What are you doing to help....

[Kristen.NewCreation]

combat the symptoms of depression you may experience?

For example:

sleeping too much
sleeping too little
eating too much
not eating
poor concentration
lack of motivation
feeling hopeless
​

Is there anything besides or in addition to medication that you've felt helpful in combatting any of your symptoms?

What has been your most difficult symptom to deal with?

 

[ForeverInHisArms]

My most difficult symptom is lack of energy, or maybe lack of motivation. I have always had problems procrastinating, but it has gotten to the point that I only do things that require a physical effort when abolutly nessicary! I pray I find a solution to that problem. I get so down on myself when I do this. I hate being so lazy. If you have any solutions I will be happy to hear them!
GOD BLESS!!!

 

[Kristen.NewCreation]

My most difficult symptom is lack of energy, or maybe lack of motivation. I have always had problems procrastinating, but it has gotten to the point that I only do things that require a physical effort when abolutly nessicary! I pray I find a solution to that problem. I get so down on myself when I do this. I hate being so lazy. If you have any solutions I will be happy to hear them!
GOD BLESS!!!

There is a difference between being lazy and being depressed.

When I get into that space, I use a "15 minute rule" where I make myself do something for 15 minutes. Once I do that, I usually feel better because I did something. Sometimes that pushes me to do more because I get an motivation burst from feeling good. Mind you, I usually would get a break after 15 minutes so that I could "rest up" for the next spurt.

I think prayer is a great avenue. Do you have others who pray with you? Any people offline who would help you get a jump start?

I know it's tough.

 

[AWorkInProgress]

If you feel like your a slave to a particular behavior, then most likely are.

I would say not only to seek ways to pull out of these syntoms, but use resources to help understand why is calling them to begin with.

Think of the human mind like a car. If something is now performing right then some part of the car needs to be replaced or repaired. Friends wise in these areas, Pasters, counsellors, online resources, and books can help you solve these problems. Most importantly understanding given by the Great Father, thru prayer.

I found that all negitive behaviors relate to some root problem or emotional scar, list of dysfunctions picked up from society drowning in sin, and lack of understanding of how God created us.

2 chronicles 7:14
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Proverbs 19:8
To acquire wisdom is to love oneself;
people who cherish understanding will prosper.


This is my concept

From childhood we are always absorbing and adapting changes. Sometimes as some point in growth, we forget how to grow. So we get stuck, and we feel emotionally down because of it. We are not running our minds like God meant them to be.

Each new problem you solve by understanding the problem in itself and the wisdom given to 'fix' the problem. Like learning new disciplines that slowly, one success at a time, unlock the great potiential within us. As we become wiser, we can handle problems that we couldn't before. We grow stronger.

We are created by our Great Father, to understand him is to understand ourselves. We were created in his image, so in essance we are creators. Look at our technology and art, we are all individually gifted with the ability to create. Just we get so bogged down by the sinful nature and all the garbage in life. That we never really tap our potiential. Or we give all our energies to things we become slaves to. Easier to sit down infront of computer/television than it is to get out and create something. Easier to hide in our homes in fear than it is to fellowship with others and put our gifts together, achieve great things.

Just something for you to ponder.

 

[sunflower2007]

I can say that as far as those symptoms that you listed, I have had issues with most of them-- especially the hopeless part. (When you are hopeless, you tend to neglect many of the other areas such as getting the right amount of sleep and eating healthy, etc.) I realized that the reason I was so hopeless and depressed was because I had no purpose. When we get up in the morning with hope that God is going to do something great through us today and He is going to use us, the depression seems to disappear. It is wonderful to wake up in the morning with hope and a smile rather than not wanting to get up because I would just be doing the same thing I do every day.

To get a purpose, what I recommend is to begin praying that God will show you what your purpose is. Begin doing whatever you can for God. It is easier for God to steer a moving car in the right direction! If you are doing whatever you can for God, He will show you where He wants you.

