Living Outside the Trap

Today I’m reflecting back on my year and I am most thankful for the state of my well being and mind.  Looking back and realizing where I was at physically and mentally in February, I can’t help but give thanks for what God has brought me out of.  I had fallen into a trap and my life was so dark.

 

There are so many people in this world that suffer from depression and I’m one of those people.  I had reached a point in February when the physical pain was more than I could bear.  Life was not good and I didn’t know how to get out of it.  My life was riddled with stress, guilt, and distorted thinking and I had become an empty shell of what I really could be.  Life seemed meaningless and empty, and I was in so much pain both emotionally and physically.  My body just ached and it had become difficult for me to climb out of bed.  I didn’t even want to work or be around people.  Life was just too hard and I wasn’t sure I wanted to live any more.  That’s when I knew I needed to get help.

 

I’m thankful today that good friends kept asking me the tough question about making the phone call to my counselor.  Picking up the phone and scheduling the appointment was such a hard step to take, but it does get easier from there.  There were so many people who prayed for me during such a difficult time in my life and I’m so thankful they did.  I’m grateful for a good medical doctor who was willing to prescribe the right medication and for my family and their patience for allowing me to get through this in whatever time it was going to take.  I’m probably the most thankful for my counselor who cared deeply for me and truly wanted the best for my life.  She took the time to hear me, to understand me, and then offered guidance on how to correct the distorted thinking I had fallen prey to.

 

Traps are dangerous and difficult to get out of on your own.  Most of the time we can’t even see the trap before it ensnares us.  Life seems fine one moment and then before we know it, we’ve fallen into a deep, dark, hole.  Traps can leave us feeling hurt, immobilized, and defenseless, but until we realize how vulnerable our lives have become, I’m not sure we’ll seek help from someone to actually get out of the trap.

 

Today, if you feel like you’ve fallen into a trap, I’m pleading for you to reach up and take my hand.  Can I be the voice you finally hear and realize it’s time to ask for help?  Can you agree with me it will be difficult and painful, but in the end it will be much brighter outside that deep, dark, hole you’ve fallen into?  Life’s not always fair and easy, but you have been given a choice.  Please choose today to start living outside the trap.