Question about drugs for depression and bi-polar disorder

October 24th, 2007

Hi Puran…
I have been having a dialogue with some people about this subject and I am very interested in your opinion.

What do you think about the use of psychotropic drugs in the treatment of depression and bi-polar disorder?

Thanks for listening!

Cameron Weckerley

Dear Cameron,
There are times when psychotropic drugs are necessary. Obviously the ideal is to be so much in touch with all aspects of ourselves that we can recall our sorrow in our mania and our ecstasy in our depression. But this is not done by the use of will power. If it can be done, it is because we know all the states of being so well, like old friends, that we can call upon each one.
You probably know someone whose presence would sober up a party, and another person who would bring glee to a boardroom. These are examples of the states of being we all have within ourselves.
Furthermore, if chemicals are needed, the human body is a very efficient chemical factory. It makes dopamine, testosterone, opiates, vitamins, etc. How can we get our bodies to make more of the chemicals we need, and less of the chemicals we don’t need? That is, how do we restore the self-regulating mechanism?
We need to look at how the body lost its regulation. Something has happened that had such an impact on the body that it couldn’t compensate by its normal mechanisms. That event was probably emotional rather than physical. It was originally emotional, and then it became physical. The mind-body connection is very strong, and it works both ways. That’s why we can have an emotional benefit from concentrating on the physical heart.
To correct a chemical imbalance quickly, use drugs. Then use Heart Rhythm Meditation to find that emotional situation that needs your attention. Give your emotional heart your attention by placing your attention on the physical sensations of your physical heart. Add the energy that comes from conscious breath. Then your heart will heal itself, become self-regulating, and direct the production of chemicals accordingly. It will adjust for the chemicals you’re adding from pills. Then you slowly reduce the pills and your body will compensate by increasing its internal production.
These are complex times, and we push ourselves hard. We can get into situations we can neither escape nor deal with. It’s like getting lost in the unexplored outer fringes of your psyche. No blame. Call for a helicopter rescue (the drugs). But your wandering was not random — there was some reason your exploration took that turn. That’s important to understand. Your heart knows these things; it’s only your mind that gets lost. I firmly believe that the heart has the compass. If only you can find your heart, your heart will lead you home.
With love, Puran

Entry Filed under: The Heart, Emotional health, Meditation