Skip to main content

Dealing With Anxiety and Depression

Dealing With Anxiety and Depression

Let us begin this topic by stating how real and aggressive anxiety and depression are in the lives of millions of people of all ages.  Anxiety and depression often go unnoticed by people close to those that are suffering until it is too late.  These are two leading causes of death and health risk in the world.  Being anxious and depressed can go hand in hand and are a double whammy that is hard to overcome in life.  Let's look at a few of the many symptoms of anxiety and depression before talking about dealing with it.

1- Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness and pessimism

2- Mood swings, not sleeping, shutting down mentally

3- Difficulty with decisions, lack of confidence, and irritability

4- Mental, physical and spiritual health issues

These are just some of the major symptoms and signs that I could find as I made my list. At some point, I think we all have faced depression and anxiety in life. Major causes of anxiety and depression are life changing events, job loss, deaths, broken relationships, drugs, alcohol, physical and mental abuse along with many other things that we deal with on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly cycle.  These things can overwhelm us and take us into a state of anxiety that eventually leads to a state of depression.  

I lost a job one time that I loved, but the biggest issue was I had a wife and two small kids to support and this happened during a time when jobs were at a minimum and the market was really tight and slow.  No matter how much I tried, things just started to unravel for me and my family.  I was supposed to be the breadwinner, I was the dad and husband and had a duty to take care of my family's needs.  The struggle was real and not being able to provide the way I could took a toll on me.  

It created doubt in my ability to take care of my family.  It made me anxious wondering if we would pay our bills, keep our home and the lights on.  It made me nervous, angry and many of the other things listed above.  It eventually led me into a state of depression as I wanted to just give up.  When things got pretty much rock bottom, I turned my eyes to God and prayed for help.  Seeking his guidance changed the way I viewed things.  I started to see how the anxiety and depression was impacting my marriage, my family and myself.

I had to come up with a plan as I did not want to become a statistic and rely on medicine, drugs or alcohol to cope.  So I came up with a plan and listed below are some of the steps I took in that process. You can use these general ideas to begin the process of healing and moving away from anxiousness and depression to a full life of vigor and faith.

1- Admit that you have a problem- Allowing yourself to be vulnerable and admit you have a problem is the first step to healing.

2- Identify the root causes of your anxiety and depression-  Is it a relationship, drugs, alcohol, lack of confidence, health issues and all the other possible causes.  Make a list of the triggers for your anxiety and find the main reason you are depressed.

3- Seek God’s guidance- Pray, read the bible, read books, and talk to someone that can help you.  Jesus is the great physician and can heal your emotional, physical and spiritual wounds.  Do not try to do it by yourself.  Do it with God and see what happens.

4- Acknowledge that it will be hard- After you have accomplished 1-3, know that overcoming it will not be easy.  It will require you to be strong willed, tough skinned and grow spiritually.  Do not let setbacks get the best of you or throw you off course to a full and healthy recovery.  

5- Make small changes that are healthy and allow you to grow- Cook foods you normally wouldn’t eat, travel some, find a relaxing hobby, get out and exercise (walking 30 minutes a day) is huge.  Make new relationships, join a church, reach out to old friends and family, get into a solid sleep pattern, pour yourself into work and family.  All of these are not a cure for anxiety and depression, but can be outlets to dealing with it and overcoming it.

Lastly, do not give up.  Never, ever, ever give up.  Do not quit on yourself or your family.  Do not quit on God.  Do not play the blame game.  Hold yourself accountable for your mental, physical and spiritual health.  Seek God as he seeks you and miracles will happen!

Isaiah 41:10, Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

1st Peter 5:7, Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Isaiah 43:4, Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

Lord, please lift this burden of anxiety and depression from my mind, body and soul.  Fill me with your spirit, fill me with your love, fill me with your grace and mercy for all the days of my life.  Help me to overcome these challenges and become whole again.  Amen

 

faith, family, friends, life

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Polly and Beona- Two Peas in a Pod

Sisterly Love- My mom and her older sister, my Aunt Beona were two of the most wonderful people one could ever know.  My family, immediate friends and so many others were touched by these ladies in so many ways.  Both of these wonderful ladies have went on to be with God and I know they are now watching over their kids, families and others.  They talked everyday on the phone, regardless of what happened or may have come up they spoke everyday.  My mom would call over and ask to speak to Beona and of course, my Uncle Robert would answer the phone and proceed to give her a hard time about calling and pick at her.  Mom loved to talk to Robert and looked forward to giving him a little of his quick wit right back to him on those phone calls.  Robert didn't hear very well so the television would be turned up to about maximum volume if you called or stopped by to visit with them.  You would have to knock on the door several times for him to hear you.  On...
Post a Comment
Click Here for more posts

Sundays At Grandma Smiths

Right After Church- When I was a kid growing up we would all go to church on Sunday and then head straight over to my Grandma Smiths house and spend all afternoon eating lunch, playing outside, watching football and fellowshipping with family and friends.  When I say family and friends, I mean the entire extended family of at least 20-30 people.  My grandparents were not rich so I do not know how they fed all of us every week like that.  We did have some great fresh garden veggies, potatoes and corn that was grown on the property.  It was the coolest place to go and spend time growing up.  We had all the outdoor activity a child or teenager needed.   Summertime Fun And Sports- Summer time was my favorite season as the grass was nice and green and much softer to land on when your cousins and brothers piled on top of you playing tackle football.  Of course, we played with no pads and you got busted up good on most Sundays.  We played every spor...
Post a Comment
Click Here for more posts

Leaving 2020 and Moving into 2021- My Must Do's

Some of my readers may or may not know that 2020 was a very tough year for me and my family.  I personally have battled heart issues, covid and other sickness since September of 2020.  I had three hospital stays, a couple of real scares as far as living another day and this has took a toll on me mentally, physically and spiritually.  But it did force me to take a hard look at my past, present and future growth in all three of these areas that are required for us to function healthy in life each day.  Taking this hard look will enable me to build a brighter future in all three areas of my existence.  You may not need all three, but for me they go tit for tat and connect the dots of the life style I live.  I must have all three to be strong of mind, body and soul.  Everyone writes a bunch of new year resolutions that they intend to work on for the new year and go flying into the new year all fired up and on a mission.  Then soon, the mission becomes...
Post a Comment
Click Here for more posts

Spending Time With God

Do you ever just stop and spend time with God?  I try to pray three times per day morning, noon and night to make sure I speak with God.  Sometimes I fail at that goal because life can get in the way.  The quantity of prayer in my opinion is not greater than the quality.  Doing it three times a day allows me to focus on the things I need guidance on.   Our spiritual needs can change in a minute, an hour or a day.  Give those to Fod and know that he has heard those and will action them for you.  God wants us to spend time with him, seeking his guidance for our lives, relationships and jobs. My favorite way to seek time with God is to go out behind my house and sit near a huge tree in the shade and talk to God.   Maybe you have have your "quiet time" or devotional time or whatever we call it to seek guidance.  When you do seek God do it with conviction, with an open heart, mind and soul.  Do not half heartedly pray for things tha...
Post a Comment
Click Here for more posts

Five Simple Changes to Kick Start Weight Loss

Today I am writing a quick blog post about simple ideas and changes that will allow you to begin the process of losing a few pounds at a time and getting healthier in 2021. I myself began the process of working on my health and weight back in the middle months of 2020 just prior to getting sick with heart issues and then Covid 19 hit me hard. I had lost about 15 pounds by making some small changes and was beginning to feel the physical effects (positive) of the small weight loss and changes the wife and I had made to our diet plan, exercise routine and activity. When Covid hit me in December of 2020, the weight started flying off literally as I have since dropped about 30 pounds so far and things are starting to level off now as I am healing daily, gaining my appetite back and strength a day at a time. I plan to continue to lose weight, get lean and work on total health in 2021. I am not talking going crazy and becoming a gym rat, just small simple changes that will help me live a ...
Post a Comment
Click Here for more posts

