WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT DEPRESSION?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT DEPRESSION?

Major depression can greatly affect a person's ability to function at home and/or at work, and inhibit the enjoyment of life in any way. Some people suffer depression only once but others may experience it several times in their lifetime.

Answer the questions below to determine if you are experiencing depression. If you answer True to at least four (4) of the following statements, you may be suffering from depression. If you answer True to the majority of the following statements, you are certainly experiencing depression and you need to seek professional help. See a doctor or a counselor before the depression gets worse.

T or F - I feel sad and blue most of the time.
T or F - I feel like crying more than I did six months ago.
T or F - I feel hopeless and helpless most of the time.
T or F - I have no motivation.
T or F - I'm not interested in things I used to enjoy.
T or F - Recently I have wondered if life is worth living.
T or F - I am not sleeping well, or I want to sleep all of the time.
T or F - I have lost my appetite.
T or F - I am easily irritated.
T or F - I am more anxious about things than I used to be.
T or F - My energy level has dropped recently
T or F - I dread the morning. It is hard to get up.
T or F - I have been thinking about myself a lot recently.
T or F - The face looking back at me in the mirror is sad.
T or F - My self-concept needs improving.
T or F - I worry about the past, the present and the future.
T or F - I've had more headaches, upset stomach, constipation, rapid heartbeat, etc. in the last six months than usual.
T or F - I think that people have noticed that I am not working as well at my job, or enjoying life like I used to.

Is Depression A Sin?

Christians often ask this question. The answer is Not necessarily! While harboring sin or sinful attitudes in your life can certainly produce depression, other possible causes include experiencing a significant loss or having a physical problem that causes body chemistry to be imbalanced. Great men in the Bible, such as David (in many of his Psalms), Elijah (I Kings 19), Moses (Exodus 18), and Jonah (Jonah 4) experienced depression. In each of these situations God sent someone to help the suffering individual but He did not condemn him. Psalm 23:18 says, The Lord is close to the broken hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Whatever the cause, God cares about the person experiencing depression.

Some Interesting Facts

One in four women and one in ten men will develop depression some time in their life.
Men experience depression differently than women. Men tend to get more angry.
Depression can affect children as well as adults and the elderly.
Suicide may result when depression has not been treated successfully.
Depression has been called the common cold of the mind.
Between 80-90% of the people seeking treatment get well.

What Are Some Symptoms of Depression?

Everyone feels sad sometimes due to a significant loss such as a death, a divorce or losing a job. Anger turned inward can also cause sad feelings. When these feelings are not dealt with properly and they continue over a long period of time, a person usually experiences a major depression.

Look For These Symptoms:

• Feelings of sadness for over two weeks
• Not wanting to spend time with friends and family
• Increased irritability
• Changes in sleep and appetite patterns
• Frequent crying spells
• Difficulty concentrating
• Forgetfulness

How Can You Help A Depressed Person?

We often feel uncomfortable around a depressed person because we don't know what to say or do for him. This may cause us to make some serious mistakes when we try to help them. So what can you do to help?

Let him be honest about his feelings.Allow him to talk about his negative, depressedfeelings. Don't say, You shouldn't feel like that.Be there for him. A depressed person may have lost someone important in his life. Let him know you care and will be there for him.

Be aware. A depressed person often tries to avoid dealing with his feelings, or to pretend he is fine. If he fails to get help, he will only become more depressed. Help him get help.

Avoid saying . . .

Just trust God.

Just get over it.

If you would just do . . .

You have lots going for you.

You shouldn't feel so bad.

When to Seek Help . . .

Major depression is a serious illness and can be fatal if left untreated. A person cannot face this illness alone. Seek professional help for yourself, or for someone you care for when you see . . .- Three or more symptoms of depression- Response to your attempts to help- No family or friends there for support- There are suicidal thoughts- The person turning to substance abuse- The individual cannot take care of his family or himself.

If you or someone you love is experiencing depression, give CCES a call today, or visit their contact page. They're there to help.

Seven Ways to Restart Your Day

You've just woken up, and you're on the wrong side of the bed. Is there any way to switch to the other side? Absolutely.

For those times when your mind is addled, and your center is shaky; open this little black bag of cures and find your beautiful balance!

