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DON'T FORGET YOU CAN ALSO FIND JARED ON FACEBOOK
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LINKS WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYIN THE DEPRESSION TOOL KIT contents/disclaimer Don't be afraid to embrace the fact that you are not alone in this world. Even if no one else cares God does. God is not a theory or a nameless force. He is a person, the creator and eternal Father. He knows you and wants you to know Him. Seek Him. Spend time with Him in prayer and in praise. Jesus died to make you a VIP in the Fathers house. previous next contents top Not every one will like you. Hard to believe, right? But this is true whether you have a million friends or a few. The trick is not to be defined by either the like yous or the not so muches but especially not by the not so muches. Learn to be true to who you are in good conscience before God. And at the end of the day be sure you like yourself. previous next contents top Priorities are important. God has granted us all a finite amount of energy and assets. When we try to do everything the drain and the stress will begin to take its toll. Don't buy a Cadillac with a Chevy budget. Recognize your limitations and respect them. Prioritize what's most important and whats expendable. Sometimes less is more because you will be able to focus your energy and talents without pushing yourself to fatigue. previous next contents top The blame game. If you live in the real world, someone has hurt you or harmed you somewhere along the line. Your feeling may be justified or the may be mistaken. Either way the closest route to wellness is not figuring our who's to blame for the past but figuring out what can be made better starting now. Sometime past issues must be confronted in order to be resolved. The greatest tool of resolution is forgiveness. previous next contents top Easy enough to see what we can't change. This is just being stuck in the muck. Making the effort to see what we can and should change may be more profitable. Proactive choices lead to healing. Fixating on our complaints is like climbing up the down escalator. previous next contents top Circumstance is what it is. Perspective is what you make it. Some think that positive thinking is to deny what is real. But the reality of the moment can not be evaded. What we have the ability to author is what it means to us. What options is it leading us to? What lessons are there to be learned? How can I turn it into a tool to direct me in a new direction that promises improved well being? previous next contents top
Yes the Bible teaches against pride but there is also godly pride. The pride condemned by Scripture is a haughty attitude of superiority over others. It's okay to take pride in the gifts that God has given you. This helps increase confidence and encourages you to put them to use. The problem comes when we fail to recognize our source or begin comparing what we do to others in search of a false sense of importance. You are not all that but you are something. Remember that when your self image is lacking and remind yourself of the gifts God has given you. previous next contents top Do I have a chemical imbalance? If you are experiencing any emotional or psychiatric symptoms then you currently have a chemical imbalance. Psychiatric symptoms are caused when neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine get messed up either through genetics or environment. With some disorders, such as bipolar disorder, this is considered inborn (genetic). For others brain chemistry is altered by on going unresolved emotion issues. Medicine attempts to improve the availability of certain neurotransmitters and may be an important part of your treatment plan. Other important aspects may include stress management, talk therapy and issue resolution. Prayer will be helpful in all areas. previous next contents top Anxiety and depression are both offsprings of unresolved anger. While depression is generally the child of unresolved anger at others, anxiety tends to come from anger with self. Figure out the issues and be quick to forgive others and... self. previous next contents top There's a difference between humility and a broken spirit. While humility doesn't exalt itself neither does it falter at stepping up. A broken spirit is not truly humble. It has come to a place where it can no longer have confidence in those gifts that God has endowed it. Humility means not imagining yourself as greater than... but remember that you are not less than either and God has put wonderful things in you. previous next contents top In the real world our interactions with others are not always wonderful. Sometimes we get hurt and sometimes we give hurt. Most of the time things just need to be resolved and forgiven. Sometimes there are things that we just can't get by, deal breakers. A true deal breaker should be a rarity but they do exist. We need to know what our true deal breakers are. Don't be quick to walk away over every little thing but when you're involved in a true deal breaker decisive action may reduce the long term damage even if it's painful in the moment. previous next contents top
When we're hurt or angry we truly believe in our position of having been ill treated and dealt with unfairly. We may be right. We may not be right. Probably some measure of both. Regardless of right or wrong we can develop a combative attitude that seems righteous to ourselves but to others just seems belligerent. This can put others off while not effecting any real improvement in our wellness. Note that there is a difference between venting and a combative attitude. One says, “I dare you to step over this line,” the other says, “I need you to step over this line and give me a hug.” We all get angry sometimes. Just don't let anger become you world view. previous next contents top
