Scripture

If any of y'all watched my youtube videos I made about Depression, you will probably remember me mentioning something to the effect that people preaching to me and throwing scriptures at me make everything worse.  Well let me explain this a little bit better.

As I have struggled with depression, low self-esteem and anxiety for the last few months, I have come to discover what things help during a time of feeling low, and what things make it worse.  One of the things that don't help, are people that tell me all the scripture verses that I should be meditating on, thinking about, and reading.  Also those that "preach" to me by telling me how I should feel, the ways God is higher than me, how He is using this for my good, and that He is in control.  Mind you, these people have good intentions of helping me and bringing me out of the depression.  However, during that deep dark time I don't need anyone to make me feel any less of a Christian and feel stupid, because that is how I interpret what is being said.  I feel stupid, because they make me feel like I don't know anything or am not obeying Christ or His Word, by thinking the way I do due to the depression at the time.  I understand that that is not what the other person really meant, but I'm such a literal person and one that comes to solutions sometimes too fast.  Once I have a belief about something or someone, it's hard for me to up and change it to the positive side of that.

The problem with preaching to me, is that I already know what you're going to say, and it's usually the same thing that everyone else says.  Because what do you say to someone who is depressed except all things positive and pointed toward the Lord?  I already know that God is in control, and that He is going to turn everything to good.  Right now, I don't need people to be making it seem like what I'm going through is any less important and stupid since "I should be trusting God".  My relationship with Jesus is just between me and Him, and I can't have people interfering with that relationship by telling me what to do or how I should think.  

However, there are occasions where giving me a scripture verse is okay.  As long as it doesn't seem like you're beating me down, I will accept it with the intention to read it when I'm ready.  Sometimes I'm ready right then and there, sometimes I need a few days.  I know it can be hard to understand when it's okay to share and when it's not, but just ask the Lord when He wants you to share it with me.

Just a few ways that do help me during depression, is people who listen to me and are understanding.  Give them your ear for a bit.  Let them cry if they need to.  Give them a hug and tell them that you understand.  Another thing that helps is getting together with someone just to hang out and have fun!  Because of how dark depression is, it is extremely nice to come out of it for awhile and do something you enjoy with a friend.

I'm so sorry if I offended anyone by anything I said.  I just know that there are times when I need my space, need time to process things and feel the way I do.  Then there are other times when I need a helping hand through the struggle.

 Depression is a dark cave full of hopelessness, helplessness, and fear, and most times it's hard to see the end of it.  Please do be praying for me as I try and figure out how to manage depression, and that I would somehow be able to come out of this on the other side.

Thank you for your patience with me, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  I hope that this was a helpful explanation to the topic :)

He is worthy and greatly to be praised

 Olivia Grace