Freedom from depression?

Still working on it...

Having been living with it for as long as I can remember, in hindsight much of it has to do with not getting my way. Perhaps my depression was simply that I was a spoiled brat. Self-centered, yes. I suppose we could argue I was a spoiled brat. Depends on what 'spoiled' means.

To truly be free it is vital to step outside of it.

There is no simple solution as to how to do this. It is a journey. It takes effort. Not medication. Damn pharmaceutical companies, teaching us to be a nation of legal addicts, numb to everything, enslaved to our medication, identified by our ailment. It's a lie.

The freedom is found, in facing it. Not medicating it. Not avoiding it, burying it, drowning it, running from it, distracting ourselves from it; not wallowing in it, not swimming in it, not allowing it to become our identity.

Sourcing the cause. Mine happened to be a traumatic incident that was a defining moment that set the trajectory of my life at an early age. Retracing the steps and realizing, like the proverbial "butterfly effect" just how this set life in motion and, as best possible, healing, forgiving those who hurt you and seeking forgiveness from those you have hurt. Most importantly, forgive yourself.

So what have I learned (even I don't always accomplish what I set out to do...)?

Doing for others, not out of lack, but out of abundance. Volunteer. Do social work. Pick up litter. Anything for someone or something else without expectation of some self gratification.

Exercising, not to place value on body image but to feel the thrill of disicpline and the bonus endorphin rush.

Learning to see the beauty in the little things, like a rainbow or children playing football in the front yard. Get out of self.

Seeking God. Not like some glorified genie in a bottle to do our bidding but to truly transform us inside out, to help us to see ourselves as He sees us. Cast your cares upon Him and have Him reflect back to you reality.

It may be painful as He may not cast the darkness out of you but may just shine light into the darkness. After all, He walks with us through the shadow of death. We have to walk through it. But He is there with us to help us to face it for once we come out of this darkness, we walk out of the fear.

Dealing with depression requires honesty, reality, tough decisions. Recognize it for what it is: self-absorption. This is not to judge it. This is to point out that there is a source of this self-absorption. It may be one event or a series of events or just an accumulation of life experiences.

But it does not have to define who you are.