Depression~You Are NOT Alone

I have thought quite a bit about depression this week—scratch that, I have thought a TON about depression this week.
I thought about the symptoms.
I thought about the "cures."
I thought about the pain.
What weighed heavily though, was the cause—the WHY.

Depression hits and hurts many different kinds of people, young and old.
When one is depressed, it is so so easy to feel alone.
To feel no one cares.
That you are all by yourself.

Depression hurts, but there is a hope (however hard that may seem to some). For when depressed, it is easy to give up hope.

Hope heals.
Hope gives motivation.
Hope gives new meaning to life.

I'm rambling. ..

This week I was feeling down, so I checked out a video the Holy Ghost kept bringing to my remembrance. "Like a Broken Vessel," by Jeffrey R. Holland. I watched it, and I watched it three times. And with each new viewing of it, I gathered more information, and it had new meaning.

Talk: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/like-a-broken-vessel?lang=eng
Video: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/like-a-broken-vessel?lang=eng#watch=video

Mormon Message with Highlights:

So a couple days after listening to it, I began wondering, why do we go through hard things—especially after doing the right thing?

I reflected on my own life. How when I did the right thing, and suffered. I would ask, Now why did I have to go through that, again? I did the right thing, and I did not doubt my decision—because of my obedience.

Doctrine and Covenants says:
"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."
(DC 82:10) -Yay Scripture Mastery! ;) <33

"And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
(1 Sam. 15:22)

My faith in my obedience has held firm this long time, and confirmation has come into my mind—and I have begun to understand the meaning behind some of my trials.

1) They prepared me for callings and to accept callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
2) They helped me to better serve and love people.
And Third...(and probably most importantly)...
3) They Brought me to Christ.

While these are not all of the "why's" or reasons to my many questions, it is sufficient. It is sufficient because His grace is sufficient.

Ether 12:27 says:
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

A few weeks back, I went to speak with a councilor; and as I did so, I could not help but think, "What in the WORLD am I DOING."...
"If I go to speak with them, then they will know all of my problems." (no duh)
"I will not have any secrets to keep to myself anymore."
"No one needs to know all of my problems and stresses and issues I have..."
And so on and so forth; you get the picture.
I don't like telling people my so called problems and stresses if you could not already tell.

So I walked in, and became an open book.

As I was waiting around walking around inside, someone came around the corner, and told me of the counseling services offered—and the prices (YIKES). However, I was not discouraged, because I was informed about the free (FREE: One of the sweetest words to any college students' ears) 30-minute sessions offered.

Being as stressed as I was, I set up the appointment that day, to meet in only a matter of hours.

So upon meeting, and after dumping all of my problems on this person, I had quite a few free pointers to overcoming stress among many things given to me.

Here's a few and then some:
1) Give yourself time to grieve (depending on what you are going through).
2) Find a coping mechanism and stick with it.
3) Focus on the right here right now in this moment (instead of worrying about the future).
4) Clear the mind by going for a walk.

(I also started using magic—I mean a stress ball..pretty much the same thing though, right? RIGHT!
There are so SO many different avenues I wanted to talk—write—about for this blog..but this will suffice for now:)

In the meantime, check out what this strong and powerful woman has to say about depression:

Way to go Meghan for seeking help.

In closing, I wanted to say that reaching out for help was one of the best things I could have done for myself at that time. Reaching and searching for help is so humbling. Something I learned at Institute this past week is this: That when we seek help from the Savior (whether directly or indirectly through  the help of other people) it demonstrates our faith in Christ as we actively use the Atonement in our lives. Not asking and seeking for help is denying the Atonement of Christ. Asking for help in any circumstance is difficult, but not un-doable

Giving my load to someone else (even partially) and having someone to listen to me —who did not even know me personally—which lead to an unbiased opinion—which added comfort on my part—was one of my BEST decisions that I am proud to say I have made.

And Here's Why:

Because it was through helping myself that allowed me to help other people.

Go out there TODAY and help someone—make their day better by helping that someone who is so very important—YOU.
Help yourself first.
You have so much worth and potential.
I believe in you.
You are worth it.
Go out there and make "tomorrow" TODAY.

Until next next time friends of great worth and infinite potential,
Jaléh Tammehr
♪♫♪Make It A Great Day♪♫♪...Because You. Can. Do IT.
<3 <3 <3 <3
:)