The Ancient Greek Cure For Depression And Anxiety

The Greek cure for health and anxiety is based on an interesting holistic approach. It was a lifestyle known as  bios pythagorikos  from which to teach people to take care of their diet, their physical routines and, above all, their intellectual ones. Taking care of the body and cultivating the mind were, for our parents of wisdom, key elements to promote well-being.

It is possible that, today, these keys seem somewhat elementary to us. Now, we have reached a point in our society where  perhaps what we need most is to get back to precisely those basic fundamentals. There where to reduce the complexity of our day to day, save on worries, cut stimuli, attend to priorities.

Philosophy is always an interesting haven to return to from time to time to learn, reflect, and wake up. In a world where technology collapses each of our personal universes, it is interesting to remember the purpose of this discipline. Figures such as Plato, Aristotle or Pythagoras did not speak to us only about moral, ethical or aesthetic concepts.

They also taught us the art of “living well.” And what is more important if possible, the ultimate goal of philosophy was always to teach us to think better, something essential that in the long run, also allows us to invest in well-being.

What is the Greek cure for depression and anxiety?

Nicholas Kardaras is a clinical psychologist known for his outreach work in different areas : mental health, addictions and the impact of technology today. Thus, one of his most successful publications has undoubtedly been How Plato and Pythagoras can save your life . In this work, presented at a conference of the American Psychological Association (APA), he raised the following ideas.

• Today, depression and anxiety are two of the biggest health challenges. Furthermore, the WHO estimates that in 2030 they will be the main health problem.
• Thus, recent studies such as the one carried out at King’s College London (considered the largest study on depression and anxiety) indicate, for example, that between 30 and 40% of the risk of depression and anxiety is genetic and 60 to 70% is due to environmental factors.
• This last percentage depends therefore on us and on the social measures that we have.

• Dr. Nicholas Kardaras tells us something interesting in turn. The origin of these psychological disorders is not only in our industrialized and urbanized lifestyle. We are also losing from the horizon our existential priorities, our purposes … We seek happiness in products with programmed obsolescence.

Works like the one carried out by Dr. Steven Ilardi, a psychologist at the University of Kansas, reveal something very interesting. Villages, such as that of Kaluli in Papua New Guinea, have a zero or non-existent depression index. They apply in their day to day a very basic philosophy of life that allows them to gain in well-being.

The ancient Greek cure for depression is within our grasp. The one that Pythagoras enunciated in his day and that is known as the “Bios Pythagorikos”. Let’s see what it consists of.

Diet rich in omega 3

Omega 3 fatty acids are those contained in foods such as walnuts, olive oil, salmon, chia seeds … Interestingly, many current studies reveal how these types of fatty acids act as true neuroprotectors. 

Regular exercise

The gymnasium in Ancient Greece was an institution dedicated to physical and spiritual instruction. One area was therefore related to the other. Nowadays, we often neglect the importance of exercising our body, of keeping it active, of enjoying that vitality where we connect in turn with our environment, with nature and with ourselves.

Be in harmony with sunlight

This is another essential key within the Greek cure for depression. If we think about it, we are losing this link. We surround ourselves with artificial light, which is emitted by our workplaces and electronic devices. This type of light directly affects our rest and, by extension, our health. Let’s take sun baths, let’s take care of our schedules so as not to lose that connection with the cycles of nature.

Perform tasks that avoid negative thoughts

The Greeks were wise in terms of enjoyment, relaxation, as well as cultivating fabulous pleasures with which to combat worries. It is not necessary to fall into hedonism, but we do allow ourselves to enjoy those moments where we can be in contact with our hobbies, feeling free, happy and creative …

Dialectical discussions

Within the Greek cure for depression is undoubtedly this very interesting area. Dialectics is the art of confronting, listening, debating, relativizing, learning, renewing ideas, discovering purposes … Above all, it implies having enriching social contacts that provide us with new perspectives, that challenge us with their energy, vitality and optimism.

These pillars of the “Greek cure” for depression couldn’t be simpler. More than a first aid kit, it is an invitation to create new lifestyles: generate a project where we are the protagonists to seek and work on our well-being. Let’s think about it.