DEPRESSION: Finding the Light of Hope, Healing, & Restoration; from someone who suffered with it
04/12/24 KLC Productions | FEN Free Eagle Network, LLC ®
DEPRESSION: Finding the Light of Hope, Healing, & Restoration; from someone who suffered with it 04/12/24 KLC Productions | FEN Free Eagle Network, LLC ®
Here at FEN we care about people who are suffering through Depression and other mental and spiritual issues. Depression is nothing to take lightly by family, friends, and other loved one surrounding those who are going through it. We encourage both the person that is suffering and those loved-ones around that person to get involved together. The first step is talking about it all. The following is my advice only and what I (KLC) went through. Yes, as tough as I am I had to deal with it. I just hope and pray that what I have to say helps. * I’m no clinical expert, only an expert in first-hand experience.
My personal trials of Depression:
At the age of 15 life as a teenage boy seems so dim. Everything from spats with parents to not having a normal life because of having to help care for a grandparent, to questioning who I was in life on a basic level. At the time my spiritual life was sort of fresh but not yet founded and rooted as it is today in my mid-forties. Everything around me as a teen seemed to be closing in around me. I really didn’t have close friends.
It wasn’t like I could just come out to my parents about everything that I was personally going through internally. That would have caused them to seek clinical help and I really wasn’t about all that even then. I knew how the system worked in favor of drugging people up to a basic sedated form of one’s self. That was no option. The other option was suicide. Mentally I was ready to end it all back then. Going through years of suffering until I was 25 all hope was fading.
The contemplations got more and more. I thought through all of my selections of how to end my life. Gun, blowing my brains out would have been way too messy. My own mother, Good Lord! She would have died at an early age for certain. The only other selection that would have been not messy but still would have cause pain to my family was hanging.
Then one day, actually one night the spirit of a small voice asked me, “Do you really want to go through with this?” I kind of ignored it, shrugged it off as my own mind playing tricks on me. Well, that wasn’t the answer that small voice was seeking from me. The spiritual presence that engulfed me was none other than divinely sent from Heaven above. I hit my knees and prayed to God & Jesus, crying out to them. The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways, sometimes heavier than others. I wish I could describe how it all felt but I’d be tripping over my own feet and tongue.
The application of prayer back in my life at this point was a mighty blessing. As I prayed and got back with God and Jesus the heaviness of that dark depression started to lift. As it lifted my mind was eased more and more; my heart and soul became lighter as the burden of suffering faded away. I’ve been depression free ever since with only one short bout with it after the passing of my mother to home in Glory. I continue to apply prayer now when I smell depression walking around the corner. Today, I have really great friends even if they are an online Telegram Group they know who they are but they are truly my family. Some of them I’ve gotten really close. I thank God and Jesus for each of them.
OPENING UP TO OTHERS & OTHERS RECIEVING YOU
Finding trusted people to rely on is key. Trusting them with your most inner thoughts and emotions is important. Letting go to them that icky sludge of negative emotion is very crucial. — To those who are receiving this person, by mindful of this.
Taking that first step in acknowledging that you are suffering from depression to another is of utmost importance. You may think that you are not important to your close friends but you are. Sometime our own blood family doesn’t seem to care. — To the person that’s blood family try not to put your blood kin off during this time.
During a time like this and any time you will find out who your real friends are but do not fret in terror over this process. It’s a natural part of life. You gain some and you loose some. It’s the ones that stick by your side like super glue that matter most. — To all the others surrounding this person, temper your ego during this time and allow yourselves to help the person and maybe there will be a great bond formed between the two of you.
Don’t be afraid to cry in front of them face-to-face or over a phone call (or video call). Let it all out. As the old saying goes, “better in than out”… GET IT ALL OUT. You are not weak if you cry and that goes for Men too. Men have been conditioned and indoctrinated that crying shows weakness and it doesn’t. Having a hissy-fit crying over not getting your way is being weak; however true emotions in times of distress isn’t. — To those surrounding this person allow them to lean on your shoulders and draw them into you hold them tight in your caring heart and mind. Please show compassion it’s the greatest thing you can ever do during these times.
THE SPIRITUAL & MEDITATIVE ASPECT
Many people seem to forget greatest gift and tool they have and that is prayer and meditation. The Soul, Heart, & Mind have a great way of healing not only the person but the emotional damage to the body. Simply just taking time to stop, focus, being quiet, and still is enough to reset a person.
In Biblical Scripture of text we find the following encouraging prayer:
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, (Ephesians 1:18)
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
(Jeremiah 29:12)
Best Meditation Quotes
“Quiet the mind and the soul will speak.” – Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati
“Learn to be calm and you will always be happy” – Paramahansa Yogananda
“It is indeed a radical act of love just to sit down and be quiet for a time by yourself” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Meditation is like a gym in which you develop the powerful mental muscles of calm and insight.”– Ajahn Brahm
In my humble opinion this entire chapter of The Book of Psalms has gotten me through some of the roughest times in my life.
Psalms Chapter 23
(A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. AMEN!
SOCIAL MEDIA & THE NEWS: Take a break and have a Kit-Kat bar.
Sometimes we allow things like Social Media and the awful News to trigger depression. Not all things posted online are beneficial in their nature nor the people who post them are benevolent in their own nature. Some people cannot discern nor filter what being said or being read properly. When you are going through things like depression these online, television, and radio materials of information may become an informational overload.
The BEST WAY of dealing with all of this is to TAKE A BREAK from it all. If it’s a few days, a week, or even a solid month so be it. That is all on you and how you feel you need to move forward on that decision.
I encourage up-tempo music, music with happy tones and lyrics. whatever music you like as long as it’s no mopey sad depressing music. Only watching funny videos of animals, comedy, and the like most definitely helps. If you want to bust a gut, I suggest anything Robin Williams and Kat Williams. If you really want ot get funny and raunchy, the one, the only, Rodney Carrington. Simply getting out and walking in the sunshine taking in all those vitamin E rays of goodness will perk you up. Also, the fresh air will help while you are walking.
IN CLOSING
I and FEN encourage all of this including proper care form mental health professional and if there is something along the lines of hormonals issues going on proper medical care. Not everything is a one box, on-size fits all. FEN and I strongly encourage an ALL OF THE ABOVE approach to find out what’s really going on. I and FEN CARE ABOUT YOU. This is why I wrote this article. We love you all and please take care of yourselves and your loved one. God Bless You All. (*See Legal Disclaimer Below)
EMERGENCY HELP:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Call. Text. Chat.
Veterans Crisis Line - 24/7, confidential crisis support
Christian Faith Resources - Mental Health Hotline
Anthem of Hope — Christian Mental Health and Suicide Prevention