After sharing the encounter I had with depression, there were many that sort to know how I was able to conquer the nagging mosquito called depression. I call it a mosquito because like the mosquitoes that invade my house in the night depression invaded my life and almost paralyzed my everyday living. Each time I thought I finally had killed the noisy mosquito another that was in hiding awakened and it was a long enduring fight.
See the truth is depression can't be ended overnight; it will take major efforts and commitment to finally conquer the illness. I have so much to write and share but for today I will give you core things one must do to recover;
1. Forgiveness
When one is depressed they have overwhelming thoughts of regrets of how things could have been done different. These thoughts of regret need to be countered. It will need one to take steps back right from childhood of the regrets and guilt they have. Do something symbolic:
Write all regrets down and then one by one write I forgive myself for...,I forgive so and so for..., I forgive God for,...
Write all guilty feelings you have and seek forgiveness from God, so and so. If you can't access person's you wronged (they are deceased), write them all down and drop them in church. God is the overall forgiver
2. Accept and Seek Help
Where it is major depression, antidepressants are recommended but need to be prescribed by a shrink. They however should be used hand in hand with other relaxing activities like exercises and meditation.
For minor depression seek professional counselling services. There are free counselors and there are those that charge.
A depressed person shouldn't be allowed to be alone. They could therefore move to a place with a person who understands what they are going through.
3. Eat Right
There are foods that help reduce stress levels. Foods like a ripe banana in the morning and a glass of warm milk before bed time work very well. There are also foods that are rich in serotonin (chemical in the brain responsible for happy thoughts) Food supplements of omega 3 are very helpful.
Eat well balanced foods and avoid the fatty foods. Work with foods that are easy to digest. At all cost avoid intake of alcohol and drugs as they accelerate the situation.
4. Monitor your thoughts
Each hour, take 5 minutes to look back at what you have been thinking the past hr. Any bad thought look for a counter thought that is good. For example, silly me I am late, well good thing I arrived safely...
5. Write all good that happened to you
If you eat three meals in a day, take time to write all down on a piece of paper all the good things that have happened since you last ate. If you don't eat as often, each time you visit the toilet write down all the good that happened to you since your last visit to the toilet. At the end of the day before sleeping, read the overall list of daily occurrence. Kindly note good doesn't have to be winning the rotary, even not falling down, laughing, talking to someone you have not spoken to in a while is a good thing.
6. Write down all the good things you love about yourself
For a depressed person it’s hard for them to find any good in themselves. You can therefore ask someone who knows you well to write the things they admire about you. Have this list close to your bed and every morning after waking up read the list. Even you feel low during the day, read the list. You can save them on emails to read anywhere if you have a smart phone.
7. Take time to pray
God is able to do it all. Tell Him what you need Him to do for Him. Reflect on His messages of hope daily. You can sign up with pastors like Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, and Paula White who have devotional messages sent on email daily.
There is greatness in us all. Always remember that.
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