What's Helpful in my Depression?

We’ve been talking about depression…

It is very important that you get medical advice and follow it. Sometimes the feelings of depression are caused by medical issues, so it is vitally important that you get medical help and follow the advice that you have been given

While acknowledging the suffering that you are going through, there are practices that will help you as you face your depression and try to pick up daily life again

For example, decide a time that you would like to get out of bed by. For example 9 a.m. You might feel that it takes everything out of you and that you are going against every fibre in your body to do it, but please do.

Then the following week, as well as getting out of bed by 9 a.m., make your bed as well

The week after that, as well as getting out of bed at 9 a.m. and making your bed, be dressed by 10 a.m.

It is very helpful to get physical exercise. Try to go for a walk for about 15 minutes. Now, I know this sounds like the impossible to you and your whole being cries against it, but please do it. Maybe ask a friend to walk with you if it would help make sure you do it.

Going on from here, tackling depression involves tackling your thoughts….it could be beneficial for you to ask a friend to help you with this if it seems too difficult.

A lot of depression is related to how we have interpreted and responded to suffering. To tackle depression, we need to become aware of our thoughts.

Write down what you are thinking and then ask some questions:

· Is this true?

· Is this what God says?

· What does God say?

- write down what he does say, put it on cards, in your phone, on post its on places where you are inclined to think this way, and say those truths out loud throughout the day.

Discovering where you tend to think like this will help you put things into place to make it as hard as possible to entertain and dwell on those thoughts. Examples are where you do your chores, when you are driving, your inner response to social media, and when you think of or spend time with certain people.

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