Surely you’ve seen at least one of those commercials for the latest drug to help you be happier and more well-adjusted. And if you have, you’ve no doubt also heard the antidepressants side effects list they mention at the end of those commercials.

Yeesh!

I can’t imagine being depressed enough to think a drug is the answer to my problems. Even pharmaceutical scientists have been known to say that how (and if) certain drugs work is still a “mystery”. Really?!

Do you know by some statistical evidence almost 20% of American adults are on one antidepressant or another? 20%. I’m not saying there’s no such thing as depression. But I’m confidently saying that drugs are unequivocally not the solution.

Now, I’m gonna tell you what IS the problem, in the vast majority of the cases, and you’re possibly not going to like the news. Are you ready? The reason so many people are so depressed is…selfishness.

The worst of the antidepressant side effects.

Yeah, when you focus your attention on “self”, it’s easy to get depressed. “Self” always wants more and is depressed when it doesn’t get it. Self always needs to be the center of attraction, and when it isn’t…again…depression. And self is insatiable when left to its own. You can’t battle self by yourself. Sort of ironic isn’t it?

Now, here’s what might be misconstrued as a little monkey wrench I’m gonna toss into the mix. You DO need to love yourself. Don’t take my word for it when I tell you this is even Biblical. Here, use this LINK to look it up. But the catch is, as you’ll see, you also need to love your neighbor as yourself. Yeah, you knew there had to be a catch, didn’t you?

Well, guess what…if everyone would simply follow that simple template for life, love your neighbor as yourself, depression would begin to magically melt away. You know how I know? Because it’s so hard to feel depressed when you’re focused on the needs of others. One doctor I know of calls this “the helper’s high”. Maybe you’ve felt that uplifting feeling you get when you help someone feel better, or solve a problem, or ease a financial bind.

I started out this article talking about those antidepressants side effects. Well, the “love your neighbor as yourself” side effects are beneficial, not harmful. And even more than that…they can be eternal.

So…what do you say?

To borrow a phrase from somewhere I don’t remember…how about “trading those drugs for hugs”? Think about how much you’d like it done for you and do it for someone else.

Make God smile.

Maybe you don’t know me well enough to buy something from me, yet. Ok, then get to know more about me and my worldview. Join the growing body of believers who’ve signed up for the FunderFlash Journal. And enjoy my daily flashes of light from the power of God’s love.

Stay tuned…