Random things that help with depression

I've struggled with depression to some extent since childhood and more so since high school. This is just a list of things that have helped me to cope with depression or lessened my depression at one time or another. None of these things are necessarily a cure. Since everyone's different, some of these ideas may help you and others may not. Don't get overwhelmed by trying to do all of these; these are just some ideas. And there are probably plenty of other helpful things that I didn't mention here. This list is somewhat random and isn't in order of importance or anything. I hope this is encouraging/helpful to others who struggle with depression. It is a good reminder to me! ;)

Being outside

Not sure how this would work for someone who hates the outdoors lol . . . But I love being outside! It is a lot more peaceful, and it feels easier to breathe.

Reminding yourself of the truth

It is so easy to believe lies when you're depressed. For example, "I'm worthless," "I'm a bother to people," "Life is hopeless," etc.

But, if you have a relationship with Jesus, these are some of the things that are true:

• You are loved--perfectly and unconditionally (Romans 5:8, 8:35-39; 1 John 3:1, 4:16)
• God will never leave you (Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 43:2, Hebrews 13:5)
• You belong to God (John 10:27-30, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
• You are valuable (Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 139, Isaiah 43:7)
• There is always hope (Jeremiah 29:10-11, 31:17;  Romans 5:3-5)

Sometimes, if the depression is bad enough, I have trouble remembering what the truth is. At times like this, it's helped me to have good friends remind me of what's true. 

Exercise

I know that this can be really frustrating (and probably overused) advice. I like to compare this advice to telling someone who has the flu to go run a 5K! (And this is coming from someone who's bad at running!) It can be extremely hard to make yourself get out of bed and go to school or work, much less exercise! So don't feel like you have to push yourself too hard. But getting a little bit of exercise (taking a walk, going on a short bike ride) can really help you feel better emotionally.

Sleep

Within reason . . . It's easy to sleep too much when you're depressed, but not getting enough sleep can definitely make it worse!

Eating 

Once again, within reason! Depression is different for everyone, so some people eat too much and others eat too little. I often lose my appetite, but I usually feel better if I make myself eat something.

Spending time with friends

It's best if they're "safe" friends . . . friends you can be yourself around, and you don't have to pretend to be happy when you're not.

Seeing a counselor

Aka. therapist. For some reason I really hate the name "therapist," so I always call them counselors. Sometimes it can take a few tries before finding someone who's good for you.

Antidepressants

This isn't for everybody, but they can be really helpful if the depression is caused by a chemical imbalance. I've also heard that low vitamin levels can cause depression, so vitamin supplements could help with that.

Writing/journaling/poetry

Sometimes it's easier for me to express my thoughts and feelings through writing than through talking. I also like to journal and write my prayers to God.

Listening to music

But you have to be careful with this one. Depending on the music, it can make you feel better or worse.

Playing an instrument

For me it's guitar. :)

Animals

Play with your pets . . . or your neighbors' pets! ;) Unless, of course, you hate animals!

Prayer

You might be tired of hearing this one. Christians can so flippantly say, "Just pray about it!" as if that fixes everything. But we weren't designed to carry our burdens and pain, by ourselves; it will crush us if we try! It is such a relief when you finally give your burdens to God. And you have to keep going to him again and again.

Reading the Bible

I really like reading Psalms. It is comforting and reminds me of God's love.

Making a list of things you're  thankful for

Some people seem to think that unthankfulness and pessimism are the only causes for depression, and that is not true! However, thankfulness has helped me because it changes my perspective and it's a way to praise God.

Making a list every day of things that made you happy

This is something my counselor suggested last year. It helped to change my perspective. You may not find something every day, and that's okay. But don't overlook the little things that make you smile: Seeing a friend, hearing a friend's laugh, eating food you like, seeing a sunrise/sunset, playing with your dog . . .

Looking for the beauty around you

Even in the pain and ugliness of life, there's still beauty. Don't miss it!  Sunrises and sunsets, flowers--alive or dead!, trees, colors and patterns, smiles, laughter . . .

Beauty from Pain

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” –Isaiah 43:18-19

This time last year I was in the Middle East for two weeks with a group of my friends from Liberty. I’ve been thinking about what I learned during my time in the Middle East, as well as what I’ve learned in the past year.

To say this past year has been easy would be a lie. I’ve made a lot of memories, had a lot of good times, but frankly, this year has been hard.

I don’t like it when life is hard, and I don’t think anyone really does. It is not fun when your friend dies, when your grandparents die, when you wonder if you’ll pass your classes or even be able to stay in school, when you’re depressed, when you feel alone. But when I look back on my life, it is usually in hard times that I really grew. The hard times are often the only thing that forces me to rely on God instead of myself.

When I went to the Middle East, the girls on our team got to spend a lot of time with the women and children in their homes. Some of the women were very open and shared their stories with us. The stories I heard and the things I saw are the kinds of things I had only heard about...not like anything I had ever experienced. I saw poverty, abuse, neglect. I got to know a woman in her early 30s who had an arranged marriage at age 15 and now had seven kids. I met 21-year-old lady who was her husband’s third wife out of four. She was responsible for caring for all ten of her husband’s children. I met so many women and girls who did not know how incredibly beautiful they are. One woman told us, “In our culture, we are not allowed to be beautiful.” I looked into eyes filled with a depth of darkness, emptiness and pain that I had never seen before. But these eyes belonged to a six-year-old boy. I could see the hurt hidden behind people’s smiles. I met kids who would soak up every ounce of love and attention we could give them.

When I was in the Middle East I began to be thankful for the hard things I have been through, because those experiences gave me more compassion and understanding for the people I met. I admired the strength these people had to keep going and not give up. No, I did not understand everything they were going through! I did not even understand their language! But I could relate, even in a small way, to their pain and brokenness.

Do I like hard times? No. Would I want to relive the hard times? No. Do I praise God through the hard times? Unfortunately, not like I should. But I am thankful that nothing in our lives is wasted.

It’s from the deepest wounds

That beauty finds a place to bloom

And you will see before the end

That every broken piece is

Gathered in the heart of Jesus

And what’s lost will be found again

And nothing is wasted

Nothing is wasted

In the hands of our Redeemer

Nothing is wasted

-Jason Gray, “Nothing is Wasted”

After our first day of work in the Middle East, our team piled into the van and drove back to the place where we were staying. One of the workers turned on his iPod, and the song “Beautiful Things” by Gungor was playing.

All this pain

I wonder if I’ll ever find my way

I wonder if my life could really change at all

All this earth

Could all that is lost ever be found?

Could a garden come up from this ground at all?

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of dust

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us

This song was such a comfort and a reminder that God is able to bring good out of any situation. He can even bring beauty out of the pain that we saw in the lives of the people we met in the Middle East. With God, no situation is hopeless, and no person is hopeless.

What better example is there of beauty coming from pain than the life of Jesus? God sent his Son to earth to die for a sinful, broken people. Jesus was crucified, even though he had done nothing wrong. If the story ended there, we would have no hope. Pain and death would be victorious. But after three days, Jesus was raised to life. It is because of Jesus’ resurrection that we have hope. Life out of death. Beauty from pain.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” -1 Peter 1:3, 6-7