It is well-known that depression has a physical as well as a mental/emotional basis. It could also be argued that depression has a spiritual basis. Even if you don't believe in a soul, you probably realize that people operate from a place of deep-rooted core beliefs and subconscious desires. Depression often develops as a result of crisis within these core desires and beliefs.Viewed this way, depression can be a precursor to spiritual growth. I have Bipolar disorder and I struggle with depression a whole lot, almost daily. There are a few things I have learned about it, that I will share just a few of them with you.

1. Sometimes depression is your soul asking you for help. Be gentle with yourself. Listen to your soul to figure out what it is that you need. This could change minute by minute. To figure out what you need, you need to face the silence you have been trying to avoid. Stop trying to distract yourself with internet or television. Have long, deep talks with yourself. Meditate and go for walks in nature. That being said, don't dwell in morose thoughts for too long. Balance meditation with times of healthy recreation.

2. This one is important: Don't let the world and unrealistic expectations define you. Love yourself as you are, warts and all. Take a close look at your triggers: are you worried about what others think? Are you hard on yourself because you are not attaining someone else's definition of success? Or are you comparing yourself to your own unrealistic definition of success? Define success for yourself, and redefine it every day. Success for me today is just being able to clean my living room and sit with a cup of tea looking out at the forest outside my window. Remember that In all the major world religions, success has always been defined quite differently for the spiritual life than for the temporal, physical/material life of a person. Success in the spiritual life is defined in terms of spiritual growth, accepting with patience where you are now in your journey, and moving toward a more enlightened state of being.

3. Forge your own path and be patient while you find your own way through life. My daughter has Aspbergers Syndrome (High Functioning Autism) and struggles with social anxiety. One of my recent triggers for depression was when my daughter dropped out of High School, despite having a well-above average intelligence and many talents and abilities. I learned to be at peace with this when we went to talk to her special education teacher. Her teacher brought her over to her desk the other day and said, "Look at the three diplomas on my wall. I have three degrees, but one diploma you will never see there is a High School diploma. I never got one - I dropped out of school in grade nine. Then I went back to school at age thirty-nine," she said. "School will always be there." This was a real eye-opener for me. Her teacher was right. The social expectation of a high-school experience was not realistic for my daughter, nor was it necessary. My daughter is learning to redefine success and forge her own path through life, and I am learning to cherish my daughter for who she is, rather than for who society expects her to be.

4. Asking for help is not failure, it is a triumph. Make sure you have a social network or people who care about you to talk to. Are you ashamed of reaching out to a therapist or medical professional? Don't be. Don't let your own fear of "what will people think" stand in the way of your health. If you reach out, you will discover there are many people out there who can help you. Have you considered reaching out to your spiritual pastor or religious leader? From a spiritual perspective, admitting to yourself that you need help is humbling, and the first step toward spiritual growth and maturity. We need each other in this world, no one has to go it alone.

5. Greet the day with Gratitude. Nothing works faster than gratitude for changing a negative attitude. Gratitude is the absolute, necessary key for breaking out of depression and being kind to yourself. Look for causes for gratitude everywhere and watch the spiritual changes that happen inside you, preparing you for spiritual growth.

6. Use natural aids to help improve mood, but also keep to what your doctor prescribes.

If you're like me, chocolate can be a welcome treat to help you wait through the stormy days of depression. You may not be aware that nutmeg is also a natural MOA inhibitor. Here is a comforting recipe that I use to perk up on a "down day." Have a cup in the morning as part of your renewed effort to be kinder to yourself. Drink it meditatively and with gratitude.

Spiced Mocha Drink

sprinkle of nutmeg 1/4 of a teaspoon

sprinkle of cinnamon 1/4 of a teaspoon

2 teaspoons cocoa powder

2 teaspoons dried milk powder (I use skim)

1 capsule dried ashwaghanda herb (optional, raises serotonin levels)

2 teaspoons sugar

1 and a half teaspoons instant coffee

Instructions: Stir the coffee, sugar and spices together with a little cold water at the bottom of a cup, then slowly add boiling hot water to the top of the cup, stirring as you do so. Enjoy!