Good Riddance to Depression
There are many causes of depression, which malady can be very serious
and totally incapacitating, leading to other complications. Suicide can
be the most tragic result, when a person feels there is no longer anything
worthwhile to live for. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
While depression can happen to anyone, it won’t happen if things
are done properly. That’s where the grace and Law of God come in,
He being the Supplier of all good things that tend to life.
What are some possible causes and solutions for depression?
Causes
Diet
Consider proper diet in all aspects and for many good reasons; eliminate
refined sugars and grains, homogenized milk, foods grown or raised with
chemical additives, denatured prepared foods, and genetically modified
organisms. In other words, by any means possible, go organic. How can
you expect to be in a good mood when you’re poisoning yourself?
Even organic foods, like whole wheat, can cause health and mood problems
because of genetic manipulation that altered plants to maximize production
and profits without concern about how the seeds we consume were being
changed. Apparently the newer varieties are hard to digest and can cause
serious problems for our bodies. So we need to go back to the older varieties
of wheat, and back to basics in general in all things.
Water must also be considered part of a healthy diet. We can’t
live without it, but we can hardly live with the water many are drinking
today. Your body needs water free from chemicals and toxins, and not
only that, but water brought back into a natural, healthy state by revitalization.
Revitalizing your diet and water will help revitalize you.
Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
Your body also needs certain vitamins and minerals to function properly,
physically and mentally. For example, a deficiency of folic acid, one
of the B vitamins, can be the cause of major depression and mood disorders
(read Benefits
of Folic Acid Proven to Help with Depression).
Some people have been cured of depression by simply getting important
minerals that were lacking in their diet. Anyone suffering from depression
would do well to look into this. Certain herbs also help to alleviate
stress and depression.
So, while depression is “in the head,” what’s happening
or not happening in the body can play a big part.
Mind Matters
What you put in the body affects the mind, and what you apply your mind
to produces substances that affect the body. That’s right; how
you think has a direct effect on your body’s production of hormone-like
substances that can powerfully impact your health and how you feel. Some
have called this the mind-body connection. You can make it work for or
against you.
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but depression drains one's
strength” (Proverbs 17:22 GW).
Environment
Several environmental factors may be a cause of depression, directly
or indirectly. Are victims suffering from electromagnetic fields from
wiring, appliances, computers, alarm clocks and radios, or plug-ins close
to their beds? Are they working with industrial pollutants? Do they work
in buildings using conventional fluorescent bulbs, which lack the full
spectrum light waves the body needs or one may suffer seasonal
affective disorder?
Are there toxins in the home from deodorizers, housecleaning and laundry
supplies, polishes, and so forth? Are you using a microwave oven for
cooking? These all play havoc with mind and body.
Personal Care Products
What about cosmetics and toiletries? Unless they are organic, they can
mess with your system because almost all of them - body creams, sunscreen,
shave lotions, perfumes, deodorants, hair sprays and colors, and makeup
- are highly toxic. What you put on your skin goes into your blood; what
goes into your blood goes to your nervous system and brain.
Pharmaceuticals
Most medications and pharmaceutical remedies (so-called) are toxic,
partially because they are synthetic, which means they are alien to the
body, which means the body must fight to eliminate them. Some antidepressants
actually do the opposite of what they promise – they cause depression.
There are medications that drive people to suicide. If at all possible,
get rid of those. We find that people on many medications often suffer
nasty complications. When abandoning those that aren’t absolutely
necessary (as in, directly life-saving), negative symptoms disappear
and they soon feel better.
“Well, the doctor told me to take them for my….” Doctors
aren’t God, contrary to popular misconception. People tend to believe
everything doctors say because they are doctors. But they are also human,
which makes them prone to bad judgment and error like anyone else.
What’s worse, modern-day doctors are trained and accustomed to
treat symptoms, not causes, and are grossly ignorant and contemptuous
of natural healing, God’s way of establishing and maintaining true
health. They have been taught the way of maximizing profits for the medical
industrial complex, which isn’t about maximizing your health.
Stress
Some stress is good, a lot is not so good; some kinds are good and some
kinds aren’t; some of the good stresses are only good for so long.