Everything we do for God will have eternal value. When I get to heaven, I don't want to go empty-handed, I want to bring lots of people with me! Getting a reason to live is a huge depression-buster!

 

[dbot]

The hardest part for me was feeling hopeless, because I knew I had no control over anything. Every time I tried to do something to make things better, it always blew up in my face, and made everything worse.

I wish I could say that I had a hobby or a routine I could do that would take the pain away, but I couldn't. I refused to take medicine as well. Something was wrong, and I knew exactly what it was. It wasn't a chemical imbalance. It was a real, legitimate problem that I had to face every day at school. No amount of video games, or TV, or anything was going to take it away.

I can say, without a doubt in my heart, that the only reason I survived that whole thing was because God brought me out of it. Back then, they would say "God, break our hearts", and "Thank God for your trials", and I was nothing short of offended. But looking back, God took me almost to the point of game over for a reason. Without it, I think I might have become a far worse person. And now, seven years later, I'm beginning to develop a special heart for those who walk that path after me. I've been there, and I want to try and help those who are there now, so that they might be delivered from that swiftly, and by God through me.

God led me into it, and God led me out. I firmly believe he will do the same for others.

(this kinda turned into a bit of a testimony and that really wasnt my initial intention)

 

[AWorkInProgress]

Awesome dbot,

He did the same for me. Well the trials happened after I was saved. I did have what seemed "impossible" situation that happened which make me realize I needed to change after it all fell appart. Life time of knew how to live an empty life and just tired of being miserible got me thru many harsh trials. I finally learned how to grow the right way and focused on the problems that I could solve. Then focused on the larger ones, and even to today there are some dysfunctions that are so deep. That takes some time to see my folly and identify it as a problem. Specially when it is a common place thinking dysfunction.

Purification is like being a constant student. The learning never stops.

 

[ShannonJ]

Wow.......it is so difficult some days. I have been taking a sleep aid at night because my Doctor has stressed the importance of having a regular sleep pattern. I also find that my lack of eating only contributes to my loss of energy and motivation so if I eat I feel better. Sometimes the hardest part of the day is at the beginning when you have to make the decision to get out of bed and to be determined to make the best of the day no matter how hard the fight. It seems like lately my days get easier. There is usually a time during the day when I am just so tired of fighting that I break down and cry but I always get through it and I believe that God is delivering me from this. I also believe that there is a purpose for me having to go through this and that gives me hope that my suffering is not in vain and that someday I will be able to help someone else get through this. Who knows what God has in store for us.

 

[Kristen.NewCreation]

I would say not only to seek ways to pull out of these syntoms, but use resources to help understand why is calling them to begin with.

Think of the human mind like a car. If something is now performing right then some part of the car needs to be replaced or repaired. Friends wise in these areas, Pasters, counsellors, online resources, and books can help you solve these problems. Most importantly understanding given by the Great Father, thru prayer.

I definitely agree with this. Prayer is necessary for direction and leading.

I can say that as far as those symptoms that you listed, I have had issues with most of them-- especially the hopeless part. (When you are hopeless, you tend to neglect many of the other areas such as getting the right amount of sleep and eating healthy, etc.) I realized that the reason I was so hopeless and depressed was because I had no purpose. When we get up in the morning with hope that God is going to do something great through us today and He is going to use us, the depression seems to disappear. It is wonderful to wake up in the morning with hope and a smile rather than not wanting to get up because I would just be doing the same thing I do every day.

To get a purpose, what I recommend is to begin praying that God will show you what your purpose is. Begin doing whatever you can for God. It is easier for God to steer a moving car in the right direction! If you are doing whatever you can for God, He will show you where He wants you.

Everything we do for God will have eternal value. When I get to heaven, I don't want to go empty-handed, I want to bring lots of people with me! Getting a reason to live is a huge depression-buster!

Thanks for sharing this. Have you read the Purpose Driven Life? That speaks directly about our purpose in Christ.

