You Can't Just Snap out of It: A Journey from Depression to Healing

By Patricia Weatherford

One night, I was on the floor, facedown, praying before the Lord, when I felt like God was enveloping me in his arms. I had just come out of a six-month depression. I heard him speak to my heart, and he told me that he wanted me to write a book on what it looks like, feels like, and what it is to be in a depressed person's body.

My purpose in writing this book is to help educate people about this debilitating disease so that they can become more compassionate and supportive of their loved ones, friends, coworkers, and depressed people in general. If you have never experienced depression personally, it is difficult to understand and hard to relate to.

I found out in talking to many people that mental illness touches almost every family. There are so many suicides that are taking place in our world today. That is why it is so important to arm yourselves with the knowledge of the signs and symptoms of depression so that you can get that person help.

In the book, "You Can't Just Snap out of It," there is also a message of hope. You don't have to suffer in silence any longer. There is help out there for you. All you have to do is ask.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504910750

Patricia Weatherford

Patricia Weatherford resides in Lafayette, LA, with her husband, George, three children, four grandchildren, and one step-grandson. She attended Mt. Carmel Academy in New Iberia, LA, and went on to graduate from the University of Louisiana in Lafayette with a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master's Degree in Secondary Education and a minor in Special Education. Pat taught school for thirty years. She retired in 2003 because of having to deal with her many bouts of severe depression. For over forty years, she had to suffer with this debilitating disease. "You Can't Just Snap out of It" is about her courageous journey from depression to joy. This book is very timely because of the many suicides that are taking place in our world today.

Book preview

You Can’t Just Snap out of It

A Journey from Depression to Healing

Patricia Weatherford

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© 2015 Patricia Weatherford. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 05/18/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-1076-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-1075-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015907021

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Table of Contents

Dedications and Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1:   When It First Began

Chapter 2:   It’s In Our Genes

Chapter 3:   A Day In The Life Of

Chapter 4:   The Pain It Causes

Chapter 5:   Snap Out Of It

Chapter 6:   Situational Depression Vs. Clinical Depression

Chapter 7:   From A Caretaker’s Point Of View

Chapter 8:   What About Medications

Chapter 9:   Famous People Who Suffered From Depression

Chapter 10:   Final Thoughts

Chapter 11:   A Message Of Hope

Epilogue

About the Author

Dedications and

Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I would like to dedicate this book to my God who was really the author of this book and to my loving husband, George Weatherford, who has supported me and sustained me for the last 46 years of marriage. Without him I would not be here today. Secondly, I would like to acknowledge my three children, Bill Weatherford, Christie Weatherford - Trickey and Julie Weatherford - Brown who have always been there for me and who have been my greatest cheerleaders. My grandchildren, Hunter and Jacob Brown and Madeline and Olivia Tassin have been my greatest source of joy during my darkest hours. What a blessing they are!

My dear mother, Dorothy Rice, who is no longer with me, was also one of my biggest supporters. She use to tell me all the time that she wished she could have taken my pain away. She was my best friend.

I would like to thank my sister-in-law, Georgia Morel, who helped in the editing of this book in its early stages and Mike Valentino who continued with the editing in the later stages.

I would also like to express my gratitude to my friends who were always there for me, you know who you are, and who called and came to see me even when I was not very good company.

To my dear friend, Vickie King, who wrote the Forward to my book. You did such a beautiful job.

To Dr. Susan Uhrich, my psychiatrist, who tried everything in her power to help me and who was so compassionate and kind to me.

To Lenore Hervey whose photograph I used for the cover of my book and to Andy Perrin who designed my book cover. Thank you, I absolutely love it.

Lastly, I would like to thank a 13 year old girl, Eva Curnutte, who came up with the title for