Abraham was no stranger to depression. His melancholy tendencies combined with an impoverished childhood, failed businesses, and unfulfilled love seemed to point only to defeat. At one time he expressed, “I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would be not one cheerful face on the earth.”
Happily, depression does not have to be the end of any life story. Abraham, whose full name was Abraham Lincoln, overcame his depression and went on to become one of the most revered presidents in the history of the United States.
If you suffer from depression, you are not alone. Clinical depression affects 20 million adults and 3 million teens in the US. Milder forms are even more widespread, affecting all age groups.
Risk factors for depression include family history, medical or mental health conditions, unresolved guilt or anger, lack of purpose, social and environmental factors, and diet and lifestyle, to name a few.
Neal Nedley, MD, author of Depression: the Way Out states that it is important to find the cause or causes of your depression. Tackle as many changeable causes as possible by addressing nutrition, lifestyle, social factors, habits of thinking, and spiritual need. The importance of seeking qualified medical care for depression cannot be overstated. Adjusting and reducing medications must be supervised by a qualified health professional.
Nutrition and Lifestyle. John Ratey, psychiatrist and author who researches lifestyle and mental health has concluded: “Physical and mental exercise, proper nutrition, and adequate sleep will help anyone gain cognitive clarity and emotional stability. Alcohol, smoking, caffeine, and high fatty and sugary foods increase depression risk and symptoms.
Nutrition and exercise encourage growth factors that put the brakes on self-destructive cellular activity, release antioxidants, and provide protein building blocks for brain cells. Food is medicine—and good tasting, colorful, and powerful medicine!
Include healing fresh fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains such as brown rice and oatmeal. Give nourishment to your body and brain with omega-3 fatty acids that are found in walnuts, chia seeds, and ground flax seed. Keep your brain hydrated with 8-10 cups of water a day instead of sugary drinks. Get an adequate intake of vitamins B12 and D.
A nutritious diet improves brain chemistry, provides energy and stress-lowering compounds, and provides brain growth factors that increase brain nerve connections. This means a greater capacity for learning, meeting challenges, fighting depression, and solving problems.
“He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.” Psalm 40:2 Healing takes place with time and perseverance. Today’s choices yield tomorrow’s gifts. Persevere to press in, press on, and press through your situation. There is power for your journey, and even joy in the healing process.
(Submitted by Betty Dean, www.lifestylematters.com. Used by permission, courtesy of LifeSpring – Resources for Hope and Healing, Stuart, VA)
