Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Meditate On This
Day 137 of 365 |
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Hebrews 4:13 NIV |
| 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. |
Day 137
Day 137 of 365 |
|
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Hebrews 4:13 NIV |
| 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. |
Monday, July 29, 2013
Top 7 Therapy Myths Debunked
Reviewed by
Laura J. Martin, MD
Many people have a perception of talk therapy that doesn't quite
match up to reality. If you think therapy means lying on a couch with a
box of tissues and paying top dollar to talk to someone who doesn't
quite get it, or that it's only for people who are mentally ill, think
again.It turns out that most people could benefit from therapy -- but it takes work on your part, a therapist who meets your needs and really does understand you, and as much time as it takes -- at your convenience and within your budget -- to make a difference.
"Could you be depressed and not know it?" This sounds like a ridiculous
question. After all, wouldn't you know if you were depressed? Possibly
not. Depression can take hold gradually, without a person realizing that
depressive thoughts and feelings are increasingly dominating her perspective -
and her life.
Many people assume that depression is easily identifiable, manifesting
itself as persistent sadness that doesn't lift. In fact, symptoms of depression
can take a variety of forms. Chances...
My childhood doesn’t matter.
Most people start therapy because they have an issue in their adult life that they want to talk about with a professional. Whether it’s job trouble, relationship turmoil, or struggles with children, it’s not today that needs fixing -- it’s the way you relate to your past.“Your relationship with your parents and your childhood are immensely significant on your life today,” says Jenn Berman, PhD, a marriage, family, and child therapist in private practice in Beverly Hills, Calif. “Most people think that in order to have been affected by their childhood they needed to be abused in some way. But it’s never that black and white. ”
Sometimes, it’s the seemingly simple act of being misunderstood by your parents as a child that can have a tremendous impact on your adult life. And it's just not some people who need to dig up the past -- it’s everyone.
“One hundred percent of people who seek help in therapy have issues that relate to their childhood,” says Carole Leiberman, MD, a Beverly Hills, Calif., psychiatrist. “Certain expectations and behavior you have in your adult life come from childhood, and could cause a person to have to trouble today.”
All therapists are the same.
Not even close, Berman says. There are different types of therapists and different types of therapy -- such as cognitive therapy, which engages a patient to identify, challenge, and then change behavior that causes issues in his life; and psychoanalytic therapy, which deals more with how the subconscious influences behavior.“Don’t think that whoever you meet with first will be the right fit for you,” says Berman, who hosts the Love and Sex Show with Dr. Jenn on Sirius/XM radio. “Shop around for the right person.”
Her advice is to talk to a half-dozen different therapists as a good benchmark and then pick the expert that best meets your needs.
Look for someone who is a licensed therapist, with expertise in the area in which you are seeking help -- whether it's marriage counseling, traumatic stress, or eating disorders, for instance -- and someone with whom you just have good chemistry and have a sense of comfort.
Therapists Spill: 11 Myths About Therapy
In past pieces in the “Therapists Spill” series, clinicians have shared everything from why they love their work to how to lead a meaningful life. This month clinicians reveal the myths and misunderstandings that still persist about going to therapy.
Myth 1: Everyone can benefit from therapy.
Everyone who wants to engage in therapy can benefit. Not surprisingly, people who don’t have a modicum of motivation to change probably won’t. Psychotherapist Jeffrey Sumber, MA, stressed the importance of being ready, willing and open to therapy.
According to Ari Tuckman, PsyD, clinical psychologist and author of Understand Your Brain, Get More Done: The ADHD Executive Functions Workbook, while friends are a vital support, a therapist is uniquely qualified to help you.
Therapy often gets painted as a painful and miserable process. But this picture glosses over the fact that therapy equips clients with effective coping skills to live a more fulfilling life – and can be very rewarding. As Tuckman said:
“Therapy has come light years from the old days of talking about potty training,” Tuckman said. But while therapists don’t fixate on a client’s parents or their past, tracing their history helps provide a clearer picture of their experiences and current concerns.
According to Joyce Marter, LCPC, psychotherapist and owner of Urban Balance, LLC, a multi-site counseling practice in the greater Chicago area:
Amy Pershing, LMSW, a psychotherapist and director of the Pershing Turner Centers, actually heard this myth at a party. Some people believe that therapists push their ideas and agendas on their clients. However, a good clinician helps you re-discover or regain your voice, not lose it. She explained:
Myth 1: Everyone can benefit from therapy.
Everyone who wants to engage in therapy can benefit. Not surprisingly, people who don’t have a modicum of motivation to change probably won’t. Psychotherapist Jeffrey Sumber, MA, stressed the importance of being ready, willing and open to therapy.
Some folks believe that therapy is right for everyone; that “who couldn’t benefit from a little therapy?”Myth 2: Therapy is like talking to a friend.
While I personally believe that there are a huge number of people that benefit from our services, it is my experience that unless a person is truly open and ready to do their own work, then therapy can actually create a negative experience for the person so that when they might be truly ready to make a change, their experience with therapy was less than enjoyable.
…Hostile clients do not serve the client or the therapist. Our job is not to fix people; it is to support people who want to heal by reflecting their own strength back to them. There are clearly some clients who are 99 percent against changing their behaviors or thoughts, but it takes 1 percent, some thread of interest or hope, for the process to be successful.
According to Ari Tuckman, PsyD, clinical psychologist and author of Understand Your Brain, Get More Done: The ADHD Executive Functions Workbook, while friends are a vital support, a therapist is uniquely qualified to help you.
It’s important to have friends to talk to, but a therapist is trained to understand these matters more deeply and therefore is able to offer more than just good advice. Life gets complicated and it sometimes takes a deeper understanding of human nature in order to move beyond the current situation.Myth 3: Therapy isn’t working unless you’re in pain.
Also, because therapy is confidential and the therapist has no vested interest in what you do, it can be easier to talk openly with a therapist and really get down to what is going on.
