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| Depression Information |
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What Is God Thinking?
What can you say to a parent who loses a child to cancer? Whatever words we offer are inadequate to lessen their sorrow. We have no answers to questions like, "Why this child?" or "Why now?" and "What do I do now?" Another question we all ask and cannot answer is, "Where was God and what was He thinking when this horrible thing happened? " For answers, I look to God's written word. It gives me a glimpse into His personality and thoughts. If God were to telephone and speak to you during times of suffering, perhaps these are some things He might say: "I know how you feel." God understands the loss of a child because He experienced it. He said to Jesus, "You are my son whom I love." (Mark 1:11) He watched men torture his beloved son. He felt the grief of seeing the people He'd created rebell against Him. "His spirit was grieved." (Isaiah 63:10) The Bible says Jesus was "a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering . . . He carried our sorrows." (Isaiah 53:3) Crucifixion was the most barbaric form of death known to man. It was a cruel, drawn out process. Nails were driven into wrists and ankles. The body was suspended in an abnormal position that crushed the lungs and heart. The pain was excruciating. For this torture, Jesus left the glory of heaven. He left the companionship of angels and the fellowship of His Father for this brutal treatment. He understands suffering like no other can. In the midst of your struggles, God would say, "I love you." "I have loved you with an everlasting love." (Jeremiah 31:3) He demonstrated His great love with the ultimate sacrifice. "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son." (John 3:16) He would say, "You're not alone. I am with you.." Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us, "The Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you." Isaiah 43:2 reads, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you." And Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, "I am with you always." He would say, "I want to bless you." "He did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all. Will He not also graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) Anyone who would give so great a gift at such a great cost must certainly have only our best interest at heart. God would assure you that, "Nothing bad in this world can separate us." "Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor demons . . . nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God." (Romans 8:35-39) God would tell you, "Pain is part of life." "In this world, you will have trouble." (John 16:33a) But He would also say, "Take heart." The next part of that verse says, "But be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." He would tell you, "Lean on me." "Come to me you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) He would say, "Trust me." "My peace I give to you . . . Do not be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:28) He would promise, "I can make you strong." "My strength is made perfect in (your) weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) He would say, "I can bring good, even from tragedy.." "In all things, God works for the good of those who love Him." (Romans 8:28) He would say, "Ultimately, nothing not even death can hurt you, if you belong to me; because, through my son, you have the hope of eternal life." "Death where is your victory . . . Where is your sting? Death has been swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:55) Even with the King of Kings leading us through life, it will be difficult; but we can endure, and even overcome, any struggle. He can strengthen us with the knowledge that no matter what happens in this lifetime, nothing here can steal our hope of the eternal treasure He wants to give us. He's created an everlasting kingdom where pain, suffering, tears and death will no longer exist; and He offers that home to all who will come. Life may be filled with sorrow, but it won't be as hopeless with Jesus as it would be without Him. When we're suffering, only God can provide the perfect peace for which our hearts long. God's love carries us through anything and overcomes any situation, burden, or grief -- no matter how great. The heart of Christianity revolves around a tragic and unjust death. The best man who ever lived -- an innocent man -- had to suffer, so how can we expect lives free from pain and sorrow? Yet, God brought life and good out of the tragedy of Jesus' death. He can do the same with our suffering too, if through that suffering we grow closer to Him. Author Marsha Jordan is founder of a nonprofit charity called Hugs and Hope for Sick Children (http://www.hugsandhope.org). More of her articles on depression are in her book, Hugs, Hope, and Peanut Butter, a compilation of essays illustrated with drawings by critically ill children. In this book, the author combines hope with humor, drawing upon her own experience of living with chronic pain and depression. She opens her life and her heart to share everyday experiences and the lessons God has taught her from them. Her thought-provoking essays are illustrated with drawings created by children battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Anyone who has ever been discouraged or faced tough times will be encouraged by essays about everything from husbands, wild bears, and a day in the emergency room, to aging, in-laws, and living with chronic illness. Other essays in the book include, "More Than I Can Handle," "Ten Tips For Beating Depression," "Why Doesn't God Answer My Prayer?" and "What Did I Do To Deserve This?" Learn more at http://www.hugsandhope.org/book.htm
