First of all, if you have not read any of Martha Peace's books, you must! I would say Attitudes of a Transformed Heart is great and should be read by every woman, then if you are married or plan on marrying, you must read The Excellent Wife. I have mentioned these books since the beginning of my blog...because they are so helpful!!!! They are meaty but not hard to read...she uses a lot of charts and lists to make what the Bible teaches easier to grasp and remember.

Martha's last topic at the conference was on anxiety and depression. Most of you who follow my blog know that I had a strange encounter (bizarre, I call it) with a medicine that caused these(severe anxiety and weird thoughts) side effects in me this past fall. I had to have a large amount of corticosteroids as a result of an allergic reaction. These types of drugs can affect some people this way...obviously I am one of these people! It was a very difficult time for me. Although at times I struggle with minor anxiety and fear, I have never experienced a true out of control sadness and anxiety(almost complete panic at times) like I felt while that medicine was leaving my system. It STILL affects me during *that time of the month* because I am STILL experiencing extreme pms symptoms that I did not have before the corticosteroids. It has made me very compassionate to those who feel this way and struggle with it. It felt terrible and my hope was in the fact that it would eventually get better...but it did take a while.

Martha mentioned some of the causes and symptoms of depression. I will list those for you.

Symptoms:

No pleasure, increase or decrease of appetite, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness, vain regrets, fear

Some causes:

1)Organic(physical)-- Illness, sleep loss, medications (like steroids--That would be me!), blood pressure meds, thyroid problems, pms
2)Circumstances--death of a loved one, trauma, financial problems
3)Bitterness--feeling hurt...even though bitterness is a sin,too...she listed it by itself because bitterness is from feeling hurt.
4)Sin--worry, gossip, lying, not content,lust,self pity,inferiority judgments.

She approached this topic with how she counsels one who is suffering with depression and/or anxiety.

First of all she gives Biblical hope--1 Cor 10:13, Romans 8:28-29, Lamentations 3:21-25, Psalm 42, 2 Cor 4:8-18. She also said someone who is like this may need daily accountability at first.

Biblical Instructions:

1)Fulfill responsibilities regardless of how you feel.
2)Go over specific responsibilities...like go to the grocery store and fix dinner for your family, etc.
3)Write out a thankful list
4)Learn to think biblically(put off and put on) Ephesians 4:22-24
5)Examples of wrong thinking and right thinking.
Wrong: I can't take it anymore!
Right: This is a difficult time for me but God will give me the grace to go through it.
6) Find someone to start giving to(thus taking the focus off themselves and putting it on showing love to others.)
7)Go to the doctor if there is an organic/medical problem. Rule this out first.

Some things to do as homework:

1)Have a schedule of daily activities...do them regardless of how you feel.
2)Read Christ and Your Problems by Jay Adams
3)Read especially in the book of Psalms.
4)Pray and ask God to help you see any sin and help you repent.
5)Self Talk log..this is where you learn to put off sin or bad thoughts and put on right thinking and good deeds.
6)Scripture memory
7)Read Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
8)Read Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety by Elyse Fitzpatrick. I read this a few years ago and then again when I was going through my difficult time...it is very good!


I'm going to stop here, although she had a lot to say about anxiety. I want to post on that tomorrow or Wednesday...when time allows for it. Too much information at once can be overwhelming and I don't want any of you to feel overwhelmed with all of this.

I am posting all this because it may offer help and hope to someone struggling. I pray that it does. There are also some great articles on the NANC website. Go to resources. If you are struggling, maybe you could find a certified biblical counselor in your area...on the NANC website, there is a place to find people to help.