Every counselor at SoulCare counseling would agree with me that developing a habit of gratitude contributes significantly to good mental health. An “attitude of gratitude” battles anxiety and depression. It makes marriages and families healthier. It’s “good medicine.” It’s also God’s will. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” But how? Here are three commitments you can make that will help you develop a habit of gratitude:

For over thirty years, people have been told that the cause of depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain, specifically an imbalance of serotonin. If you suffer from depression, it is probably what you have been told and you were prescribed antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to boost your brain’s serotonin levels. But a bombshell new study shows that there is no clear evidence that serotonin levels are responsible for depression.

“My therapist told me the way to achieve inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today I’ve finished two bags of chips and a chocolate cake.” If you’re suffering from depression, maybe you can relate. These are things that people do to mask the symptoms of depression, but the underlying problem remains. If you’re struggling with depression, it’s important to understand what it is, what causes it, how it affects you, and how to treat it.

According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, more than six million men in the U.S. struggle with depression each year. Yet the American Psychological Association reports that men are less likely than women to seek help for all mental health problems, but especially depression.

Today we get warnings on our cell phones, televisions, and watches that the signs are there of a coming storm. The wise pay attention to those warning signs. Likewise, there are clear warning signs of depression that it is prudent to heed.

Most people think depression is just being sad, but it’s actually a fairly common mental health condition. Yet, as common as it is, people often have it without realizing it because they overlook or dismiss the signs.

According the National Institute of Mental Health, 17.3 million adults in the United Sates have had at least one major depressive episode. That is 7.1% of all American adults, with women experiencing depression in a slightly higher number than men.

Men often don’t realize or admit that they are suffering from depression, and if they do, they are much less likely to seek help. This may be one reason why the suicide rate among men is four times that of women.

Depression is debilitating for an individual who suffers with it, but it is also debilitating for a marriage. When one partner suffers through their darkness in isolation, too fearful or ashamed to share that pain with the other partner, the result is distance, disconnection, and conflict

As a retired pastor looking back over my forty-four years pastoring six churches, there were times of great joy and satisfaction but there were also times of deep depression.