As soon as the alarm rings...

Spend your first 15 seconds awake planning something nice to do for yourself today. "This can really set you up in a good mood--even if it's just going by the farmers' market and getting fresh strawberries," says Alice Domar, PhD, whose next book--Be Happy Without Being Perfect: How to Break Free from the Perfection Deception--will be out in March 2008.

Get up...

The longer you lie there, the more you ruminate, the darker your outlook is likely to become, says Christine Padesky, PhD, coauthor of Mind Over Mood. So get vertical and make a cup of coffee, take a shower, feed the cat...

Drink...

Make that two glasses of water upon awakening, the time when our bodies are dehydrated, says Susan M. Kleiner, PhD, author of The Good Mood Diet. Dehydration causes fatigue, which affects your mood.

Move it...

You already know the number one way of chasing away a bad mood: exercise. A workout at the gym sure helps. But even just a few minutes of movement--a fast walk, for example--raises energy and reduces tension, says mood expert Robert Thayer, PhD, professor of psychology at California State University, Long Beach, and author of Calm Energy.

Investigate...

When you're dogged by anxiety or the dread you woke up with, try to pinpoint what's causing it. Did someone say anything the day before? Do you have a meeting today you wish you didn't? Was it the dream you were having when the alarm went off? "If you can figure out why you're upset, that's halfway to feeling better," says Domar.

Be kind and thankful...

This isn't exactly news, but generosity and gratitude are both big contributors to happiness, according to Todd B. Kashdan, PhD, who directs the Laboratory for the Study of Social Anxiety, Character Strengths, and Related Phenomena at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Do something nice for a stranger or friend and see if you don't feel better about yourself. Also, jot down three things that you're grateful for. It seems so simple, but counting your blessings just has a way of making you remember the sun is shining.

Laugh at yourself...

The best comedians point out the mundane aspects of life--relationship strife, a boring job, a closet full of too-tight clothes; they exaggerate those circumstances, and give us a perspective we can laugh about, says Mark Ridley, owner of the Comedy Castle in Royal Oak, Michigan. Look at your own life and try to appreciate the absurdity of what doesn't go exactly according to plan (the diets, the men, the buzz cut). Acknowledging how little control we actually have over what happens is sometimes a most freeing gift to yourself.


By Kathryn Matthews from O, The Oprah Magazine, October 2007

Common Causes of and Ways to Prevent Depression

Health experts' understanding of depression has come a long way in the last few decades. In many cases, depression doesn't have only one cause. It often results from a mix of biology, psychology, and stressful or traumatic events.

Reasons for depression include:

Biology. Researchers still have a lot to learn about exactly why people become depressed. But some experts say depression often results from an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters. Antidepressants work by affecting the levels of these chemicals — bringing them back into balance.There's also a genetic connection. If depression runs in your family, you have a higher chance of becoming depressed. Having other general health conditions or diseases can increase your risk of depression. For instance, if you have a heart attack, you have a 65% risk of becoming depressed afterwards. Conditions such as cancer, heart disease, thyroid problems, and many others increase your risk of becoming depressed.Your gender makes a difference, too. Women are about twice as likely as men to become depressed. No one's sure why. But the hormonal changes that women go through at different times of their lives may be a factor.

Psychology. Studies show that people who have a pessimistic personality are more likely to become depressed. This doesn't mean that getting a "better attitude" will resolve your depression.

Stressful events. Many people become depressed during difficult times. Losing a family member or close friend, being diagnosed with a serious illness, going through a divorce, or any other traumatic event may trigger depression.

Medications and substances. Many prescription drugs can cause the symptoms of depression. Alcohol or substance abuse is common in depressed people. It often makes their condition worse.

Some people have a clear sense of why they become depressed. Others don't. The most important thing to remember is that depression is not your fault. It's not a flaw in your character. It's a disease that can affect anyone.

Ways to Prevent and/or Treat Depression:

Talk to Friends. Friends can help with depression especially in women, because women are more likely to talk to a girlfriend than a Doctor about depression, according to a new survey.

The survey shows that most women (62%) who have ever experienced symptoms of depression, such as feeling sad, stressed, or anxious, talked to their girlfriends about these issues, but nearly three-fourths of them did not talk to a doctor about it. About half of the women surveyed said they feel extremely comfortable talking about mental health issues with their closest girlfriends.

