Depression: Baby Steps To Joy

Day 15 of 31 days of depression.

 

You want out of the pit of depression and you want it now.

So take it and claim it today. In baby steps.

For 5 mins, 10 mins, 1 hour, choose to be joyful and block out the oppressed feelings.

Turn on music that always makes you happy and have a little dance party.

Reminisce about a time when you were filled to the brim with joy.

Get out your bible and look up the word joy and read all the verses about joy. Joy is found over 150 times in the bible.

Do today:

    • Memorize this scripture: The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
    • Writing Prompt: Write down things that bring you joy. Make the list as long as you can. Do certain songs make you smile and dance? Certain movies crack you up and inspire you? Focus on those things.  *If you would like a safe and free place to write, try this online journal at Penzu. It is password protected and you can even encrypt the journal if you need to. You can also use a fake name and junk email address for further protection. This way no one at home finds your personal diary entries.
    • Pray: Lord, thank you for the joy you’ve promised me. Help me find it daily. Remind me to focus on who you say I am above all other voices.  In Jesus Name, Amen.


To purchase this song:Live For Today

* What brings you instant joy in your life? Please share in the comments, your suggestion just might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.

 

The next 31 days we will be discussing depression and healthy ways to combat it but we’re going to get real too. Because for those of us who wind up in the pit often, we know platitudes and fluff pieces do nothing for us. My expertise is only based 0n my own very personal battles with depression and is no way, professional or medical advice. Your participation in this series is voluntary and Melinda Todd is not legally responsible for any choices or actions of participants. Participants release Melinda Todd and Trailing After God from responsibility and liability and continue at their own risk and discretion.

5 Comments

  1. Thank you Mel, good advice. It’s amazing how quickly we forget that we DO have control over our own thoughts and feelings and if we work at it, we can change them. I completely ignore that when I’m deep in the pit of depression. This is a great reminder to take charge of our feelings, instead of letting them rule us.

    • Lost and Found Lady

      Hello Beth!
      First off, my deepest sympathies that there exist times when you are in the pit. No one should be alone at that time. Your post took courage. I admire that. One of the things that brings me joy is when believers are being real. You brought me joy by sharing your truth here. I thank you for that.

  2. Unfortunately, not everyone can control their depression. Many clinically depressed people have to bide their time.
    But I do appreciate your uplifting suggestions; many of us can help ourselves to overcome our depressed feelings. And even if it only helps a little, it is worth gold.
    Judi Splint recently posted..Get Silly & Giggle

    • Definitely, I suffered from clinical depression and PTSD for years and years, most of my life even. While I may not always be able to fully pull myself out, there are things that I can do that do help some. 🙂

  3. Great series. I wonder if we don’t give depression and that depressed mood too much power in our lives. Not saying there isn’t clinical depression but I know how my thinking gets when I start feeling depressed and then I start deciding that there is nothing I can do about it. I liked your first post about recognizing the first warning sign. If I were more proactive, would i still end up feeling as depressed or end up in depression for as long as I do?

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