Monday, May 28, 2007

"Don't Worry.... Be Happy."

Symptoms of depression vary from person to person. These symptoms include feelings of disconnectedness, sadness, hopelessness, guilt, indifference, and worthlessness. Other symptoms are headaches, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, and low energy. You may also be entertaining thoughts of suicide or have noticed an impact on your spiritual life.

If you, not unlike myself, are experiencing some of these symptoms and fear for your heart and all it endures, try to remember this as I do:  Your depression is not only necessary, but it can be productive in your forward movement toward healing.  Depression is a unique state of the body and mind in which you experience sadness and low energy as a way of preparing the body to do something significant.

My prayer:

Lord, help me to embrace this depression as a step in the healing process. Help me to understand that I can learn from this depression and that You have something significant planned for me as a result of my growth.  Help me to be thankful, for all that I am blessed with in my life.  My gifts are many.  My struggles are truly very few.  Please keep me on the right path.  Guide me to a place where my happiness awaits me.    Amen.

And on that note...  I'm headin' to the LAKE!


 

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are right about depression being something that is a part of life and necessary sometimes.  It is your body's way of telling you that something needs to change.  The trick is knowing what about your life needs to change to relieve the depression.  This is easier for some than for others.  I'm not saying that depression can always be treated without medication...quite the contrary in fact.  Sometimes the depression is so bad that the person can't think about change...the meds help take some of the pressure off so that they can make the decisions that will ultimately lead to the relief from the depression.

Greg

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this entry on depression.  People don't understand what is like unless they have gone through it.  Right now I feel like I am enveloped in jello - I can see what I want, but can't free myself.  I guess once I find my way, I will be doing something REALLY SIGNIFICANT!!! Keeping you in my prayers.

Anonymous said...

lovely, lovely entry.  i have suffered from depression for years and just in the last year or so really taken on conquering it.
enjoy your day
tina

Anonymous said...

Depression is an illness that lot`s of people suffer and others don`t always understand. When they can`t see what`s broken then they don`t realise what needs fixed. I always say that it has many faces it depends on the one that it shows to you. It can take you on a road that you don`t want to be on but it`s how you get back off the road that counts and makes you a stronger person for walking it.
bella xx

Anonymous said...

you put into words what many need to read....many many out there think those who are depressed just need to get over it.
You are loved.
lj

Anonymous said...

I think this post is very helpful. The symptoms are right on. I hope anyone who sees themself here can get help.

Anonymous said...

Depression is normal, and as you said, perhaps useful.

Despair is not.

Anonymous said...

Bless you, dear one. I head to the Lakes too, to the mountains and oceans; all offer tranquility and peace, restoration and hope. I have dealt with depression for all of my life. It gets very hard sometimes. But when it is at its worst, I remind myself that it comes and goes, that it has never consumed me- and never shall. I pray with you always. Love you always too.
Barb- http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/HEYLETSTALK

Anonymous said...

lucky you getting to spend some time at the Lake!!!
I totally understand about the depression thing: somedays I am so convinced that what I am feeling and how I am feeling is a mild case of depression. After all that I went thru with Dave I still don't feel right. Often I think I really need to talk to my doctor about it but its just awkward. So I just try to snap myself out of it. That is not such an easy thing though.
Have a good week!!
Maria

Anonymous said...

This was very uplifting to me, Michelle.  It came at a very good time..

Have fun at the lake!

Hugs
jackie