Say NO to Stress and Depression!

     I want to talk about stress and depression this week. I know that it can be touchy for some but I feel that it is something that is really important to cover. Just remember that we are all children of God and that we need to respect those around us whether they are close or across the world. So let's dive right into the nitty gritty.

Stress for most is something to avoid at all costs but is that really healthy. Did God create this plan for us to come down to this earth to learn and grow so that we could become more like him or did He create it so that we could come down to earth and just sit back and just go with the flow and take the easiest least stressful path? I don’t know about you guys but I believe full heartedly that God put us here to learn and grow so that we would become more like him. If we just lived life without as much stress as possible, are we truly growing? I don’t think so. Now there are different types and levels of stress. There are levels of stress that can be damaging to us. This is a good example of what I am talking about. 

“An engineer will explain that stress is an essential part of any structure. He refers to an excess of stress in a structure as a strain. When the stress-points in a structure are strained, the structure becomes damaged. Likewise, once the normal stress of life builds to a certain level, it no longer serves a productive purpose. Our lives become strained, and we face the potential of emotional and physical damage.

Such strain may occur when parents demand perfection in themselves or in their children’s performance or achievements. The truth is, few achieve perfection in this life. For most of us, the best we can hope for is steady progression toward the goals our Heavenly Father has outlined for us.” (Quote from “Dealing with Stress and Discouragement”)

Excessive stress or as stated in the quote strain is not the type of stress I am talking about and is not healthy but if you have excessive stress that doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with you. You just need to learn how to channel it and control your thoughts. It may be really hard for some and really easy for others. We each have different challenges in this life but I know that you have the strength to push through, you just need the will to do so. Read this for more about stress “The Stresses of Life” By Lili De Hoyos Anderson. There are different ways to deal with stress but it depends on what is causing your stress so if you want some starting points you can leave an anonymous comment and I will help to the best of my ability. 

Now depression is a hard subject for a lot of people but I think it is something that should be discussed. One of the saddest things that I hear when depression is brought up is when people say that those with depression have a mental issue or that there is something wrong with their brain. That is False! Depression is NOT a mental disease! When you have depression it does not mean you have something wrong with your brain! Depression is a state of mind. This may be hard for those that have depression to believe because they have been told that they have a mental illness and that there is no cure. But I know that is not the case! My family has a history with depression and my brother has been diagnosed with severe depression. So it’s not like I am saying these things without knowing how debilitating it can be to someone. There is an amazing chart that has helped my family and I hope that it will help you. Here it is “Mood Log” If you have depression and want to escape those feelings that are dragging you to places you never want to be or go to again then what would it hurt to just try. Print this off and then fill it out every time you start feeling negative thoughts. Most of our negative thoughts are distorted and are full of things that are not true. Also if you do this you need to fill your mind with True thoughts not just “good” thoughts. For example if I looked in the mirror and told myself that “I’m the most handsome man around” that would not help. On the other hand if I look in the mirror and say “I am in decent shape. I could probably do 25 pushups” or “My hair looks good today” these things are true. You need to speak truth to yourself!

Thanks for hanging in there with me! I know that this topic is a bit more touchy in a different way then it normally is in my posts. If you want to read more about how to over come depression then read “When Your Child Is Depressed” By Sean E. Brotherson, “My Battle with Depression” By Mollie H. Sorensen, “Like a Broken Vessel” By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.