Therapy often gets painted as a painful and miserable process. But this picture glosses over the fact that therapy equips clients with effective coping skills to live a more fulfilling life – and can be very rewarding. As Tuckman said:
Although therapy can address some pretty painful subjects, it doesn’t need to be all about pain and suffering. Therapy is often more about understanding yourself and others differently and learning how to cope with the sorts of things that most people deal with at one point or another: relationship dissatisfaction, loss, anger, uncertainty over the future, transitioning from one situation to another, etc. Even though most people go through these experiences, therapy can help you navigate them more smoothly and set yourself up for success on the other side of it.Myth 4: Therapy entails blaming your parents.
“Therapy has come light years from the old days of talking about potty training,” Tuckman said. But while therapists don’t fixate on a client’s parents or their past, tracing their history helps provide a clearer picture of their experiences and current concerns.
According to Joyce Marter, LCPC, psychotherapist and owner of Urban Balance, LLC, a multi-site counseling practice in the greater Chicago area:
Many people come into therapy and say they want to address a current life issue or stressor but do not want to talk about their histories because they don’t want to wallow in the past.Myth 5: Therapy entails brainwashing.
I explain that the first phase of therapy is information gathering, where the therapist asks questions about the client’s past in a process of getting to know and understand him or her.
My belief is that our past experiences often shape and mold us into who we are. We all unconsciously repeat familiar patterns until we make them conscious and work through them.
You certainly don’t need to spend years in psychoanalysis to make progress in therapy, but providing even a brief psychosocial history is an important part of even short-term, solution-focused therapy.
I explain to clients that it is not about blaming their parents or staying stuck in the past, rather it is about honoring their emotional experiences and increasing awareness of how these previous life circumstances are impacting them currently with regard to their presenting issue for seeking therapy. Addressing and resolving issues from the past can be the key to moving forward in the future.
Amy Pershing, LMSW, a psychotherapist and director of the Pershing Turner Centers, actually heard this myth at a party. Some people believe that therapists push their ideas and agendas on their clients. However, a good clinician helps you re-discover or regain your voice, not lose it. She explained:
… There is a time in therapy, especially at the beginning, when the therapist, from only their own philosophical lens, helps a client understand the workings of their mind (and, at least in eating disorders treatment, their body), educates on the allegedly normative path of human development, and identifies the patterns clients may have developed to survive traumas of all kinds.
Every therapist does this from their own unique brand of wisdom, developing tools and strategies they believe in both professionally and personally. So is therapy about making people be “in line” with how the therapist sees things?
…Good therapy, to my way of thinking, always starts with creating a container. It is about building trust and safety, born from acceptance and “unconditional positive regard.”
These are commodities many clients [do] not have in abundance. The purpose of this container is not to convert, but to create space for clients to risk finding their authentic Self.
To do that, sometimes clients need to use parts of someone safe to help build a bridge back to that Self. They can try on things I suggest with the goal [of] listening for their true response (“Did this work for me?”), not practicing a lesson and ultimately passing some test.
…If clients say something because they think I want to hear it, we are not done with the work. If they say something because it is true for them, we have accomplished our mission.
…For those who have not participated in psychotherapy for fear they might lose their voice, I would invite them to challenge a prospective therapist with this very question. Their answer should in fact convince you that you will come away from the work not closer to being like them, but closer to being like you.
Meditate On This
Meditate On
| So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. |
| Romans 10:17 |
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Keep Hearing The Good News | |
Let me share with you what hearing and hearing the good news of the gospel did for one student in my congregation.
This student had done badly in her mid-year examination, failing three core subjects. Her parents then started playing my messages in their home and car as often as they could. As this girl listened repeatedly to the messages, her parents shared with me that they noticed a dramatic change in her attitude toward her studies. She started to place her hope and reliance on God, and peace began to replace the stress of school.
Six months later, in her final-year examination, to her delight (and that of her parents), she scored really well in those core subjects and received two awards: one for being among the top students in class and another for having made the best progress!
Beloved, whatever your challenge is today, continual listening to the gospel of Jesus always brings faith and peace, and always leads you to good success!
This student had done badly in her mid-year examination, failing three core subjects. Her parents then started playing my messages in their home and car as often as they could. As this girl listened repeatedly to the messages, her parents shared with me that they noticed a dramatic change in her attitude toward her studies. She started to place her hope and reliance on God, and peace began to replace the stress of school.
Six months later, in her final-year examination, to her delight (and that of her parents), she scored really well in those core subjects and received two awards: one for being among the top students in class and another for having made the best progress!
Beloved, whatever your challenge is today, continual listening to the gospel of Jesus always brings faith and peace, and always leads you to good success!
Day 136
Day 136 of 365 |
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Matthew 6:27 NIV |
| 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ? |
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Good Night
Hey Loves,
I've been thinking a lot lately about my future, things I want to accomplish and the legacy that I intend to leave. I've written down my goals, and starting working towards accomplishing them. I've even chosen a theme song to motivate me and keep me there. Hope you enjoy it, keep pushing forward. All I do is win, I'm allergic to losing.
I've been thinking a lot lately about my future, things I want to accomplish and the legacy that I intend to leave. I've written down my goals, and starting working towards accomplishing them. I've even chosen a theme song to motivate me and keep me there. Hope you enjoy it, keep pushing forward. All I do is win, I'm allergic to losing.
