As much as we would like to live a stress free life, circumstances and situations often keep us from this desired lifestyle. We may not be able to change what happens to us, but we can change how we deal with what comes our way.

 

Usually depression, anxiety and stress is common in the months of February and March because of broken New Year’s Eve promises you may have made, or your year have been very stressful from the beginning.

 

To help you overcome some stresses and depressions you or your loved ones might encounter this year, please read the following to help you get through life’s unfortunate challenges.   

 

How to Overcome Stress and Depression

 

Physical things needed:

 

Some people are stress eaters and some people experience loss of appetite. If you are a stress eater keep fruit, nuts and veggies near you like carrot sticks, apples and oranges, this will refresh your body the right way and keep your weight under control to remain healthy.

 

If you’re a non-eater, keep hard candy near you, this will keep your sugar from dropping too low; because if that happens, it will cause confusion. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water. Your body can go days without food, but not without water. Once you're in stress mode, your brain will remind you to eat. When you do eat, eat a small amount of pasta to help you maintain your weight and energize your body quickly.

 

Although this is easier said than done, try to get as much rest as possible. Don't worry about your sleep pattern. If you didn't rest that night, try taking short naps during the day. You will be surprised at what a 15 minute power nap will do. If you go three days without any sleep, this is when you might need some medical help with sleeping pills or stress relieving medications to help you rest. God uses medication to help us heal; doctors are here for a reason. It’s amazing to me how we will take a pill for everything but our minds.

 

Now let’s go to different stages of depression:

 

First of all, a bad day doesn't mean you have a bad life, second, a bad week doesn't mean you’re depressed. Trouble has a way of finding anyone, it has no race, color or nationality, it just happens. There is no such thing as living a troubled free life. If the situation doesn't change, you still have to be able to adjust, accept the things you cannot change and cope with life's struggles in a healthy way.

 

Depression is a mind altering event that happens when the brain says, I have had enough.

 

There are many stages and levels of depression that I want to talk about to help you recognize what your body is going through. The Lord has allowed me to go through almost every stage of depression and come completely out of it with an anointing over the mind.

 

1. Depression... is common with people who have lost a loved one, going through a divorce, have a sick child, parent or relative, etc.

 

2. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome)... is common with war veterans or people who have been in tragedies, such as car accidents, rapes or those who have witnessed murders, explosions, etc.

 

3. Manic depression... is very close to bipolar, this type of depression requires medical attention. Manic behavior is a person who paces the floor back and forth and can't sit still for short periods of time. They can't function and perform daily activities and have mind racing and cluttered thought patterns.

 

4. Bipolar disorder/depression... can experience manic behavior to such a degree that they make up a new life for themselves and alter their entire life. They will even attempt to change the hand they write with, or would try to change their nationality, to become a person with a new identity. Bipolar is a spirit that operates in deception. A person who suffers with bipolar, has a hard time telling the truth about anything, but this can be corrected with much prayer and medication. To deny your identity or the way God made you is like denying God, it's denying how fearfully and wonderfully you were made. A person who suffers from bipolar usually has a person in their life that they fault for their own failures. Believe it or not, many actors, actresses and celebrities are bipolar, that's why it’s so easy for them to act like they are something they aren’t on screen; some of them even call it a gift.

 

5. Schizophrenia depression... suffers from all of the above along with hearing voices and suffers with hallucinations. This behavior is very dangerous and can make the person act out on what they hear the voices saying. This person needs medical attention immediately and need to seek professional help.

 

The way out of all these depressions is prayer, praise, and God’s Word. Anoint your door post and TV with anointing oil. Read the Word daily over your life, mind and thoughts. Never totally empty your mind. Keep it occupied with the Word of God. All forms and types of depressions are demonic spirits that altars the mind to thinking about failure, bad things, destruction and even suicide. Only the Hand of God and prayer can completely heal a person from all forms of depression.

 

Scriptures to Read When Depressed:

 

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

 

Deuteronomy 31:8

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

 

Psalm 34:17

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

 

Psalm 40:1-3

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

 

Psalm 3:3

But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

 

Psalm 32:10

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.

 

Psalm 42:11

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

 

1 Peter 5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

 

John 16:33

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

 

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

 

1 Peter 4:12-13

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

 

Psalm 37:23-24

If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

 

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.