Welcome to
Cures for Depression

Depression has a high cure rate!

Take heart: You can beat depression! There is a high cure rate.

When you suffer from depression, you may feel that nothing can ever help…And that nothing will ever change...
Perhaps you’re finding it difficult to concentrate when you try to read, or watch TV.

BUT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO READ THIS:
BECAUSE IT’S ABOUT YOU & WILL HELP YOU TO RECOVER.

Your contact with us is entirely confidential!
We will never ask your name or email number.

Do you feel very depressed and wonder if there’s any cure that will get you feeling better?  

What is depression? 

You may, when depressed, have one or several of the following distressing symptoms -

A persistent feeling of Sadness, even excessive crying: You will probably feel very lonely.
No matter how many friends and family are around you may feel that no one can help.

Sleeping too much or too little: Particularly waking after only a couple of hour’s sleep and then being so tense and fearful that you’re unable to get back to sleep again for hours.

A feeling of fear when you wake up… You lie in bed dreading the day and can’t face what might happen.
You’re frightened of meeting people, you fear going to work, to school, going shopping or visiting friends.

You think you can’t cope with the coming day’s events and you sweat with fear.

You may experience some of the following symptoms of depression.

Loss of appetite, alternatively, some people tend to overeat
Low energy
Restlessness
Reckless behaviour
Lack of your usual confidence
Difficulty in concentrating
You may easily become Irritated
You will possibly feel that you’re worthless and that everything is hopeless.
In very extreme cases, thoughts of death or suicide: If you have such thoughts report them to your doctor, who might decide to change your medication.

  The symptoms you are showing might be for other medical problems, such as…headaches, digestive problems, chest pain, excessive wind, and dizziness.
They might be symptoms of depression, or they could be different medical problems…and that’s one of the reasons why you should involve your doctor without delay,
but please read on.
One of the main causes of depression is…FEAR 

For example…

Fear is debilitating…and causes depression when a person believes that they can’t cope.

Fear of failure
Fear of what might happen in the future
Fear of a loved one becoming terminally ill
Fear of family being involved in a motor accident,
Fear about your own health.

How many of the following are true of you over the past few weeks

You are doing things much slower than usual.

You are overly concerned by things that usually don't bother you.

You have had periods of feeling low that last for at least several hours.

Things that used to be interesting to you are no longer interesting.

Your energy level has been much lower than normal.

You are afraid that something bad is going to happen to you and that people don’t like you anymore.

You feel sad.

You feel like a failure.

You feel trapped in your life.

You feel depressed, even when something good happens.

It’s knowing that you can’t do anything to take corrective action, (no matter how hard you try,) that causes people to become depressed, and then a full-blown depression is often quick to follow.

Well, please take heart…and be of good courage! 

Recognise that it’s almost impossible to cure yourself of a mid/severe depression, but the following might help.

Do not wait to get evaluated or treated.
There is research showing the longer one waits, the greater the problems can be in the future. Try to see your doctor as soon as possible

Break up large tasks into small ones; don’t try to set yourself high goals

Try to spend time with other people and confide in a trusted friend or relative. Try not to isolate yourself, let others help you.

 Accept that your mood will improve gradually, and not immediately. Often during treatment for depression, sleep and appetite will begin to improve before your depressed mood lifts.

If you have important decisions to make consider postponing them until you’re feeling better.

It's important that you remember that: Depression has a high cure rate!
But be aware that any glib advice from well-meaning people, who are not qualified: Advice such as...
“Think of people who are worse off than you,” “think how lucky you are.” “Pull yourself together”
None of these statements have much effect
After all, if you could pull yourself together, you would, wouldn’t you?

But...Here’s the good news:
Depression does have a high cure rate. Very good treatments exist to help bring people's lives back under control.
Yes it’s true, but regrettably, many people suffering this illness go without diagnosis and thus, go without treatment. (Please note that only a licensed professional can diagnose depression.)

