BEATING DEPRESSION: Depression is quite common after a divorce. Often we are told, as Christians, to "get over it" or "pray harder" or "read the Bible more". However, for someone in the deep dark pits of depression, it is not that simple. How do we break the cycle of depression? Although I am not a professional counselor by any stretch of the imagination, here are some things that, over the years, I have found that seem to work: 1. Professional, godly counseling 2. Medical evaluation/treatment: There is sometimes a "fear" among Christians that using medication to help beat depression is a "bad thing" or a "lack of faith". If you had diabetes, you probably wouldn't hesitate to use insulin. If you had strep throat, you would probably take an antibiotic. Clinical depression is no different, as it is a medical condition and can be helped with anti-depressants. I'm not talking about the occasional "blahs"...I'm talking about full-blown, paralyzing depression. 3. Music: even the evil King Saul knew that music helped the soul. Start pumping uplifting Christian music into your life. Don't pull out the old, sad, depressing love song....pull out the praise and worship stuff. 4. Reach out to others: Stop focusing on yourself. Remember, others around you are also hurting. Find someone who has a need and meet that need. Be a friend. Write them a letter. Volunteer at a homeless shelter. Force yourself to focus on others. It takes practice, but it can be done. 5. Make yourself move: Even if it is just a walk around the block, make yourself GET UP and move around. Exercise gets those little things going inside of our brains. Our bodies are meant to move. 6. Hobbies: Yes, these are good because they allow us to focus on things other than our current pain and circumstances. Art, music, crocheting, gardening are good things to do....the list is endless. During my divorce, my piano playing helped release some of the emotions and stress. A word of caution: Take care that your hobby does not involve any self-destructive behavior such as compulsive shopping. Spending money that you do not have for items you do not need will cause more problems. 7. Diet: Yeah, yeah, yeah....eating right really DOES help. Try and maintain a healthy balance of what you put into your body. Too much of even a good thing (like chocolate) can mess up your body's ability to fight the depression. 8. Start counting your blessings: Even in the worst circumstances, God's blessings are evident. Remember Paul and Silas? They were locked up in a nasty, filthy jail...yet they praised God. Joseph's circumstances were far from "ideal"....sold by his brothers into slavery, falsely accused and imprisoned...yet he never stopped believing. For I have learned that whatever state I am in, I will be content" Philippians 4:11. 9. Stay in the Psalms: Many of these came King David when he was in the pits of depression. Fill your head and heart with the Psalms. 10. Know that this is temporary: Honest. Some of the greatest words in Scripture are And it came to pass. Job had it pretty bad. In one big sweep, he lost everything...family, money, possessions, health, friends...he lost it all. His story is quite sad--his wife and friends didn't even understand. Job grieved and questioned God, yet he knew that God was in control. Praise God that the story didn't end with Job's suffering. Praise God for the 41st chapter in Job. God restored Job sevenfold. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death... Yes. We will go through this valley...but remember...God is with us the entire time and He will never leave us or forsake us. You can take that to the bank. ©2010 PFDRM All rights reserved |
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Beating Depression |