Try to face your stress, identify the cause and, if possible, make arrangements
to alleviate or eliminate it, which will go a long way to dealing with
depression. And take plenty of vitamin C, which is consumed so much faster
by the body when in stress. Menopause
Menopause can be a source of depression. While you may not be able to
do a lot about it, you can do some. Again, watch your diet, get your
rest, exercise, and sunshine, and you should weather the storm more easily.
Even just knowing what the problem is helps a lot. Being in the dark
about it adds more stress; it helps to have the assurance your feelings
won’t last forever.
This brings us to...
Solutions
Alternative Healthcare
Get a naturopathic or homeopathic doctor or some alternative health
practitioner who cares about doing things the natural, healthy way, and
who will deal with the root cause of the problem, instead of treating
the symptoms and creating more trouble. We have had many good experiences
and much success with alternative healthcare, as opposed to conventional
medicine.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care has done the trick in some cases. I once suffered
terrible bouts and prolonged periods of fear, anxiety, and depression.
For years, I thought the root cause was spiritual and spent much time
calling on God to forgive my sins, whatever they were, and heal me. I
would examine myself over and over to find the issue within.
Then I went to a chiropractor because I came to the place where my neck
was bothering me so much I could no longer live a normal life, unable
to stand, sit, or lie in certain normal positions. After the first few
treatments, my anxious moments and bouts of depression were gone! All
it took was simple neck adjustments by a competent chiropractor.
I marveled
at how the physical and spiritual are so tied together that one may
not tell which is which, and how dealing with a physical problem
makes such a difference, mentally and spiritually. Exercise
Get some exercise! Getting a physical tune-up definitely makes a difference
in energy and mood. Your spirit is often “out of shape” because
your body is out of shape. Spend time in some gardening or yard work
or sport, some outdoor activity, or just go for a brisk walk.
For consistency, start a short exercise routine that includes bursts
of strenuous activity you can handle without injuring yourself. Those
have been shown to provide big benefits with a small investment of time,
like 12-20 minutes a day.
Fresh Air and Sunshine
Are people getting enough sunshine? Sunshine is very important – and
not harmful, as many ignorant experts want you to think. Natural vitamin
D is crucial for your health and wellbeing. Pull back the curtains! Don’t
withdraw to the dark. Get outside!
Are you getting enough fresh air? How important is that? Amazing what
a good walk in the fresh air and sun, especially in the country or a
park, can do for you, even in a matter of minutes. A walk in the sun
is a mood lifter, for sure.
Rest and Relaxation Just making sure to get enough rest will solve the problem in some cases.
Sleep is very important. And you’d be surprised how a quick 10-20
minute catnap in the middle of the day can recharge your batteries.
Avoid Negative Influences
Turn off the TV with all its negative content, especially before bedtime.
We’ve discovered that getting to bed early and not watching the
evening news or some stimulating program before we retire makes a difference
in mood, quality of sleep, and peace of mind. A good rule to follow:
If there is a general trouble or problem discussed, and it isn’t
your business or in your power to do anything, avoid contemplating or
troubling yourself about it. Television and the internet are prevalent
sources of such pests.
If you spend too much time on the computer every day, especially late
into the evenings just before bed, you’ll have problems, which
can lead to depression.
Tie Up Loose Ends
Another important, effective way to help people with depression is to
instruct them (if they are teachable) in taking care of the things in
their lives for which they are responsible, including and especially
the small things they may be neglecting, like cleaning the house and
getting rid of junk. It’s certainly depressing to be buried under
undone chores and a pile of useless clutter.
Laziness and negligence are good fertilizers for depression. It’s
amazing how far completing some little unattended chore will go in improving
mood, like washing up dirty dishes piled in the sink. From there, energy
increases, mood improves, and you go on to the next little chore… one
at a time. Watch your self-worth, peace, joy, and satisfaction begin
to grow.
Increase Interests and Diversify
One can read some good books. By “good,” I mean constructive,
wholesome, interesting books – maybe autobiographies and nonfiction
stories, that sort of thing. Ask around about some uplifting books to
expand horizons and capture your attention.
Hobbies help – in other words, diversify your interests. People
can read at The Path of Truth – that stimulates a
few people, for better or for worse! There you learn how to live, which
is
what our
website is all about.
