The person in depression has very low energy or we can say that s/he has weak mind and thus could not be suggested to practice Meditation at first. The depressed person will not find easy to meditate in the beginning.
Rather, medication and meditation both can be used.
Medication will prepare the person to learn meditation, which in turn will let him come out of the vicious cycle of depression. But it is needed that the mind is ready for meditation, and once it is ready, and then slowly meditation can be started. Depressed person obviously find difficult to make the mind ready. If we allow people with weak mind to meditate, he may appear meditating from outside, but internally, he shall be entangled in bombardment / whirlpool of negative thoughts which shall consume his entire energy. To allow people meditation, we need to assess the patient first. Since the patient has weak mind, we need to strengthen the mind. Mind always becomes weak with negative thoughts and is strengthened with pure and positive thoughts. We need to treat the patient by empowering him with super-positive thoughts. Autosuggestions will work superficially. To intense the effect of auto-suggestions, the patient should be suggested to write at least 108 times the autosuggestion statement repeatedly three times a day. This way of writing will certainly help him. Like physical disorders are the result of weak immunities or weak bodies, similarly weak minds are prone to mental disorders. Weakness or strength of a mind can be measured by the quality and quantity of thoughts it possess.
It is true that some people may be tougher than others, but sometimes the most sensitive and intelligent of souls may be more effected, and when they emerge through their trial, they become the most inspirational of leaders.
Apart from classifying the mind as weak and strong, we also need to see the aspect of sansakaras i.e. memories which also include our autonomous responses to the stimultus (circumstances/ actions - natural / manmade). Here, we need to address the need of sansakara – transformation also.
Medication will prepare the depressed person to listen to prevent negative thoughts and to modify his lifestyle suitably to enable him/ her to prevent or minimize the future attacks of depression with the powers of meditation and also let him feel good enough to join yoga classes and tradition. If medication as stand alone is used, it will adverse effects
physiologically. No doubt, Life is full of hard and difficult things and experiences may stun our sensibilities, and affect our moods, but there is very little evidence that medicating people in these circumstances improves their outcomes. The drugs should be reserved for only the most intractable cases, because of the dangers they present.
For balance, the use of both medication and meditation will help.
One may resort to the integrative medicine comprising of one or all of the following to beat the depressive attitude:
1. Medication
2. Exercise / Yogasanas/ Pranayams
3. Music therapy,
4. Compassionate social and spiritual support,
5. Nutrition
6. Meditation to develop Pure and Positive thoughts. [Once the patient gains a sort of stability and understanding skill)
7.Last but not the least - We need to develop the "Hope" in the patient. If the patient has hope, he has life ahead, else it is difficult to cope with the adversity.
To master thoughts and mind, system of Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation will help as regards the meditation but shall also be done in consultation with Psychiatrist who will suggest medication and other psychotherapies. Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation lets one establish in one’s self as a point of soul with all its attributes that are peace, happiness, knowledge, eternity, etc. This establishment or the real consciousness is a key to all problems.
Finally, we need that the cause of the depression is addressed, and then all other treatments will be secondary.
Source: Discussion held at linkedin.com on medication or meditation or both.
Disclaimer: The above answer is for informative use only and should not be treated as alternative to medical recommendation or prescription.