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Alternative Medicine A Look at the Different Depression and Anxiety Medications While it may be easy to recite the various brand names and generalize their benefits enough to know they put us (or are supposed to put us) in a better mood, for lack of a better term, the drugs themselves can all be categorized individually, each working in a slightly different way. Learn To Take Control of Depression While depression is a growing epidemic in western society, it remains to be one of the most treatable as well. While the medical profession looks first to medication, I believe only the most severe cases require any long-term medical treatment. Efficacy and Safety of Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Depression Published in Journal On September 1st, the efficacy and safety of vagus nerve stimulation for depresssion was published in the prestigious peer reviewed journal of Biological Psychiatry. Psychiatrist Begin Training About Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Depression The manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator has begun face-to face meetings with psychiatrists nationwide to educate them about vagus nerve stimulation therapy, how it works and for whom this treatment is indicated. It is very important that both you and your psychiatrist fully understand vagus nerve stimulation therapy so that you can make an informed decision together about this ninety-minute out-patient implant procedure. Tips to Beat Depression We all have days when we are down, worn out and just not feeling all that happy. Depression: Based on a True Story "Ring, ring." The crisis operator answers the phone to a woman pleading to let her daughter know that she loves her. The woman spent her day writing letters to friends and loved ones, expressing her thoughts and emotions. From the loaded gun on the table to the rope hanging from the attic, it was a well-thought out plan (Lewis, Pamela, 2003). 5 Super Effective Tips To Kill Depression Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives. We get sad when we fail in our exams, when we're rejected by the person we love, or when someone very close to us passes away. Depression, however, could be more fatal than just plain loneliness. It could render life-long consequences that could ruin your self-esteem, health, and well-being. New FDA Approved Therapy for Depression: Timeline from Prescription to Procedure On July 18, 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) approved vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic depression. On August 18th, I was a part of a conference call hosted by the manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator. Do You Think You Have Depression? Do you have days where nothing can make you happy? You are not alone. I ignored my depressive thoughts about life for years. Unfortunately I did not do anything to fix my situation until they became so dehabilitating that I had no choice. Use Alternative Medicine to Ease Depression Depression is a problem that faces many of us, young or old; baby boomers or generation X. We have a fast lifestyle, we're working between sixty and eighty hours a week and we have long commutes into the office keeping us away from our families. Pressures, stress and anxiety can gang up on us to cause an uncontrolled depression. Depression can be a symptom of this stress, or it can have a physiological cause as well. If you have cancer, heart disease or chronic pain, you might know all about depression and how debilitating it can be in your life. If you are one of the millions of people suffering from depression, what can you do about it? Are you ready to jump into the world of antidepressants that your doctor so quickly prescribes? We all want the magic bullet, the answer to just make the pain go away. Depression-My Story What is depression? Chronic Depression: Disease or Charcter Flaw? A major survey on depression symptoms from the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), released in july 2001, revealed a dramatic degree of progress in public understanding. Yet even amid this promising trend, the survey sheds light on the difficulties faced by millions of people striving to manage this sometimes chronic, life-long illness. Natural Remedies For Depression It is true that forms of depression cannot be avoided, although, it has also been proved that a healthy life style can play a major role in alleviating depression or even preventing some forms from even occurring. Mild types of depression can develop from poor diet and nutrition. Lack of exercises, stress, poor, little, or no sleep, traveling, lack of necessities, withdrawl from an addiction, and lack of sunlight have also been linked to some cases of depression. Recognizing Depression Depression is a serious issue. There are simply hundreds of thousands of people who deal with depression on a daily basis. Are you one of them? Do you know someone that may be? How can you recognize the signs of depression? How can you help someone who may be facing depression within their lives? Sources of Online Suicide Help for People Suffering from Severe Depression There are Many Resources for Online Suicide Help Depression in Teenagers: Now What Can We Do? No doubt you have seen the recent news headlines about a federal panel that recommended to the FDA that anti-depressant medications carry the strongest possible warning label for use in children and teenagers. This recommendation to the FDA shook the medical community, especially those who work with depressed young people. The biggest problem from the treatment community's point of view was not the recommendation for the warning label, but the way that the media protrayed the panel's recommendation. Seven Ways To Deal With Your Depression It has just been announced, after a study by a team from King's College Hospital, that depression is now the biggest reason for people claiming long-term sickness benefit in the UK, having taken over from musculoskeletal problems such as back problems. The research shows that 176 million working days were lost because of depression in 2003. Depression now affects 1 in 5 of the population, with most people using various types of medication. Most people would like other types of treatments, such as 'talking cures', but there is a huge shortage of such therapies or therapists in the NHS system. I?m Not Depressed; I've Just Been Having A Lousy Conversation With Myself Not long ago, I attended a mastermind group. During the meeting, one of the women went into a litany about how terrible things had been in the past few weeks and how depressed she felt as a result. Inspired, I rose from my seat and told her, "You're not depressed, you've just been having a lousy conversation with yourself." She looked at me as if I had just arrived from Mars. Disability is NOT a Life Sentence On September 30th 1998 I was crossing the street in a crosswalk when a young man ran through a red light running me over at 40 mph. He dragged me down the street as he tried to leave the scene of the accident. Your Daily Struggle With Depression If you have been diagnosed with depression or feel that you are dealing with depression on a daily basis, you may feel that depression is consuming your life. You worry about everything. You don't want to do anything. The things that used to make you happy, well, they just don't seem important anymore. You need to realize that depression is a serious condition and that without the assistance of a doctor, depression just won't go away.
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