Let's talk the "D" word........

What’s going through your mind? I can imagine.
Divorce …………..no we are in it for the long haul.
Diet………………… may always be changing mine 
Drugs………………just vitamins
Dating…………………Colin is getting older…UM NO!
Diarrhea………………..What?
No the word most people avoid like the plague


Depression


There the cat is out of the bag. I said it. So what now? Well let me give you some internet facts.

• Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. This includes major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder. [1]
• Everyone, will at some time in their life be affected by depression -- their own or someone else's, according to Australian Government statistics. (Depression statistics in Australia are comparable to those of the US and UK.) [2]
• Pre-schoolers are the fastest-growing market for antidepressants. At least four percent of preschoolers -- over a million -- are clinically depressed. [3]

[Pill-Popping Pre-Schoolers | Even Toddlers Get the Blues]
• The rate of increase of depression among children is an astounding 23% p.a. [4]
• 15% of the population of most developed countries suffers severe depression. [5]
• 30% of women are depressed. Men's figures were previously thought to be half that of women, but new estimates are higher. [6]
• 54% of people believe depression is a personal weakness. [7]
• 41% of depressed women are too embarrassed to seek help. [8]
• 80% of depressed people are not currently having any treatment. [9]
• 92% of depressed African-American males do not seek treatment. [10]
• 15% of depressed people will commit suicide. [11]
• Depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2020 -- and studies show depression is a contributory factor to fatal coronary disease. [12]

[Depression Link to Heart Disease | Hostility, Depression May Boost Heart Disease]
• Depression results in more absenteeism than almost any other physical disorder and costs employers more than US$51 billion per year in absenteeism and lost productivity, not including high medical and pharmaceutical bills.


Those are the facts online. Anyone can find them. Everyone can get overwhelmed reading them and thinking they are doomed. In fact I am/was one of those people. Most of you know that I have struggled with this beast for my adult life. It has been a J…o…u…r…n…e…y. And one I thought was over. Because you see, I did all the right things. I prayed, I ate differently, I exercised and....... I TOOK DRUGS. But the problem seems to go away but for a moment. Then when I least expect it the ugly creature peeks its head over the sun and wham there it is again. Well this time it’s different. I mean it’s probably different every time. But this time it Really Really is…….why? You ask. Because this time I was awake when it hit me. I started to withdrawl, not care about certain things, people, events. And I was NOT OK with it. I didn’t lie back and see myself fall into a pit. I said NO MORE!!! I am more than this right? I am more than the outrage, fits and remorse. Oh the remorse you have after you have lashed out on your family. Because you see that’s who suffers with you. It’s your family. Others see you pull it together for them……. But your family well they get the crap. The ugliest you have. Not fair! Your right! It’s not. Because you know your kids will love you and your husband/wife (if your blessed like me) Will still be there. Will be there when you have collapsed from all the ugliness. They will be there to hold you up reassure you and keep you going. Well guess what people? I am going to conquer this beast and for the LAST TIME! I am doing all the things mentioned above, but one thing that I have not done before. This time I am speaking truth to myself. Listening when a dear friend calls to read me the description God has to say about me. And remembering who I am in Christ. Because without him and his people I could forget and be a statistic. Not anymore!!!! Not anymore!!!

This is what God says about me.


Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols." (Ezekiel 36:25)
...A righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. (Psalm 112:6-8)
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. (Psalm 37:5-6)
Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24)
Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath... it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...
(Hebrews 6:17-19)
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2)
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD is the Rock eternal. (Isaiah 26:3-4)
He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:11)
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
(Isaiah 41:10)
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you...For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." (Isaiah 43:1-3)
"I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:24)
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. (Romans 5:1-2)
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. (Romans 5:20)
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
(Romans 8:1)
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. (Romans 8:15-16)
The Spirit helps us in our weakness. (Romans 8:26)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
(Romans 8:37)
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
...God does not judge by external appearance... (Galatians 2:6)
For He Himself is our peace. (Ephesians 2:14)
For through Him we have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:18)
The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm. (Proverbs 1:33)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

And believe me there is much much more. I guess I am telling you this because I want to be hope for someone. Out there is someone that thinks they are alone. They may be scared and confused. But see when we look to the light we cannot be in darkness. I am happy to say that this will be the last time I ever deal with this issue. Jesus took all of our issues and we are new. I am thankful for friends, truth, love and acceptance. Jesus never stops making me be in AWE of him. He cares for us and wants us whole. I have many many other issues to deal with. But my friends I believe with ALL of my heart this one is done!!!! To God be the GLORY.


Love,
Vicki