Suicide Stats
Suicide stats
n Suicide Statistics. Only car accidents and homicide surpass suicide as the leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. According to the latest teen suicide statistics, suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people. Teen suicide statistics reveal for every two homicides in the United States there are three suicides. Approaching epidemic proportions, teen suicide is a grave problem with a young person committing suicide every hour and forty-five minutes. Many parents ignore the teen suicide fact because they don’t want to think it could happen to their teen. According to teen suicide statistics, for every suicide, they are 50 to 100 suicide attempts. Teen suicide statistics reveal teen suicide rates have tripled since 1970. Suicide, according to teen suicide statistics, is the second leading cause of death among college students, which may unnerve parents whose children have gone out of state to attend college. When teens have access to guns, they are more at risk according to teen suicide statistics and data. In fact as many as 60 percent of all successful suicides in the United States are committed with a firearm. Girls, teen suicide statistics suggest, are twice as likely to attempt suicide as boys by cutting themselves or taking an overdose. Teen suicide statistics and research also indicate boys are more likely to die by hanging or jumping off buildings or bridges. Teen suicide statistics also reveal males choose more lethal methods and are three or four times more likely to succeed in their suicide attempts than females. Some of the fact risk factors for teen suicide include having a firearm in the home. Teen suicide statistics reveal other high risk factors as well such as mental illness, depression and substance abuse. Ninety percent of teen suicide victims have at least one diagnosable, active psychiatric illness at the time of death. Teen suicide statistics indicate between 26 and 33 percent of teen suicide victims has made previous suicide attempts. According to teen suicide statistics from 2001, in the United States, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. Teen suicide statistics from 2001 also reveal the following fact information: _ Among young people 20 to 24 years of age, the suicide rate was 12/ 100,000 or 2,360 deaths among 19,711,423 people. _ Suicide was the eighth leading cause of death for males, and 19th leading cause of death for females. _ The suicide rate among adolescents aged 15 to 19 was 7.9/100,000 or 1,611 deaths among 20,271,312 adolescents in this age group. _ Suicide was the third leading cause of death among young people 15 to 24 years of age, following unintentional injuries and homicide. _ The suicide rate among children ages 10 to 14 was 1.3/100,000 or 272 deaths among 20,910,440 children in this age group. _ Teen suicide statistics also uncovered the fact that more women, three times as many, than men report a history of attempted suicide. _ Four out of five teens who try to kill themselves, teen suicide statistics and suicide prevention data reveal, have given clear signals of their intent. Parents should pay attention to teen suicide such as giving away prized possessions, cleaning the bedroom, sleeping all of the time, writing depressing poetry or skipping class. Teen suicide statistics also indicate teens at risk for suicide may be obsessed with death. Experts base their suggestions on teen suicide statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control as part of its Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. During a national school-based survey of 10,904 high school students in grades 9-12, researchers discovered 24.1 percent of students had thought seriously about attempting suicide during the 12 months preceding the survey. Their teen suicide statistics showed 8.7 percent of students had attempted suicide; 17.7 percent of students had made a specific plan to attempt suicide; 2.8 percent of students had made a suicide attempt, which resulted in poisoning, an injury, or overdose. Teen suicide statistics also break down risk by gender, age and race. When it comes to gender, teen suicide statistics show female students (30.4 percent) were significantly more likely than male students (18.3 percent) to have thought seriously about attempting suicide. In terms of race, white students (24.9 percent) were significantly more likely than black students (20.0 percent) to have thought seriously about attempting suicide. Finally, with regard to teen suicide statistics and age, students in grade 11 (26.3 percent) were significantly more likely than students in grade 12 (20.0 percent) to have thought seriously about attempting suicide. If you suffer from depression and have strong suicide urges, please seek the help of a professional therapist as soon as possible. You can find mental health professionals who specialize in suicide prevention by looking in your local Yellow Pages under Mental Health and/or Suicide Prevention. Local crisis lines may also be available. If not, call (800)-SUICIDE. If in the midst of an acute suicide attack, check yourself into the emergency room or tell someone who can help you find help immediately. This is not the time to try to handle the situation alone. After getting past the immediate risk of suicide, it is crucial to find effective help for depression.
Having Religious Faith Can Speed Recovery From Depression
Having Religious Faith Can Speed Recovery From Depression In Older Patients
May 4, 1998 — DURHAM, N.C.
-- A new study on the health effects of religion among sick, older
patients has shown that the stronger a person's religious faith, the
faster he or she recovered from depression, especially if the patient
was disabled or chronically ill, a Duke University researcher reports.
In a study of 87 depressed patients hospitalized for medical conditions
like heart disease and stroke, those who scored high on a measure of
"intrinsic religiosity" recovered faster from depression than those who
scored low on the scale. Intrinsic religiosity was defined as a deep,
internally-motivated type of religious commitment, related to but
distinct from organized religious activities and private meditation or
prayer.
Results of the study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, are published in the April issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
"This is the first study to show that religious faith by itself, independent of medical intervention and quality of life issues, can help older people recover from a serious mental disorder," said Dr. Harold Koenig, a Duke psychiatrist and lead author of the study.
Specifically, the study found that for every 10-point increase in a person's intrinsic religiosity as measured by a scientifically validated questionnaire, there was a 70 percent increase in the speed of recovery from depression. Recovery time was even faster for older patients whose medical conditions worsened or failed to improve after discharge. For each 10-point rise in religious faith, there was a 100 percent increase in the speed of remission from depression, compared to their nonreligious counterparts.
While Koenig's previous studies have shown a link between religious activities and good mental and physical health, none until now has shown a cause-and-effect relationship, whereby religious faith actually accelerated recovery time.
He said the findings are significant because the rate of major depression among medically-ill, hospitalized elders is between 10 percent and 25 percent, compared to just 1 percent in the general population of older adults. Further, he said, research has shown that depressed people are at significantly greater risk of dying from heart disease and a host of other physical ailments, and that depression slows recovery from disease.
"A lot of older people have exhausted their medical treatment options, and we can't do a lot to enhance their physical functioning. But we can facilitate coping mechanisms that ameliorate their psychological and mental distress," Koenig said. "That's no small accomplishment, given the fact that senior citizens are the biggest consumers of health services, and depression can dramatically increase the use of costly health services."
Koenig theorized the mechanism at work may be that religious beliefs provide a world view in which medical illness, suffering and death can be better understood and accepted; or, that religious beliefs provide a basis for self-esteem that is more resilient than other sources of self-esteem -- such as material goods or physical abilities -- which decline with increasing age and worsening health.
