When All Is Not Well: Depression, Sadness and Healing

‘I’ve heard so many people tell those who suffer from depression to just “cheer up”. Do they really believe it’s that simple?’ Depression isn’t just sadness. It is misery. It is both pain and nothingness. People don’t ‘have’ depression, they suffer from it. Millions of people are diagnosed with depression, billions of dollars are spent on antidepressants and on depression-related research. Yet we are no closer to making a real difference to the quality of life of the patients. Ayurvedic and yogic texts call depression ‘vishada’, a toxic state of mind.

They consider it an illness, a disability – but one that is curable. In a profoundly insightful work that draws from these texts, mystic and healer Om Swami categorizes depression into three types, each of which requires a different approach. Bringing yogic wisdom and Ayurvedic knowledge to case studies from his own files, the author covers a range of options from medication to specialized meditation. When All Is Not Well will leave you with a new perspective on depression and sadness.