However, not everybody with Bipolar Disorder can achieve
greatness and for many sufferers this could be a life-long disaster
unless monitored well. With proper care and attention, such people can manage to contribute even more than the other normal people in the society. Ah, but at the cost of so much pain!!
MEDITATION – JUST WHAT HE NEEDED!
Obaid was lucky since his friends were there for him, even
though they had progressed in life. His family also played a very supporting
role in putting him back on the life-track. He continued his education, while
fortifying himself with regular walk and activities with friends. As he grew
older, the manic episodes subsided completely. However the depressive phases
were recurring and unavoidable. During his course in life, Obaid was advised by
some to start ‘Salah’ (Namaaz - obligatory prayers) as a form of meditation.
Though he had been saying his night prayers, but Obaid was not in the habit of
saying prayers five times a day. Gradually, he took up saying prayers five
times a day, and at present he likes to offer some of his prayers in mosque as
well. Obaid discovered that praying at different times a day infused in him
serene thoughts while fortifying him against depression. The strong belief that
‘Someone’ listens to you while you are offering prayers, and helps you out of
your troubles also acts as an effective anti-depressant.
It is now well known that physical exercise can alter
hormone levels within the body and have a positive effect on our moods; however
new research has demonstrated that meditation offers similar benefits. The
difference between choosing other forms of meditation, and ‘Salah’ (Namaaz) is
that, with ‘Namaaz’ you have a religious obligation to offer it five times a
day, thus making this practice more regular and frequent. Secondly, performing
ablution (wuddoo) before every prayer refreshes a person while activating
him/her as well.
Obaid is not the only one who resorted to ‘Namaaz’ with
gainful results. ‘Namaaz’ as a form of meditation has changed the lives of many
a depressive people. During ‘Namaaz’, the element of deep concentration plays a
vital role in soothing your nerves. When you practice to put everything out of
your mind at regular intervals in the day, this helps in reducing depressive
thoughts. Prayers instill positive thinking in a depressive person due to the
continuing practice of reliance on God only. The thing to remember is that no
remedy promises quick results, and though prayers can minimize a person’s
tendency towards depression but they cannot completely cure him/her. When taken
up as a regular practice, ‘Namaaz’ strengthens one’s mind against tough times over
the years, and makes a depressive person more productive. Furthermore, as an
activity that involves much more than just standing, bending and kneeling, it
acts like an energizer. This also stands true for individuals who have not had
any serious bouts of depression, yet feel low occasionally.
However, it is essential that along with prayers, exercise
and medication should also be continued. If this combination is put in a
consistent routine, depression will only be a distant enemy. Another
significant element, which we should add to this combination, is occupation. A
person who is prone to depression should never sit idle, but rather keep
himself/herself engaged in a constructive activity like studying in an
institute or adopting a profession. An occupation can provide a continuous
activity thus leaving little time for worries. Participating in social
activities like meeting with friends should also not be undermined, rather
indispensable. The more he/she connects with others, the more their mind opens
up to new avenues thus wiping negative thoughts away.
Depending on one’s resources, a depressive person should
engage in whatever he or she feels like, as long as it is not detrimental to
others. If you like to chat, then go ahead – grab that receiver and make a
phone call to your buddy, or chat on MSN. If you like to make new friends then
join a Sports club, or make Pen Pals on web. Indulging oneself in a hobby is
also worthwhile. Moreover, engaging in household chores like even dishwashing
or gardening can take your mind away from the lows for a while. What is
definitely not recommended is getting tied up in depressive thoughts all day.
We all deserve a better life. So never let go of your efforts to beat the
blues. Eventually, you will succeed one day!