As well as, health issues, such as weigh gain, osteoporosis, smoking or alcohol use, and menstruation.

Researchers say those findings show that women should learn to recognize when their friends might be in trouble and suffering from depression and help them seek professional advice.
Depression is twice as common in women as in men. It's normal to feel sad or anxious from time to time, but clinical depression (known by doctors as major depression) occurs when depression symptoms, including sadness, loss of enjoyment in things that were once pleasurable, and loss of energy, last more than two weeks. These symptoms are often severe enough that they prevent a person from going about their normal daily life.

Exercise. Physical activity lasting between 20 and 60 minutes can help to improve your psychological well-being. But even shorter bouts of moderate intensity walking (10 to 15 minutes) can significantly improve your mood. People with depression are recommended to follow a structured and supervised exercise programme of up to three sessions per week (lasting 45 minutes to one hour), for between 10 and 12 weeks.

No one knows exactly why exercise helps to relieve depression but it is likely to be due to a number of different reasons.

• Physical activity increases the amount of hormones (endorphins) in our bodies that help you to feel happy.
• Regular exercise can improve the way you look and boost your self-esteem.
• Exercise can give you something positive to focus on, providing new goals and a sense of purpose.
• Involvement in a social sport helps you to be more active and meet new people.

Changes to your Diet. Certain dietary changes and supplements have been reported to be helpful in the treatment of depression. Adding fish oil, Zinc, B vitamins and/or a One a day vitamin are found to help the body regulate chemicals that may trigger depression.

Therapy. Therapy that involves personal expression has been found to provide an outlet for pent-up feelings and can be a positive way to articulate deep feelings and emotion. This can take many forms. Dance is a great outlet for this as well as other movement therapies such as martial arts. Martial arts teach focus, self awareness, and control which can greatly benefit someone suffering from depression. Using art as a form of therapy is another expressive form of therapy. Whether it is sculpting or painting or any other variation of art, it’s a way to expose feelings in a tangible way.

Relaxation Techniques. Relaxation techniques help a person focus and gain a sense of serenity. Yoga is an ideal form of exercise that melds the body, mind, and spirit. It promotes good health, a positive self image and teaches relaxation. Meditation is also a good way to relax and unwind. It reduces the heart rate and clears the mind, allowing more focused thought. Acupuncture has grown in popularity as a means to treat depression. By using various pressure points, it is believed to enable a calming effect and promote a healthier emotional balance. Hypnosis is also popular as a means of getting to the core issues of why someone is depressed and leaving them with a sense of well being.

Depression does not need to be debilitating. Making a few changes to your daily routine will help promote a sense of well-being and help alleviate symptoms of depression. If you continue to have feelings of depression or have severe symptoms like suicidal thoughts, consult a health care professional immediately.

And The Happiest Place On Earth Is...

Feb. 17, 2008

(CBS) Happiness is that quirky, elusive emotion that the Declaration of Independence maintains we have every right to pursue. And we do pursue it: we are suckers for an endless stream of self-help books that promise a carefree existence for a mere $24.95; and television hucksters of every kind claim they have the key to Nirvana. So the happiness business, at least, is one big smiley face.

As for the rest of us, the main scientific survey of international happiness carried out by Leicester University in England ranks the U.S. a distant 23rd, well behind Canada and Costa Rica . But you'll be pleased to know we beat Iraq and Pakistan .

And the winner, once again as correspondent Morley Safer reports, is Denmark .

Over the past 30 years, in survey after survey, this nation of five and a half million people, the land that produced Hans Christian Andersen, the people who consume herring by the ton, consistently beat the rest of the world in the happiness stakes. It's hard to figure: the weather is only so-so, they are heavy drinkers and smokers, their neighbors, the Norwegians, are richer, and their other neighbors, the Swedes, are healthier.

So it's ironic or something that the unhappiest man in history, or at least literary history, was that Prince of Denmark, Hamlet.

Of course Hamlet had every right to be depressed. After all, his uncle murdered his father and seduced and married his mother and was an all around perfect scoundrel. But Hamlet aside, what makes a Dane so happy and why isn't he wallowing in misery and self-doubt like so many of the rest of us?