The study included patients admitted to Duke University Hospital's general medicine, cardiology or neurology units from November 1993 to March 1996. All patients received a one- to two-hour baseline evaluation to assess their physical, mental and psychosocial functioning. To be considered depressed, patients had to experience at least 3 out of 13 criterion symptoms for two weeks or longer during the past month and had to score at a certain level on two nationally recognized depression scales.
Depressed patients were followed up at 12-week intervals for nearly a year after discharge to assess the severity and persistence of their depressive symptoms. A full remission from depression was defined as two weeks or longer of experiencing fewer than three of nine traditional criteria.
Because of concern that religious patients might be more likely to deny or conceal depressive symptoms, the researchers examined the relationship between baseline intrinsic religiousity and baseline depression by comparing the 87 depressed cases with 77 non-depressed "control" patients. The average, baseline intrinsic religiousity scores for cases and controls were similar, indicating that religious faith did not affect reporting of symptoms in the depressed group.
Results of the study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, are published in the April issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
"This is the first study to show that religious faith by itself, independent of medical intervention and quality of life issues, can help older people recover from a serious mental disorder," said Dr. Harold Koenig, a Duke psychiatrist and lead author of the study.
Specifically, the study found that for every 10-point increase in a person's intrinsic religiosity as measured by a scientifically validated questionnaire, there was a 70 percent increase in the speed of recovery from depression. Recovery time was even faster for older patients whose medical conditions worsened or failed to improve after discharge. For each 10-point rise in religious faith, there was a 100 percent increase in the speed of remission from depression, compared to their nonreligious counterparts.
While Koenig's previous studies have shown a link between religious activities and good mental and physical health, none until now has shown a cause-and-effect relationship, whereby religious faith actually accelerated recovery time.
He said the findings are significant because the rate of major depression among medically-ill, hospitalized elders is between 10 percent and 25 percent, compared to just 1 percent in the general population of older adults. Further, he said, research has shown that depressed people are at significantly greater risk of dying from heart disease and a host of other physical ailments, and that depression slows recovery from disease.
"A lot of older people have exhausted their medical treatment options, and we can't do a lot to enhance their physical functioning. But we can facilitate coping mechanisms that ameliorate their psychological and mental distress," Koenig said. "That's no small accomplishment, given the fact that senior citizens are the biggest consumers of health services, and depression can dramatically increase the use of costly health services."
Koenig theorized the mechanism at work may be that religious beliefs provide a world view in which medical illness, suffering and death can be better understood and accepted; or, that religious beliefs provide a basis for self-esteem that is more resilient than other sources of self-esteem -- such as material goods or physical abilities -- which decline with increasing age and worsening health.
The study included patients admitted to Duke University Hospital's general medicine, cardiology or neurology units from November 1993 to March 1996. All patients received a one- to two-hour baseline evaluation to assess their physical, mental and psychosocial functioning. To be considered depressed, patients had to experience at least 3 out of 13 criterion symptoms for two weeks or longer during the past month and had to score at a certain level on two nationally recognized depression scales.
Depressed patients were followed up at 12-week intervals for nearly a year after discharge to assess the severity and persistence of their depressive symptoms. A full remission from depression was defined as two weeks or longer of experiencing fewer than three of nine traditional criteria.
Because of concern that religious patients might be more likely to deny or conceal depressive symptoms, the researchers examined the relationship between baseline intrinsic religiousity and baseline depression by comparing the 87 depressed cases with 77 non-depressed "control" patients. The average, baseline intrinsic religiousity scores for cases and controls were similar, indicating that religious faith did not affect reporting of symptoms in the depressed group.
Losing Faith, Finding Hope: A Journey With Depression
Losing Faith, Finding Hope: A Journey With Depression
Many people describe depression as a kind of intense grief. It is a deep sadness. It's like heartbreak, agony and despair all at once. I think depression is worse than grief. Grief usually has an identifiable cause. There are stages. People understand why you are sad. It eases with time.I find that depression is more like death. In every depressive episode, something is lost. Sometimes it's the belief that I'm not that sick. Sometimes it's a dream. Sometimes it's a concrete plan or goal. Sometimes it's who I desperately wanted and expected myself to be. Sometimes it's a harmful lie I've told myself, or that someone told me. Sometimes what dies, needed to go. Most times, it seems I would have been perfectly fine without the loss. I would smile more. I would know how I spent the hours in my day. I would see fewer doctors. When people ask me how I am doing, my response of "fine" would only be a lie thirty percent of the time. Like most people, right?
I have lived with a depressive condition since I was a teenager, although I didn't have a name for it until my 20s. I don't know how many lows I've had -- excluding the two suicidal bouts. I don't count how many times I've been sad and desperate for months. I don't make a list of what I've lost.
I do, however, remember when I lost my faith.
Like many people who are raised in a religious environment, I was taught to believe that God loves me and protects me. I was taught that God punishes sin, and rewards those who are faithful. I learned about my religion by studying Holy Scriptures. I prayed. I worshipped. This was supposed to strengthen my faith. It was supposed to make me happy.
For many years, it did. I cherished Sundays spent in church -- singing, kneeling and feeling inspired by the words of the preachers. My friends were made up of the other people I met in church. We volunteered at Vacation Bible School for the children, the food drive and tutoring programs.
Meanwhile, I prayed for peace. In my sleepless nights, I asked God to save me, help me and rescue me from my sadness. Just make it all better. I also heard the messages that my faith told me about depression: that I was be too blessed to be stressed; that depression was a lie from "the enemy"; that suicide is an unforgiveable sin. Somewhere between my unanswered prayers and the realization that I could not worship myself into happiness, my faith died.
I kept going to church. I kept saying the words of the prayers. I still sang the songs. I'm a minister -- I have to. But I was a fraud. I stopped talking with God. What could I say to the One who was not delivering me? What praise did I have? I could list my blessings, but I could not feel gratitude. I hid my faithlessness like a bobby pin in an updo. Everything looked composed on the outside, but I was barely holding it together. I was not faithful or pious. I felt abandoned and alone.