You need to use two levels of attack in order to defeat the dark feelings you are having to endure. But first some notes to assist your friends and relatives to help you.

If you know someone who is depressed, (this affects you too.) The most important thing you can do is help your friend or relative get a diagnosis and treatment.
Go with them to see the doctor. Encourage your loved one to stay in treatment, or to seek different treatment if no improvement seems to have occurred after 8 weeks.

To help your friend or relative

Offer emotional support, understanding, patience, and encouragement.
Listen very carefully to what they have to say.
Never dismiss their feelings, but you can point out realities and offer hope.

Never ignore comments about suicide - report them to your loved one's doctor.

Invite your loved one out for walks, outings and other activities. Keep trying, but if they decline, don't insist: they may not be ready to take on too much right away.

Provide assistance in getting to the doctor's appointments.

Remind your loved one that with time and treatment, the depression will lift.
As previously stated, Depression has a high cure rate!

Let’s start level one

Sufferer - Have you spoken to your doctor?
You must!
We urge you to make an appointment and go tell your doctor exactly how you’re feeling.

You’ve no need to feel embarrassed about this: Remember that there are thousands of people going through similar depressions and if you explain your symptoms the doctor will almost certainly be able to help you! 

To get the most from your visit take a few written headings with you - short reminders such as:
* I wake after only 2 hours sleep and I’m so tense that I can’t get back to sleep,
* I have chest pains,
* I sometimes feel dizzy
* I seem frightened to get out of bed and face the day
* I can’t concentrate…it takes me longer than it used to for me to complete any job that needs even the slightest concentration.

These notes will help you not to forget anything when you’re with the doctor and also help him/her to decide exactly what is wrong and the best treatment to prescribe. 

(If you don’t feel up to making notes you could ask one of your family to accompany you.)

It’s very important to involve your doctor at an early stage as, for example, it could be that something other than depression is causing your unwelcome symptoms, or there may be a ‘stress factor’ that you could eliminate given the right help.
The doctor might consider tablets to help you relax, or to make you sleep, many of these are non-addictive, providing you take them only as prescribed.
This type of medication is designed to help you get back into a regular sleeping pattern and also to give your body and brain the rest needed, to be able to start you on the road to recovery.
This is the first immediate action you should take and, if you’ve not already done so, please ring your doctor for an appointment right now. Don’t let anything hold you back…Make an appointment with your doctor. Do it now! 

Please do not consider buying remedies over the Internet. Your health is far too important for you to trust anyone except your doctor.

The following is not a complete summary of safety information, but you should know that serious side-effects can occur with many medications, so please don’t attempt to purchase this type of treatment without first discussing your full symptoms with your doctor.
Antidepressants should NEVER be taken by anyone and particularly not by children or teenagers, without a doctor’s prescription.
As you start the treatment watch closely for worsening of depression, bad thoughts or actions, unusual changes in behaviour or agitation, and irritability. Be sure to Report any unusual symptoms immediately to your doctor. Perhaps the tablets don’t suit you and others can be supplied. 

Right now, while you’re waiting for your appointment date you should start Level 2.

“But I’ve already seen a doctor,” you might be thinking, “they’ve prescribed tablets, but I’m still depressed.”
This is possible, it could be a long haul, but, so far you’ve only attacked the depression on one level: Now you must to go ahead with the second part of your attack.

Level Two
It is important to know that, in spite of anything you might think, you are loved as a person.

YES, that’s right!

The knowledge that you are loved and that your health and happiness matter, is of vital importance to your recovery.
You might not have friends or family to love you, or you may have someone who does love you and dearly wants you to recover, but that person is, of course, powerless to help.

There is however someone who wants to help you! And has the power to remove your depression…And that powerful someone is none other than Almighty God!

Yes it's true! In all circumstances keep remembering that God loves you – He loves you just as you are right now- and He wants to help you!
This might be new to you, or you may have heard it before and don’t want to get into religion, or perhaps you don’t believe in God.
These are of course your choices, we all have been given free will.

