Beyond Convention: Unorthodox Approaches to Healing Depression

By: Prince Bhagtani

Photo: Archana Arora

The second century BC, when a Greek author was occupied listing the Seven Wonders of the World, the stars were being mapped, the world was in a state of political conflict due to geographical expansion, and humans were discovering the fundamentals of the world around them, religion played an important role. In an era of incredibly sensitive religious and political fabric, differences were rarely, if ever, welcomed.

The same applied to the early humans’ vague understanding of mental illnesses. Thus, the evolution of one of today's most prevalent mental illnesses, depression, was accompanied by chaos. With some believing it to be a matter of dark arts, with others having more enlightened beliefs, its treatment varied greatly. Treatments were brutal in cultures, namely Mesopotamian, Chinese, and Egyptian, where it was believed that mental illnesses originated from demons and all victims needed to be eliminated or confined due its contagious nature. Simultaneously, a wiser approach was devised by the ancient Romans and some Greek physicians. More rational and closer to the truth, they believed depression to be a mental condition with roots in sadness or blood and bile imbalances.

Blood and bile imbalances were the basis of medical treatment during the Mediaeval period, based upon the Theory Of Four Humours devised by the Greek physician Hippocrates (460 BC to 370 BC) and later improvised by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius and his successors, Galen (around 130 AD). Hippocrates theorised the presence of four humours in the human body, responsible for our health and personality, with each humour corresponded to a natural element. The ancient names of these humours are melancholic (black bile), choleric (yellow bile), sanguine (blood), and phlegmatic (phlegm). They were associated with the elements ; earth, fire,water and air respectively.

Each humour had its own impact on personality. Melancholics were depressed and gloomy. Cholerics had a terrible temper. Sanguines were brave, hopeful, and affectionate and phlegmatics were calm, serene, and emotionless. Mediaeval medicine was about balancing these humours by changing lifestyle, diet, climate, occupation etc. All health issues were thought to rise from humour imbalances.

Currently, our definition is that Depression is a common but significant mood condition (otherwise known as major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression). It results in severe symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to function in daily tasks like sleeping, eating, and working. Unfortunately,there is no such singular treatment that can cure depression. Usually, multiple treatments and factors in combination, tailored to an individual’s needs, contribute to reducing the symptoms.

The earliest, used about 7000 years ago, one of the most dangerous and questionable methods believed to cure headaches, mental illnesses and demonic possession was Trephining. Trephining involved drilling into the brain using an auger, bore or saw and removing a small part of the brain. Doctors started experimenting with numerous approaches to treating the illness in the latter half of the 19th century. Electroshock therapy (ECT), lobotomies, spinning stools, and immersion therapy were all developed and used. Frontal lobotomy, the removal of a section of the frontal lobe of the patient's brain through a hole or holes produced in the skull was overtly used. Although the process sounds brutal as per today’s ethics, during the times of limited treatment options for a vast population of patients and with higher effectiveness than the other available treatments, it was seen as beneficial. In the 1950s and 1960s, the scientific and medical sectors made substantial advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of depression. Depression began to be divided into subgroups during this period as well.

With the advent of pharmacology in mental health, drugs were created and used as part of the disease's treatment plans. In the middle to latter half of the 20th century, talk therapy and medications were first utilised to treat depressed patients; a custom valid till date. According to one report that pooled findings from 25 studies, adding psychotherapy to an antidepressant drug was more helpful than using medication alone in treating major depression.

Nowadays, many people who suffer from depression choose not to get diagnosed or treated. In many parts of the society, mental illnesses are still frowned upon. The person may feel responsible for their despair or worry about what other people may think. The magnitude of sadness itself may make it difficult for a person to recognise the issue. Furthermore, not all forms of depression can be treated using the same methods. The nature of the disease is such that the treatment is highly subjective. Thus arises the need for a variety of unorthodox approaches to treat depression.

The term unorthodox here, refers to the uncommon, unique and creative ways to cure depression. According to an article published in SciTechDaily, Humor therapy was found effective in treating depression. Medical clowns and laughter/yoga therapy are both examples of humour therapy. An analysis published in Brain and Behavior, where 2,964 individuals from nine different nations participated, states that the majority of participants found humour therapy helpful in coping with their sadness and anxiety. By releasing endorphins, encouraging relaxation, and elevating mood overall through laughter and happy emotions, humour therapy helps treat depression. It can also strengthen social ties and coping skills, which helps with the management of depressed symptoms.

There is a plethora of evidence that suggests meditation may be effective in treating depression and anxiety. Although the exact mechanism is not fully understood, the idea is that by being fully present in the moment, one can unwind and sharpen their focus. According to an article published in the Time Magazine, since it can reduce stress, several cognitive therapists have begun advising it for patients as a strategy to cope with feelings of anxiety and despair. As per a study published in the Cochrane Library, combining music therapy with standard care is more successful than doing it alone. Anxiety and depression symptoms appear to be lessened by music therapy, which also enhances functioning (such as continuing to participate in activities, relationships, and work).

Unlike music and meditation, not all therapies are cost free. Retail therapy is, fundamentally, going shopping to make one feel better. Nearly 80% of respondents in a Deloitte survey of over 114,000 adults from 23 countries indicated they had made at least one discretionary purchase in the previous month to improve their mood, even though 58 percent couldn't afford it. According to Justin Cook, the leader of Deloitte's U.S. consumer products research, "It wasn't a surprise that people would make purchases to treat themselves, but the fact that it is happening so much among so many people globally was a big surprise." Although temporary, retail therapy alleviates depressive symptoms by acting as a distraction, facilitating the release of dopamine, a feel good chemical in your brain , by increasing your social interaction or giving you a sense of self control.

Even if you have to pay for it, human touch, according to some professional cuddlers, can lessen anxiety and despair. According to the hypothesis, physical contact with another person triggers the production of the hormone oxytocin, a feel-good chemical that has been shown to influence bonding (for example-between a mother and a child). But the data are, at best, contradictory as studies show oxytocin also causes an overall increase in anxiety levels, another factor of depression. This leads us to believe that not all forms of therapy are purely beneficial but may also have side effects. A similar form of therapy is hug therapy, where people hug instead of cuddle. A recent trend emerged on social media where people would give out hugs for free to passers by. This decreased stress levels throughout the day by providing people emotional comfort.

As is rightly said by Matt Haig, 'There is no standard normal. Normal is subjective. There are seven billion versions of normal on this planet.' Well, eight billion now, but let's focus on the emotion. Normal is intuitive. Normal is instinctive. Normal is what’s right for you. You are the focus of your therapy. Discussed above are just a few lesser known, lesser used options. But that doesn't make them any less effective. The effect is highly subjective. These unorthodox means to address depression might not be an alternative to medical treatment, but can provide a sense of comfort and relief like no other. Depression does not have a one size fits all solution. The paths of healing are diverse, and as long as they take you out of the shadows, no path is wrong.

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