As my depression worsened, I learned more about it. I read books. I found doctors who understood my condition. I stopped fearing medication. I met other people who struggled like me. We learned to hear sorrow in one "hello," and how to sit with each other without words. I began to believe that depression was not a personal weakness or failure. By accepting it, I began to manage it. When I felt joy, I appreciated it all the more. I started to trust the healing process. But I missed my faith in God, religion and worshipping community.
Oddly enough, death is the purview of the religious. We call chaplains into hospital rooms. When someone dies, we go to the altar. Mourners bend their backs and wail. The spirituals express deep sorrow. We gather together with large meals. We don't pretend like people aren't in pain. In those times, we understand when people cannot praise God. We only ask people to be honest with God. And we don't leave them alone. This is exactly what my depressed self needs: tears, music, good food, raw honesty, community. The same faith that demonizes my depression also teaches me how to have faith in the midst of it.
I lost the faith I once had. I stopped believing that God only loved me if I was happy and peaceful. I also gave up on the idea that depression was punishment or isolation from God. I can't enjoy the same songs. I cannot bear the same sermons. That faith is gone. Just like the hours, weeks or months I lose to melancholy. And my incomplete plans. Or the image I'd like to have of myself.
In these moments when death prevails, I appreciate that so many religions have an understanding of life after death. Regrowth, reincarnation, resurrection. They all understand that there is a finality to death. We don't get back what we lost. We get something or someone new.
My new faith is a deep trust that God is present with me and understands how I feel -- especially when no one else can. I no more blame God for my sadness, than I credit God for happy days. This faith tells God how I really feel knowing that an offer of my true self is worship. I appreciate songs of sorrow more. I dance only when joyful. I am upheld by church community that can linger in pain without moving to fix it. This faith is different than what died. But it's just as holy.
Accessing faith through treating depression
Depression / Blog
Dr. Paula Bloom's Bio
Dr. Bloom is a practicing psychologist, speaker, and frequent CNN contributor.
“I don’t believe in medication, I have faith and just need to be
more connected to God.” I hear this a lot. Faith and spirituality can be
powerful sources of strength, happiness and meaning. I know this to be
true from reading scientific studies, listening to clients’ stories and
from living my own personal journey. It may be, however, that no amount
of prayer or faith can help you get out of a depression.
A disclaimer: I am a clinical psychologist, not a psychiatrist. I have a doctoral degree in psychology, while a psychiatrist has a medical degree and has the ability to prescribe medication. Part of my role is to evaluate whether or not someone could benefit from medication and refer them out for a medication evaluation. Some of the clients I work with are on medication and some are not. I, by no means, feel like medication is necessary in most situations, but there are times where I have seen great benefit.
There are many symptoms of depression that are physical: difficulties with sleep and appetite, motor slowness and physical pains. I want to focus in this post on the symptoms of depression that may be less obvious but that can directly impact an individual’s ability to fully access their faith. There are the symptoms that impact a person’s view of self, the world and the future. Some of these include feelings of unworthiness, hopelessness, helplessness and excessive guilt. Concentration can also be dramatically affected by depression. People who are depressed tend to isolate because they have low self-esteem, frequently comparing themselves unfavorably to others, or they just don’t have a lot of energy. Prayer can require a lot of concentration and focus. The power of praying in a faith community is huge. So imagine the impact of depression on a person’s prayer life when they can’t focus or don’t feel like being around others.
A central part of many faiths is the belief that we are each worthy of love, respect and forgiveness. There is a knowing that we are not alone and that ultimately, life works out and unfolds just as it is supposed to. The ability to make meaning out of pain is one of the keys for happiness. When you are hearing the depressed voice in your head saying “What’s the point of it all,” “Nothing I do can change this situation,” or “I’m a piece of crap and don’t deserve anything good,” it is kind of hard to hear that loving, compassionate voice of hope people can call many things, i.e. God, Intuition, the Universe, a Higher Power or our Higher Self. The depressed voice may start with a whisper, but as depression progresses the voice is so loud that it can drown out all others.
So, the basic message here is that sometimes medication, or other treatments such as psychotherapy, are necessary to reopen the door to faith. It is easier to walk through an open door than to try to beat it down. It is okay to ask for help and know that your resistance to getting help could just be that loud voice telling you “You should be able to do this on your own,” “Getting help is a sign of weakness,” or “You are a loser”. This is the voice of depression camouflaged as your own thoughts. In my experience, God doesn’t talk that way. What do you think?
A disclaimer: I am a clinical psychologist, not a psychiatrist. I have a doctoral degree in psychology, while a psychiatrist has a medical degree and has the ability to prescribe medication. Part of my role is to evaluate whether or not someone could benefit from medication and refer them out for a medication evaluation. Some of the clients I work with are on medication and some are not. I, by no means, feel like medication is necessary in most situations, but there are times where I have seen great benefit.
There are many symptoms of depression that are physical: difficulties with sleep and appetite, motor slowness and physical pains. I want to focus in this post on the symptoms of depression that may be less obvious but that can directly impact an individual’s ability to fully access their faith. There are the symptoms that impact a person’s view of self, the world and the future. Some of these include feelings of unworthiness, hopelessness, helplessness and excessive guilt. Concentration can also be dramatically affected by depression. People who are depressed tend to isolate because they have low self-esteem, frequently comparing themselves unfavorably to others, or they just don’t have a lot of energy. Prayer can require a lot of concentration and focus. The power of praying in a faith community is huge. So imagine the impact of depression on a person’s prayer life when they can’t focus or don’t feel like being around others.
A central part of many faiths is the belief that we are each worthy of love, respect and forgiveness. There is a knowing that we are not alone and that ultimately, life works out and unfolds just as it is supposed to. The ability to make meaning out of pain is one of the keys for happiness. When you are hearing the depressed voice in your head saying “What’s the point of it all,” “Nothing I do can change this situation,” or “I’m a piece of crap and don’t deserve anything good,” it is kind of hard to hear that loving, compassionate voice of hope people can call many things, i.e. God, Intuition, the Universe, a Higher Power or our Higher Self. The depressed voice may start with a whisper, but as depression progresses the voice is so loud that it can drown out all others.