But don’t let the fact that you’re not a believer in God, or don’t wish to be religious, or anything else on earth, put you off reading what follows!

The following came from the experience of a man suffering from depression:

“I couldn’t relax and couldn’t sleep no matter how hard I tried.
"My heart was pounding. I was anxious, overwhelmed and scared to death that night.
"I was tired of feeling so incompetent and lay in a pool of sweat physically exhausted…and unable to see anything that would help me.
I really was scared-stiff.
Then I did what a lot of people do when they hit rock bottom.
I prayed.”

You already know how awful depression is – so if you really want to be rid of it, isn’t it worth at least asking your Heavenly Father?

We are talking confidential here- Unless you tell someone, no one will know that you’ve even been on this website, so no one will come after you to join a church or give money or preach to you, or anything. We just want you to be healed!

You should read the following three lessons at a pace that is comfortable.
You could read everything in a few hours, or take several occasions within a week, or even a month, but don’t try to rush through it, just take your time.
(You may find it helpful to print the notes out and read from hard copy.) In fact we strongly recommend you to print out the lessons.

Lesson 1

Greetings, and a warm welcome to your first lesson on the journey to your recovery,
This simple lesson will help you through the day and set the scene for your future thoughts about God.,

Have you ever heard a tune that instantly takes your thoughts back in time, reminding you of something you actually experienced?

Most of us have - and no matter how long ago and no matter whether the occasion was happy or sad, when you hear that tune your brain makes you remember what was happening and just how you were feeling at that time.

More than 1400 years before the birth of Christ, Almighty God set up a similar thing for His people, but not with music: He did it with a colour…Blue.

Today's reading is from the book of Numbers in Old Testament section of the Bible 

The time of this reading was after the Jewish nation had safely escaped from Egypt, (where they had suffered under the severe regime of Pharaoh,) They were journeying towards the land flowing with milk and honey that God had promised his people.

'The Promised Land.'
God’s people had been given 10 commandments from God!
But they still kept going their own way.
Doing what they thought was right, and although they knew full well that God had delivered them from many awful situations; they still found it difficult to trust Him.
Therefore God gave these instructions to their leader, Moses.
(Bible readings are in red.)

Numbers, chapter 1: verses 37-41. 

'Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
"Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners.
And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them,
"I AM the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I AM the Lord your God."

The children of Israel were told to make tassels on the corners of their garments with a blue thread in the tassels.

At first sight it might seem strange for Almighty God,
(The mighty creator of the vast universe,) to involve Himself in such a tiny detail regarding tassels of their clothing…But He wanted the colour blue to remind the people to do all His commandments and also to remind them that He loved them. 

In other words, the colour blue would remind them of Him. The blue thread would remind them that the commandments are important.

So, my friend: When all around you seems full of gloom and when you feel absolutely unable to cope. God’s word tells you that, from today, you don't have to cope alone!

That’s great news, isn’t it?

You can always, at any time of the day or night: Tell your heavenly Father about it!

Because He already knows what you’re suffering and wants to give good things to you! And you don’t need an appointment to pray to Him either.
He lets YOU choose the time, the place and the subject!

The time you’ve spent reading the above my seem like time wasted, but it' well worthwhile…Because it’s the beginning of your first steps towards a full recovery.

 It’s important that you learn God's signs, because you will then find it easier to remember that you are a much loved person.

So at any time this week, (or in the future) whenever you see the colour blue or if you feel blue: Look up! And remember that God really does care for you. Trust Him for He wants you to recover.
You are a child of the living God and He would be delighted if you made contact with Him!

Right, that's lesson one
When you’re ready please start the next lesson.

Lesson 2

We hope that after reading lesson 1, you’ve already upgraded the value you’re putting upon yourself, value both to Almighty God and also in the place you find yourself in right now.

If you’ve read this far you are moving in the right direction to ask Almighty God to help you.

