DEPRESSION

AND

TOTAL
STRESS
MANAGEMENT
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR
The medical science tries to understand the causes of
depression in terms of central nervous activities, genes,
neurotransmitter concentrations and so on. The influence of
surroundings is also considered. The cause of exogenic and
endogenic depression are complex and multifactorial. Hence
it is difficult point out; pin pointedly at one cause of
depression and it difficult to predict depression from any
particular cause! Further; the qualitative and quantitative
aspects and the frequency of depressive episodes is also not
exactly predictable. Often the chronic subclinical depression
passes off as normal; and is not attended to; and the acute
depression manifests unprecedentedly!

Even as the psychiatrists, psychologists and clinical

counselors deal with depression; we must realize that the
menace of stress and depression is going beyond their
capacity to handle. Recently there was a case of clinical
counselor; herself committing suicide!

Total Stress management comprehends the stress and

depression in a holistic manner and deals with the causes
and mechanisms hitherto unattended, ignored or neglected
by all; allopathy, alternative medicine and so called holistic
medicine.
As a rule; we get depressed whenever we fail to get the
basic needs such as food, shelter, clothes, friends and
dignity. Our friends in the electronic and print media;
even if otherwise kind hearted; are lay, naïve or
callous; about this depression hence ignore or neglect
this mass depression amongst us; the people below the
poverty line!

Besides the massive mass depression; we get depressed

even if we are above the poverty line! Thus we get
depressed; when we fail in our cherished goals, which
may be success in school examinations, competitions,
interviews, love, business, politics etc! Our cherished
goals can be silly also in the eyes of others; but very
important and close to our hearts! The goals can be as
simple as; getting endorsement and appreciation for
what we do; from our spouse, friends, relatives and
society.

But very often we get depressed even if we succeed in

all our goals!
This is because even if we are “successful” or we
consider ourselves to be successful (as we often do; if
we are in lucrative businesses such as film industry,
modeling, cricket, media etc!); because; we fail to
justify our conscience! Thus; no matter how much we
are “successful”; if we fail to justify our conscience;
then the depression becomes unmanageable! We fail to
conquer and even cope with; the disturbing,
disheartening, disappointing and destabilizing
influences; from inside and outside!

This is because; even though various reactions and

events in our own body and mind, and the incidences
in the surroundings, are penultimate causes of our
depression; the basic process of depression is
forgetfulness, obliviousness, ignorance, apathy and
abnegation of our own conscience and our true self!

As a result of this; we get dragged after what is

acclaimed by the others in terms of value system; at the
cost of our conscience; only to realize that public
acclaim is hollow and false! This is how we further
develop self pity and our self esteem further dwindles!
In the process we become miserable seekers, and
hysterical individuals who “sink” in depression; due to
even trivial unpleasant incidents!

Since depression is due to self forgetfulness and self

abnegation; the most important solution (apart from
other adjuvant measures) is NAMASMARAN, which
helps us to identify, confirm, prioritize and assert the
innate urge of our conscience and true self; and
reinforce it bravely; in spite of all adversities and
conquer depression!