In the Shadows of the Mind

Depression is something I believe people don't talk enough about as well as they don't give the mental imbalance credit for many of their ailing symptoms. No one likes to admit they are depressed but finding out depression is what is wrong can also at least give your symptoms a name and something to work with. I mentioned in my post titled Hope that I struggled with depression as a youth. I still do. Depression is like an addiction, just because you have overcome it doesn't mean it no longer lingers. Every now and then the enemy resurfaces and taunts you. The perspective of during and after overcoming depression is that after, you have the knowledge you have beat it and how to beat it again. This to me is empowering in my ongoing struggle with depression.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland recently contributed to a video the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints produced regarding Depression based on his talk titled Like a Broken Vessel. People of different walks of life shared their battle with depression and many spoke about how it's a darkness that is just there, a torture of the mental faculties. You can't see it and that makes it that much harder to battle.

Christians know a thing or two of battling against forces that are unseen. We live in a time where Satan and his followers are working tirelessly to bring down God's Kingdom on earth. Depression is another one of those works of darkness that he inflicts on us to break us. Yes, there is a science behind it that tells us that it is an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, but think about what goes through your mind when you are going through a depressive state. It's like you are battling a mental boogyman who looms in the dark corners of your mind, whispering to you your sins, what you lack, your failures, your poor body image. There are indeed two things at play, your mental illness caused by our frail mortal bodies, and Satan using your mental illness to further his purpose. And because it involves these two aspects, you need to fight back with science and the light of the Gospel of Christ.

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:11-12)

The Gospel of Christ gave me the mental strength I needed to push the darkness out of my mind. I recall hearing an analogy about turning on a light in a dark room. Light and darkness cannot abide in the same space, one will ultimately push the other out. The same is true about our minds. When we fill it with the light of the Gospel, there is no room for darkness to dwell in. It is important therefore to continually strive to keep that light burning bright in our minds. When those depressive moods loom over us, turn to our Heavenly Father in prayer and our Savior in scriptures.

With that understanding, now let me turn to how we fight depression with science. Not long after receiving the diagnosis of depression, I was placed on a low dose anti-depressant. I picked up an exercise program on my own and I elected to go on a run in the mornings. I didn't feel I had control over a lot of things, but this was a choice that I had control over and that coupled with my religion helped rescue me from what often seemed like a state of never ending darkness. According to researchers, "Exercise give you energy, whereas depression saps your energy. When energy levels are high,  negative thoughts, sadness, and low self-esteem-- all components of depression-- decrease. Exercise increases metabolism, heart rate, breathing, and decreases muscle tension." (Robert Thayer, Return to Fitness by Bill Katovsky). "Exercise makes you feel great if you're feeling normal, and makes you feel better if you're feeling awful." (Andrew Solomon, Return to Fitness by Bill Katovsky).

If you have been diagnosed with depression or believe you may have depression, know that there is hope and healing ahead. If you rely on God to help you battle the darkness that looms over you this day, and make the effort to do all you can, you will regain that zeal for life. Depression will no longer have power over you, but you will have power over it.

"When you do your part, the Lord adds His power to your efforts." (Henry B. Eyring)