What I am getting at though is how I got better! I talked about taking medication (which is there for a reason!), but I decided that it wasn't what I wanted or needed to do. I started taking Vitamin D, because it was the winter when I was at my worst, and I thought that some Vitamin D might do me some good, and I started diving into the Gospel. I lost myself in reading the Book of Mormon, and in serving others! I started to bake, which really started my passion of cupcakes, and taking things to neighbors. It got to the point that everytime I made anything, Little Man would ask me who we were taking it to! I decided that even though my life was difficult and nothing like I imagined it would be, everyone goes through hard times, and I needed to focus on helping others instead of feeling bad for myself.
I don't want to sound like I am telling people that have depression that it is something that you can just "Suck it up" or just "Get over", because it's not. It's hard. I have been on anti-depressants before and they are there to help, they sure helped me! It's like Elder Jefferey R. Holland said in the October 2013 General Conference, "Let me leave the extraordinary illnesses I have mentioned to concentrate on MDD—“major depressive disorder”—or, more commonly, “depression.” When I speak of this, I am not speaking of bad hair days, tax deadlines, or other discouraging moments we all have. Everyone is going to be anxious or downhearted on occasion. The Book of Mormon says Ammon and his brethren were depressed at a very difficult time,2 and so can the rest of us be. But today I am speaking of something more serious, of an affliction so severe that it significantly restricts a person’s ability to function fully, a crater in the mind so deep that no one can responsibly suggest it would surely go away if those victims would just square their shoulders and think more positively—though I am a vigorous advocate of square shoulders and positive thinking!
No, this dark night of the mind and spirit is more than mere discouragement."
What I am saying, is that sometimes the best medicine is service. Lose yourself in the service of others, think of what other people may be in need of, and always remember that even though your life is hard, you probably wouldn't want to trade with anyone else. Everyone has their trials, and honestly when it comes down to it, we're all pretty good actors, and don't tell how we really feel. Christ was always in the service of others, and He didn't have anything. He was a perfect example of not only serving others but allowing others to serve him. If you think about it, Christ didn't have a house of his own that he lived in while he was preaching, he was always travelling, and relied on everyone to feed him, and give him shelter. He never felt guilty, and he never apologized for it. He was grateful, and showed it by serving those who served him, and others around him. What a fantastic example! Don't apologize to people for needing service, or feel bad when someone does something kind for you. Instead pay it forward.
My life isn't what I planned on, and I never expected or wanted to have depression, but it's what happened. I'm better because of it, and I learned a lot about myself through it. I am so thankful and grateful for those that let me serve them, so I could lose myself!
What an excellent example of accepting service! I never thought about it like that before when the Savior accepted help from others. I needed to hear that. It is SO hard to accept help most of the time! Thanks for sharing that!
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