So now is a great time for you to consider what Jesus Christ said and what He advises you to do. (Bible readings are typed in red and underlines have been added to parts of the Bible text.)
Matthew: 6 verses 25 – 33
“So don’t worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food, drink and clothes.” 

Isn’t that statement fantastic?

Jesus says that you don’t have to worry! How great is that?
Jesus continues, “Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing?
Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns, because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to Him than they are.

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
Of course not!
And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 

And if God cares so wonderfully for the flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t He more surely care for you? You have so little faith!
So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing.
Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
And He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” 

Jesus is still telling you not to worry, Isn’t He? And never to be anxious for anything.
He’s telling you that life consists of more than the things people worry about. Jesus is really saying that His eternal kingdom is the thing you should be seeking.
He wants you to understand that God loves you far more than He loves the birds of the air, or lilies of the field. God already knows everything you need, before you ask – and will give all you need, if only you turn to Him and ask for help.

Abandon, Ought and Should
While you're trying to recover you might have feelings of 'guilt' because you have so little energy and keep waing to sit around. It is very important that you go with what your body is telling you...Pretend that you are on holiday-at home. Get rid of any thoughts such as: Ought and Should.
(You will be able to do what you ought and should when you're feeling better!) In the meantime spoil yourself a little!

Are you feeling as though Jesus is talking directly to you!?
We hope so, read more that Jesus said.

Matthew: 7 verses 7 to 8 (Effective prayer)

“Keep on asking and you will be given what you ask for.
Keep on seeking and you will find.
Keep on knocking and the door will be opened.
For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks finds - And the door will be opened to everyone who knocks.”

Jesus says, 'Yes it might be a long haul…You might have to ask several times for your depression to be healed and also to enter His kingdom…
But, God always hears, and answers our cries - however He always works in His time, not ours! But if you ask in the name of Jesus - He promises to grant your request, providing that your request is not against His will.
When explaining to the disciples how to pray Jesus said the following

Matthew 6 verses 6 – 8
“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to the Father secretly.
Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.
When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again.
Don’t be like them, because your father knows exactly what you need, even before you ask him!”

When you pray believe that God can and will grant your request, providing it is within His will…don’t forget…
Ask and you will receive. 

You don’t need to use any special long words when you pray, just tell your Heavenly Father how you feel and what you’d like Him to do for you and tell Him that you’re praying in the name of His son, Jesus Christ.
Open up to Almighty God about the agonies you’re going through, and admit your failures.
James 4 verse 8 says,
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”

Jesus gives more advice to people who are in trouble and are suffering persecution.
Matthew 10 verses 28 – 31
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body: they cannot touch your soul.
Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
"Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it!
And the very hairs on your head are all numbered, so don’t be afraid: You are more valuable to Him than a whole flock of sparrows.”

That’s worth reading again, because: you can now start to have some good feelings…Feelings that everything is going to be alright for you.
You’ve heard of Noah’s Ark in the Old Testament of the Bible?

Referring to Noah after the flood.
"God took Noah into the flood-and He also brought him out of it.
Similarly, He has not brought you to this point in your life to abandon you. Whatever the problems you face at this moment God will bring you through, but you have to ask Him to help and believe He can help."
(Above quote from Complete Cover to Cover by Selwyn Hughes and Trevor J. Partridge.)

Lesson 3

Have you ever thought that in the midst of your depression God is giving you an opportunity?
You might think we're joking, 'an opportunity?'
No, we're not kidding,
This could be a fleeting opportunity that is a gift from God and may not be on the table for long. If you miss your chance the opportunity may not come round again.

The Bible, Mark 10: 46-52.
And so they reached Jericho later, as Jesus and his disciples left town a great crowd was following.

A blind beggar named Bartimaeus was sitting beside the road as Jesus was going by.
When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”
“Be quiet!” some of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy upon me!”

