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From Depression to Emotional Wholeness Using Five SMART Steps Depression is a deeply
personal and complex illness. It affects millions of women and men. Research shows that medication relieves depression
for most people. Other studies show that many get better with counseling. For the spiritually-minded person,
medication and counseling are not enough. They need a plan that incorporates faith. Breaking Through Depression offers this
type of holistic plan for recovery. The following discussion of the SMART step plan is excerpted from Chapter 1 of Breaking Through Depression.
The first
step – Step S – is stopping substance abuse. Excessive drinking can lead to depression. Depression can lead to
excessive drinking. This "depression-addiction connection" must be broken from the start. The second SMART step is medicating chemical imbalances. Not everyone needs medication. Counseling and spiritual commitment often resolve milder forms of depression. However, in longer term and deeper forms of black mood, do not delay. New research is showing that areas of the brain’s cortex may actually shrink in depressive illness. Other research shows that medical treatment may stimulate re-growth of brain cells. A third milestone along this SMART pathway to recovery is adjusting expectations you have of yourself. Set your expectations too low and you will be treated like a door-mat. Setting them too high will lead to unhealthy levels of stress. Too much stress hormone can damage your brain cells. Recognizing your limits well help to stop the injury and begin re-growth. The fourth milestone on the road to recovery – Step R – is revising your relationships with others. As self-imposed demands can cause problems, so can unrealistic demands from other people. Learn to say no. Learn to set boundaries. Setting those limits will make room for healthier pursuits like spirituality. The fifth step of SMART renewal is tracking with the Holy Spirit. For the believer, a vital relationship with God can be a important part of each earlier step. Spirituality is emphasized in this step because full joy in the Lord rarely returns when brain chemistry and emotions remain unbalanced. When brain cells are re-balanced and self-esteem restored, people experience a new sense of freedom and excitement that often overflows into their relationship with God and other people. As you move through the SMART steps, you will most likely find sources for struggle in your own life. Recognize these problem areas. They can become part of a personal recovery plan. By the grace of God, as you examine these problems and follow the map, you will find renewal of your body, mind, and spirit.   |
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