Depression
When mired in depression, happiness eludes you. Pleasure is nowhere to be found. Your strength leaves you. Your creativity disappears. You worry. You lack confidence. You feel unlovable. There is a light at the end of this long dark tunnel. You just have to reach out to those who care about you.
Since you have come to this page, chances are you feel as though you are at the end of your rope. But, take heart, there is hope – for your future and for your present.
If you would like to talk to a counselor you can call the church office at 979.696.1376 or email the church at aumc@aldersgatecs.org and leave your contact information. A trusted and competent counselor will contact you by phone to discuss where you turn from here.
Knowledge Is Power
Look online or at your local bookstore for books on depression. Knowledge is power and the more you know about your nemesis the more you can help yourself.
Here are some suggestions:
The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression: A Step-by-Step Program by William J. Knaus.
The Mindful Way Through Depression: Free Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness by J. Mark G. Williams, John D. Teasdale, Zindel V. Segal, and John Kavat-Zinn.
Self-Coaching: The Powerful Program to Beat Anxiety and Depression, 2nd Edition by Joseph J. Luciani
Things You Can Do Right Now
- Begin to eat healthy. There are many, many books, programs, etc. that can set you on the right path.
- Start an excercise program - even if it is just walking in your neighborhood to begin with, exercise is one of the best ways to defeat depression.
- Get the proper amount of sleep - most adults need 6-8 hours of restful sleep each night. If you are sleeping too much or too little, help yourself develop a new sleep routine. Do not nap during the day – take a walk instead. Create new habits of going to bed at an established time each night and learn relaxation techniques if you have trouble falling asleep.
- Take every thought captive - Negative thinking adds to your depression. Positive thoughts help create an atmosphere that fosters better mental health.
- Watch your self-talk - Surprisingly more than 75% of what we say to ourselves is negative. If you can stop those automatic, negative messages, you can be well on your way to a better self-image.
- Develop an attitude of gratitude - Being thankful for what you have reminds you that life has been good to you. Pick up a small rock to keep with you and every time you see or touch your “gratitude rock” think of something for which you are grateful.
- Reduce your level of stress - Stress is a huge problem in our society. When you are stressed your immune system does not function correctly. Almost every visit to a doctor is stress related. Stress is a major cause of depression. Sometimes you have been stressed so long, it feels natural. Look at the checklist below and see how stress is affecting you.
Check Lists
If you have more than five of the symptoms on one or more lists, consider contacting our church office for a referral to someone who can help.Stress Warning Signals
| Headaches | Back pain | Indigestion |
| Stomachaches | Racing heart | Restlesness |
| Excess smoking | Bossiness | Critical of others |
| Nervousness | Loneliness | Unhappy for no reason |
| Forgetfulness | Constant worry | Thoughts of running away |
| Memory loss | Anger | Loss of your sense of humor |
Symptoms of Anxiety
| Feeling hot | Unable to relax | Fear of the worst happening |
| Fealing of choking | Dizzy or lightheaded | Heart racing |
| Difficulty breathing | Indigestion | Numbness/Tingling |
| Sweating | Sscared | Fear of dying |
Symptoms of Depression
| Sadness | Pessimism | Feelings of failure |
| Loss of pleasure | Guilty feelings | Self-dislike |
| Crying | Thoughts of suicide | Crying |
| No energy | Change in appetite | Irritability |