We have all experienced those negative thoughts and voices,
do we really believe it’s our own thoughts? Why would we talk to ourselves like
that? Whatever the case maybe, there are many people who listen to those
voices. They can cause some to commit suicide and others to last out in anger
and hostility to their loved ones. They can divide relationships or make some
believe they are suffering some chronic illness like depression.
Our God and our
Savior created our souls for renewal, in the words of Christ “ I make all
things new”. We are designed in such a nature that we must be in opposition of
every negative voice in our minds. We woman here these voices that say “Your
Fat” or “Your Ugly”. Just deflect them and say “well that must mean the
opposite, “I am not fat, I am just right!” or “I must be beautiful”. Always stay in opposition to negative inner thoughts.
With depression, it’s rather just to allow it to empower you,
it’s an indicator that something is wrong with your life and it’s time to make
some changes. Revert back to a hobby you use to do or find a new hobby. Meet up
with some old friends, get out more. Pray more or take some time in nature.
For me it’s the excitement of my faith and gardening. Make
some changes, mix life up a bit. A friend shared this story and I think it sums
it all up.
I heard this story the other day on a podcast about
depression.
After the war, American doctors were in Cambodia working
with Cambodian doctors to treat the soldiers with ptsd. When the Cambodian
doctors asked what is an antidepressant? The America's explained and then the
Cambodian doctors said, no we don't need that we already have antidepressants.
The Americans were curious thinking it was a herbal thing
like valerian, chamomile, or maybe st John wort etc .. but they said no..we
will explain it with a story.
After the war, the fields were filled with bombs and mines,
but the people went back to life and started planting rice in those fields.
Every second they worried about stepping in wrong spot accidently. One day a
man who had already seen people die in the rice field, stepped on a mine that
blew off a leg. They took him to doctor and it was so common that they put on a
wooden leg and sent him back the next day to plant. But it was winter and it
was very painful for people with wooden legs in the water. At first he just
started to cry uncontrollably like a child while working. A grown man weeping
continuously. Then he couldn't even get out of bed when he tried, too consumed
with fear of the bombs. So they took him to doctor again and he explained about
his infected leg and fear of bombs.
They said well would you like to be a dairy farmer and he
said yes. So they gave him a cow and he no longer cried. They said, you see the
cow is the antidepressant in this case.
The Cambodian doctors explained that when people become
depressed they are not broken, they are not malfunctioning, they just have
unmet needs that they can't push through and maybe need a hand. People in North
America literally ask things like ' what's wrong with you?' Or ' what's your
problem' when we are sad...but the answer is nothing!! Just a major unmet need.
The idea is that we do have some say and some ability to
control our emotions, we don’t need to break down or get depressed we just need
to think about things differently.
