To think depression is something caused by factors beyond your control is downright depressing. Yet that is what many people believe, including some in the medical and mental health fields. Although in some cases medical problems do cause depression, the vast majority of depression is fortunately within your own control. If, however, after you try the suggestions in this book, you still feel depressed, I would encourage you to see a counselor or a physician. Being in a world with so many unpleasant things such as illness, death, war, violent crime, hunger, broken homes, and homelessness, it can be difficult not to feel discouraged or depressed at times.
Millions do everyday.
I learned more about depression from something my wife, Shelly, said to me than from all my school work and reading combined. I was in graduate school and we had just moved to Provo, Utah, to begin a very competitive doctoral program at Brigham Young University. We had been married for just two months and I started a job as a school counselor in a local district. I also received a Church leadership position. Soon feeling overwhelmed, I began to doubt my abilities as a husband, student, church leader, school counselor, and so forth.