The World Health Organization (WHO) as well as the Department of Health (DOH) raised the alarm about the increasing incidence of depression worldwide and those affected are getting younger. The COVID 19 pandemic even increased the incidence further.
How do you know if you’re depressed? Watch out for any of these signs of clinical depression.
When your friends invite you to spend time with them in an out of town trip, you say: ”I’m not going!” You have lost interest and no longer enjoy the activity like you used to. You don’t have the energy to get up in the morning. You choose to stay in bed and sleep the whole day even if you are not sick. When you lose a pen, you become overly anxious and cry. You also lose your appetite and stay awake all night long. You have a very poor self-image. You lack concentration. You also feel guilty when things go wrong even if it is not your fault.
ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FEELINGS
Don’t bottle up your feelings. Never hide your thoughts. Don’t bury your head in the sand. Don’t sweep your dirt under the rug. Face the music but don’t sway with it. Listen to the tune but don’t drown yourself with the noise. In other words, don’t deny the feeling and don’t lie to yourself. Just because the lovely and very popular Jessie J sang the famous phrase “It’s ok not to be ok,” it is literally ok. It only means that when you’re feeling low, acknowledge your emotions. Don’t dwell on your problem. In the famous Filipino parlance “Bawal ang tumambay. Daanan mo lang.”
ASK FOR HELP
From Matthew 7:7, it states:” Ask, and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.” Don’t be afraid or be ashamed to ask for help. Approach a guidance counselor or call a hopeline. You are never alone. There is someone you can reach out to. If you intend to put your life in danger, always seek help from a medical professional.
AMEND YOUR WAYS
Everything is God's plan. Everything is God's grace. If you cooperate with God's plan, everything will fall into place. You will receive God's boundless blessing and His amazing grace. From Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope. There is still hope no matter how dark or bleak the circumstances would be. It is time to make a change that starts from within. Awaken the healer in yourself.
Develop a strong mental health through relaxation techniques like biofeedback, deep breathing, guided visual imagery, laughter, meditation and prayer. However, relaxation does not only mean bed rest but entails adopting self-help strategies that will help control blood pressure, heart rate, respiration and metabolism. In effect, you decrease your muscle tension, relieve your anxiety and eventually have a restful sleep,
One powerful relaxation therapy is prayer. The healing effect of praying, both by praying for oneself and asking others to pray for you has been studied scientifically and has been shown to strengthen the immune system. Pray to God to help you. From Thessalonians 5:17-18: “Pray without ceasing and give thanks to God in all circumstances.”
Depression is not just an emotional crisis but may be due to lack of minerals needed by the nervous system as well as a hormonal imbalance that weakens the immune system. Thus, a healthy diet based on raw food and a regular exercise regimen are also part of the treatment.
Acknowledge, Ask, and Amend are the three simple steps for a healthy mind.
Please share to inspire others to have a healthy mind.
