Thank God I am feeling better...

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by, and for your prayers and encouragements.

I am thankful for the rest these few days and thank God I am feeling better. I have started taking my anti-depressant, Prozac and I think it is beginning to take effect now.

I have been very exhausted over the last few months but I wasn't feeling down. My moods fluctuated every now and then but it didn't plunge into depression until a few days ago. Now as I look back, I suspect I may have burn-out as I was extremely busy with various commitments.

I found one helpful article on burnout:

Preventing Burnout by HelpGuide.org

Though I tried to slow down over the last few months, I was still very occupied generally and constantly tired. I was too tired to write on this blog or to visit blogs. But you are in my thoughts and prayers. I do missed all of you very much.

Managing this condition is a very great challenge to me. Pacing myself is a constant challenge daily as when I am well I have many projects on my hands and tend to do more and more things. I get carried away :)

Perhaps this is part of the gift of this condition, the creativity and energy to accomplish many things. But the other side of this condition, is that after prolonged busy period, I tend to burn-out and plunge into depression. I am thankful that with medication and other helps, I am feeling better faster and more functional. In the past, it would take about 3 to 6 months before I start feeling better and be functional again.

The feeling of depression is still very distressing nevertheless. Each relapse brings along a fear that I will never get better. But thank God that He does delivers and now with various helps, He delivers me more speedily.

I know I must not over-exert myself yet. I am looking forward to go out tomorrow to visit an elderly lady that is coming to know our Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour, to read the Bible, sing Psalms and pray with her. I find much joy in giving of myself to help others. It gives me a sense of usefulness despite my condition and brings me great joy.

Thanks again for stopping by. Take care!

Warm regards,
Nancie

Extreme exhaustion and depression

For the last 1 week, I have been experiencing extreme exhaustion. These few days, I am beginning to experience symptoms of depression.

I am finding it hard to wake up in the morning, terribly exhausted, my mind so slowed down that I can't think or feel properly, no energy to do anything, can't enjoy anything I do, my feelings are basically flat, and a terrible sense of uselessness is overwhelming me... but I am praying and resting in God.

I know that God loves me and He is sustaining me through this valley experience. He has a purpose for me to go through this and His grace is sufficient for me, as He promises. He will restore and deliver me in His time.

Meanwhile, I will make use of whatever resources He has given me to get better. I am praying and reading the Bible, and other encouraging books, and looking to God to strengthen my soul spiritually.

I am going to rest as much as I can so that in time to come I will be ready to serve God again. I will endeavour to keep up with my exercise daily to strengthen my body and mind.

I need to fight the negative thoughts that threaten to overwhelm me. It is important for me to remember that these thoughts will go away once I am better. So learning to recognize them and challenge them is important so that they do not pull me down further.

I am thankful to God for all of you, your visits, prayers and encouragements. These are tokens of God's love for me and thank God for everyone of you.

I am resting in the following promises of God, and hope that it encourages you too:

“My grace is sufficient for thee.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

IF none of God’s saints were poor and tried, we should not know half so well the consolations of divine grace.

When we find the wanderer who has not where to lay his head, who yet can say, “Still will I trust in the Lord;” when we see the pauper starving on bread and water, who still glories in Jesus; when we see the bereaved widow overwhelmed in affliction, and yet having faith in Christ, oh, what honor it reflects on the gospel!

God’s grace is illustrated and magnified in the poverty and trials of believers.

Saints bear up under every discouragement, believing that all things work together for their good, and that out of apparent evils a real blessing shall ultimately spring—that their God will either work a deliverance for them speedily, or most assuredly support them in the trouble, as long as He is pleased to keep them in it.

This patience of the saints proves the power of divine grace. There is a lighthouse out at sea: it is a calm night—I cannot tell whether the edifice is firm; the tempest must rage about it, and then I shall know whether it will stand.

So with the Spirit’s work: if it were not on many occasions surrounded with tempestuous waters, we should not know that it was true and strong; if the winds did not blow upon it, we should not know how firm and secure it was.