Take Care of Unfinished Business and Indebtedness
Is your conscience troubling you? Many are the cases of depression caused
by both conscious and unconscious guilt. Have you done wrong somewhere
and can’t get rid of that nagging feeling? Did you borrow and not
pay back, steal, lie, deceive, hurt, cheat, or offend in any way, whether
openly or secretly? It won’t do to try to hide or forget it. It’s
there in you and will remain there, festering and collecting compound
interest, until you either honestly and fairly deal with it, or destroy
yourself.
Wow, the burden lifted when you correct the wrong and do the right!
You’ll want to run to your psychiatrist and tell him the good news!
You won’t even be angry with him for not solving the problem for
you, he being quite unable to do so. In these things, you are your own
caregiver.
Moving On
Are you clinging to unpleasant memories? Are you longing for your departed
son or daughter or spouse? Will you gain anything by trying to hang on
to that which is gone forever? Would your loved ones want you to do that?
If so, that would be very selfish of them.
If someone you love deliberately left you and won’t return, start
looking at what is, not what was. What will
be depends on what is, but
if you mess with what is by what was, there goes your past, present,
and future. How bad is that?
Get on with the rest of your life, which can be full of purpose, rewards,
adventures, and accomplishments. All is not lost. There may be a whole
universe in one person, but one person is never your universe, not even
close, no matter how great they were; so why live as though they are?
King David made that mistake for a short while. His son, Absalom, was
killed in rebellion while trying to seize the throne from David. Though
his son was his enemy, David’s heart was broken for him and he
fell into great sorrow, a prelude to depression, if allowed to continue:
2 Samuel 19:1-8 MKJV
(1) And it was told to Joab, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.
(2) And the victory that day was turned into mourning to all the people.
For the people heard it said that day how the king was grieved for his
son.
(3) And the people went up secretly into the city that day, as people
who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
(4) But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice,
O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
(5) And Joab came into the house to the king and said, You have today
shamed the faces of all your servants. For they have saved your life
and the lives of your sons and your daughters today, the lives of your
wives, and the lives of your concubines.
(6) By loving your enemies and hating those who love you, you have declared
today that there are neither commanders nor servants to you. For I know
that today if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it
would have pleased you very much!
(7) And now get up and go out. Speak to the heart of your servants. For
I swear by the LORD if you do not go out, not a man shall stay with you
tonight. And that will be worse to you than all the evil which has come
to you from your youth until now.
(8) Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told it to the
people, saying, Behold, the king sits in the gate! And all the people
came before the king. (For Israel had fled, every one to his tent.)
David had the wisdom to receive Joab’s counsel, understanding
that if he lingered at the tragic loss he had, he could lose everything
else. He knew he had to snap out of it, and he made the decision to do
so. That’s all it took. As a result, he retained what he still
had and went on to more.
Nothing More to Lose? Think Again!
Do you think you have nothing more to lose? Do you know that? Do you
know the future?
King David eventually received much more than what was obvious in the
present. He became known as the father of the Messiah (Jesus was known
as the Son of David). What kind of loss would he have suffered if he
had remained in sorrow and bitterness over his dead son?
Life must go on, and it does, with or without us or our children, parents,
spouses, businesses, homes, riches, reputations, or anything else.
Now for another example: If anyone had great opportunity and justification
for bitterness, unforgiveness, and depression, it was Joseph, whose brothers,
without cause, suddenly caught and cruelly sold him into slavery. Had
he hung onto bitterness and even the hope of revenge, would he have become
second ruler over Egypt, the superpower of that day? Listen to his reaction
to his brothers years later, when he had the full opportunity to get
even with them:
“And Joseph said to his brothers, Please come near me. And they
came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into
Egypt. And now do not be grieved, nor angry with yourselves that you
sold me here. For God sent me before you to preserve life” (Genesis
45:4-5 MKJV).
“And he kissed all his brothers, and wept upon them. And afterwards
his brothers talked with him” (Genesis 45:15 MKJV).
(His brothers hadn’t apologized to him before he forgave
them.)
Genesis 50:18-21 MKJV
(18) And his brothers also went and fell down before his face. And they
said, Behold, we are your servants.
(19) And Joseph said to them, Do not fear. For am I in the place of God?
(20) But as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for
good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save a great many people
alive.
