self-care

Great sadness, anger, anxiousness, irritability, and angst. That is what someone in the throes of depression experiences on a daily basis. Often, those feelings take over the mind effectively pushing out all thoughts of peace and happiness. Those who suffer with depression wish they did not. They want to feel happy and carefree, and to enjoy life. Unfortunately, when someone has experienced a great deal of tragedies over a long period of time, happiness can seem elusive and hope can seem lost. The human ego, which is the parent of all of our fears, looks for opportunities like this to take over an otherwise happy soul by feeding it with fears, regrets, and worries as a way of challenging the soul’s inherent beliefs about peace and contentment. To do this, the human ego persistently repeats negative thoughts like a music CD skipping on a scratched surface and repeating the same lyrics over and over again. It is up to each individual to learn how to hit the eject button on that skipping CD in order to repair it or replace it with a new soundtrack.

Slogging through the Mud

Depression is tough. I know this because I have experienced it many times in my own life. Sometimes the challenges we face become overwhelming, especially if there have been significant and ongoing struggles with little sense of relief in between tragic circumstances. We become worn down and tired of the constant effort it takes to fight off negative thoughts and feelings that threaten not only our happiness, but also our personal existence at times. It is during these times that the human ego senses our weaknesses and seizes the opportunity to ramp up the negativity. To a person suffering with depression, it can feel as though one is stuck in a mud pit trying desperately to climb out but the slippery slopes cause one slide back in again and again. It can seem like an exercise in futility. Even though the person suffering knows there is a way out because they have risen above the muck before, the human ego with its pervasive power does its best to block those thoughts. Due to the great challenge of trying to see beyond the negativity in order to get to a place of hope and more positive feelings, many people succumb to depression and, at times, tragically take their own lives.

The good news; however, is that depression is a temporary state of mind. There are few guarantees in life; however, one of them is that change is inevitable. It takes strong efforts and great love to free oneself from the grip of depression, but it is possible and, sometimes, it is necessary to receive professional help. If you think you are in need of help, you can contact your primary medical doctor as he or she may be able to provide recommendations for reputable mental health professionals.

Warning Signs and Professional Help

Part of the problem with depression is that those suffering from it often isolate themselves from friends and family members. They either hide their feelings or withdraw from relationships because they feel no one cares for them or loves them. Often, they may purposefully destroy relationships in an attempt to proactively protect themselves from the pain of rejection and loss they believe is inevitable through human relations. In addition, getting extremely upset over the smallest of issues is a red flag that someone is having a really hard time dealing with issues in his or her life. It is a sign of stress overload when someone has little tolerance for anything that upsets the status quo. It is like placing one more rock on a pile which sends them all crashing down in a heap. Excessive sleeping, as well as the abuse of drugs and alcohol, are also red flags that someone is gripped in the throes of depression because they are employing these mechanisms to shut out problems. In their minds, it is a way of providing relief from problems in which they believe there are no satisfactory answers that will help them overcome the issues.

If someone is struggling with deep depression, professional assistance from a counselor, therapist, or in-patient mental health services may be needed to help the person who is suffering. If they are suicidal, it is imperative to take those threats seriously and try to get professional help for him or her by offering to help them find a therapist. Additionally, provide him or her with the national suicide hotline number, 1-800-273-8255, which will provide immediate crisis assistance and put them in touch with mental health experts in the area. While it is good to do what you can to help someone by giving them love and lending them an empathetic ear, deeply rooted problems are best left to those who have extensive training and expertise in dealing with critical or life-threatening issues. You can lend your support and follow up on someone’s progress; however, it is good to recognize when significant problems require professional intervention.

There is Hope for a Brighter Future

There are less serious cases of depression which can be resolved with love, determination, and a strong base of support. Ultimately, we are all responsible for our own happiness and unhappiness. Taking an honest and objective look at the circumstances in your life can reveal why you may be experiencing great sadness and angst, as well as what you can do to rise above it. When you do this, you will not only see the positive benefits of negative circumstances, but also the paths you can take to mitigate or deter similar problems in the future. For instance, you may find yourself in a relationship in which you have been giving much more than you have ever received. This imbalance may be causing a serious imbalance within your emotional and spiritual wellbeing. If, after discussing the issue with the person involved, there are little to no positive changes over a sustained period, it may be time to end the relationship because it is causing more harm than good. It may be challenging to end such a relationship because you may have invested a lot of time and energy into this person; however, your energies would be better served by taking care of yourself instead of constantly feeding into the other person’s wants and needs. Remember, you are important, too. You can ask Archangel Michael to help you to cut the cords of past and current relationships in order to help you move forward into healthier relationships with a balance of give and take.

