When I wrote this post, I told you I was right in the midst of it -- in the hard, in the valley. Little did I know I still had farther to fall. I was honest and shared with you that I was trying not to drown. I felt like the waves kept breaking over me, and I was weak from trying to hold my head above the water. I told you I was praying that I would become a stronger swimmer. And I encouraged you that we will not drown and we will survive. I told you we would be stronger. But what happens if in the midst of that prayer to be a stronger swimmer, a tsunami hits? What if you feel more Continue Reading
How to Help a Depressed Friend
Do you have a friend who seems to be depressed? Do they have the following symptoms? Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness Loss of interest in daily activities Appetite or weight changes Sleep changes Anger or irritability Loss of energy Self-loathing Reckless behavior Those are the symptoms and signs of depression. If you have a friend who is dealing with depression, you may be wondering how you can help. I've enlisted the help of others who have dealt with depression themselves. They are sharing some great advice on what do to and what not to do to help a Continue Reading
Ways to Fight Depression
Remember when I told you I was trying not to drown? Well, the truth is I was trying not to sink. I was trying not to sink into depression. I thought of those of you out there who read that post and felt it down in your bones. The ones who were also trying not to sink. And then I thought of those of you who are already sinking. So I reached out to my fellow blogging friends, asking if anyone has dealt with depression. I asked them if they were willing to talk to me about it. I was blown away by the number of people who responded. Friends, we are not alone in our sinking. So many out there Continue Reading
Hurting During the Holidays
Christmas can be an incredibly happy time. It can be full of joy and love and hope. But it can also be a very difficult time. It can be full of disappointment, sadness, hurting, and loneliness. I know there are people out there who are struggling this season. For some, the holidays don't seem so happy. Two years ago, I was struggling during the holidays. I know what if feels like to have an aching heart during what is supposed to be such a joyful season. For those of you out there who are hurting right now, please know you are not alone. I've complied a list of posts from others that Continue Reading
When the World is Dragging You Down
Have you ever felt the storm clouds encompassing you? Have you ever felt overpowered by the world's devastation? Like you are being dragged down? There was one night recently where the world's evil and life's tragedies were overwhelming to me. I was thinking about a family who lost their little boy in a horrific accident, a friend who'd had a miscarriage, a relative that may have cancer, two child pornography cases I had just covered, and so many other things that can make a person feel sorrow. I laid in my bed that night, weeping for all of these things. I felt so weighed down by the world I Continue Reading