Depression Affects 18.8 Million Americans
Did you know that depression affects approximately 18.8 million American adults in a given year? The holidays can be particularly difficult. Those who have struggled with depression say that they’d rather be physically sick than depressed, those who’ve never been depressed should count their blessings! But I can guarantee that you still have felt its icy fingers of impact, because someone you love is probably suffering from depression right now.
One Million Preschoolers are Clinically Depressed.
One of the fastest-growing markets for anti-depression medication is for preschoolers, it is estimated that at least four percent of preschoolers—that is over one million—are clinically depressed. It’s as if they are catching a virus of depression from their teachers, parents, older siblings, or caregivers. The rate of increase in depression among school-age children is even more astonishing at 23 percent.
What does a Chrsitmas Tree have to do with Depression?
Just last week I was sitting on the couch looking at my Christmas tree. I wanted one more look before I started to take it down, so I turned on the lights and sat there for a few minutes. It’s just an artificial blue spruce, about six feet tall, with tiny white lights and white garland. It really is nothing but a bunch of “bling.”
I thought about my older daughter’s question on Christmas Eve. We’d gone to her house and the first thing she asked was, “did you put up a tree?” What a strange question for a grown daughter with a family who has two trees in her own big house, why would she wonder if we’d put up a tree? . . . And then I’d remembered my younger daughter’s question earlier in the month, she was checking on our house while we were away and she wanted to know if she could turn on our Christmas tree lights. She, too, has a lovely family with their own tree. So, what was so important about their parents having a Christmas tree?
I continued to think about the tree and all the memories it conjured up. I really do have an excuse to be a little depressed, I thought. I’ve lost my job, a job I really loved, and I miss my friends and associations from that job, and the income. But, in spite of the memories, and no assurance for the future, I feel joyful; it’s explainable only in the fact that I have faithfully followed my eight-question depression-busting plan. Using these questions to check my attitude and behavior I put myself back on track every time I feel the slightest twinge of depression.
Eight-Question Depression-Busting Plan
Nutrition, am I eating the right things? Things to avoid are sugar, preservatives, and highly-processed food. These foods may temporarily elevate your mood, but ultimately let you down, leaving you with food cravings, and feelings of guilt for eating too much.
Exercise, am I getting enough exercise? Exercise gives your brain an opportunity to rejuvenate. This actually will elevate your mood and give you a sense of well being.
Water, am I drinking enough water? Water carries necessary nutrients to all parts of your body and flushes out toxins.
Sunlight, am I getting enough sunlight? You may be a borderline seasonally-affected depressant; it is hard in the winter with shorter days to get enough sunlight. Taking additional vitamin D and using a light box may help.
Temperance, am I being temperate in all that I do? Another word for temperance is balance. Am I being balanced in all that I do? Am I working too hard? Am I eating too much? Avoid harmful substances altogether.
Air, am I getting fresh air? Air that is full of mold spores and dust can precipitate illness, which leads to cold remedies and pain killers; it is now believed that acetaminophen may cause feelings of depression.
Rest, am I getting enough rest? Sleep, often hard to come by in our fast-paced lives, maybe the most important activity you’re missing. Known to help control appetite, you can loose weight just by getting enough sleep. So avoid too much stimulus (exercise, exciting TV shows, caffeine), and establishing a bedtime routine, even if you don’t sleep, stay there for eight hours.
Trust in your Higher Power, am I spending time in the word? Am I filling my soul with faith or fear food? Until you make feeding your spirit the same priority as feeding your body you will struggle with depression. It is a natural response to the unpredictable world in which we live.
Try this plan and you too, can stop the spread of depression.
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This really works.
I was sexually molested by my father bullied mercilessly in school.then not knowing how I should expect people to treat me I married into a family that bullied and mistreated me they criticized me all of the time to the point of tears and they enjoyed that.my husband was also a victim in that his mother played favorites games with her 11 children.He drank was in a car accident and then coma and died.My sister had married one of the sons that bullied me he is still mean and arrogant.I have been depressed since 11 years old because of bullying.My Dad has cancer and may die and I don’t want to be around my brother in law because I have found out that he raped his sister the whole tim they are growing up.I tried to explain to my aunt that I don’t want to be around him.My dad and his family live in another state.After listening to her tell me my feelings are of the devil I was driven to the brink of suicide.I also just recently found that my son was molested by women in this family.