Depression: Why It Is So Pervasive and What Can Be Done to Lessen Its Effects

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:

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With Light and Love,
Karen T. Hluchan

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

www.HealingSpiritWithLove.com

Karen T. Hluchan is a spirit medium, motivational speaker, Reiki master, and author of How Have You Loved? Through her mediumship practice, Healing Spirit with Love, she devotes her time to the healing of spirit on earth through her connection with heaven. Her passion for her calling is shared through the spirit readings, demonstrations, and workshops she provides, as well as through her writing, Reiki, and fine art spiritual paintings. All of her work is inspired by the divine light that is within us all. She has a great love of nature, people, and the planet, and she enjoys her connection in spirit, both here and in heaven.

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