Stress and depression are created by the lifestyle, habits and circumstances of your life, which determine the state of your mind and its energy.

The prime cause of stress is when the mind is hyperactive, while the prime cause of depression is when the mind is functioning in a very passive mode. Ayurveda therapy for de-stress and anti-depression is similar – it brings the mind into a state of balance and harmony.

Stress and depression can be caused by different factors:

1. External/Environmental
   • Personal problems
   • Financial difficulties
   • Death of a loved one, moving house, etc.
   • Heavy workload, work pressure, discrimination or harassment, etc.
   • Traumatic events such as violence, rape, accident, war, etc.

2. Internal
   • Insecurity, fear, uncertainty and pessimism
   • Rigid or self-centred attitudes
   • Unrealistic expectations
   • All-or-nothing mentality

Stress affects different parts of our life:

1. Emotional
   • Feeling irritable
   • Lack of control
   • Feeling that you are not worth anything
   • Running away from situations

2. Physical
   • Low energy levels
   • Headache
   • Stomach upset
   • Insomnia
   • Chest pain
   • Low immunity
   • Lack of sexual desire

3. Cognitive
   • Worrying
   • Over-active mind/lack of focus
   • Forgetfulness

4. Behavioural
   • Changes in appetite
   • Procrastination
   • Drug or substance abuse

When you continue to experience stress or depression over a longer period, the symptoms manifest as:

1. Mental health problems
2. Deep depression or anxiety
3. Cardiac problems such as high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke
4. Sexual imbalances and weaknesses
5. Gastrointestinal problems
6. Menstrual imbalances
7. Diabetes
8. Thyroid imbalances etc.

Ayurveda realises that stress, also known as sahas, is the root cause of many diseases.  The modern allopathic (medical) systems see stress as both a positive or a negative experience of the adrenal system.  However, in the system of Ayurveda, stress is closely related to the three vital energies (or doshas) called vata, pitta and kapha.  These doshas are the key to understanding the triggers behind your stress, and helping you to adopt a balanced lifestyle which will build up the intensity of your vitalityand your awareness, so that you can overcome your stress.  To know more about your personal vata, pitta and kapha, please refer to the Self-diagnosis Chart on the What is Ayurveda page of this website.

DEPRESSION EXPLAINED IN TERMS OF THE DOSHAS

According to Ayurveda, depression is the outcome excessive kapha which leads you to become passive; this creates imbalances in the brain, which are known as the vata.  When these imbalances also affect the body’s metabolism,it is known as the pitta.The result of any sudden imbalance in vata and pitta is the release of excess kapha, creating heaviness, gloom and hopelessness in the body, and culminating in depression.

At some level, we are all either stressed or depressed due to our modern technological lifestyle, economic and political circumstances, and our personal attitudes, so this program can be beneficial for everybody.