Ten Tips for Beating the Blues

TEN TIPS FOR BEATING THE BLUES

A woman was suffering from depression, so her husband took her to a psychiatrist. The doctor said, "The treatment I prescribe is really quite simple." With that, he held the woman in his arms and gave her a big kiss. He then stepped back and turned to the woman's husband. He said, "See! That's all she needs to put new life back into her." Expressionless, the husband said, "If you say so, Doc, I can bring her in on Tuesdays and Thursdays."

Okay, that's not how to treat depression, but I have a few suggestions that make more sense. As a result of trial and error, I've found ten blues battling strategies that help me. These are not quick fixes, and this list is not exhaustive. It is also not a "must do" list.

When you're depressed, the last thing you need is a list of expectations to live up to. Don't stress about forcing yourself to accomplish all these things. They're not items to be checked off a list each day. The only one that is crucial is number one. After that, you can experiment with the others, as you feel able to.

1) Get the Facts and Get Help.

Depression is a serious medical condition that can be complicated to treat. Many people suffer needlessly because they won't consult a doctor. If you're waiting for God to heal you, consider this: Wise doctors and modern medicines are gifts from God through which He often heals.

If you've experienced depression, you already know it is not an illness you can "snap out of," no matter what others may tell you. It's not something to be ashamed of either. Depression can be caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals. Like any serious medical condition, it needs to be treated. Without the proper treatment, none of my suggested coping strategies will do any good.

2) Get Focused.

Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness pervade the life of a depressed person. Focusing on hope and developing a hopeful heart is a must. If you're a spiritual person, you can find many instances in the Bible that that tell how God has helped those who felt hopeless: Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 4:8 & 9; Matthew 6:34; Isaiah 41:10; and John 14:27. I read and re-read the books of Psalms and Job.