Overcoming Depression

 I read an article about how to overcome depression this morning on cbn.com. My believe is that this article will help someone who is going through depression. If you find it helpful, please feel free to make your comment.

OVERCOMING DEPRESSION

Almost everyone at one time or another experiences a period of sadness. Most people get over it with a little time. But for some people, the sadness continues.

If you are caught in a prolonged period of sadness, you may recognize one or more of the signs that often accompany depression: a growing distrust of God, resentment of others, difficulty making decisions, guilt, inactivity, sleeplessness or oversleeping, not eating or overeating, doubting, complaining, worrying, and hopelessness, as though you're in an inescapable pit.

Thankfully, as desperate as everything may look, there are real reasons for hope. God loves you. And He wants to fill you with joy, peace, fulfillment and so much more.

First Step to Help
The Bible says that Jesus came that we "might have life, and might have it abundantly" (John 10:10, NAS). Certainly, depression is not abundant life. But you can be assured, God wants you to find His peace and joy. He will help you because you are very, very important to Him.

Are you in a position to receive God's gift of "abundant life"? If you are not certain, ask God right now to forgive you for your sins and to come and rule in your life (Romans 10:9, 10,13; I John 1:8,9; John 1:12,13).

The Bible describes what happens the moment you first give your life to God as being "born again." Spiritually you are a new person. But you now need to learn a new way of living. God will help you.

Ask Him to fill you completely with His Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). God's Spirit will give you the power to live like God wants you to live. The Holy Spirit guides, comforts, teaches, empowers and produces within a Christian the actual characteristics of God -- love, joy, peace, patience and more (Galatians 5:22-23). And it is when you are living the way God wants that you will experience the full and joyful life God has for you.

When you are born again, God takes up residence in your spirit. He brings with Him the promise of great joy and peace, sometimes immediately. But what if you are now a Christian and you are depressed? You are not alone. Many people of faith have experienced periods of deep depression. The Bible stories of Moses, David and so many others show us how God's love continues even during these times and that He eventually brings great hope.

What You Can Do
What can you do to overcome depression? It depends on why you are depressed. There are many possible reasons, but since more than one may be present in your life, read all the sections below:

Physical: Some depression is caused by physical problems. Improper diet, lack of exercise, and not enough sleep can all contribute to depression. So if you are feeling "down," make sure you are taking care of your body.

In addition, many illnesses can cause depression (others may be caused by depression). Also, some medications can cause depression. It's always a good idea to see your doctor for a checkup to rule out physical reasons. But remember, God can heal any physical problem, including one that causes, or is caused by, depression (Psalm 103:3; Matthew 8:16-17).

If your doctor has diagnosed a particular problem, ask your prayer partner, pastor, Christian counselor or other Christian to pray with you for God's healing (James 5:14-16). But if you are taking medication for any problem, consult your doctor before changing or stopping it.

Losses and Other Hurts: When something you see as bad happens to you, it's normal to feel hurt. You may have lost your job or other financial security. You may have been wronged in some way, recently or in the past. You may have a bad relationship with a friend, family member, or spouse.

A loved one may have died. Or you may even be hurting about something you've never had, but feel you should have, such as a spouse or children. It is okay for you to hurt over a situation like this.

Tell God about your hurt. He already knows, but it is important for you to put the hurt into words and tell Him. Also tell a trusted friend or pastor, or consult a Christian counselor. Allow yourself to cry if you want to. Normal grieving, including crying, is healthy.


The Bible says that Jesus "bore our griefs" on the cross (Isaiah 53:4 NAS). He feels our pain as strongly as we do and will carry it for us. Give your hurt to Him. Then resolve not to dwell on it again.

Sin: Sometimes depression is rooted in sin. You will never be at peace if you ignore something in your life that you know is against God's will (I Timothy 1:19). If you know you are doing or have done something against God's will, admit to God that it is wrong.

Then ask His help in doing what is right. If you admit your sin and turn from it, God has promised to forgive you completely, and cleanse you from the sin (I John 1:9). Trust Him to do it.

If it is an ongoing sin and it seems too big for you to deal with, just deal with it today, this moment. Tell God that with His help you will do the right thing right now. In addition, you may need to take some action to make up for your sin with those you have wronged. You may need a pastor or Christian counselor to help you decide what to do.

Don't forget to obey God in the small things. Very often, it is because we have chosen to ignore Him in the small things that we slowly slip into deeper problems. You can reverse this slide. If you obey God in the small things, it will help put you back on track in the larger things. You may need to obey Him in something so simple as getting up early enough to get to work on time without rushing.