The master-works of God are those men who stand in the midst of difficulties, stedfast, unmoveable,—

“Calm 'mid the bewildering cry,
Confident of victory.”

He who would glorify his God must set his account upon meeting with many trials. No man can be illustrious before the Lord unless his conflicts be many.

If, then, yours be a much-tried path, rejoice in it, because you will the better show forth the all-sufficient grace of God.

As for His failing you, never dream of it—hate the thought.

The God who has been sufficient until now should be trusted to the end.

Taken from CH Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, 4 March, Morning

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. " - what a blessed assurance and comfort! God's grace is sufficient for me. His strength is made perfect in my weaknesses.

Thank you for stopping by!

Thanks for your encouragement. Take care and have a blessed day!

Warm Regards,
Nancie

More resources, videos and information about:

Bipolar Disorder

• About bipolar (video 1)
• About bipolar (video 2)
• About bipolar (video 3)
• Beyond mania and depression
• Diagnosing bipolar
• Dignose bipolar
• Family and Friends' Guide
• Famous people with bipolar disorder
• Finding meaning in a life with bipolar disorder
• Helping someone with mood disorder
• Huband with bipolar disorder
• Living with bipolar disorder
• Myths and Facts on mental illness
• Recovery Steps
• Testimony - Debra
• Testimony - Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison
• Testimony - Husband
• Testimony - Man
• Testimony - Megan
• Treatment - Lifestyle
• Treatment - Talk Therapy
• Treatment - therapeutic hobbies
• What does bipolar do?

Depression

• About depression (article)
• About depression (video 1)
• About depression (video 2)
• Christian depression video - a stubborn darkness
• Family and Friends' Guide
• Testimony - real life story
  
• Things to remember when you are depressed
• Treating depression
• Treatment - therapeutic hobbies
• Treatment - Therapy

Anxiety Disorder

• About anxiey
• Causes of anxiety
• Do I Have an Anxiety Disorder?
• Treatment
• What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder? (GAD)

All things work together for good...

Dear Friends,

Thank God for seeing us through another week. Thank you for stopping by and all your prayers, concerns and encouragements.

Thank God for strengthening me day by day. I have been very busy and tired over the last few months but thankful to be able to live each day for our Lord and serve Him. I am still learning to pace myself and manage my condition. Sometimes my mood swings up and down, but thank God that it is not like the 3 months dipped into severe depression like what I used to experience. So I am learning to live each day for our Lord and am finding much joy in it.

I have been very involved in the ministry of mercy in visiting some sick and elderly. It is a joy and privilege to extend God's love and kindness to His precious ones. Those that are dear to Him, are dear to me. I am greatly encouraged to see the many wonderful ways God are preserving His people, no matter what trials they go through in this world.

Today, I met a friend who told me that with the current worldwide economic crisis and the swine flu, most people she met are very depressing.

I am reminded, that we have a God Who is sovereignly in control of all things, Who loves us with an everlasting love and Who is mercifully working all things for His glory and our good. What a comfort!

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

To know that nothing hurts the godly, is a matter of comfort, but to be assured that ALL things which fall out shall co-operate for their good, that their crosses shall be turned into blessings, that showers of affliction water the withering root of their grace and make it flourish more, this may fill their hearts with joy till they run over.

"We know." It is not a matter wavering or doubtful. The apostle does not say, We hope, or conjecture, but it is like an article in our creed, WE KNOW that all things work for good.

Hence observe that the truth of the gospel are evident and infallible. A Christian may come not only merely to a vague opinion but to a certainty of what he holds. The Spirit of God imprints heavenly truths upon the heart as with the point of a diamond. We have arrived at a holy confidence.....

The result of this text is this : All the various dealings of God with his children do by a special providence turn to their good.

Taken from Thomas Watson's "All Things For Good".

Thank you for stopping by!

Thanks for your encouragement. Take care and have a blessed day!

Warm Regards,
Nancie

I took this photo at Hort Park, Singapore.