The New Bible Cure for Depression & Anxiety

Copyright

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The New Bible Cure for Depression and Anxiety
by Don Colbert, MD

Published by Siloam, a Strang Company

600 Rinehart Road; Lake Mary, Florida 32746

www.strangbookgroup.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation of the Bible, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are from the Amplified Bible. Old Testament copyright © 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., publishers. Used by permission.

Design Director: Bill Johnson; Cover design by Amanda Potter

Copyright © 2009 by Don Colbert, MD

All rights reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication

Colbert, Don.

The new Bible cure for depression and anxiety / Don Colbert.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.

ISBN 978-1-59979-760-1

1. Depression, Mental--Religious aspects--Christianity. 2. Anxiety--Religious aspects--Christianity. I. Title.

RC537.C6335 2009

616.85’27--dc22

2009029220

Portions of this book were previously published as
The Bible Cure for Depression and Anxiety
by Siloam, ISBN 0-88419-650-X, copyright © 1999.

This book contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is solely for informational and educational purposes and should not be regarded as a substitute for professional medical treatment. The nature of your body’s health condition is complex and unique. Therefore, you should consult a health professional before you begin any new exercise, nutrition, or supplementation program or if you have questions about your health. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in this book.

The statements in this book about consumable products or food have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The publisher is not responsible for your specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision. The publisher is not responsible for any adverse reactions to the consumption of food or products that have been suggested in this book.

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers and Internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after publication.

If you are experiencing severe anxiety, depression, suicidal thinking, or thoughts of harming others, it is critically important that you consult a primary care physician or go to an emergency room.

09 10 11 12 13 — 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

introduction: A Brand-New Bible Cure for a Brand-New You!

1 Joy Instead of Sadness

Are You Depressed?

A self-test

Three Types of Depression

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Theories About Depression

Is Age a Factor?

Physical Factors

Serotonin: Your Body’s “Feel Good” Chemical

Spiritual Factors of Depression

2 Peace Instead of Anxiety

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Phobias

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Panic Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Defeating Anxiety Disorders

The Prescription of God’s Word

3 Joy-filled Living With New Thought Patterns

It All Starts With Your Thoughts

Detecting Viruses in Your Mental Computer

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Distortional Thought Patterns

1. “What if” thinking

2. Catastrophizing

3. Habitually expecting the worst outcome

4. Leaping to conclusions

5. Black-and-white thinking

6. Unenforceable rules

7. Labeling

8. Negative filter

9. Emotional reasoning

10. The blame game

Putting Your Thought Patterns on Trial

4 Joy-filled Living With Proper Nutrition and Diet

The Connection Between Food and Mood

Food Allergies and Sensitivities

Food Additives

Choose a Healthy Diet

The Benefits of Tea

Dietary Fat and Depression

Beneficial fats

Toxic fats

Fats allowed in moderation

Serotonin-boosting Snacks

5 Joy-filled Living With Nutritional Supplementation

Nutrient Deficiencies

The B vitamin family

Magnesium

Chromium

Antidepressants vs. Natural Supplements

Supplements for Depression

SAM-e (S-adenosyl methionine)

5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and L-tryptophan

L-tyrosine

St. John’s wort

Supplements for Anxiety

L-theanine

GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid)

5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and L-tryptophan

Kava kava

Lemon balm and valerian root

Targeted Amino Acid Therapy

Depression and Hormones

Progesterone

Estrogen

Testosterone

Thyroid

6 Joy-filled Living With Exercise and Rest

Restoring Adrenal Function

The Importance of Sleep

Relaxation Techniques

Prescribing the Peace of God

7 Joy-filled Living With the Word of God

When Spiritual Warfare Is Needed

Speak Uplifting and Encouraging Words

Think Joyful Thoughts

Avoid Resentment and Unforgiveness

Six-Months-to-Live Test

The Power of Gratitude

A Personal Note from Don Colbert

appendix a Confessions for Peace of Mind

appendix b Resources for Depression and Anxiety

Notes