Broken hearts heal slowly. Sometimes we will lose someone for reasons other than death. I've heard some say this is even more painful because that person has chosen to leave. For whatever reason that person has exited your life a natural grieving process will begin and should not be denied. It's just as important as grief due to death. Also as you work through your grief remember that the future contains opportunities for new and fulfilling relationships. The people who belong in your life are the ones who remain with you. While many people will enter and leave your world in your lifetime, cherish the ones who are with you now. previous next contents top
Emotional wellness is better served by reaching for the sun than swimming in the mud. Circumstances or biological conditions may have made a muck of life. That is what it is. Planting your mind set there will not pull you out. Endless angry or sad discussion will only pull you in deeper. Instead, look up at the sun and believe in it's power to dry out the mud. Embracing the solid ground of hope may empower you to walk beyond some of the mud. previous next contents top
Sometimes we like to have a little private party all of our own. Then we say, “It's my party and I'll cry if I want to.” Yeah, that's called a pity party. Worse, it's a self pity party. When we do this, nothing beneficial is accomplished. We only re-enforce our broken outlook. Take care of what can be productive to well being. Then get busy with something else redirecting your thoughts. If you don't consciously choose the direction your mind is going it will go where it wants. And we both know that's not always a good place. previous next contents top
Praise is healing. I did an experiment once in the support group I facilitated. I brought my guitar and we sang some praise songs. At the end I asked who thought about their troubles or felt depressed while we sang. No one did. Reward God with a little praise and He will reward you with a break from the burden. There will still be time to take care of what needs attention later. previous next contents top
When I was facilitating a support group my own therapist asked me, “How do you feel when you see others doing better.” At the time I was in a bad episode. I sincerely answered that I was happy for them. Here's the thing... When we appreciate the joy of others even when we have no joy of our own we have something to be thankful for. previous next contents top
A severe bipolar once asked me. How can I tell if I'm hearing from God or if I'm hallucinating? Not an easy question. Even some healthy people mistake their own thoughts for hearing from God but deceive themselves. Some genuinely do hear from Him. Now add bipolar to the mix... Here's some checks: It should not contradict Scripture. It should not lead you to anything you already know is immoral. If it's always something you want to hear it may just be a reflection of your own desires. Has it been confirmed by one or more other sources preferably who have no way of knowing what's on your mind? When you heard something specific has it proven true, come to pass or not? If not, then it wasn't God. Did you hear it in your spirit or in your ears? If in your ears, it should be suspect. Most who hear from God don't hear an audible voice. previous next contents top Labels are not necessary the enemy. At least not diagnostic labels. Diagnostic labels identify a group of possible symptoms and treatments. They do not define an individual. It's the individual's job to let those around them (including their medical professional) know who the individual is and what his/her needs and quirks are. The key is communication not resisting the “label.” It's possible that a diagnosis or treatment plan is in error. This is di scovered by productive discussion of what's happening in your life. Or... the same approach may re-enforce the current course. The weather man says, “Rain in Florida tomorrow. You may want to wear your raincoat.” You also have the choice of using an umbrella, running between the raindrops or just plain staying inside. A diagnostician may say, “You have bipolar disorder you may want to try this or that med.” Educate yourself about the “label,” learn your options and choose what's best for you. Don't resent the “label.” It has revealed possibilities that can improve your life. previous next contents top
Combative attitude. I don't really know if that will appear in text books or diagnostic manuals but it's a term I will use. It means to take a position of physical, verbal or emotion aggression. Neil N., where ever you are, I sincerely apologize for deriding you back in school. It really wasn't about anything I had against you. I took a combative attitude toward you because you were a handy victim. By attacking you I felt less like a victim from the derision I experienced. So combative attitude becomes a sort of virtual medicine to compensate for some lacking within oneself. When self esteem has been damaged a combative attitude is declaring, albeit ineffectually, “I AM important and will not be denied.” But here's the thing. If a person really believed that they wouldn't need to take a combative attitude to prove it. It's their own sense of being less that beckons to that approach. And it will not draw people closer and inspire esteem. It will push them away. Better to learn to be secure in your identity with God and at peace with yourself. previous next contents top
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