For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 

If you haven’t read the statistics, they suggest that a person is doomed to suffer periods of depression their entire life depending on their number of episodes. For example, if one has experienced depression once, it is almost certain they will again. Pretty soon, if you believe the statistics, depression becomes your normal state.

This just is not true.

Just because your parents were depressed, just because you’ve suffered depression does not doom you to repeated and frequent episodes. It is not inevitable.

Sure you might have a couple of weeks where you’re not feeling up to par for all kinds of reasons. That doesn’t mean you’re depressed.

You’re also bound to have some low moods.

It’s called life.

You are human. Even if you are never depressed again, there will be bumps in the road. None of us get through this life without some hard times. At least, no one I know. But we don’t have to be in fear of those times.

One the first things to remember is that you don’t have to be a statistic. If you do your work, recognize your triggers, change some things, if depression does rear its ugly head, you can stop it before it takes over your life.

But it isn’t easy. I know. And you can’t piggy back off anyone else’s hard work. You have to do your own.

If you can think about all the inspirational stories you’ve read where people have overcome incredible odds to achieve their goals, why don’t you think you can do the same?

You can write your own success story. It’s up to you.

So don’t be afraid. If you’re on the road to recovery and you have some rough days, don’t let that fear push you back into the pit. The fear of a returning episode is truly frightening.

God does not give us a spirit of fear but one of power. Remember that verse. You are powerful. God made you that way.

You have the power to do this.

God bless.

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