Dark Nights of the Soul

In 2000, I was diagnosed with clinical depression. I had been living with a depressed brain my whole life and didn't know it. How many more people, I wondered, are walking around sad, irritable, and cynical, even when they can't think of any reason for it? Or maybe they have a reason but it hits them harder than most people?

How many more feel this underlying sorrow and think it's normal?

How many more think they can't be (or shouldn't be) depressed, because a personal relationship with Jesus is supposed to make you immune to it?

I started a blog in 2015. In this book, I've collected the posts that speak to recovery from depression. The book includes:

• A look inside the mind of someone with clinical depression
• 4 Principles for Recovery (that came from hard experience)
• Understanding the voice of the depressed brain (and how to fight back)
• 22 scientifically proven ways to help cope with and alleviate depression
• How faith and religion can either help or hurt your recovery
• Resources for finding professional help.

Recovery is one day at a time. After nineteen years of one day at a time, I can say a happy and fulfilling life is possible, even if your depressed brain colors everything in gray.