Wrong Thinking: What do you think about right before you feel depressed? Do you think such things as "I'm no good," or "I can't do anything right," or "This situation will never change"? It's vitally important for you to find out what God says is the truth about you and your life. Read the Bible closely to find out what is the real truth (Ephesians 1:18-19).

Once you find out the wonderful things God says about you, stop repeating negative things to yourself. Instead, memorize and repeat to yourself the truths you find in the Bible that contradict the negative thoughts.

Fill your thoughts with such truths as : "For I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power" (Philippians 4:13); "It is he who will supply all (my) needs from his riches in glory, because of what Christ Jesus has done for (me)" (Philippians 4:19); "For the Holy Spirit, God's gift, does not want (me) to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them" (II Timothy 1:7).

 "Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us" (Romans 8:37); "He personally carried the load our sins in his own body when he died on the cross, so that we can be finished with sin and live a good life from now on. For his wounds have healed ours!" (I Peter 2:24).

In Conclusion: Admit to God you need His help in order to live rightly with peace and joy. Repent of any known sin. Accept God's forgiveness and cleansing (I John 1:9).

Rebuild your spiritual life through Bible reading, prayer and fellowship with other Christians. Attend a local Bible-believing church faithfully. Being an active member in a church is a good way to begin to grow spiritually and learn an overcoming faith.

If your depression continues, seek help from your pastor or other qualified Christian counselor. There ARE answers for you. However, finding and solving the root causes of depression do not always happen quickly.

And finally, don't be surprised if once you are on the other side of depression, you thank God for this time of hardship and the good that has come out of it.

As You Pray
Ask God to reveal specific thoughts and actions He wants you to change. Agree with Him when He points out sin and ask Him to help you change. Forgive others who have wronged you. Thank God for His love and ask Him for healing and a renewed joy in life.

For further information, click the link below:

http://www1.cbn.com/overcoming-depression

How To Free Yourself From Chronic Unhappiness

 Two weeks ago, I came across an information product that explains how  one can overcome  chronic unhappiness on one of  the popular shopping sites, Amazon.com . After reading the book, I realised that this  information product  has all the information ones need to overcome depression .  The title of the book is The mindful Way Through Depression. It was written by Mark Williams. The most interesting thing about this book is that four unique expects were given the opportunity to explain why our usual attempts to think our  way out of a bad mood lead us deeper into the downward spiral.

The following are the testimonies of people about  the book:

New mindful techniques to get and stay depression free

Uses eastern and western techniques to increase mindfulness, relieve depression and keep yourself depression free for life. A slow but wonderful and very helpful read.

What could be better?

Very short review. It is ridiculously simple to do mindful medication and it works. Th book itself is graciously and kindly written in a way that reflects what the book.

Powerful, Profound and Applicable to everyone

I found this to be very powerful book- for individuals experiencing depression AND for individuals who are not depressed but want to enjoy more of their moment in life.

The mindful way through depression

Excellent Book. I have read some books of how to deal with anxiety or depression and this book is the only one that has helped me.

Wonderful guide to overcoming depression

I am about 80% through this book and I am glad I bought it. I have suffered from depression for  many years and bee to theraphy on different  occassions

Care about depression

An easy way to find out someone is depressed, ask someone how they are and  really care, listen to them and to what they are not saying

This book may be what you  need to overcome depression. Click the  banner below  to find out more about the book.

How to convince somebody to get help for depression

Convincing somebody to get for help for depression is a difficult task.There are millions of people all over the world who are depressed but who are not ready to see a doctor or a therapy for help due to the mentality they have about depression, they think it is a shame to be depressed, forgetting that it is an illness that we experience at different stages of our lives.

Depression is a condition that affects the young, old, rich and the poor, it is no respecter of  person, when it comes into your live, you must find a way out of getting rid of it.

Nobody can live in isolation, we all need each other to overcome our problems or challenges of live, the role of friends, relations, wives, husbands, therapist, psychologists, doctors in helping one to overcome depression cannot be overemphasized.

If you have somebody you want to convince to get help for depression, the first thing you have to do is to demonstrate love to the person, tell the person you care about him and that depression is a treatable medical condition. Always make yourself available each time he needs your attention, love is giving.

Let him understand that you feel what he feels, that depression if not taken care could lead to suicide. Seeing is believing, give him examples of people who have committed suicide as result of depression, those who have overcome depression with the help of therapists or doctors. You can use the stories of celebrities or books written by people who overcame depression.

There must be people in your family which the depressed person respect, persuade them to talk to him about his depression so that he can seek medical help. 

Two head are better than one, get a therapist involved, give his phone number to the therapist. This will give the therapist the opportunity to build a relationship with him and find a way of helping  solve his problem.

Depression And Loneliness

There is a story of a 92 year old woman from Florida, U.S.A who was arrested after she fired a handgun into her neighbour’s house when he refused to give her a kiss. Helen Staudinger told Marion County sheriff’s deputies that she walk next door to speak with her neighbour, 53 year old Dwight Bettner, who she said had ask her to leave until he had given her a kiss.

After a brief argument, she got a 380 semi-automatic handgun from her home and fired several shots into Mr Bettner’s home. One of the bullets flew into Mr Bettner’s bedroom, where he was hit by flying glass. The man told the police that Mrs Staudinger,  a widow, had expressed a fondness for him since he moved to the neighbourhood six months earlier.

I told her I am in a relationship, Mr Bettner said. She had this idea I am suppose to be her man. Mrs Stauginder was charged with aggravated assault and shooting into an occupied dwelling.

Oh what a world of loneliness .Is there a cure for lonliness? The truth is that there are seasons when everyone goes through a loneliness school. But the cure for loneliness is not a kiss or a gun. It is not even marriage because someday, everyone will be a widow or widower.

Someone said: if you are afraid of loneliness, do not marry. I believe that only God can fill the vaccum of lonliness, not any man or woman. Sometimes marriage is like a hot bath. Once you get used to it, it is not so hot. So, set your focus on the healer of the broken hearted.

Depression In Children

A 12-years old boy was held on suspicion of killing his parents before gravely wounded his younger siblings in a violent rampage that shocked residents of Burlington near the Kansas border. Mr Charles Long, 50, and Mrs Marilyn Long, 51, were found dead in their Burlington home after the boy called 911 to report that three people has been shot by him.

This is the shocker: The family had seven children, from ages 5 to the mid-20s and all were well known at the local church.

Their Pastor, Ron Lee said:  The boy now being held in the killing helped in the local church by greeting parishioners before services and working with video equipment:

The question is this, what could make a 12 years old boy kill his parents and his brother? I think the best answer to this question is depression.

Childhold depression is an ailment that interfere with a child or adolescent's ability to function. Studies have showed that four out of every 100 teenagers experience depression every year.

Symptoms of children depression

·         Having feelings of guilt, worthlessness, failure.

·         Loss of interest in activities which once were fun.

·         Conflicts with parents and siblings than usual.

·         Physically or verbally aggressive at everyone.

·         Abandoning favorite hobbies or sports or other routine, daily activities.

·         Misuse of drugs and alcohol.

·         Frequent absences from school.

·         Always complains of being bored .

·         Becomes troublesome in class (both teens and children).

·         Stops going out with friends, shows no interest in group outings.

·         Changes in eating and sleeping habits.

·         Having thought of suicide.

What you can do

If you a parent and your child is experiencing some of above symptoms, you need to seek help from a professional therapist or psychologist. The therapist will daignose and profer solutions to the problem.  

I believe that with proper diagnosis and treatment, the child will be able to overcome depression.

Bipolar Depression- what is it?

This ailment is characterized by mood swings, someone who is very happy one moment may go into unhappy state within a short period of time. Bipolar depression is also known as mania depression.

There are four sub-categories of bipolar depression. They are:

Ø  Cyclothymic Disorder 

Ø  Bipolar NOS

Ø  Bipolar I Disorder

Ø  Bipolar II Disorder

Cyclothymic disorder

This is a milder but much more long-term version of bipolar disorder (usually lasting for two or more years).
Like bipolar II the mania phases are relatively minor, but in addition their depressive phases aren't so severe that they classify as major depression. If left untreated, cyclothymic depression can develop into bipolar II depression.

Bipolar NOS

Bipolar NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) is a catch-all category for people who have some of the symptoms of bipolar, but those symptoms don't allow the person to be neatly categorized in one of the three other categories. For example, the sufferer may have fast cycling between the manic and depressive states, or manic states without depressive states.

Bipolar I Disorder

People suffering from bipolar I disorder have the most extreme mood swings. Their low moods can be classified as major depression, while in their positive moods they can engage in crazy, outrageous and dangerous activities. During this mania state they may even suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.

Bipoar II Disorder

People with bipolar II disorder have much less extreme mania periods. Indeed, many bipolar II sufferers go untreated because people mistake their 'mania' phase for simply getting over their depression. People with bipolar II don't suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.