So, the basic message here is that sometimes medication, or other treatments such as psychotherapy, are necessary to reopen the door to faith. It is easier to walk through an open door than to try to beat it down. It is okay to ask for help and know that your resistance to getting help could just be that loud voice telling you “You should be able to do this on your own,” “Getting help is a sign of weakness,” or “You are a loser”. This is the voice of depression camouflaged as your own thoughts. In my experience, God doesn’t talk that way. What do you think?
Day 135
Day 135 of 365 |
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2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV |
| 9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” |
Meditate On This
Meditate On
| …Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live… |
| Isaiah 55:2–3 |
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Hear Your Way To God’s Abundance | |
Because the Lord’s pathways drip or overflow with abundance,
following in His footsteps will cause you to walk in that abundance.
And to follow Him, all you have to do is listen carefully to Him.
Look at Isaiah 55:2–3: “Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live.”
So to eat what is good and delight your soul in abundance, listen to the Word of the Lord. If you desire to walk out of lack and walk into divine provision, keep listening to the preaching of the good news of Jesus’ finished work. Keep hearing all that He has done for you to inherit all of God’s goodness and abundance. Faith will come to deliver you out of chronic illnesses, fears, debt and depression, into divine health, wisdom, provision, fruitfulness and joy!
Look at Isaiah 55:2–3: “Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live.”
So to eat what is good and delight your soul in abundance, listen to the Word of the Lord. If you desire to walk out of lack and walk into divine provision, keep listening to the preaching of the good news of Jesus’ finished work. Keep hearing all that He has done for you to inherit all of God’s goodness and abundance. Faith will come to deliver you out of chronic illnesses, fears, debt and depression, into divine health, wisdom, provision, fruitfulness and joy!
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Helping Friends in Trouble: Stress, Depression, and Suicide
Joyce Walker, Youth Development
We all have bad days, or weeks, or even months. We all feel overwhelmed at times. Things usually get better. Sometimes that's hard to remember when you're down. But stress, depression, and even suicide happen in the lives of people young and old.Problems get people down. We feel tense, fearful, or angry because things are changing—they seem out of control. It's hard to manage. More than 2,000 Minnesota junior and senior high school students were asked how they handle serious problems in their lives. Can you guess what they said? They either try to handle the problem themselves or talk to their friends. It's important to think about how to help yourself as well as a friend who comes to you.
How People React To Stress & Problems
Failure on a test, a fight with a friend, an argument with a parent, or a put-down by a teacher can be upsetting. Many things that cause problems are beyond our control: parents divorcing, a family moving away, the death of someone close to us, or family financial problems. We all know someone who has broken up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, feared pregnancy, gotten in trouble with the law, or felt utterly deserted and alone.There are three basic ways of reacting to the problem:
- You can get angry - scream, shout, throw things, start a fight, or go on a rampage.
- You can withdraw - take a drink, shut up in a room, take a pill, daydream, stop talking to everyone.
- You can take charge - think out the problem, try to find a solution, ask for help, or work for change.
Stress and Suicide
Michelle M. Cornette, Medical College of Wisconsin
Andrew M. Busch, University of Wisconsin — Milwaukee
“Stress” is a well-known contributor to mood, mental disorders, and suicide risk. Stress is a term often used synonymously with negative life experiences, or life events. Negative life events conferring risk for depression, suicidal thinking, and behavior, includes interpersonal, occupational, and traumatic childhood events. Trauma, especially childhood trauma, has significant short and long-term impact on risk for suicidal behavior. Specifically, child abuse (emotional, sexual, and physical), parental death, parental mental illness, and witnessing domestic violence during childhood have all been linked to suicidal behavior, both acutely, and over longer time intervals.
Interpersonal life event also increase risk for suicidal behavior. Parental or spousal death, serious arguments with a spouse, and social "exit events" (e.g. a child leaving home) have been linked to suicide attempts among adults, while parental separation and relationship break-ups have been linked to suicide among adolescents and young adults. The interpersonal events most relevant to suicidal behavior appear to be those involving loss or conflict in existing interpersonal relationships, rather than simple social isolation.
Negative occupational and academic events also increase risk for suicidal behavior. Specifically, occupational loss and other difficulties at work have been linked to completed suicide. Unemployment and financial strain are also common among those who commit suicide. Among adolescents and young adults, failing a grade, suspension from school, and drop-out have all been linked to later suicide. Interestingly, objectively neutral and even positive life events to include marriage/ engagement, birth of a child or other new person in the home, and relocation, can also increase stress and risk for suicidal behavior.
Recent research in college students, older adults, outpatient clinic samples, and military veterans suggests that events which lead one to feel burdensome on others (e.g. job loss, physical illness, or other role transition) may be particularly important risk factors for suicidal behavior. For example, research has revealed that suicide notes from individuals completing suicide contain more references to perceived burden than the notes of individuals attempting suicide.
Andrew M. Busch, University of Wisconsin — Milwaukee
“Stress” is a well-known contributor to mood, mental disorders, and suicide risk. Stress is a term often used synonymously with negative life experiences, or life events. Negative life events conferring risk for depression, suicidal thinking, and behavior, includes interpersonal, occupational, and traumatic childhood events. Trauma, especially childhood trauma, has significant short and long-term impact on risk for suicidal behavior. Specifically, child abuse (emotional, sexual, and physical), parental death, parental mental illness, and witnessing domestic violence during childhood have all been linked to suicidal behavior, both acutely, and over longer time intervals.
Interpersonal life event also increase risk for suicidal behavior. Parental or spousal death, serious arguments with a spouse, and social "exit events" (e.g. a child leaving home) have been linked to suicide attempts among adults, while parental separation and relationship break-ups have been linked to suicide among adolescents and young adults. The interpersonal events most relevant to suicidal behavior appear to be those involving loss or conflict in existing interpersonal relationships, rather than simple social isolation.
