All of us can say at some point in our life we have been tempted or attacked even if you do not experience depression on a daily basis. The National Institute of Mental Health states that major depression is one of the most common mental Disorders in the United States, affecting nearly 7 percent of the population.

Depression can drain your energy, hope, and ambition, making it difficult to go about your day and complete daily tasks.

There is no quick or easy solution to overcome depression and it isn’t an easy process. You can’t just say to yourself to “snap out of it,” However even if your depression is severe you do have more control than you realize.

A major key in overcoming depression is the mind. I work in mental health so, I realize that depression may be the result of a physical or chemical imbalance. However, for a great number of people, depression is a spiritual issue.

What you think about has the power to affect every area of your life. Therefore we must stop engaging in “stinking thinking” and renew our minds with positive thinking. Clear thinking leads to self-control of negative thoughts.

It’s impossible to control all of our circumstances or escape experiencing pain or disappointment, but we have a choice. We don’t have to let what happens today ruin tomorrow. We can make the decision to turn things around by making a decision to let go of the situations that caused discouragement and depression and move towards all the wonderful things God has planned for your life.

Overcoming depression also requires action, but taking action when you’re depressed can seem impossible, but when you decide to take action you can find hope in new opportunities and overcome the problem. Just like any other medical condition you need to have an action plan to manage your recovery to get better.

Despite what you’re going through depression doesn’t have to rule your life. We may believe that we cannot accomplish anything and you are worthless, But, I am here to tell you depression is a LIAR!!! You can take your pain and turn it into something great. Eleanor Roosevelt says “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are then able to say to yourself, I have lived through this horror, I can take the next thing that comes along. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

You are not alone and your life matters. The best way to get started in your recovery is to talk with someone you trust. Sometimes confiding to them and expressing your emotions out loud can make a huge difference in how you’re feeling. Even writing how you are feeling down can be very empowering.

I know for me when I’m feeling depressed I always look up scriptures in the bible that go along with whatever I’m feeling, or I will look up that feeling on the internet and see what scriptures or bible studies there are that go along with it. I can tell you that by just doing that has really encouraged me. The scriptures I read would speak volumes to me. I felt like it was just for me and God was letting me know that everything was going to be alright.

If you really want regain control of your life. You have to be committed to the process, because it is not easy and requires work. I don’t say this to be harsh, but it’s the truth.

I really encourage you to reach out to your family, friends, co-workers, or your pastor. Together you can come up with a plan on how to better manage your symptoms. Be as proactive as possible and push ahead so you can gain the strength, courage, and confidence you need to become a better you.

If you are in need of depression support please leave a comment or if you prefer you can email me.