Causes: When people are feeling depressed, I’ve noticed there are basically three causes: thoughts, circumstances, and physical / mental imbalance. Consider what is the cause, or what are the causes, so you can begin working toward a solution.
Thoughts: Do any of these thoughts sound like yours? “I feel like a failure.” “My job is boring.” “I’m frustrated and stuck.” “I can’t believe he’s not answering my messages.” “That won’t help.” (when someone offers advice) “I regret my past.” Be honest with yourself and look for any thoughts you need to change. Watch out for passivity & lack of motivation to really change; it might feel easier to stay in the negative rut, but overall it makes life extremely difficult. Helps: God’s Word (look for answers). Meditation. Journaling. Positive influences (people & media).
Circumstances: Loneliness, marriage problems, loss of loved ones, traumatic memories, and other negative experiences can make it feel impossible to move forward. What you can do: Look into therapies. Meditate on Romans 8:28–39 and remind yourself: God is working all things for my good. He is making me more like Jesus. Nothing can separate me from His love. I am eternally secure because God is taking me to heaven forever.
Physical: When you have a good life and feel like depression is “out of the blue,” it’s probably physical. Of the people I talk with, this is probably 5% of the time, but it’s worth looking into. Balance your brain chemicals. SSRIs are the typical anti-depressants doctors prescribe, and help you maintain a healthy level of serotonin. However, they don’t always work and sometimes come with side effects, so you might benefit from other ways of boosting serotonin. These are scientific (a bit technical, but helpful!) ways you can overcome depression: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-U5OX3sbA8 https://www.brainmdhealth.com/blog/4-ways-to-boost-your-serotonin/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077351/ Note: There are other chemical causes of depression besides low serotonin — high serotonin, low dopamine, and estrogen dominance are a few.
Boost your motivation: Take action even if you don’t feel like it. “Action breeds motivation.” — Kayleen Wright (And not only motivation, but physical energy itself!) Listen to motivating messages. Write a script.
You might have to work on multiple root issues, if you’re dealing with difficult circumstances, you recognize some negative thought patterns, and you lack physical energy and motivation. Or if you’re not sure of the cause, it’s worth a try to work through the solutions for all three. Talk to your doctor and do your research about other treatments. Keep in mind, there are more options than medications.