Words of St. Teresa Avila to the Depressed

Here are some words of St. Teresa of Avila;

When we think depressingly all of life can seem like one long unremitting painful day and we can easily fall into the trap of thinking depression is our life. We say things like, “I will always feel this way,” “I’ll never get well,” and “I am destined to be lonely.” St. Teresa of Avila would tell you, “Pain is never permanent.”

When we think depressively, we tend to beat ourselves up over real and imagined mistakes, sins. St. Teresa of Avila’s comment to you would be, “To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience.” How’s that for turning a negative to a positive.

When we think depressively, we tend to want to escape to new places, and new situations. We forget that God is wherever we happen to be NOW and speaks to us regardless of whether we are happy or unhappy with the way our lives are going. St. Teresa of Avila would remind you, “All things must come to the soul from its roots, from where it is planted.”

When we can’t concentrate or form thoughts because we are depressed and so think we don’t have it in us to pray, Teresa of Avila would say, “Prayer is an act of love, words are not needed. Even if sickness distracts from thoughts, all that is needed is the WILL to love.”