Can you imagine the scene?
A blind beggar was sitting beside the road. (In those days people regarded anyone who was poor and blind as worthless.) Blind people couldn’t work. All they could do was beg: just hoping to get enough to buy food sufficient for that day. People often thought that a person who was blind, or his parents, had done wrong and blindness was a punishment.
Bartimaeus had heard about Jesus from Nazareth. Many said he was from God – a descendant of King David.
He had raised the dead, healed the sick and made the blind to see.

Bartimaeus knew that this same Jesus was nearby and recognised an opportunity!
He began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”
A large crowd of people were following Jesus, asking questions and ‘hanging-on’ to every word he was saying. Suddenly they were interrupted by shouting and saw the blind beggar. “Shut up” they ordered him, but Bartimaeus shouted all the louder, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”

He could have been intimidated by the crowd; he could have thought he’d have no chance of attracting the attention of Jesus - he could have thought of a hundred negative reasons...But NO! This was an opportunity of life-changing importance. An opportunity to see again!

When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”
“Cheer up,” they said, “Come on, he’s calling you!”

Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
The very people who’d been shouting, “Shut up!” Now started to encourage this blind beggar whom Jesus seemed to regard as a cared-for person. Notice what Jesus said to Bartimaeus.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.

“Teacher,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”

And Jesus said to him, “Go on your way. Your faith has healed you.” And instantly the blind man could see! Then he followed Jesus down the road.
Can you imagine the sheer delight of Bartimaeus? Notice he had been so trusting that Jesus would heal him that he threw off his old coat before he jumped up and rushed to Him.

Now your depression could be your opportunity. Jesus could be asking, “What do you want me to do?”
You can ask, “Please heal my depression!”

If you have not yet accepted the Lord Jesus as your saviour this could be your fleeting opportunity! Who knows, God really loves you so much that he gave Jesus, His Only Son, to be killed for the sins you (and all of us) have committed.
Seize this opportunity. Tell Jesus that you are sorry for all your trespasses, thank him for giving his life so that you can be saved and ask him to heal you and control your life from now onwards.

Finally in this lesson
You are to about to receive a fabulous invitation!
You’re wondering, “An invitation, Who from?”

It’s an invitation directly from the Lord Jesus:
And this invitation is for you. It’s typed in red, below

Matthew 11 verses 28 –30 

"Take My yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”

Are you carrying a burden right now?"
Jesus promises that If you come to Him: He will give you rest!

 “Come unto me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest"

We will close with this message from Susan Gray

Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world."

Some people think that the 'Christian life' means being free from trouble, but it is being free in your trouble, which is very different.

If you are a Christian there will be troubles to meet, but Jesus tells us not to be surprised when troubles come. "There is nothing to fear."

In life, if you spend yourself physically you get exhausted, but if you spend yourself spiritually you get more strength.
Almighty God will give you the strength you need for each day.

We are tempted to face difficulties from a 'common sense' standpoint, but if we do we may become crushed with difficulties. Some things are impossible to anyone but God.
You may like to pray the following -"Help me Lord to draw near to You and please help me in these difficulties. And thank you that you tell us not to fear, because You have overcome the world."

****

Well, now you've reached the end of this programme designed to help you get rid of that darned depression.

Now it's time for action
Your first job is to consult your doctor and explain how you’re feeling.
Then read the above Bible lessons again - and ask God for His help. 

Please print out the lessons so that you can refer to them as you wish.

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If you’d like to know more of the Bible we recommend that you visit the Home page on our main website and click 'Way to Heaven'(It's second line down on left side at top of page.

The first lesson you will see there is similar to the first on this site, but there are 8 additional lessons and also a quiz, to help you assess your understanding of the Christian message. and gain the hope & comfort in the love that God has for you.

We thank you for visiting us and we truly wish you a speedy recovery and a happy and fulfilling future.

A future without depression, but
with the Lord Jesus Christ!

Brian and Norma

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eBook: Cure for Depression

Link to www.christianInformation.co.uk