Depression: A disease of the mind and Brain

 We live in a world where by people carry out their daily tasks with happiness, only to find out that there is a lot going on in their head and mind. What exactly could be wrong? A lot of people are really dead inside. I could term them as “living dead”. Yeah! They walk around, carry out their daily activities but deep down everything is crumbling. They find it hard to spill things out because they think no one will understand their feelings. They can't even express what is is going on in their mind. They know something is wrong and that thing kept eating them up gradually. Beware! Depression!!! 

   

   According to WHO, depression is a common mental disorder which affects about 264 millions of all ages globally. It is a serious health condition that can be described as a feeling of sadness, loss or anger which interferes with a person's everyday activity. It could get worse and could lead to other medical conditions like cardiovascular diseases. It could also lead to mental conditions like psychosis or lunacy.  The fact is that it's normal to feel down as some people do say “everyday is not Christmas”. It becomes abnormal when “feeling down” becomes Paramount. It means depression is setting in. 

   Based on the questionnaire I pulled up some weeks back, I realized that men are mostly affected by depression. The age range is between 15 and 29 (15-29). Why is it that men are mostly affected? The reason is that at this particular age range, there is a call to decision making. This is the time most guys make their decisions whether good or bad.  This is the stage responsibilities sets in. According to the culture and traditions, men are said to always behave “manly”. Where I come from (Yoruba tribe), it is believed that men are not to complain. They are strong and energetic. This is one of the issue that kill most people because depression leads to sucide and sucide is the second leading cause of death. 

   I will like to tell you that it's okay not to be okay. Yeah! It's okay. Are you facing one issue or the other that is making you loose focus and gradually leading you into depression or you are already in it. It's okay not to be okay. But the moment you start making the “ not okay” the Paramount thing in your life, then something is getting wrong. Understand that it's okay not to have it all together. Tell yourself that! Life without challenges is a failure itself. A man without a challenge is not living. Everything will not always go well. Embrace your self. Yes! Forgive yourself of all your past mistakes. Don't hold on to it. Are you afraid of the future? Don't be! Today is the future you once thought of.

   The first step to healing is opening up. Yes! You have to open up. Let out those feelings. Loose it all. Opening up exposes your hurts and pains to healing. Have you ever noticed that whenever you feel burdened and you tell someone about it, you feel relieved immediately. You feel lightened. This is to show that words can bring healing. It can! Open up to someone you trust. By so doing you are breaking free from that chains called depression.  

Irrespective of the pains you are feeling, learn how to trust God. I tell myself whenever I am down “semiloore, God isn't silent. He is involved”. I feel at peace because I know I am not alone. I may be feeling alone but I am not. I calm myself down with those words. The Bible says is 1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you”. This means put everything to God. Release everything. He cares for you! When you have that insight, you won't have to worry. God cares for you! You cast all your cares by stopping those thoughts before they even start. Speak God's words to your soul. He said he won't leave me. Neither will he forsake me. This words are healing words. Affirm it! Praying in the spirit also snap us out of those thoughts. Speak good words to yourself. Words heals! Try it! The fact is that you can never combat thoughts with thoughts. You can only combat it with words. Yes! Speak those words! Thoughts are the passive form of words. But words itself is active. Very sharp! Affirm those words. “I am healed. I am not alone. God is involved. I don't see my problems anymore rather i see the solutions. I am healed. My mental strength is revieved. My business is going well. My marriage is getting better. I become better at studying. Yes I become better. I won't let my problems shape me into sorrow and bitterness. God wants me to be happy. I am happy. I glory in the love of God. I embrace the rest I have in him. I speak peace to my soul.” can you feel happiness filling your heart. Yeah! That's the power of words. Keep affirming!