Negative occupational and academic events also increase risk for suicidal behavior. Specifically, occupational loss and other difficulties at work have been linked to completed suicide. Unemployment and financial strain are also common among those who commit suicide. Among adolescents and young adults, failing a grade, suspension from school, and drop-out have all been linked to later suicide. Interestingly, objectively neutral and even positive life events to include marriage/ engagement, birth of a child or other new person in the home, and relocation, can also increase stress and risk for suicidal behavior.
Recent research in college students, older adults, outpatient clinic samples, and military veterans suggests that events which lead one to feel burdensome on others (e.g. job loss, physical illness, or other role transition) may be particularly important risk factors for suicidal behavior. For example, research has revealed that suicide notes from individuals completing suicide contain more references to perceived burden than the notes of individuals attempting suicide.
July 27, 2013
Good Morning Loves,
This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!!!!! Lord thank you for another day of life. Thank you for the movement of my limbs and the ability to stand on my own without assistance. Thank you for my family. Thank you for my job, I realize that millions of people are still out of work. Thank you for my car, millions of people ride the bus everyday. Thank you for my health, millions are in the hospital. Lord thank you!!!! I'm so grateful!!!!!! Maintain a grateful attitude today and everyday!
Increase Seen in U.S. Suicide Rate Since Recession
By BENEDICT CAREY
Published: November 4, 2012
The rate of suicide in the United States rose sharply during the first
few years since the start of the recession, a new analysis has found.
In the report, which appeared Sunday on the Web site of The Lancet, a
medical journal, researchers found that the rate between 2008 and 2010
increased four times faster than it did in the eight years before the
recession. The rate had been increasing by an average of 0.12 deaths per
100,000 people from 1999 through 2007. In 2008, the rate began
increasing by an average of 0.51 deaths per 100,000 people a year.
Without the increase in the rate, the total deaths from suicide each
year in the United States would have been lower by about 1,500, the
study said.
The finding was not unexpected. Suicide rates often spike during
economic downturns, and recent studies of rates in Greece, Spain and
Italy have found similar trends. The new study is the first to analyze
the rate of change in the United States state by state, using suicide
and unemployment data through 2010.
“The magnitude of these effects is slightly larger than for those
previously estimated in the United States,” the authors wrote. That
might mean that this economic downturn has been harder on mental health
than previous ones, the authors concluded.
The research team linked the suicide rate to unemployment, using numbers
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and from the Bureau
of Labor Statistics.
Every rise of 1 percent in unemployment was accompanied by an increase
in the suicide rate of roughly 1 percent, it found. A similar
correlation has been found in some European countries since the
recession.
The analysis found that the link between unemployment and suicide was about the same in all regions of the country.
The study was conducted by Aaron Reeves of the University of Cambridge
and Sanjay Basu of Stanford, and included researchers from the
University of Bristol, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine, and the University of Hong Kong.
Suicides Now America's Leading Cause Of Death By Injury: Study
Suicides Now America's Leading Cause Of Death By Injury: Study
Posted: 09/24/2012 1:11 pm Updated: 09/24/2012 1:11 pm
Between 2000 and 2008 motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death by injury, but suicide surpassed car crashes in 2009, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Public Health. The switch is the culmination of a decade-long trend; the rate of death by suicide increased by 15 percent over the past ten years, while the unintentional motor vehicle crash death rate dropped by 25 percent during that same period.
The study didn’t specifically factor in economic conditions, but many have speculated that the downturn may be responsible for a boost in suicides in America and around the world. In Greece, the suicide rate for men rose by 24 percent between 2007 and 2009, according to The New York Times. Suicides motivated by economic crisis grew by 52 percent in Italy in 2010.
In England, unemployment may be tied to more than 1,000 suicides, according to a recent paper in the British Medical Journal.
In the U.S. the correlation between the boost in suicides the current economic downturn hasn’t been definitively established, but the rate of suicides in America did increase during past periods of economic crisis, like the Great Depression, the 1970s oil crisis and the recession in the 1980s, according to data from the Center for Disease Control cited by the Washington Post.
Tragically, there are plenty of anecdotal examples of “economic suicide” in the country. A Tennessee man lit himself on fire earlier this year after finding out he wouldn’t be getting financial help from a private organization. And in May, a California man shot and killed himself in the midst of a legal battle with Wells Fargo, while he faced the prospect of foreclosure.
U.S. Military's Suicide Rate Surpassed Combat Deaths In 2012
The number of suicide deaths in the U.S. military surged to a record
349 last year — more than the 295 Americans who died fighting in
Afghanistan in 2012. The numbers were ; NPR has confirmed them.
The new figures show that the number of military suicides rose from 2011, when 301 such deaths were reported. And people who work with veterans say the numbers could grow worse, as returning soldiers adjust to civilian life. The AP says the numbers are considered to be "tentative," pending review.
On , NPR's Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman tells co-host Audie Cornish that the figures represent "active duty and reserve ... the largest portion were the active duty Army; 182 took their own lives in 2012."
Tom says the military's suicide problem is a complex one. "Most of those committing suicide are young men, 18-24," he says, who are worried that asking for help will undermine their career.
While some of the deaths can be linked to the stresses of being deployed in a war zone, a third or more of those who killed themselves were never deployed, Tom says. They seem to have been made desperate by financial or personal problems.
The military has sought to improve mental health issues and especially to boost , particularly after it saw a spike in suicides in 2009. The (1-800-273-8255) is one such effort.
"They now have resiliency training," Tom says, "which is basically teaching people how to deal with stress, in boot camp."
But while work has also been done to remove the stigma of asking for help, Tom says it can still be difficult for military personnel to find counseling.
Kim Ruocco, who directs a suicide prevention program for Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or , tells the AP that when they leave war zones, troops enter "the danger zone, when they're transitioning back to their families, back to their communities and really finding a sense of purpose for themselves."