That's a question that also intrigued Professor Kaare Christensen at the University of Southern Denmark .

"If you ask people on the street where they think the happiest country in the world, they'll say, you know, like, tropical islands and nice places, like Italy or Spain. Places with nice weather and good food. But in Europe , they're actually the most unhappy people," Dr. Christensen explains.

So Christensen and a team of researchers tried to discover just why Denmark finds itself on top of the happiness heap.

"We made fun of it by suggesting it could be because blondes have more fun. But then we could prove that the Swedes have more blondes than the Danes, and they were not as happy. So we tested different hypotheses," Christensen says.

After careful study, Christensen thinks he isolated the key to Danish anti-depression.

"What we basically figured out that although the Danes were very happy with their life, when we looked at their expectations they were pretty modest," he says.

By having low expectations, one is rarely disappointed.

Christensen's study was called "Why Danes Are Smug," and essentially his answer was it's because they’re so glum and get happy when things turn out not quite as badly as they expected. "And I was thinking about, What if it was opposite? That Denmark made the worst, number 20, and another country was number one. I'm pretty sure the Danish television would have said, 'Well, number 20's not too bad. You know it's still in the top 25, that's not so bad,'" he says.

History may also play a role in the country's culture of low expectations. If you go to the government's own Web site, it proudly proclaims “the present configuration of the country is the result of 400 years of forced relinquishments of land, surrenders and lost battles."

Could it be that the true secret of happiness is a swift kick in the pants, or a large dose of humiliation?

"Do you think there's some kind of inverse relationship between the more powerful you are, the more unhappy you are? And the weaker you are, the happier you are?" Safer asks.

"Well, at least the pressure's off you, you know?" Christensen says. "And if you're doing pretty well and once in awhile there's outstanding, you're very happy about it. But if your starting point is you should be outstanding, that’s not good."

Asked if he thinks Danes like being slightly in the shadows, Christensen says, "I think it's a little bit like in bicycle race. You like to come from behind."

Which is exactly what the underdog Danes did in the 1992 European Soccer Championship; Christensen says it created such a state of euphoria that the country has not been the same since.

But is there more to it? 60 Minutes asked Danish newspaper columnist Sebastian Dorset what he thought about Denmark 's number one status.

"If you didn't tell me about the survey I wouldn't believe that Denmark was the happiest place. Because everybody complains all the time," Dorset says.

"But I find it fascinating that you say people complain. But there is a real sense of contentment here," Safer remarks.

"Yeah," Dorset agrees.

Dorset says that contentment may stem from the fact that Denmark is almost totally homogenous, has no large disparities of wealth, and has had very little national turmoil for more than a half century. "We have very little violence. We have very little murders. So people are, feel very safe," he says.

He says people feel secure. "[A] knife stabbing makes the front page every time. Yeah, I don't think that happens in America very often," Dorset says.

Happy as they may be, Dorset says Danes rarely show it. "People are not looking very happy in the street. They don't talk very much," he says.

"So people don't just strike up casual conversations on the train?" Safer asks.

"No. No, never. I think, actually, there's a very highly developed body language. When, if you are stuck on the window seat of a bus, and wants to get out, and there's a person next to you on the aisle seat, then you don't say, 'Excuse me, could I please get off?' You start rattling your bags and make sort of a gesture saying, 'I'm about to get up so please get up so I don't have to talk to you,'" Dorset says.

Asked if it might be shyness, Dorset says, "I don't know, it's considered a right by Danish people not to be talked to."
Danish students can fairly be described as utterly laid-back. Even so, they're surprised to be told they live in "happiness ville."

"When I go abroad, I usually see people look much more happy. For example, in southern Europe . They go about in the streets laughing much more than we do. I think you could say maybe we are more content," one male student tells Safer.

"What's the distinction you make between happiness and contentedness?" Safer asks.

"Well, if you're content you don't have so much to worry about. That's what I think," the student says.

For example: they have no student loans hanging over their heads. All education is free in Denmark , right on through university. And students can take as long as they like to complete their studies.

"And we get paid to go to school actually. Instead of in the U.S. you pay to go to school, we get paid to go to school if we pass our exams," a student explains.

