Here is a great book:
Father Anthony Coniaris,
Confronting and Controlling Thoughts, Light and Life Publishing (2004). It is largely taken from the Philokalia and has been quite beneficial.
Here is a brief excerpt:
The Fathers of the Philokalia keep emphasizing the importance of guarding the mind so that it is completely present to the task at hand. They keep saying that wherever our mind is, there is where we are, and wherever our mind is not, there is where we are not.
Then Fr. Coniaris gives several examples.
The middle-aged businessman seated at the family dinner table is concerned about his need for an operation, about the expenses involved, . . . etc. These concerns pass through his mind to the extent that he is barely conscious of his food or of his loved ones sitting at the same table with him.
His son, eating at the same table . . . is completely oblivious of his father and mother eating with him.
His mother sitting next to him at the table, might be worried about something else that keeps her attention from the family dinner and causes her great anxiety.
None of these persons, although they are members of the family and sitting at the same table, is present to each other. They are miles away from each other, wrapped up in their thoughts and fears about tomorrow. Not being really present, they are complete strangers to each other.
. . .
Thus, we are to descend with the mind into the heart not only when speaking with God, but also when relating to our loved ones in order to be completely present to them, mind, heart and soul.
*****
When we can be present to each other, then we will not have the time to engage in self-pity (depression).
RULE OUT
LYME DISEASE, too.
I know another fellow who started suffering from depression, chronic fatigue, and listlessness. His astute M.D. realizing that his patient lived in the LYME DISEASE area, ran a battery of blood tests, found that he had Lyme Disease, gave him antibiotics, and today after about 6 months of therapy finally got over it and is normal today.