As Tom notes, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., that seeks to lower the number of military suicides. Its provisions include peer counseling, which would pair returning service personnel with veterans who have made the transition to civilian life. The bill was signed into law on Jan. 3.
"This is an epidemic that cannot be ignored," Murray said Monday, according to the AP. "As our newest generation of service members and veterans face unprecedented challenges, today's news shows we must be doing more to ensure they are not slipping through the cracks."
The military says that its suicide rate remains lower than that of America's civilian population. The AP cites the Pentagon as saying "the civilian suicide rate for males aged 17-60 was 25 per 100,000 in 2010, the latest year for which such statistics are available. That compares with the military's rate in 2012 of 17.5 per 100,000."
The new figures show that the number of military suicides rose from 2011, when 301 such deaths were reported. And people who work with veterans say the numbers could grow worse, as returning soldiers adjust to civilian life. The AP says the numbers are considered to be "tentative," pending review.
On , NPR's Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman tells co-host Audie Cornish that the figures represent "active duty and reserve ... the largest portion were the active duty Army; 182 took their own lives in 2012."
Tom says the military's suicide problem is a complex one. "Most of those committing suicide are young men, 18-24," he says, who are worried that asking for help will undermine their career.
While some of the deaths can be linked to the stresses of being deployed in a war zone, a third or more of those who killed themselves were never deployed, Tom says. They seem to have been made desperate by financial or personal problems.
The military has sought to improve mental health issues and especially to boost , particularly after it saw a spike in suicides in 2009. The (1-800-273-8255) is one such effort.
"They now have resiliency training," Tom says, "which is basically teaching people how to deal with stress, in boot camp."
But while work has also been done to remove the stigma of asking for help, Tom says it can still be difficult for military personnel to find counseling.
Kim Ruocco, who directs a suicide prevention program for Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or , tells the AP that when they leave war zones, troops enter "the danger zone, when they're transitioning back to their families, back to their communities and really finding a sense of purpose for themselves."
As Tom notes, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., that seeks to lower the number of military suicides. Its provisions include peer counseling, which would pair returning service personnel with veterans who have made the transition to civilian life. The bill was signed into law on Jan. 3.
"This is an epidemic that cannot be ignored," Murray said Monday, according to the AP. "As our newest generation of service members and veterans face unprecedented challenges, today's news shows we must be doing more to ensure they are not slipping through the cracks."
The military says that its suicide rate remains lower than that of America's civilian population. The AP cites the Pentagon as saying "the civilian suicide rate for males aged 17-60 was 25 per 100,000 in 2010, the latest year for which such statistics are available. That compares with the military's rate in 2012 of 17.5 per 100,000."
Day 134
Day 134 of 365 |
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Psalm 89:14 NIV |
| 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. |
Meditate On This
Meditate On
| But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, “You should know the Lord.” For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know Me already. |
| Hebrews 8:10–11, NLT |
|
God’s ‘I Will’ To You | |
The new covenant of grace that we are living in today is all about God saying, “I will…I will…I will…” to you. It’s about God doing and blessing you because of the obedience and finished work of Jesus. It’s not about you trying to earn His blessings by your doing.
My friend, if you come to God today and ask, “Father, will You heal me and my child, will You still provide for me and my household despite all my failures?” He will say to you, “I WILL.”
Beloved, God says to you, “I WILL heal you and your loved ones. I WILL be your God, your healer and everything you need Me to be to you.” Don’t try to earn your healing or blessings when Jesus has already paid for them all at the cross. Instead, hear Him say, “I WILL,” and see Him doing for you what you cannot do for yourself!
My friend, if you come to God today and ask, “Father, will You heal me and my child, will You still provide for me and my household despite all my failures?” He will say to you, “I WILL.”
Beloved, God says to you, “I WILL heal you and your loved ones. I WILL be your God, your healer and everything you need Me to be to you.” Don’t try to earn your healing or blessings when Jesus has already paid for them all at the cross. Instead, hear Him say, “I WILL,” and see Him doing for you what you cannot do for yourself!
Friday, July 26, 2013
Meditate On This
Meditate On
| …Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? |
| Galatians 3:3 |
|
Continue In God’s Grace | |
How were you first impacted by Jesus? Was it through the law
(demands) or was it His grace toward you that touched your heart? We all
began our relationship with the Lord because we were impacted by His
love and grace. Let us then continue in that grace.
The apostle Paul asked the church in Galatia point-blank, “…Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh [self-effort]?” (Galatians 3:2–3). Paul was saying to them, “You began by believing in His grace, why are you now depending on your works? That is foolishness! You should be continuing in His unmerited favor!” These are strong words by Paul.
My friend, don’t start with grace and end up with the law. Don’t start with the new covenant, only to turn back to the old covenant! Stay on the path of grace. When you are established in the new covenant of grace, you will experience a tremendous sense of confidence and security in Christ. When your confidence is in His unmerited favor and not your performance, you will know that you have access to His blessings all the time, simply because of His finished work at the cross. Today, think, talk and act knowing that it is not about you or your works, but Jesus and His work, and step out into His blessings for you!
The apostle Paul asked the church in Galatia point-blank, “…Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh [self-effort]?” (Galatians 3:2–3). Paul was saying to them, “You began by believing in His grace, why are you now depending on your works? That is foolishness! You should be continuing in His unmerited favor!” These are strong words by Paul.
My friend, don’t start with grace and end up with the law. Don’t start with the new covenant, only to turn back to the old covenant! Stay on the path of grace. When you are established in the new covenant of grace, you will experience a tremendous sense of confidence and security in Christ. When your confidence is in His unmerited favor and not your performance, you will know that you have access to His blessings all the time, simply because of His finished work at the cross. Today, think, talk and act knowing that it is not about you or your works, but Jesus and His work, and step out into His blessings for you!
Day 133
Day 133 of 365 |
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Psalm 46:10 NIV |
| 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” |
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