"Americans watching this particularly people your age would be bowled over by the very idea that the government pays you to go to school," Safer remarks.

"Yeah," the student acknowledges. "I'm being paid right now for not going to school. I'm being paid for parenting," another male student tells Safer.

"It's 100 percent paid for by the government for half a year."

Denmark also provides free health care, subsidized child care and elder care, a social safety net spread the length and breadth of the country.

"I mean, we're pretty much free to do whatever we want. We're secure from the day we're born. For a Dane who lives in Denmark ," a male tells Safer.

Fish and beer-a-holics they may be, but workaholics they are not: Dr. Christensen says the average work week is 37 hours, and workers get six weeks of vacation.

But in getting all of these wonderful gifts from the government, the Danes do pay a price. Christensen says a middle income person would pay about 50 percent - half - in taxes.

And that is one trade-off most Americans are not willing to make. Americans, according to Harvard Psychology lecturer Tal Ben-Shahar, want it all.

"In America , part of the ethos, part of the American dream, is that more is better and the more is better usually applies to the material realm. And that doesn't pan out. That doesn't work. It doesn't make us happier," he says.

Ben-Shahar teaches a course at Harvard called "Positive Psychology," the science of happiness. He began the class four years ago, and it has become the most popular course on campus, enrolling some 1,400 students. In the U.S. , the quest for happiness begins in what's alleged to be the happiest years of our lives.

"There's a lot of unhappiness on college campuses. And it's not just at Harvard. Over 94 percent of college students nationwide are stressed and overwhelmed. And students are paying a very high price for this pressure," Ben-Shahar says.

That pressure is a result of high expectations; wanting it all is a bacterium that stays with us from youth to old age - wanting a bigger house, fancier car, more stuff. And when we get more, there’s always someone with even more stuff, who's just as unhappy. Some suggest that the unhappiest zip codes in the country are the wealthiest, like the Upper East Side of New York.

"The number one predictor of well-being is close friendships and close relationships in general, which includes of course, family relationships. Much better predictor of well-being than affluence is," Ben-Shahar says.

Ben-Shahar says Americans could learn a lot about happiness from the Danes. "It is about having realistic expectations. It's about not trying to fit in more than we can handle. We can't handle it all. We can't have it all. But we can have a lot," he says.

"You've lived in the states. You visited the states," Safer asked a man. "Would you live there?"

"It's got a grandness to it that you can never imagine here in Denmark . Because it's on a much larger scale. And the differences are much, much bigger. But I wouldn't want my children to grow up there," the man replied.

"Just describe for me the qualities that a successful person would have in this country," Safer asked.

"Well, in order to see myself as a success I would want to be happy and have a lot of time with my family. I think that's very important to me. And the money is not that important," he replied.

"It is more about the softer values, such as not being stressed, and feeling passionate about what I'm doing. 'Maybe this job is not gonna pay me a lot of money. But I'm gonna love getting up and doing it every day,'" another said.

Asked if one can equate money with happiness, a man told Safer, "No." "If you have a sufficient amount of money, then I don't think it will make you a lot happier to get really rich. And we're already at a good level here in Denmark . So I don't think we'll be happier if we increase our wealth," another remarked.

But these un-melancholy Danes, as laid back as they are, do not lack ambition.

"I think that we have very high hopes. Just like any other people who, we just don't get so disappointed when we don't see them through," a man explained.

Asked what he would advise Americans to do, the man said, "Well, okay. I have an advice. Don't depend too much on the American dream. Yeah. I think you might get disappointed."

Produced By Deirdre Naphin

Relacore for Depression?

Relacore Reviewed

"You may have seen Relacore advertised on TV. It's essentially a fat burning supplement that helps cut back on belly fat, too much of which may result in what many call a "spare tire" or "beer belly." Relacore regulates cortisol, a stress hormone that affects the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and glucose in the body.
Relacore attempts to relieve stress that triggers fat production. The stress and anxiety components of Relacore team up with energy compounds to lift your mood and move you forward. Relacore contains B vitamins, thiamine and riboflavin to metabolize carbohydrates and turn fat into energy.
Relacore delivers five times the vitamin C of most fat burning supplements and eight times the level of B6 vitamin, the catalyst in Relacore that makes it such an effective fat burning supplement."

