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Dogs and flowers can kill your stress
Dogs and flowers can kill your stress
By: The italk Team
Date:
2008-10-20
Place: Mumbai
HEALTH
Rohini, Angel, Cherry and Radhika of the Animal Angel Foundation. PIC/ASHISH RANE
Have you been working longer hours to impress your boss? A new study reveals that employees working overtime, are more likely to face depression. Relax, here are two solutions for you. iTALK tells you how animals and flower remedies keep dark thoughts away
If you're toiling hard at work, it's possible that you may be depressed, says a new study. The research, led by Elisabeth Kleppa of the University of Bergen, Norway, has revealed that people working longer hours, are at a greater risk of developing depression and anxiety.
There is an Indian research in support of this finding, too. In 2007, a study research in Goa, claimed that there was a link between high-levels of stress and depression. It also revealed that 80% to 90% of people didn't want to get treated, as they were afraid of being identified as mentally unstable, and hence, afraid of being ridiculed by friends and family. This resulted in them suffering in silence, thus, making their misery worse.
But there is no need for you to hide your depression. Instead, you must learn to fight it. How do you do that?
Well, strange but true: Alternative methods like flower remedies, or interacting with a pet, can help you bid depression adieu. We tell you where to go, what to do and how to do it. Read on.
Be FRIENDS with a dog
Clinical psychologists and certified practitioners of animal-assisted therapy (AAT), Rohini Fernandes and Radhika Nair, founded the Animal Angels Foundation, which helps heal developmental disorders, psychiatric disorders, physical disabilities and emotional problems.
How it works: All therapy animals have been trained to react to different patients in different ways, depending on their needs. For example, if a patient is depressed, the dog will insist on being petted and played with, in turn making the person feel loved and wanted. The trainer then teaches the patient some commands, so that he/she can control the dog. "When patients realise that they can control somebody else's life, even if it's a dog, they feel that it's time they took control of their own life," says Rohini.
Dr Rupa Shah and her husband, Dr Atul Shah, both trained allopathic doctors, run Healin Temple, where they treat their patients of anxiety and depression through flower remedies.
Practioners of the Bach Flower Remedy, they use flower energy extract to treat back aches, depression, anxiety and lack of confidence.
How it works: The "energy" of a flower is extracted by flowing water over the flower, without actually plucking it. This water is collected in a container, diluted to stock level, and then further to dosage level. A patient has to sip three drops, thrice a day. The extract can be converted into pills, and can also be worn as a patch on the arm.
>>They are always happy to see you. >>As they keep you happy, they help reduce blood pressure. >>Pets encourage you to go out and exercise. >>They help you make friends. When walking a pet, it's possible that someone approaches you. >>Pets provide unconditional love. >>They are good listeners.
What is depression?
Depression or nervous breakdowns occur when a person has been suffering with severe stress, for a very long time.
Some individuals might experience an uncontrollable need to cry, loss of energy, withdrawal, confusion, sleep disruption, a loss of pleasure in day-to-day activities, a feeling of worthlessness and depression. These symptoms indicate depressive disorders.
What is bach flower remedy
Bach flower remedies,developed by Edward Bach, an English physician and homeopath, in the 1930s, are dilutions of flower material. The remedies are used primarily for emotional and spiritual conditions, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress. The remedies contain a very small amount of flower material in a 50:50 solution of water and brandy.
Stress is healthy, distress is not
Dr Varkha Chulani Psychiatrist
Usually, urban professionals suffer from nervous breakdowns due to fatigue. But stress is a misused term. We call it distress. Stress is healthy. If you don't have stress, how will you succeed in life? How to deal with distress: We need to change our attitude towards happiness. We should not pursue professions, that make us unhappy. If a person finds himself depressed, he/she should rethink their career options.
Flower remedy helped me get back on my feet
Shormistha Mukherjee, advertising executive
I had an anxiety attack two years ago. My condition was due to many factors my dog had passed away, and I was working long hours at a television channel. I constantly had sweaty palms and feet, and suffered from giddiness. I took several allopathic medications, but they all made me feel uneasy. Then, I tried flower remedy, and it calmed me down. Dr Atul Shah showed that I could lead a more fulfilling life. I was also asked to consult a counsellor.