(this kinda turned into a bit of a testimony and that really wasnt my initial intention)

But it's through our testimonies that people can be encouraged that there is hope. Sometimes I prefer to hear someone share how God moved them out than to hear someone with "all the answers" because each of us are similar but different. Other times, I may prefer to hear someone else's journey, but I need some answers.

Wow.......it is so difficult some days. I have been taking a sleep aid at night because my Doctor has stressed the importance of having a regular sleep pattern. I also find that my lack of eating only contributes to my loss of energy and motivation so if I eat I feel better. Sometimes the hardest part of the day is at the beginning when you have to make the decision to get out of bed and to be determined to make the best of the day no matter how hard the fight. It seems like lately my days get easier. There is usually a time during the day when I am just so tired of fighting that I break down and cry but I always get through it and I believe that God is delivering me from this. I also believe that there is a purpose for me having to go through this and that gives me hope that my suffering is not in vain and that someday I will be able to help someone else get through this. Who knows what God has in store for us.

I hear you! Isn't it awesome that no matter how bad things are, God will turn it for His good.

 

[Lotuspetal_uk]

combat the symptoms of depression you may experience?

For example:

sleeping too much
sleeping too little
eating too much
not eating
poor concentration
lack of motivation
feeling hopeless
​

Is there anything besides or in addition to medication that you've felt helpful in combatting any of your symptoms?

What has been your most difficult symptom to deal with?

Excellent replies here, praise the Lord

Earlier this year I'd battled with most of the above with anxiety in addition. The way I coped was a collection of the following done in baby steps initially, but increased as the Lord strengthened me:

1) lack of sleep/too much sleep - initially I taught myself how to crochet during the nights when I couldn't sleep. The repetition induced sleep for me, whilst the complexity of the patterns trained my concentration. But it was a prayer that a friend gave me that I said (initially not really believing the words but again this changed) which seemed to do the trick. Let me know if anyone wants the more detailed version. The content is basically to thank the Lord that He brought me into His family, to thank Him for this time of renewal and refreshment through sleep; that I trust Him to guard my mind and body whilst I sleep; that I declare my trust to Him to let good thoughts about Him linger in my mind while I sleep; I ask Him to guard my mind from nightmares; I cast my fears and anxieties upon Him; and I finally commit myself to God as my rock, fortress and strong tower. Even now, I say this prayer as well as everything else that's occured in the day, just before I rest. I have found that he always answers.

2) eating too much/too little/lack of concentration etc - I'd read that certain vitamins and minerals help those suffering from depression and anxiety namely:

vit B (thiamine)
vit B6 (pyridoxine)
Pantothenic acid
vit C (ascorbic acid)
vit E
zinc
magnesium
calcium

I began to nibble on those foods that contain a natural source of the above such as dark green vegetables, peanuts, milk, yellow corn, apples/fruit. I reduced my coffee intake and tried to drink water/juice. Again in baby steps but gradually the amounts increased over time. Some days when I had no appetite, I'd have only a meal consisting of some of the above, but by initially nibbling, it seemed to help the anti-d's I was on. Now - after 7 months of doing this - I'm feeling more alert and positive and with winter approaching, I'm going to maintain such a diet.

What helped me immensely was prayer, mental and physical rest and routine, but mainly prayer. With my crazy life, I had forsaken my Lord, I'd stopped talking to Him daily, stopped crying before Him, stopped laughing with Him. This was the first thing that I had to alter in my routine. This then allowed Him to facilitate the rest.

I hope this helps, and sorry for the length of rambling.

God bless

 

[sunflower2007]

Thanks for sharing this. Have you read the Purpose Driven Life?

No, haven't read it.


I would like to mention another thing that helps with depression... Keeping your surroundings orderly. I have noticed many times that when I am feeling depressed and mentally cluttered, I look around and my surroundings are a disaster. If the house stays clean and organized, my brain is also organized and I don't feel such mental confusion. It helps when you keep at least one room in the house organized and clean because that way you at least have a place to go where you feel organized and can slowly tackle anything you have to do. (such as cleaning the rest of the house!) I think this is Flylady's shiny sink principle.