A few years ago my depression was out of control. I had just had my third child and my husband desided not to reenlist in Active Duty Army (with some persuation from his "wonderful" wife) and went into the guard (without telling his "wonderful" wife), so we would be able to spend "more time together", when he was being activated and shipped off to Bosnia. I'm not really sure who I was back then, but I'm sure if you had asked I would have replied with something really witty like, "Super Woman".

Well to make a long story short, so I don't bore you forever, I was "fat, ugly, a horrible mom, bad wife...." I could have gone on and on and on putting myself down.

Now what I'm going to tell you next, I'm sure will get mixed reviews depending on what kind of a marriage you have or think you will have. My "brave" husband came into the house and said, "Hunny, close your eyes and hold out your hands (small pause) and DONT be mad at me." Well that threw out any exciting thought of "Oh it could be flowers, candy or the keys to a new sports car..." HA HA HA...So I did. This was my first introduction to Relacore. I sat down on the couch holding this box in my hand and trying to fight the thoughts of...

"He thinks I'm fat...I really am ugly...How can this man be so rude, I'm gunna kill him."

While all this was sinking in my husband says, "Now before you get mad at me, it's not what you think. I know how stressed you get and how depressed you get and I just want to do something to help. When I went into Walmart, I overheard these two women talking about this stuff and they said they didn't lose alot of weight, but they noticed a change in their attitude. The one woman said she has 4 kids and the small things that used to make her fly off the handle, she could handle when she's on it."

He's either a smooth talker or has a very gullible wife, either way I tried it and I fell in love.

I will never know who that woman in the isle at Walmart was, but she was so right. I feel wonderful when I take Relacore. I'm happier and more focused. I love the fact that I don't get the gitters but still have the energy to play with my kids. I learned that I can't take it after noon or I will never get to sleep. Good thing they came out with the nighttime formula...YAY! I haven't had any side effects with the nighttime formula. I fall asleep relaxed and wake up refreshed, ready to go without feeling groggy.

I know it's kind of strange thinking that a "weight loss" pill can help with your depression, but from my experience it does for me. Please don't use this as self medication. I am NOT a doctor and cannot say what is right for you.

Another review:

"Relacore is marketed heavily on TV as the #1 Belly Fat pill in America. We assume this is based on overall sales and not results because the Relacore formula failed to make our Top 20 List of the Elite diet pills rated on Value, Safety, Weight Loss Power, Customer Feedback, Company Reputation, Reorder rates, and Additional Benefits. Relacore is a decent formula but ranked Poorly on Weight Loss Power and Overall Value."

Vitamins For Your Mental Health

Vitamins help you body in a number of different ways. However many people do not realize that vitamins are also crucial for helping the health of your mind.

Depression is one of the many mental illnesses that can really help to ruin a person’s life if left untreated.

If you are hoping to deal with your depression in a way that is healthy to your body but does not include the use of drugs, you might want to gain a better understand of just how vitamins can work for your depression.

Vitamin supplements can help you fight your depression.

First and foremost, study the B vitamins. B-complex vitamins are essential to your well-being, including your mental and emotional health.

They are water-soluble, which means that they cannot be stored in the body over time to be used at a later date, and so you must eat foods rich in B vitamins every day or take vitamin supplements. B-vitamins that could cause or add to your depression include thiamin, which provides energy to your brain, and pantothenic acid, which is crucial in the formation of certain hormones that suppress depression.

Most other B vitamins affect your mental and emotional state as well, and because they are broken down in the body by alcohol and sugar, many people find it a struggle to eat enough food rich in the B vitamins.

You should talk to your doctor about vitamin supplements in these areas in order to treat your depression.

Vitamin C is also extremely important in the fight against depression. Normal levels are usually easy to achieve in the body, but you might find that you need a boost from vitamin supplements if you have recently have surgery or an inflammatory illness.

Lack of vitamin C is common if you are stressed or pregnant, so be particularly mindful of your depression during these times of life.

A variety of minerals, like magnesium, calcium, and zinc can also help you to fight your depression. The bottom line is that it is important for you to talk to a doctor if you believe that you are depressed.

