Depression is a highly stigmatized medical condition. What does that mean? Many people judge it and view people who have it negatively to the point where they feel as though they are outcasts. Unfortunately our society places a high value on being strong and stable, and so, if you have depression, you might be viewed as weak. As a result, individuals often do not want to admit that they are depressed because of the lack of support they will get and possible discrimination that they might get from others.
This week, I wanted to share with you my path to healing from depression, and wanted to encourage those out there who might be struggling with depression that it is possible to free yourself from the chains of depression. And so begins my story . . .
Throughout my life I was prone to bouts of depression. My mother and my grandmother, along with other relatives, experienced major depressive disorder, and so, I guess you could say it just came naturally. If something negative in my life happened I would often experience bouts of depression where I was sad, no longer experienced pleasure in activities that I used to find pleasurable, I wouldn’t eat much, and I wouldn’t sleep much. On the outside I looked like your normal happy kid, but on the inside I always felt like something bad was going to happen. I put on a mask in order to hide my internal turmoil from the world.
My depression escalated when I was a teenager and a close family friend, who was like a mother, passed away. I felt guilt over not having spent enough time with her in her final months, and so, I spiraled further down than I had gone before and began using alcohol to cope. This of course made me further depressed and resulted in me harming myself out of anger, grief, and confusion. I felt alone, sad, and angry. I could not see beyond my grief and inner turmoil. I could not see my loved ones looking in at me wishing I would help them to understand my pain, because I was so blinded by the storm that was raging internally. After finding support from a friend and pressing into my faith, I was able to recover from this abuse on my body and the depression for some time. Again as the years went on I struggled with depression off and on, and had another serious bout before getting married. This time I asked for support and help and was aided through my bout. It was after this incident that I began a journey of self discovery. I began reading a book called, “Beauty for Ashes: Receiving Emotional Healing” by Joyce Meyer. This book helped me to cope with and move on from the traumas of my past and to identify problem areas that kept popping up, for example feelings of guilt and shame. I then began reading another book, “Power Thoughts” by Joyce Meyer, and this is where things began to drastically change for me. From reading this book I found out that I did not have to let depression control my life. I could wake up and FEEL depressed, but I did not have to BE depressed; I had a CHOICE. This concept really resonated with me and I began practicing it. Whenever I felt like reacting to a situation, for example, if someone said something that “offended” me, I would speak that the offense was not mine to take, and that I could choose to still be happy. If I woke up in the morning feeling sad, I would tell myself that it was okay for me to be happy and that I was going to choose to be happy today. It took time to develop this mindset, but I can happily say that depression no longer controls me. I am no longer weighed down by shame or guilt, and am walking out a free life by the Grace of God.
I would like to encourage my readers today that if you are struggling with depression, you are not alone. Please do not try to fight this alone and seek help and support. There is much support that can be provided from loved ones, friends, family, medical doctors, naturopathic doctors, and more. I would also like to encourage you that you can overcome this. If you would like some help through naturopathic medicine, please do not hesitate to contact me and book an appointment. We can work through this together.
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Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, please book an appointment with Elisha Cook at the RSNC (416-498-9763), and let me help you achieve your health goals.