An effective way to overcome depressed, anxious, sad feelings is by connecting to a spiritual source of power and healing. These five ways to gain freedom from depression involve spirituality – which, in this case, means God or a source of Higher Power and inspiration.
Before the tips, a quip from Scripture:
“Weeping may go on all night, but in the morning there is joy.” ~ Psalm 30:5.
Believing that God or spirituality can heal depression is powerful, but we need to be more proactive than simply waiting for morning to come! For a fascinating perspective on depressed feelings, click The Unwelcome Blessing: A Christian Therapist on Depression and Coping (pictured). And, read on for five spiritual ways to gain freedom from depressed, anxious, and sad feelings…
5 Spiritual Ways to Gain Freedom From Depression
1. Keep going to church, synagogue, or other spiritual organization. If you’re struggling to overcome depression, you probably don’t feel like going to church or an organization where there are happy, focused, spiritual people who are enjoying their soul connections! But, it’s important to spend time with your spiritual peers – because spirituality increases optimism and positive energy. Pursuing spirituality within a group, church, or synagogue increases your social support system, coping skills, and self-image. And, becoming more spiritually healthy can help you find freedom from depression.
2. Say your prayers or find spirituality online. Recently, researchers found that people who pray online have fewer negative emotions and higher levels of well-being. Spirituality increases your confidence that your health and future are lined up for the good – that God or a Higher Power is in control, and is working in your best interests. Connecting to God or the universe can make you less fearful and anxious, which is why it could help depressed people overcome sad, anxious feelings. Further, different research shows that positive, lasting changes in both the brain and immune system result from meditating or praying regularly.
3. Talk to a spiritual counselor or therapist. My husband and I went to premarital counseling through our church, and we both benefited from the combination of Christianity and counseling. If you’re depressed, you need to reach out for support because it’s difficult to heal from emotional and physical health problems alone! And, if you’re a spiritual person, you might find freedom from depression faster if you have a counselor or therapist who focuses on spirituality.
4. Practice mindful physical exercises that focus on meditation, such as yoga. Yoga “can be as important as any medicine,” says Dr. Richard Usatine, co-author of Yoga RX: A Step-by-Step Program to Promote Health, Wellness, and Healing for Common Ailments. He says specific yoga movements can decrease health issues such as depression, heartburn, and asthma. Walking, cycling, or running can also alleviate anxiety disorders and even reduce the risk for dementia. Physical activity enhances sleep and reduces depressed feelings by increasing blood flow to all body parts and lifting moods naturally.
5. Strive for balance – the key to emotional and physical health. If you’re frantically juggling personal, professional, social, and spiritual activities, you won’t soon find freedom from depression! Not achieving balance can also include spending too much time alone watching TV, lying in bed, or napping. “As for balance, it’s important to know yourself and not be foolish in overdoing things,” says Dr. Marla Shapiro, host of BalanceTV on CTV. Finding balance means leaving work or volunteer responsibilities to spend time refreshing your soul. Finding balance can mean pulling away from family and friends to read, walk, or pursue a new hobby.
If you’re struggling to find freedom from depression, you might find this natural way to end panic and anxiety helpful. It’s a resource called “Panic Away.”
And, if you have any questions or thoughts on these spiritual ways to find freedom from depression, please comment below…
Why do people seek quicker methods than e.g. meditation, prayer, character healing and development, and such? For the self-trapping process that their characters desire quick fixes and progress, while their lack of characterological development is the very item they should be facing, healing, and developing.