Actions You Can Take for Yourself

When you find yourself struggling with depression or strong negativity, there are many actions you can take to help yourself heal, to correct situations out of alignment with your best interests, and to move forward into more positive experiences for your soul. Here are a few I utilize when I find myself being overwhelmed by negative thoughts and feelings:

• Call on Archangel Azrael to help transition negative thoughts to positive ones
• Call on Archangel Michael to give you the strength and the courage to move forward with confidence in your path
• Provide self-care for yourself, as it is important to take care of you, especially when feelings of anxiety and angst are taking over
• Take stock of all that you do have and express gratitude for the comforts, relationships, and love you enjoy on a daily basis
• Halt the negative thoughts and emotions by examining the present. In this exact moment, know that you are safe and loved by those on earth and in heaven. It is often fears and worries that get the best of us, because we are envisioning the worst – let it go and refocus to the present moment. Take each day one moment at a time until the negative feelings pass. You will see how you have come through it with better options than you thought possible.
• Talk with friends about what is going on. Most of us have experienced times of darkness when negative thinking seems to block out all of the good in our lives. It is healthy to talk it out with trusted friends and family members. They may offer helpful advice or a different perspective that allows you to see the problems within the problem. Think about what they said and examine it in the context of your own life. Then, decide for yourself which ideas have merit for you. Listen to your truths in an objective way.
• Step out of your environment and see or do something new. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut. A change in our routines may help clear our minds and open up new vistas and opportunities.
• Take a nap. Not every day or excessively, but when the anger and frustration has reached unprecedented levels and you are having a hard time releasing it. It sometimes helps to take a nap once in a while to give yourself time to reset. As you go to sleep, ask the archangels to help uplift your mood and heal your heart while you are resting.
• Play soothing music as a form of meditation and allow yourself to concentrate only on the sounds and your breathing. Once calm, you can take yourself on a meditation journey to meet with your loved ones in heaven and the angels in order to bring healing and love to your life.
• Get moving by taking a walk, by participating in yoga or exercising in ways that bring you joy and helps you release excess emotions. Exercise is a natural way to release endorphins, which are happy hormones in our brains.
• End relationships that are hurting you. Be honest with yourself about whether someone is truly hurting you or supporting you. Think about whether someone is adding to your life or consistently taking away without any concern for your welfare.
• Clear out old tasks and tidy up your environment. If tasks seem overwhelming, focus on a little at a time. Set mini-goals such as tidying up one room or task at a time. Once that is done, you can move on to the next. Give yourself credit for each task completed, no matter how big or small.
• Recite these Reiki energy healing principles when you wake up in the morning in order to start your day off with positive intentions:
  • Just for today, I let go of anger.
  • Just for today, I will not worry.
  • Just for today, I am filled with gratitude.
  • Just for today, I am committed to my work.
  • Just for today, I will be kind to myself and others.
• Upon waking, tell yourself it is going to be a great day – and mean it.
• Be as kind to yourself as you would be with others. When you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts about yourself, stop and replace them with two positive thoughts about yourself. Negative self-thoughts are hurtful. When you replace them with two positive thoughts, you are working on changing your thinking through kindness and love. Be kind to you. Life is hard, but you know you have triumphed over tough circumstances in the past and will do so again – with style and grace.

Regaining Hope

Depression is a serious problem for many people. This world can be very challenging, and anything we can do to help ourselves and others is a plus. As much as they would like to, most people struggling with depression cannot just “snap out of it.” It takes time to heal the heart and spirit of those who have been hurt or damaged by negative circumstances. By taking small steps each day, depression can be overcome, even in cases in which it seems hopeless. Those who are suffering from extreme cases of depression would most likely benefit from professional assistance. Help them, if you can, to find the assistance they need to live healthy, happy lives.

Positively Taking Your Life Back

There may be times when depression threatens to upheave your life; however, you do not need to let it take over. Take small steps each day to show appreciation to yourself and know that you are loved by those on earth and in heaven. Remember, change is inevitable, which means the challenging circumstances you may be facing are only temporary. When you get through to the other side of the issues, you may be able to see the positive reasons for the occurrences. Even if you are having a hard time seeing why events have occurred, keep looking and you will find even negative circumstances have positive reasons for occurring. Often, our frustrations arise from circumstances not going the way we wish they would. By learning how to recognize unhealthy patterns and how to see the positive reasons for negative circumstances, we give ourselves the opportunity to move beyond deep disappointment into a higher understanding of situations and better conditions for our lives.

With Light and Love,
Karen T. Hluchan

Spirit Medium, Motivational Speaker, Reiki Master, & Author of How Have You Loved?

www.HealingSpiritWithLove.com