(21) And now do not fear. I will nourish you and your little ones. And
he comforted them, and spoke to their hearts.
Nothing Lasts Forever
Remember that all things change. Nothing lasts forever in this world,
except the Lord. You can’t have anything in this world forever,
no matter what. That’s the way it’s set up. And are you aware
that there is a future beyond this world, and that one day God will restore
everything and reconcile all things to Himself? It’s true! Read
in our section, The Restitution of All
Things.
Have the Right Attitude
A right attitude is so important. Be positive! I have found that whether
I’m positive or negative about something, I’m right – any
situation has both negative and positive elements. If I take a coin and
look only at the tails side of it, I see what is there and there truly
is what I see. Who can argue?
But you can also look at the heads side and be right, too. It’s
your choice as to which side you focus on. There are always two sides.
Depression and fear can overtake you if you focus on the negative. Hard
or easy, look on the positive side; steel yourself to look at the heads
side of the coin more than at the tails side, and you’ll soon find
yourself feeling much better.
More on attitude in various ways, starting with…
Forget Entitlement
You may have been poisoned with the notion that you are something
special, that you are entitled to certain advantages, benefits, and positive
treatment. Then when things don’t go your way, you
pout and become resentful and depressed. You may resort to revenge and
violence. Many even commit mass killings and suicide because they don’t
get their way. You better get over this attitude, which is prevalent
in society today.
Think again! The world owes you nothing. You are nothing special. You
need to grow up and get wise. Be advised that you are really nothing,
nobody owes you anything, and it’s time you began to think and
act in terms of giving, instead of receiving.
Realize that all that has
happened to you has happened because you had it coming and needed
it. Got that? It’s true! When you begin to realize this truth,
you will experience a marvelous change for the better.
In Canada, we have the Charter of Rights. We
would be much better off with a Charter of Responsibilities. Shortsighted
and unwise men formed our Charter of Rights and have caused no end of
grief for this nation. We need wise men to lead us, lest we perish, destroying
ourselves in selfish thinking and expectations. We all need to turn to
God, our Maker, for His fear and wisdom.
Get Away from Self-Absorption
How about getting your mind off yourself? It’s easy to get overwhelmed
with your own needs and troubles, not realizing how those go away when
you start helping someone else with their needs and troubles. Before
you know it, you’re feeling much better.
Give and it will be given you. Solve someone else’s problems,
and soon you’ll reap what you have sown; your problems will begin
to be solved. To battle depression, keep in mind that you get what you
give. You can't be self-centered and live a good life.
Just be careful about dealing with others, however. Some negative company
can drain and depress you, too. Choose your company carefully. Seek out
those who are positive and helpful or who are willing to be helped.
Identify Your Depression
Sometimes we need to identify or specify depression. There can be different
forms and degrees of it, not recognized or called “depression.” There
are feelings of being defeated, deflated, sad, pessimistic, anxious,
angry, hopeless, useless, unwanted, bored, desolate, fearful, listless,
or lonely. One needs to identify where those feelings began, and instead
of physiological causes, we may find social and attitudinal origins in
events, either subtle or otherwise.
Trace your steps back as far as you can. It could be something someone
said to you that hurt, maybe someone you know, someone very important
to you, perhaps too important. Talk it over with that person, if you
can. Tell them how their words impacted you. For all you know, you misunderstood
what they said or why they said it. Perhaps they had no idea and would
be sorry for what they said. If it’s impossible to communicate
with the person, it’s up to you to determine to let it go on your
own. Whether it was true or false, you can choose to keep it or let it
go (forgive).
Was what they said true, even if delivered with a negative attitude?
Be thankful for the heads-up, face it, and deal with it. You needn’t
be insulted; take it as a gift, an opportunity to improve and be freed
from something that shouldn’t be allowed to remain in your life.
Did you know that our enemies can often be our very best friends? Take
advantage of everything that comes your way, the negative as much as
the positive, the evil as well as the good – they both have a purpose
for eventual good. Read The Purpose of Evil.
Forgiveness, the Antidote for Self-Pity, Resentment, and Bitterness
Depression can be caused by unforgiveness, which will manifest as bitterness.
Who won’t you forgive, and why? Was the thing said or done deliberately
to do you evil? If so, why give the evildoer the pleasure of victory?
