Positive Choices
Anxiety and Depression. A faith-based approach
The Law of Speech
Speak and Act Consistent with Your Faith and Not Your Feelings
Review
Week one – no alcohol, meaning and purpose.
Week two – limit sugar and processed foods, positive mental input
Anatomy
Circadian rhythm – sleep wake cycle.
Affects neurologically and hormonally.
Supra-Chiasmic Nucleus (SCN) in hypothalamus
Light goes from eye to SCN to pineal gland
Generates circadian rhythm – maximal firing around noon – when daylight is brightest
Master controller for hormones, strongest stabilizer of sleep/wake cycle
Pineal gland – produces melatonin
Cortisol – regulated by hypothalamus, from adrenal gland
Ready for stress of day. Peaks about 8 AM.
Stabilizes membranes, heart contractions, fatigue
Not regulated by light by that day, but is regulated by circadian rhythm.
Depression affects sleep wake cycle.
Copenhagen study
NW facing wing or SE facing wing of psychiatric hospital
Patients in the SE facing rooms receiving more sunlight had about half the length of stay.
Light and mood disorders
Light affects dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin
Seasonal pattern
Fall winter onset – winter depression.
depressed mood, sad empty hopelessness, insomnia or hypersomnia, agitation or retardation, fatigue, weight loss or weight gain, feelings of worthlessness, diminished ability to concentrate, recurrent thoughts of death.
Treatment
Antidepressants
Light therapy
Psychotherapy
Sleep hygiene – maintain same circadian rhythm
Enhanced indoor lighting
Outdoor exercise with sunlight (better than indoor exercise)
Light therapy
Early in the AM – 7AM
Similar time daily.
30 minutes for 10,000 lux daily.
Neuropathway review – accessory pathways
J Psychiatry 2013
Woke to dim light –
Woke to 3000 lux – better mood
Mental Health topic
Goal —> #1 – realism
1) Realism/ In the image of God – mental and physical. This is the highest dimension of mental health.
2) Impressionism – focus primarily on feelings. Medication can bring you to here, but misses the highest dimension of mental health – meaning in life.
3) Cubism – flat affect
4) Post modern – chaos
Speech
We all have the right to free speech.
Two Stories
#447 Air France, Rio de Janeiro to Paris, thunderheads caused icing of tubes, auto-pilot shut down. 2 year hunt to find black box. Black box – cursing
Cessina plane in Alaska – engine quit
“This is the day that the Lord has made”
Ps 33:6-9 By the WORD of the Lord were the heavens made.
2 Peter 3:5,7 God’s WORD the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water… but the same WORD the present heavens and earth are reserved …
When God speaks – things happen
When we speak – God listens
Job chapters 1-2
Satan accuses Job of only following God because God is good to him.
Job loses everything – property, children, and health.
Job wife – Job 1:21- 23. “Curse God and die.”
Gave voice to the Devil.
Psychotherapy – “tell me every bad thing that has ever happened to you”
Not a good idea
God lets bad things happen to help people.
Great depression made the Great Generation
God cares about what we say.
Wrong examples:
Exodus 15:23-24
The water was bitter. People complained. That made God displeased.
Numbers 13: 31- 33 The Israelite spies
The land flows with milk and honey, but the people are giants.
We looked like grasshoppers to them.
Number 14: 28-30
Said, “We wish we had died in the desert.”
God says “I heard what you said,” … and gave them what they asked for.
Good examples:
Jehoshaphat – 2 Chronicles 20
Went out led by choir singing praises.
Enemies turned on each other and killed themselves.
Paul and Silas – Acts 16
Thrown in prison. Started singing in prison.
Earthquake – broke off stocks, and prison doors thrown open.
When we praise God, wonderful things happen.
Ephesian 4:29 Do not let an unwholesome talk come out of your mouth.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God’s will for you.
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.
Summary: Speak and consistent with your Faith … not your feelings.
This is spiritual Sunshine.
