Anxiety & Depression #7: Five Easy Steps to make yourself Depressed


So far, I have shared a lot "dos" when it comes to managing your mental health, but here are few "don'ts" to contemplate. These examples are not only researched-based* but also felt in my own life. I think you may be able to relate:


#1 Neglect your physical health

It is a well-documented phenomenon that physical exercise has an INCREDIBLE effect on your mental health. Build it into your schedule! Get up and move! I always feel better even after a short walk to the mailbox and back (in my case, this involves hoofing it 200 meters up a steep hill with a baby in a stroller).

Along the same vein, pay attention to what you eat and drink. Last summer, I read an interesting book by Dr. David Perlmutter called "Brain Maker." In several of his books, he explains the undeniable connection between what we eat and how we feel. I have talked to several people who have seen incredible improvement in their mental health by simply eating right or cutting out gluten.  If you have ongoing physical and mental health issues, you might want to consider some of the information he shares.

#2 Feed your addiction to social media

I'm going to admit, I struggle with this. We all do. But you know what?... it is a really REALLY big problem, especially among adolescents. This new area of research is exploding and we have not quite figured out the scope of the effect social media has on our brains. . . but we DO know it is like a drug that can be misused. What does this look like practically? Set some limits for yourself and share those with another person so they can keep you accountable.

#3 Avoid vulnerability

As I mentioned in previous posts, you HAVE to talk to someone about the way you are feeling. With most mental illnesses, you are believing cognitive distortions about yourself and the world around you. Having someone on the outside looking in will help dispel those lies and keep you in touch with reality. Sticking to yourself and choosing isolation will only make things worse.

#4 Stay bitter

I have not discussed interpersonal relationships much because those could fill ten more blog posts. However, we need to consider the effect of bitterness and un-forgiveness on our mental health. If there is something or someone from your past that you just cannot let go, you need to get help and talk about it. Forgiveness is something that you have to receive and understand before you can give it. For those who follow Christ, you know this very well:

"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." -Matthew 6:14-15

Friends, consider the fact that God, in His great Mercy, has chosen to look at the righteousness of His Son instead of your wickedness and pardon your sin. Even more, in His grace, He has chosen to lavish on you all of the riches and privileges of sonship (Ephesians 1). How then, can we look at another human being and choose not to forgive them? (I am preaching to myself as well). I would argue that failing to forgive another person means that you do not fully understand and receive the forgiveness of God.

#5 Forfeit your soul 

"What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forget their soul?" - Mark 8:36

This circles back to my first post. All of my struggles. All of my sin. All of my highs and lows and defeats and triumphs. Everything in me bows to the majesty and Lordship of Jesus Christ. He is greater than my struggle. He is greater than my sin. He is my savior, and I believe that one day I will be completely healed and whole. You can read every self-help book and follow all the rules. You can be a "good person" and unearth all the bitterness from your past, but until your eyes are opened to the beauty and saving grace of Jesus, it is all for naught. I have sought Him and I have found Him, and He is better than all this world has to offer. I believe He is good and right and pure. I believe he could heal my OCD right here and now. But if He does not, He is still sovereign. He is still Good. All Glory to Him.






*I apologize for not doing my due diligence in finding peer-reviewed, primary sources for each example. I'm writing most of these blogs during my daughter's nap-times and do not have a lot of time to read as many scholarly articles as I would like.  If you find scientifically-based counter-examples, please share.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Southwest Turkey Burgers and Fries

Image
  When I tried Whole30 several years ago, I was on the hunt for a good, clean burger recipe. After piecing together several variations, I came up with this! Parker was immediately hooked and I have been making it ever since. When we are not gluten or dairy conscious, we dress them up as described below. Parker always asks me to make them for company because they are simple and delicious! Burger Ingredients *Makes about 4-6 burgers 1lb ground turkey 1 egg 2 pieces bacon (chopped finely and cooked to remove grease) 1 T. minced onion 1 t. worchestershire 1/4 t. ancho chili pepper 1/4 t. cayenne pepper 1 t. cumin 1 t. chili powder 1/2 t. oregano 1/2 t. garlic powder 1 T. cornstarch  Fresh ground pepper to taste Combine all of the burger ingredients and form into patties. You can grill these but I like to fry them in butter on the stove. (Blackstone people, this is your moment). If you are going all the way with buns, butter and toast them while the burgers cook!  Fries 4 larg...
Read more

Husband Goals

Image
My husband's birthday is this month, and I've been thinking about how much I appreciate all that he does. Today marks the 7th day in a row that he has been gone 12-14 hours a day. This is the life of a medical resident. He is a lover of God, amazing husband, incredible father, faithful friend, and highly skilled physician completing his residency in pediatrics. . . and he seems to make it all look easy. Let me tell you something. It's not. I can feel him fighting against the burden of his job. Of course, pediatrics is a rewarding field, but it comes with much heartache: notifying the parents of a pre-term baby that their child is not going to make it, helping parents cope with a new and challenging diagnosis, showing grace and tact with parents or patients who ignore your advice and slander you to your face. I can feel him fighting against the drag of society to disconnect, self-indulge, and shirk the responsibility of family life. I feel him fighting for our marriage...
Read more

Thompson Tacos: for Breakfast and Dinner!

Image
Thompsons love tacos. They love little tacos and big tacos. They love tacos at a restaurant and tacos at home. They love tacos for breakfast and tacos for dinner. If your kids love this book, you catch my drift.  We eat tacos for dinner about once a week. They are quick, easy, and delicious. But did you know they can be even easier? I prep these tacos (technically burritos since they are wrapped up in tortillas) often because they always come in handy!  I also LOVE making "breakfast burritos." I am someone who cannot skip breakfast and I definitely need to have protein. However, it is hard to prep a breakfast burrito masterpiece in the morning with 3 hungry kiddos underfoot.  Solution: mass prep and freeze. You can eat these right away OR store them in the freezer. I like to have them on hand for breakfast to-go or to add into a care package when I take someone a meal (give that new mama a simple, quick breakfast for her kids the next morning).  Here's the recipe: B...
Read more