Information about the book, "Complete Self Help For Your Nerves" by Dr. Claire Weekes. This book is a practical help for those whose nervous systems have been overloaded. If you suffer from depression this may well save your life! No matter how long you have been depressed, there is hope!
Hi,
I am Greg's mother. My youngest son, Paul, has had severe depression for about twenty years. I thought I would write down a few things that have helped Paul through this difficult period in the hope that they may also help you.
Paul has found books by Dr. Claire Weekes to be excellent in understanding the nervous system in relation to depression and her books have helped him tremendously. All her books are excellent, the best book probably being "Complete Help For Your Nerves" published by Angus and Robertson. These books may be available at your local library or the library may be able to order them for you.
Having lived close to someone with depression and having experienced post-natal depression after the birth of my first child, I realize that depression can be a fearful illness. Dr. Weekes books provide simple, practical information that reassures you with the hope that, no matter how long you have been ill, you can recover.
Dr. Weekes says some people can suffer bouts of depression but not be nervously ill (that is they have emotional and mental fatigue). Others can be nervously ill and become apathetic and deeply depressed. Paul fitted in the second group and he had four nervous breakdowns, two of those being life threatening. It has been hard on him. It has also been hard on those who love him to see him suffer.
UNDERSTANDING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Understanding your body
Depression can be triggered by a trauma. Whatever starts it is usually forgotten when the symptoms of the nervous condition set in. It can be an accident, an illness, a divorce or divorce of parents, loss of a loved one, guilt, disgrace or some type of shock. Even a child can suffer depression. Sleep is usually disrupted. The body becomes stressed and produces adrenalin in response. If we continue to be stressed and not have adequate sleep, our body responds by pumping more adrenalin into our bloodstream (the stress hormone). This excess adrenalin affects our organs and our emotions. The more stress, the more adrenalin the body produces. Decreasing adrenalin levels cause us to feel bad in many ways. We feel depressed and fearful because of the physical symptoms.
Possible Symptoms of Depression
A person who has depression may experience panic attacks, missed heartbeats, a pressure on the chest called 'horses hoof', a churning stomach, shaking hands, feeling weak, feeling faint, blurred vision, etc. These physical symptoms may be accompanied by a lack of confidence, anger, imaginations and strange and 'goofy' thoughts. These physical and emotional effects along with our thoughts cause more fear, more adrenalin to be depleted and around and around we go. But the good news is that this cycle can be broken!
How to help break the cycle
Dr. Weekes teaches that floating, facing, acceptance and letting time pass can break this damaging cycle.
Floating
Float towards the symptoms you get … don't fight them. If you try to fight, you pump more adrenalin. Float past tension, fear, and unpleasant or unwelcome thoughts. Let them come … don't fight them. Loosen your attitude towards tension.
Facing
Face your thoughts and fears instead of trying to be rid of them by pushing or forcing them out.
Acceptance
Accept your condition … just say "I am accepting this." Dr. Weekes says utter acceptance of your symptoms is part of the solution and helps break this cycle that involves fear then more symptoms that generate more fear etc.
Letting Time Pass
Letting time pass seems hard, as people naturally want to be well right now. You must happily let more time pass as the healing process begins. It takes time to repair a broken bone and so it takes time to repair your sensitized nervous system.
OUR MINDS NEED POSITIVE INPUTS
A tendency to think negatively
When a person thinks about their life, the tendency to think negatively can be a strong one. We can easily think 'other people have everything and I am missing out' or turn a positive situation into a negative one by dwelling on one 'negative' aspect of the situation and letting it cloud your whole view.
Dwell on those things that are good
Our minds need a positive input. Our body responds to our thoughts. The bible says, "For as a man thinks within himself, so he is" (Proverbs 23.7). A great way is to take what God tells us and say these things aloud regardless of how you feel. God says; "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11).
Reaching God
Christians can find it hard to reach God in prayer when our nervous system has become very sensitized. At these times, other people can be of great help by upholding you in prayer.
A new way of thinking
Believers in Christ are to renew their minds (Romans 12:2) and not get led astray by thoughts that guide us away from peace, hope and love. We must not get led away from the future that God has for us. This future was made available through Jesus who died for us on the cross. As the bible says, "By his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). We must always think, as God wants us to. This is a new way of thinking.
I pray there is something here that may help you and that you will have a renewed and long life with your health restored. I have done my best to explain Dr. Weekes' ideas but of course, she explains it better and more fully in her books. I recommend you buy her books if you feel they may help you. Remember, her books may also be available through your local library.
In His love,
Win
Recommended books
"Complete Self Help For Your Nerves" by Dr. Claire Weekes (published by Harper / Collins, 1997).
Also read other books by Dr. Claire Weekes entitled:
