How to Defeat Depression

Depression affects nearly 19 million Americans, and more than one million Canadians a year. It affects more women than men and is the leading cause of suicides.

Like a lot of people I have experienced depression in my life, and it is one of the most debilitating illnesses in the world.

Depression strikes when a person has unfulfilled desires in their life, past regrets, and fears that cripple one from pursuing their life dreams.

It rears its ugly head when you sink into a state of extreme sadness, sometimes insomnia will hit, often exhaustion occurs for no apparent reason, and just having difficulties performing everyday activities. If these symptoms persist for two weeks or more, depression is suspected as the culprit.

If you find you cannot get rid of your depression then seek medical attention, for there is treatment for those who need help while they work on the issues that brought the depression on.

Depression doesn't just have a psychological impact on its victims, it has a physical, emotional and spiritual component to it.

According to a scientist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (1999) has demonstrated that two types of brain cells are abnormal in the brains of people who suffered from clinical depression and most who committed suicide.

Her research scanned the prefrontal cortex, or 'gray matter' located behind the forehead which is responsible for higher intellectual functions and the regulation of emotional and motivational behaviour. She found that in living subjects there were fewer glial cells in the brains of depressed people than in the brains of those who were not.

Having positive structure in our life is the best thing that we can do for ourselves to battle depression. If you work in an industry that you hate, and want something better in life, then make steps to gain what you truly want. The road may be long, but if you stay on it, it will take you to the end.

Conduct a little research to find out what you need to prepare for that dream job, that you never had the guts to go for. Then map out what, how, when and where your going to put this information into action mode. Don't let fear hold you back, depression will soon be knocking at your door if you give into it

Emotionally, depression is crippling and can interfere with everyday activities. When a person becomes subject to crying fits for no apparent reason, and feeling so low that all they can think about are the failures they have experienced in their life, then it is time to do something about it. Do not let wasted years go by when you could have done something about it.

Spiritually, the enemy of our souls does not want us to succeed at any thing in life. His goal is to keep us down, unfulfilled and useless human beings, and as far away from God as possible.

When we have not succumbed to Depression and have a structured life, and God is a part of that structured life, then we are sons and daughters of the most high King of Heaven, and we are entitled to, and will enjoy, all that God has to offer us.

Remember that we have the choice to implement our 'free will' in every decision that we make. Learn to make the right choice for your life, for every choice has a consequence, and is always followed by the ripple effect of life.