Depression Is Real

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints just came out with this new Mormon Message about depression. It is INCREDIBLE. Below is my story about depression and thoughts...

Depression is a struggle that runs genetically through my family. Many of my family members suffer from it, including me. I was diagnosed years ago.

I remember feeling so hopeless. Feeling that no matter what I did, it was wrong. I felt I would never be able to amount to anything in life. I felt like no one loved me. I felt like I didn't have friends. I felt like no one understood what I was feeling at that time. I felt absolute despair. I didn't have any motivation to be awake. I slept a LOT. I didn't ever want to go out and do things. I avoided people. I had constant thoughts of suicide. I felt like I was worthless.

I was then taken to the doctor and was diagnosed. Having to depend on medicine to make me happy was really hard for me to accept. I was already struggling with so many emotions and not being able to control them, and then I felt I didn't get to have a chance to control them. I didn't like having the feeling that I was helpless on my own and that I had to depend on something else. But the reality was that I did.

I look back and I realize now that I was not lost. Jesus knew exactly where I was. I wasn't worthless. People really did love me. My family tried to be with me, but I wouldn't let them. I didn't make an effort to talk to people or call up my friends. I didn't talk about it.

I see now that a lot of my feelings fed off of each other. They escalated from one negative thought. Did I have friends? Yes. Did my family love me? Yes. Was I worthless? No. Did I realize any of that? No. When you are in a state of depression, it is so hard to see the good in yourself.

A lot of people who don't suffer from depression sometimes have a hard time grasping the fact. They think that we acting a certain way to get attention. That is NOT true. Sometimes others think that we can just snap out of it, and that is hard. Everyone has days where they are harder than others, but with depression it feels like those bad days are never ending and only get worse.

Now after I have been on medicine for awhile I realize that I am lot more happy in general. I still have to make a conscious effort to smile and be happy, but it is easier.

BUT HEY!!!!! LETS LOOK AT THE NOW!!!! LETS SEE THE DIFFERENCE!!!

I have noticed that being on a mission I am lot more happier and that is not just because I take my little happy pill everyday, it is because I get my daily dose of Jesus. Hahaha how cheesy does that sound?! But it is true. I study for 2-3 hours a day about Jesus. The doctrine He teaches and it seriously makes the biggest difference in my attitude. Seriously, Jesus is awesome. We can do anything with Jesus Christ. Even overcome the hardest challenges of life.

I was in a state of depression when I knelt down and prayed to God to know what to do with my life, and got the answer to go on a mission. I was SHOCKED! I seriously said out loud, "Really? Me? HA yeah right." Well look at me now. On a mission.. Looks like God knows us and knows what is best for us!

I was told a lot that a mission is hard and that if you suffer from depression it is even harder. That is probably true. But guess what!!!? Jesus has been through everything that we are going through and more. So if we rely on him, even through that hard times in life, we WILL be able to overcome anything we go through. ANYTHING!!!! That is my promise. I can promise that to each of you reading this, not only because I am representative of Jesus Christ right now, but because I have seen the power in my life.