Let it go, forgive. Your reaction of resentment and bitterness amounts
to siding with your enemy against yourself. If the enemy intended hurt
for you, why help them?
We can be in prolonged self-pity, a form of depression. What good will
that do? Forget it!
If you have a fault, handicap, loss, failure, disappointment, or defeat,
learn from it. There isn’t a successful person alive that didn’t
get there without all of those things, yes, all of them. Those are all
needed to form and direct a person in life. Talk to successful people
and they’ll tell you that. Losses, failures, defeats, and disappointments
are appointments in the right direction to success.
Are you resentful or bitter toward anyone? Many are and don’t
realize it. They get treated for depression and take medications that
only compound the problem. Forgive those who have offended you. Read
Forgiveness, The
Bane of Bitterness, and Offendedness.
We recently came across these words:
“Holding a grudge is letting someone live
rent-free in your head.”
“Resentment is like taking poison and expecting
the other person to die!”
Prayer and Thanksgiving
The very best people can do in their state of depression is
to obey God and His Laws; they must pray and give thanks to God for their
situations. How good it is to give thanks and never quit! Yes, you may
hate your circumstances; they may be pure evil to you, and you certainly
won’t feel like giving thanks, but give thanks anyway. As you give
thanks, you will begin to experience thankfulness. Believe it!
Ask God
what He wants of you, and keep asking until you receive an answer.
But you better be prepared to obey when He speaks, which may not be easy.
Better still, thank Him for the answer He hasn’t given you yet,
as though He has given it, and don’t quit thanksgiving until you
have the victory. By that time, you may not even need or want what you
originally asked for.
If you don’t feel better right away, your genuine thanksgiving
to God, accepting your circumstances as from the hand of God for good,
and recognizing Him as Lord of all, will eventually lead you to the final
solution needed, guaranteed. Whether this solution is physical (like
getting necessary vitamins or trace minerals, diet adjustments, sunshine,
or exercise) or whether it is mental (like changing your attitude or
approach towards life or towards people) or whether it is spiritual (like
forgiving those who have hurt you), God will provide. He will always
make a way for those who honor Him:
“For the LORD God is a sun and a shield. The LORD will give grace
and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly” (Psalms
84:11 HNV).
Do you believe those words? Do you believe them enough to impress them
on others? People all around us need serious help.
Jesus Christ the Ultimate Answer
The Lord Jesus Christ came to give mankind life, which we can affirm
because He has specifically done this for us:
“The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy
[depression being one way of many]. I have come so that they might have
life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10
MKJV).
He turned us away from our destructives. He has been teaching us how
to live for many years now. So we know firsthand that the best thing
anyone can do is to look to Him, not just because He is the Answer to
all our problems, but because He is our Lord and Savior, to Whom we owe
everything.
He paid the ultimate price for us, which in turn has made us eternally
indebted to Him. Understanding and embracing this great gift of His life,
along with recognizing the necessity for obedience to God is the way
to peace, joy, and happiness, because servitude to God is the way to
life. And He supplies the grace (ability to please Him), if we
humble ourselves before Him.
But if we only live to serve ourselves, depression is one of the many
forms of death that we may suffer, because we don’t come to God
and have life in the Son.
“He who believes on the Son has everlasting life, and he who does
not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon
him” (John 3:36 MKJV).
That’s what The Path of Truth is all about, teaching people and
instructing them from God in how to have life. This true teaching includes
tearing down the false teachings that have been presented to the world
as from God, but are the evil and ignorant imaginations of men. To this
day, the Devil subtly continues his lie to Eve that your eyes would be
opened to be as God and you would live, not die, as a result of eating
from the Tree of Knowledge.
Eat from the Tree of Life, instead. Go directly to Jesus Christ. Know
the Truth, Which He is, and the Truth will make you free. And when the
Son of Man makes you free, you will be free, indeed.
Other writings on our site that may help with depression (and everything
else):
Back to Basics
Christian Physical Diet
God Heals Today, His Way
On the Question of Suicide
Is Your Profession of Faith Vain, Christian?
You can also peruse our farm and health website, where we provide solutions
to various harmful aspects of this world, which have a bearing on our
state of mind: www.HarvestHaven.com.
Victor Hafichuk
Paul Cohen | 