Vitamin supplements and medical care can help you to fight depression in many cases.
You doctor will be able to recommend brands that are of high quality and instruct you on how to take the vitamin supplements so that your body can get all of the nutrients it needs to stay happy and healthy, both physically and mentally.

By John Caldecott

You are NOT Alone

Have you ever felt like you are all alone...the world is against you...no matter what you do it's not good enough? Where do these feeling come from? "Yesterday I was fine, but today I can't get out of bed...I wanna cry all day" You are NOT Alone!

Women have this unwritten law that we are supposed to be superwomen. We should be able to have a spotless house...happy husbands...cheerful kids...sucessful careers...and the list goes on. How do you do this without EVER getting depressed when it doesn't work the way you want it to.

My husbands paycheck can't cover the bills...we're about to lose our house...keeping the house clean is nearly impossible with 3 tornadoes and hurricanes that follow (my children and their animals) and of course it all comes crashing down at once...I feel like you take 3 steps back just to take 1 steps forward. All I wanna do is cry. "I can't handle it."... "What else can I do?"... "I'm a failure."... "I'm not good enough."... "Why is God punishing me?"..."How am I gunna come up with the money to save our house?"... are all thoughts that run through my head, causing the depression to take a hold, sending them deeper and deeper in my mind. Through the tears and rushing thoughts I'm reminded of something I was once told...

"Your thoughts create your life"

Can your thinking prevent tragedy and challenges from touching your life? No. As you can see from what I previously wrote, we all experience our share of hardship and misfortune. Life is not always easy, but no matter who you are, we all have our share of the good, bad and ugly.

So if you can't eliminate bad things in your life, how can our thoughts help in difficult situations? By controlling your thoughts, you decide how these situations affect your life. Choose to find the good...find the lessons...and with the help of God, you will shape a more positive life for yourself.

We have all seen the cartoons out there with the devil sitting on one shoulder and an angel sitting on the other. I know this is going to sound crazy, but that's really not that far from the truth. Each one of us has internal battles everyday and "Satan" loves to render each one of us useless.

Here are some ways to start taking back our thoughts:

1. Make an appointment with yourself. Take a morning or afternoon to think about your life. If this sounds scary to you, this is one of the first places to change your thoughts. This is fun. Find a quiet place with no distractions such as the library, sitting in your bed, or sitting in your car.

2. Daydream. See I told you this would be fun. Who doesn't like to daydream? Open your mind. Think about the areas in your life you want to change. I can save the world in my daydreams.

3. Write Your Dreams Down. Write out what you want to change. Maybe there is only one area you want to change. Don't feel like you have to change everything. But if there is something that could improve the quality of your life, write it down. Don't worry about whether it is possible. Assume EVERYTHING is possible.

4. Make a Plan. For your top changes, write out some rough plans about how you could achieve those dreams. Break down the long term goal into monthly, weekly and daily things you'll need to do to get there.

5. Find Mentors. Who inspires you? What can you learn from that person or those people? How do they think? How do they handle challenges? Write it all down. Let that person serve as a guide while you work towards your dreams. Don't be afraid to ask for help and guidance. Remember not to compair yourself to your mentor, they are human just like you.

6. Make Reminder Posters. Use your creativity here. The idea is to create posters to hang in key places like your bathroom, nightstand, kitchen, car and/or desk. On the poster (any size you want) list your Dreams, your daily action plan, and the thoughts you want to cultivate each day. You can include quotes or other inspiration too. Be sure to add pictures, color, texture, whatever makes it powerful for you.

7. Show Gratitude. Take time each morning to really appreciate what you currently have in your life that is good. In the evening take time to review the day, either in quiet meditation, in a journal, or with someone who supports you. Try to include either a spouse, your children, or other person who is important in your life.

8. Believe. Believe in the power of your thoughts. Remember that the many Manmade things in this world were once only a thought. Don't let Satan steal your joy.

9. Take Action. Your thoughts and plans need to be combined with action to create a result. If motivation is lacking, don't wait for it to appear. Take action first and then watch your energy and motivation blossom! Take action on your goals everyday. Make them a priority by working on your daily goals before other things in life.

Remember "YOU ARE NOT ALONE"