Here's an article I will be spending some time looking at today. Just in skimming it, I was surprised both by Dr. Mercola's comments (he sees that there are some people who honestly need SOMETHING, even if he doesn't like the drugs), and also by the comments people added following the article (there were things mentioned like exercise and omega oils as things that work for them.)
There is such a stigma attached to depression, I think especially in the Christian world. It seems like if we could just pray hard enough or trust God enough or...something...depression would go away. And yet I know people (and have some experience myself) with thoughts and feelings that don't seem to get better no matter What they do. Why is that? I think this is sometimes especially true for stay at home moms, too. There's not a whole lot to occupy your thoughts when you do laundry and diapers for a living.
Exercise is one key. I never have been able to figure out why some people can exercise every day for their entire lives and other people can barely force themselves to do it occasionally. I happen to fall more in the latter category on this one, I must admit. Why I can work so hard with what I eat and cannot summon up the motivation to exercise, I have no idea. Brilliant ideas, anyone? I'm open to suggestions.
Anyway, another key is training your thoughts, I'm sure. We're not supposed to be anxious about anything, but by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present our requests to God and the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, right? (Phil 4:4-6ish) This is something I've been working on lately. It's easy to get in the habit of doing things in your (my) own power. I seem to learn daily how limited that really is. Maybe having kids does that to ya...
I'd love to hear any thoughts on the matter. This is one of those very private issues that needs to be not-so-private so that we can support each other and be stronger for it!
On our way home...Harvest Host
3 months ago
A friend of mine (you know Mauri) gave me some great advice. She told me to pick 3 things I want to do and do it. It's that simple. I was trying to fix everything over night and wake up tomorrow and be the perfect mom who works out/eats healthy/spends time with God/ does arts and crafts with the kids every day/ keeps a spotless house/ cooks dinner/handles all the finances/ and be "happy" all the time because my life had perfect order. Well it just doesn't work like that. So I started with 3 things. One of them was working out everyday (5 days anyway) and I REEEEAAALLY hated it at first. Just getting everyone ready and and in the car and to the gym feels like it takes an hour and a lot of energy in it self. But I found a routine and I can't explain how happy I am that I finally stuck with it.(I've heard it takes 3 weeks to get into a habbit and 3 days to break it so be consistant.) I LOVE my workouts now. I have 2 hours to myself where I don't have to change diapers, deal with tantrums, and can actually finish my thoughs without intteruption not to mention I have more energy and I fit better into my clothes and I'm just all around more comfortable. Thoose 2 hours alone give me the escape I need. And by doing 3 things at a time without fail is giving me such satisfaction and I can see the changes in my life and how it's positivly effected Chandler and Skylar. After I've gotten all 3 down and it's someting I just do everyday without having to force myself then I move on to the next 3 and continue to better my life. There is ALWAYS room to improve.
ReplyDeleteLeave it to Mauri to come up with something realistic and concrete that helps! Thanks for passing that on.
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