Battling Covid 19

I took a few days off from blogging as I have been recovering from Covid 19 over the Christmas Holidays.  I am writing this to tell my story of the battle I fought with Covid and how it has impacted me and the family this past week and a half.  Since Covid hit we have been very focused on avoiding it the best we could and took precautions to not contract it.  That all changed a week and half ago as we were exposed to someone that did not know they were a carrier and within a few days the wife and I started feeling bad and suspected that we may have contracted it just prior to the Holidays.  It started out like a common cold with runny nose, chest congestion and stomach ache.  We tried for three days to find a testing site close to the house and eventually drove down the road about forty five minutes to be rapid tested.  We were steadily getting sicker and within  a few days of the test we got the results back that we were positive for the virus.  ...
Post a Comment
Click Here for more posts

Covid Christmas 2020

This week my wife and I tested positive for the Covid 19 virus and are locked down at home for the Christmas Holidays.  We have been very careful to avoid people, mostly staying at home and using proper protective measures for months.  Our oldest daughter has it also and is stuck in Florida for the Holidays, while our youngest daughter is finishing up her covid lockdown from being positive a few weeks ago.  We have called all the family to advise that we cannot meet with them on Christmas day to eat breakfast, open presents, fellowship and most importantly celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   This however does not mean that Christmas cannot be just as special because we will get together in a week or so when everything clears up and everyone is well enough to be safe to gather.  This Christmas will be unlike any we have ever experienced with covid lockdowns, infection rates spiking and the need to being safer than ever.  People ar...
Post a Comment
Click Here for more posts

All I Want For Christmas 2020 and Beyond

My wife and I have grown kids and they are always asking us what we want for Christmas.  Many parents out there of grown children can relate to this dilemma and we all probably give the same answer over and over.  We say "I don't know", "I don't want anything", "I don't need anything", or my favorite which is "I just want to be with you on Christmas day".  I sometimes even tell them "my two front teeth" just to get them riled up.  My wife and I are blessed and we really do not have anything on a list that we need.  Heck, we all have online ordering and next day delivery for all those things we want to buy.  I wrote yesterday about A Covid Christmas which is what we are celebrating this year as we all have Covid and are separated for the Holidays.   We all have family traditions like gathering, eating, fellowshipping and sharing gifts with family and friends.  For years we have always opened one present Christmas eve as a fa...
Post a Comment
Click Here for more posts

If I Could Be Twenty Again- Seven Things I Would Have Done Different

Today I am writing about seven things that I look back on that I should have done a bit different when I was twenty.  Thirty four years later I have learned many lessons in life and am grateful for those lessons.  Setbacks, disappointments, tragedies, and unexpected life events allow us to grow and become who we are.  These events give us wisdom to share with our children and the next generation.  These events make us tough skinned and give us direction to overcome obstacles.  I am mostly satisfied with the way things have worked out so far, but looking back I now see doing these may have opened doors for me, my family and prepared me for life as an adult. 1- Get rid of toxic people- We all have family, friends and co-workers that we know are energy vampires.  We do not look forward to being around them or hanging out with them.  These negative people drain you and will hold you back with their poor pitiful me routine.  Get rid of them, see them l...
Post a Comment
Click Here for more posts

Who Is God

 I see so many people on the internet, news and in public that are so against God and the concept of who he is and what he means to those that believe in him. I wonder what happened to them along the way that made them so angry, hositle, and against the light of God. I will never deny God and will go to my grave knowing how special his spirit is and what he has done for my family and myself. Below are what God is to me. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, ...
Post a Comment
Click Here for more posts