What is depression?

Depression is a form of mental illness that should never be ignored or left untreated. To do so can have devastating and lasting effects. Depression is considered a chemical imbalance. When the chemicals inside the brain become imbalanced, this triggers a reaction that causes depression to set in.

Diffent things can lead to depression and we all react differently to those circumstances. One of the leading causes of depression is unexpected tragedy.

I first became depressed after the loss of my first child in an auto accident. I was in my fourth month of pregnancy. I would ride the bus back and forth to work. During one ride home, the bus was crowded and no one was kind enough to offer my his seat. So I chose to stand instead. Unfortunately, a dog ran out in front of the bus, the driver slammed on his breaks, causing me to lose my balance. I flew down the isle and tried to catch myself on the back of a seat. When I did this, I felt a pull in my lower belly. Immediately I started cramping and bleeding. I believe under normal circumstances, I would have been able to heal from the loss. However, as fate would have it, I was treated very poorly by my doctor and because of his actions, I was left scarred for a lifetime.

I went to my parents’ house the night of the accident. I called my doctor and told him what had happened. He confined me to complete bedrest and ordered me to come into his office the following morning. I did as he instructed. While in the office no sign of fetal movement could not be detected, so the doctor ordered me to go to the hospital for an upgraded sonogram. The doctor said he would meet me there to discuss the results.

Together my mom, dad, and I went to the hospital. The procedure took a very short time after which, we were lead to a waiting area, so that we could meet with the doctor and discuss what needed to be done.

We waited and we waited and we waited. For hours we waited and the doctor never showed up at the hospital. Here I was, crying and hurting not only from the physical pain, but the emotional pain as well. Eventually the technician, who had performed my ultrasound, said that there was nothing he could do but send me home.

So home we went. My father drove me to my apartment. When I got there, I received a message from the doctor’s office stating that the doctor was at the hospital looking for me and that I needed to return there.

We made the drive back to the hospital to find that the doctor was not there after all. My parents and I went back to waiting again, wondering what was going on and why the doctor wasn’t there like we had expected.

About another hour passed by, maybe an hour and a half. Eventually a nurse came to me with a wheelchair. She rolled me into a very small cubicle of an office. She picked up the phone and handed it to me.

On the other end was the doctor. Over the phone he told me that my baby was dead and that I would have to have a DNC.

At some point in your life, you may have suffered an unexpected tragedy such as this. Healing and recovery may take a lifetime. We may be reminded, far too often, of the pain and suffering that we endured. Sometimes it is hard to let go of the memories. They consume us. They become an obsession with us. They haunt us at all times of the day or night. We may lose many a night’s sleep. We may weep mournfully for that which has been taken away. We hold onto the memories like a crutch. We become comfortable in our grieving because it is the only thing we know how to do.

After tragedy, everyone needs time to heal. For some it make takes weeks, others six months or a year. But grieving should not take a prolonged period of time. Holding onto your grief is a sign of emotional instability, the first sign that depression is making its way into your heart, soul and mind.

What I learned is that the beginning of healing will only take place when you decide to let go. You must make up your mind that you are not going to let your grief control you. How do you do this? First, you rely on God. You ask him to guide you through your day and to restore peace into your soul and to give you strength. You must pray this continually until you truly believe it is true. With diligent prayer, God will answer you. He will lift you beyond your pain . You must believe and have faith that He will do this for you.

Read Proverbs Chapter 1 in its entirity. Proverbs gives you wisdom and knowledge and teaches you how to live a godly life.

"So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15: 13

Our hope for peace rests in God. Our life is full of trials and tribulations, but when you believe in God, he brings you through them without fail. And you become a stronger, better person. It isn’t hard to put your faith in God. You just set your mind and heart to do it. When you put your trust and faith in God, you will feel the burdens of life slip away. Inside you will be filled with a peace and joy that is indescribable. Shouldn’t you start today, living for and believing in God?

Dear Lord,

I have suffered much in my lifetime. I understand that healing begins with letting go. So today I come to you and ask that you remove the pain and suffering from my body. I give this situation over to you. I ask that you strengthen me and restore peace into my soul. I believe and trust in you. My faith rests in you. Thank you for answering my prayer. Amen.

Read Acts Chapter 1 in its entirity. Acts tells of the story of the ministry of Christ through the lives of his disciples.

Walk for 30 minutes in your neighborhood or around your place of business. While you are working meditate on your life, on God and the good things He has given to you. Thank him for your blessings.

It has been proven that walking 30 minutes a day, every day help strengthen the mind and relieves depression.

Read Psalms Chapters 1 through 5 in their entirity. Psalms are prayers of encouragement and inspiration. Reading Psalms will give you hope, inner peace and joy.

In your Meditation Journal- Describe how you are feeling at this very precise moment. No one will read this. It is for you only. Whatever you have kept bottled up inside, let it all out now. Whatever causes you pain and grief, let go of it tonight. Turn you life over to God. Let the healing begin.

In your Meditation Journal you will hopefully begin to see a change in the way you are thinking and feeling. Hopefully by releasing your inner feelings, you will be able to release some of the things that have been hindering you, keeping you depressed. And in doing so, you will begin to heal and feel better about yourself inside.

In your Prayer Journal- write down your prayer tonight. Communicate your deepest feelings to God. Whatever has been ailing you and hindering you through the years, with all sincerity ask God to remove it from you. Have enough trust and faith to believe he will do it. And then rest peacefully tonight.