Always keep God in your heart no matter what. He knows your heart! Me, I may not be the christian I wish I was, but I am one. Praying helped me through alot.

Changing your life around for the better everyday, is the best form of helping yourself.

Always keep a positive attitude, no matter what the circumstances are. Be bright cheery eyed and live!

Finding a happy place is a lot easier for people who have known a happy place. Not everyone has had that luxery. Sometimes when you have just climbed out of the tar and feathers that some people like to put on others sometimes your skin is still a little raw. Words of encouragement, not blameing the victim, and helping them reframe thoughts is probably more productive.

I've been going through depression on and off since I lost my job -- it really sucks.

That wasn't wisdom enough? No seriously, if they havn't ever had that luxury, they should know it's out there! Happiness is in ourselves and what we make it; along with Christ. Joy can come from the slightest memory of happiness, one smile, one laugh, one piece of candy! Once that is found, never let anyone steal that joy!!!

you have stomach cancer

My happy place got me in trouble.

Totally agree; if I didn't have the "inner peace and happiness" I have inside myself I would never be able to fight the sad times I'm going through right now. Ever since I turned my life around through sobriety I've found the inner strength and peace I need each day to not give up or give into what's going on around me. I still have HOPE in the the power of prayer. Laughter each day and the friends I have make this possible.

dont be sad get glad

How long into sobriety did it take to find it?

Yes, and I used to think I was the only one.

Drinking brings about conflict during times of depression and hurt. It can be fun during the upsided times in your life when things are going great as long as it isn't abused.

Right now, it's prolly best if you drink a yoo-hoo rather than a beer.

Drugs are never good. Instead,, replace them with something that can be productive for your life. Find an addiction that has no down sides and only brings positive results!

I've been sober 16 yrs; early in sobriety (first month or so) when I started taking suggestions, dealing with a sponsor, started the steps and stopped doing things my way that's when the inner peace and happiness started.
I still have moments of doubt especially since I lost my job. Sometimes I'm alittle depressed -- but when you "move a muscle and change a thought", the power of prayer, and meetings things happen to show me I'm not alone. With all the stress in my life right now I have not thought of taking a drink or doing something stupid.

Charting depression can be very helpful in finding if there are any contributeing factors. Depression does not happen in a void. Many things can take a person and crank down on there life like a vice. Chronic illness, allergies,addiction, medication reaction, body chemistry, abuse, poverty, being discriminated against for their appearance, greif; are a few that if recognizedcan be treated and the depression becomes manageable.

isnt it funny how we are in so many different places and we are so many different faces but yet we all tend to have some of the same issues and thoughts and problems running thru our heads? i sometimes wonder... man noone is going thru what i am then.... bam! here is a whole slew of people young old and in between that are going thru similar things

That's the truth -- it really helps to talk to other people; so many people are hurting right now.

I think you are on target suggesting faith and prayer because it can help you a great deal but I think you are over simplifying a very complicated situation saying if you just get right as a Christian and put on a happy face life will get all better. I know truely devout Chritians that always vocalize a happy persona and become so severly depressed that they could not function. Dealing with a life time of others suffering comes to mind and is a common reason many religious people need anti depressant drugs to help their body chemistry.

Which it often does and that does not necessarily mean just partying; many people wear down their mental health working too hard, being a devoted caregiver, trying to constantly better themself.

sometimes you just have to weather the storm no matter how many people have been in the same situation it always feels different in real time. i recently separated 5 weeks ago and we decided to call it quits, and everyone says it will get better. well its not tv and i cant just hit the fast forward to happy times button. somehow someway i am going to find my release of the pressure and stress til then i just have to be that boxer in the 10th round fighting to stay on my feet

I agree that alcohol is not much of a plus in anyones life that I have seen.

There are no addictions that don't have a down side that I have seen.

Oh by no means did I mean becoming a Christian and devoting your life to that would keep you happy. For some it doesn't work, but God will honor that devotion.

Me, I hardly ever step foot in a church anymore, and I was raised under the roof of a pastor. Me, I live more worldly than as a full flegged Christian.

I'm just saying, take control of the depression and opression that the Devil tireies to bring you down with. Get up, jump around around and do what needs to be done, as lon as it has a productive result and isn't morally wrong or wrong to do in general, to bring that smile to your face.

Keep that smile once it's there and push all the negatives out of your life that you should.