Coming Out of the Dark

By Mary Southerland

Depression can be triggered by many factors. The journey out of the pit of darkness truly begins when we choose to identify those factors and deal with them. God empowers each step, providing direction, comfort and strength beyond our own.

Physical factors: - Illness - Fatigue - Medication - Hormonal or chemical imbalance - Over-commitment of time and energy

Psychological factors: - Significant loss - Rejection - Major life change- Learned patterns from childhood - Mid-life crisis - Growing older - Suppressed anger - Lack of purpose - Loneliness

Spiritual factors: - Disobedience toward God - Aftermath of a great victory- Sense of guilt or self-condemnation- Wrong perspectives and priorities - Unbalanced life - Perfectionism - Self-effort - Self-focus