Our best friends and our worst enemies are our thoughts. A thought can do us more good than a doctor, a banker, or a faithful friend. It can also do us more harm than a brick - Frank Crane
It is important to note that anxiety and depression aren't causal, they are the result of something. In other words something makes you and anxious or depressed.
To understand the causes of anxiety and depression we need to take a good look at our emotions. We need to find out what triggers the emotions in our lives.
A.B Curtiss says it well - It is our perception of depression that is the problem more than the low level of serotonin that sees to cause the trouble.
What triggers anxiety and depression? It can be past events in our lives or by what we think might happen in the future. Past and future events are usually both involved.
The beliefs that we hold can be either rational or completely irrational. Our assumptions can be either be reasonable or unreasonalbe. Both our beliefs and assumptions are tied to our expectations which could be logical or illogical. To complicate matters we can face valid or invalid needs, fair or unfair demands as well as good or bad attitudes.
Our perceptions of the above can either be accurate or inaccurate which in the end becomes OUR version of reality which can be based either on a good foundation or a shaky one. These perceptions of events can lead to us having "fight or flight" emotions. When we experience the "fight" emotion (which is anger) we feel frustration, resentment as well as depression. However, if our perception leads to peaceful feelings we will feel relaxed, thankful, accepting and happy.
To start overcoming our anxiety and depression we need to reeducate our negative feelings, moods and emotions with positive ones because they are repsonses to the thoughts we choose to entertain.
Bob Phillips says - our mind gives direction to the thinking process. We have a choice, we can either have negative or positive thoughts.
When we allow our minds to focus on the negative it will lead into depression, but when we choose positive thoughts we will have a very different outcome.
It might sound like wishful thinking but it is possible. It is a simple concept but it is not easy. You can't wait for your feelings to change before you change your way of thinking because it will be a long wait. You have to make the decision to change your mind in order for it to happen.
My challenge to you is -
Are you willing to take that step and consciuosly decide to change your negative thoughts into positive ones?
Remeber the power is in your hands (or should I say in your mind)
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