As you read through the ailments described in this section, remember that 'depression', 'anxiety' and 'grief', and the symptoms which constitute them, are only labels of convenience. Psychology and psychiatry have divided and sub-divided human behaviour into hundreds of categories, and gained valuable knowledge by doing so. Homeopathy makes use of such labels because they are common currency, but never loses sight of the whole individual behind the label.
Very few diseases are wholly psychological or wholly physical. 'Mind' and 'body' affect one another interminably. The dichotomy is convenient, even useful in some circumstances, but it is false - who can say where the one begins and the other ends? Homeopathy treats only one entity, the Vital Force, the engine which drives every aspect of individual behaviour, and as clues to the state of that force, thoughts and feelings are just as important as lumps and bumps.
It is impossible to draw a line between balance and imbalance on the mental and emotional level. Mental health is a relative thing, depending entirely on what is acceptable or tolerable to the individual and to the community he or she lives in. If you find your thoughts and emotions uncomfortable, or are worried by certain aspects of your behaviour, that in itself is a recognition of imbalance; if your family, or society at large, finds your behaviour outrageous or damaging you may be labelled as mentally ill whether you agree with the label or not.
If you recognize in yourself, or in members of your family, tendencies which are life-denying - unsociability, apathy, insecurity - go and see a homeopathic physician. The earlier such tendencies are treated constitutionally the better; untreated they may deepen or interfere permanently with your enjoyment of life. The remedies given during constitutional treatment will act on your Vital Force, giving you more energy and more confidence to sort out your problems. You may, in addition, be advised to make changes in diet, exercise, and lifestyle.
More than anything else, try to be kind to yourself and accept the way you are. Try to accept that there is a place inside you which has remained unchanged since babyhood. It is innocent, it trusts, it knows no fear, and needs only love. If that sounds saccharine and woollyminded, perhaps you are not allowing yourself to get in touch with those feelings. At a very early age we learn that love is not always returned. Indeed it often has to be earned. This hurts, and so we close up and pretend that we do not want to love or be loved. In later life these dammed-up feelings prevent us opening up to other people, and lead to fear, anxiety, insecurity, loneliness, and depression.
Whenever you feel tempted to close down, shut off, hide away, give up... try to open up. There are always alternatives. A lot of problems are the result of getting it into our heads that there is no alternative, no escape, and we are left feeling helpless and hopeless. This has a profoundly weakening effect on the whole mindbody continuum. Try to give priority to your creative, life-seeking instincts; try to focus on other people's problems for a change. If you are unable to sit down and clear your mind and experience the contentment of just being alive, then you should consider learning some form of relaxation or meditation which will give you that experience.
Although most mental and emotional problems are rooted in upbringing and childhood experiences, illness and various stressful life events also take their toll. Depression is quite common after viral illnesses such as influenza, glandular fever, shingles, and hepatitis. Bereavement, redundancy, family pressures, and pressures at work also place a severe strain on a person's ability to adapt.
Orthodox treatment of emotional and mental problems consists of drugs, often combined with some form of psychotherapy. If you wish to switch to constitutional homeopathic treatment, consult your medical doctor first.
Severe mental problems requiring psychiatric treatment in hospital are rare, but if you find yourself in this situation and wish to have homeopathic treatment homeopathically-trained psychiatrists being very few and far between - ask your psychiatrist if he or she would have any objections to your taking homeopathic remedies or extra vitamins; these will not interfere with any drugs you are taking. When you are discharged, your psychiatrist may rarely agree to tail off your drugs so that you can switch fully to constitutional homeopathic treatment. |
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