We have often spoken about the causes of depression and how a person can try to prevent and treat depression. We will be looking at this topic from a spiritual perspective. Please note we are not licensed professionals. Rather we would like to share ancient wisdom and practical tips. Over the last years, and even decades, depression has been on the rise. Especially, with the younger people in the last few years.

We all know from experience that the problems in the material world are real and can seem to be overwhelming at times. But when they are handled in the right way, a person can come out on the other side without lasting scars. We will be looking today how a healthy and strong family can try to help someone in the family who is experiencing some depression, especially in the earlier stages. Like with almost all conditions, if they are detected early enough, they can often be reversed. Now let’s see how we can be a shining light for someone else, to help them see some hope and direction in the darkness that they experience. We have 6 tips today.

1)   Encouragement (Nothing seriously wrong with you): Most likely what is happening is that a person just hasn’t found yet what they are looking for. Real happiness, real purpose and real love do exist. The longing for peace, love and happiness is spiritual. It comes directly from the core of our very being. Just because we have not been able to find what we need yet, we should not give up. So, to feel empty, anxious or depressed sometimes is not the end. To be honest about what one experiences is a lot better than someone who acts superficially and pretends to be happy. If someone actually experiences that something serious is missing, then this is a good thing. It is not a sign of a mental disease. If a person knows continues to look for more, they might find the solution to their condition. It is good to be mindful, the be introspective, to be thoughtful. To consider where is real happiness to be found. The fact that countless living beings are not finding the happiness that they are seeking in this world just proves that something is not working out very well. Perhaps they are all looking in the wrong place? If something has not been working, then we need to be intelligent enough to admit this and make the needed changes.

2)   Spend time with a depressed person: Just the desire to want to spend time with a depressed person may touch their heart. Suggest doing the favorite things they used to like doing. Any change will help to get them out of their dark mindset. Open the windows, let in the light and fresh air. Give them some nice flowers. Help others by softly playing uplifting and purifying Mantra Meditation music as much as possible, even if it is just in the background. This has a great purifying affect and gives the listener internal happiness. Make their favorite food. Play some games. If possible, go outside with them to a beautiful place. Exercise is a great way to get the mind to stop focusing on all the problems and darkness in this world. Each person and situation will be a bit different, so we have to be creative and see what someone responds to.

3)   Everyone needs to feel cared for (Real Purpose): More and more people don’t feel cared for. The problems of this world seem insurmountable at times. Many people feel that things are becoming worse each year. There seems to be so little common sense these days. Hardly anything makes sense anymore. So how do we help someone who is getting overwhelmed by all the challenges and problems in this world? We need to look at the prevailing philosophy of life of most people in this world. They feel: "The world is for my enjoyment. That is my purpose of being here. The more I enjoy the world, the happier I will be." It is crucial that we teach the young generation to become less self-centered, not more. The more someone becomes self-centered, the more they are at risk of feeling without purpose, empty and depressed. As we often suggest there are greater causes than just living for yourself. When one has a greater purpose such as helping others, I will forget about my unhappiness and the symptoms of depression will go away when one has a real purpose. Try to get them engaged in some service project.

4)   Share Real Wisdom about our Identity: The root cause of virtually all problems in this world is that people misidentify themselves. They believe that they are temporary material beings and their purpose in life is to exploit all the resources and other people on this planet for their maximum enjoyment. There is no concern for others. Nor is there an understand of the law of karma, that they will have to pay a very high price for causing any harm to others. It is from lust, greed and anger that the main problems that we have spoken about today arise. Anyone who is depressed needs help. And part of that help is that we have to inform others that this world is not our eternal home. Living a self-centered life cannot bring real happiness. Our eternal function is to love and serve the Supreme Lord. If I carefully follow my spiritual practices and I begin to experience real joy and peace from within, then others will perceive this. Because everyone wants these things. In other words, my life must be a example of what wisdom I am trying to share. As we mentioned before, we have to be examples of having good physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Consider the things in your life that you are thankful for. Be appreciative, don’t focus on what is not perfect. We cannot experience a perfect existence here in this material world. Most other living beings in this world have much greater suffering than we do.

5)   On the subject of Hope, it is really important that everyone has something to look forward to, especially young people. And also the elderly, so that they don’t just wait to die. It is essential that one still has motivation, makes plans, tries to improve things on this human journey. Otherwise, if people feel hopeless, this can lead to feeling depressed, lonely, overwhelmed, without purpose Here are 5 helpful tips about how Hope can help prevent and reduce depression:

A) We need to have realistic expectations of others and this world. This world is full of problems and imperfections so we learn over time that we probably should not be placing all of our hopes and expectations that things will work out great here for any length of time. Yet the problem is that the messages that we receive from many others is that one can experience perfect love and happiness in this world. We see in all the advertising that other people supposedly are so happy, living such a perfect life. But we know this is not reality. If we have more realistic expectations, we can avoid many disappointments 

B) Everything in this world is changing. We have a tendency to become overwhelmed by the here and now - but this too will pass

C) We need to have a change of direction if we want to have our hopes for a better future to become reality. Otherwise, we will just get more of the same.

D) Feeling hopeless about the situation in the material world can be an impetus for beginning a rewarding spiritual journey. 

E)  Real Hopefulness - Take full shelter of the Supreme Controller - everything will be fine in the big picture. When a relationship has God as the center, there is a strong foundation. There is shelter, there is help, there is hope.

6)   Make Everything An Offering to the Supreme Lord: When we help ourselves, we can help others. When we have spiritual gems in our possession, we can then try to share them with others. And the beauty is that when we give them to others, we still get to keep them! There are many ways how we can try to help others. First, we should be kind and supportive always. Share all the healthy lifestyle choices with us. Offer a support system for them. Try to share this ancient wisdom. It can take a while before someone might try a different approach to finding what they need. We should share this bona fide process of Mindfulness and Mantra Meditation. This is the way to experience real fulfillment, real happiness. Our hearts and minds can be purified of all the things and impurities that are now separating us from experiencing real happiness and love. The very thing that we seek and desire is within our reach. We are not saying to run away from material responsibilities. Rather we can spiritualize our lives. We can apply spiritual truths and wisdom and try to make an offering of our lives to the Supreme Lord. Anxiety will go away when we appreciate that I am not in control, but I trust and surrender to the Supreme Lord. There is no fear and anxiety in someone who has taken shelter of the Supreme Lord. And there is no depression in a person who is experiencing just a glimpse of their loving relationship with the Supreme Lord and who has a purpose on this human journey that is greater than just living for “themselves”.