How to Break Depression

In the world we live in today it seems that anxiety and depression has been running a muck. No matter where we turn, we encounter people that are overly stressed and anxious about their everyday lives. I am no exception to this circumstance. In my recent time in the depression pit, I found five steps that are very helpful during those difficult times.

1.) Identify the source-Too often our depression or our difficult times are influenced and inflamed from outside sources. These sources could be difficult situations, difficult people or our own thought processes that leads us down a difficult road. In order to fully recover, we have to identify these sources and also identify the negative impact that these sources have on our hearts, our minds and our lives.

2.) Eliminate the source-Once we retrospectively discover what the various sources are to our depression, the next step is to eliminate that source from our life. By eliminating the source to our negative attitude and outlook, the sooner we will be able to heal and begin to lift ourselves out of the depression pit. Some examples of these sources could be the type of people that you associate with and the way that your friends treat you, holding your true feelings of a situation to yourself and not expressing them in a healthy way, and the thought process that you allow to fill our mind and guide your heart.

A great biblical resource that expresses this is Hebrews 12:1, which says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."

3.)Look around- As we go through our time of recovery and we begin to eliminate our negative influences, we are then left will an opening for new influencers that can help shape our mood and our attitude. With that opening we should look around and see the various people and places around the world that are leaving a positive imprint on the lives of many. In order for this to take a lasting effect, it must start with the home. Look around your room, your office, your house and decide whether you are surround by images  that impact you positively, allowing to carry around a attitude of gratitude. 

The biblical resource that expresses this is Philippians 4:8, which says, " 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

4.) Shut your mind off- Another aspect of anxiety and depression is one's thought process. Too often, we do not control the tracks that our train of thought travels. We allow our train of thought to determine what we will feel and the mood that we will carry throughout your day. We lay in our beds and toss and turn, being controlled by would-be-could-be scenarios and worries of our responses to future events. In order to effectively gather ourselves out of the depression pit that we tend to live in, we must gain control over our thought process.

The biblical resource that expresses this is 1 Peter 5:7, which says, "6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

5.) Encourage yourself- I have soon come to realize that the statement, "In life your biggest cheerleader has to be yourself" is completely true. I can't expect people to give me support and to cheer me on until I am able to be my own mascot and cheerleader. Too often we look into the mirror and we are instantly discouraged at what we see and who we are. Sometimes this lack of self-esteem comes from what other have said about us and the lies that we are quick to believe about ourselves. Also, our lack of self-esteem may also comes from how we see ourselves and what we think of ourselves. When we have confidence in who we are we should cherish that and express ourselves in a healthy way. Encouraging yourself could be as easy as a pep talk in the mirror before you leave the house for the day to thinking positively about yourself and your abilities throughout the day.