BATTLING DEPRESSION

Life is full of ups and downs and those downs can tend to induce moments of sadness within us. These are normal human responses to the events of life. However, staying in those periods of sadness for too long and more frequently may indicate an emotional disorder tagged "depression." According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 12 million Americans suffered from various degrees of depression in 2015 and one can presume that the deterioration of mental health is hitting an inclination. 

Depression is an emotional disorder that ranges from mild, one-time intermittent depressive episodes to more prominent and prolonged depressive episodes. Depression, just like anxiety, is caused by the inability of the mind to stay in the present moment. Where anxiety is often fictitious projections of future problems, depression is fueled by fictitious projections of the past, and most commonly both are projections of severe discontentment with current circumstances. The mind, if not controlled, will control you and consume you with thoughts that wander off into a different space in time and become deeply melancholy over events that cannot be changed or haven't occurred. Hence, the mind leaves the space of gratitude to a state of despair where certain inadequacies begin to surface.

But now it's time to put an end to the wandering mind and remaining in the present and identifying with our reality in those moments where we truly aren't content is the best way to silence the mind forever. To suppress those negative notions or beliefs and awaken to the truth that those problems we so inadvertently ponder on don't exist.  Because we are the drivers of our reality we have to acknowledge that our circumstances can change at any moment when we make a conscious decision to change our mindset, our eating habits, the physical activities we indulge in, and our affiliations or associations with people who aren't in alignment with our vision, morals or standards of our desired lifestyles. At any moment we can make the conscious decision to end our suffering by simply initiating change within ourselves and becoming the person and vibrational match for that better life. 

We attract what we receive in life through thoughts, beliefs, and relevant consistent actions. This is the subconscious law of attraction. The uncomfortable truth is that stagnation is purely a byproduct of people's resistance to change. By making the necessary internal and environmental changes we will undoubtedly progress forward toward internal peace, love, and happiness and experience life in its most euphoric form. We can exist and dwell in gratification. 

The key lies in our will and devotion to growth and change. It’s a re-bonding with our inner being - our spirit. Connecting with your authentic level of self will help you break through the fog of depression to see and overstand who you are and help you identify with purpose. This reconnection with self is what helps us align our mind, body, and soul bringing us into a state of oneness with the Universe, and with God — and bringing us into a harmonious union with all aspects of ourselves. 

Here are some tips to help you overcome depression:

1. Live in the moment. Living in the moment involves being present and practicing gratitude for all that you are and all that you have right now. It entails loving ourselves and embarking on this journey of self-discovery where we refrain from living in self-rejection. Rather we assume control over our personas and grow and expand and recreate our self-images into one that aligns more with our authentic expression of self. To exist authentically is the greatest pleasure of all.                                                                                     
2. Transform your mindset. Transcend from a place where your subconscious feels the need to automatically assume the worst of every situation and move yourself to a place of positivity and self-awareness. Healing is an art form and its absence has proven to be the leading cause of societal degeneration. You are encouraged to spend more time in solidarity and solace so that you can take time to be with your thoughts and connect deeply with your emotions. Journaling, meditation, sound baths, music, dancing, yoga, and other holistic methods of healing such as massages, acupuncture, and reiki all reinforce our self-worth through a process of healing but we must first open ourselves up to new possibilities, new experiences, and ideas. We must first open ourselves up to God and place him at the forefront of our lives. In accepting his will we reject our need for control and dismantle our survivor-mode programming that throws us into these never-ending cycles of self-sabotage. With God as the driving force of your life, faith will become more prevalent and any challenges that you come across will be easily resolved and seem minuscule.  Our very character is built based upon how we handle the obstacles meant to destroy our will to overcome - our will to thrive amid chaos. Our will must be stronger than these faulty emotions and we must build the necessary mental strength endurance and emotional intelligence that will allow us to navigate through the bearings of life with grace.                                                                                                                           
3. Live a healthier lifestyle. The life we live is a choice. We choose our direction and can certainly choose to reject negativity and adapt to more positive ways of living that serve our ambitions.  We are a disservice to ourselves when we choose addictions (self-mutilation) and drama (toxic situations) over our physical, mental, and emotional health. We are a disservice to ourselves when we choose to eat unhealthily (self-mutilation) and avoid physical activity like exercise that helps stimulate genuine happiness.                                                                                                                                               
4. Learn to let go. The inability to let go of emotional pain hoarded from past experiences can cause systematic bouts of depression. Reflecting on moments of the past is only useful when we are using those memories to tap into our subconscious for a release. Reflecting is a process best utilized during moments of healing. Processing these emotions through moments of reflection is our way of releasing layers of emotional baggage. Healing is a linear and lengthy process so doing so consistently is impertinent for forward movement.  In this way, you mindfully eliminate the underlying causes of your depression, and as you delve deeper into self-love and forgiveness you begin to remember these experiences from an optimistic point of view. Take your new level of awareness and create a better tomorrow. Desire a richer, more fulfilling life and self-commitment to self-love and personal growth to get there. Remember to be grateful for whatever outcomes arise for in the end, it's always a matter of how we perceive things and most significantly how we respond to them that determines the kind of life we’re living.