THE ISSUE

March 18, 2018

THE ISSUE

I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God! Look we've all felt some type of depression at times. When you got really sick. The loss of a family member. The breakup of a relationship. When you lost everything in a misfortunes. Perhaps something natural that causes sadness or mourning. It is normal to feel depressed about a loss or failure. Of course, your not meant to stay there, I have a shirt that states "Right where your stand or Rut where you stand." It was directed for those time, when I was stuck in depression and no one helped me out. I had to find my own way out of the dark. Personally, I believe much of my behavior and mental health stemmed from being sexually abused all those years. In addition, to not having a father in my life and being placed into the system of foster care, striped from my mothers care.

I was in elementary when the man found me from across the street, his name doesn't matter. What does matter is the pain that was caused. And how my life turned upside down. That one issue started a chain of events for my life. It wasn't to long that my mother and I were forced out of our little home in Riverside California. We were put on a Greyhound bus to Tucson Arizona to live with my mothers brother. Of course, that didn't last long, but that's where I was introduced to drugs for the first time. Tucson is also where I visited a juvenile detention center for troubled youth; case, grand theft auto and runaway. This whole environment lasted one year, then we were back on a bus to Bullhead City Arizona. The same location of where my bother committed suicide, along the banks of the Colorado River. We didn't stay there long either, I got into drugs and kicked out of school for being a gun with friends. Once again mother and I were back on the bus to live with my only sister in Ontario California. All during this time my mother was battling mental heath conditions as well as physical conditions. I was the last of five siblings. I truly believe much of my mothers pain was the fact that one of her kids decide to commit suicide, because of drugs and untold stories of depression. Those thoughts and feeling of despondency continued for months, years, and it was left untreated. Right before my mother was placed into a home, I was taken and placed into the welfare system. Mother went one way and I forced in the other direction. Mother would live out the remainder of her life in that convalescent home in Montebello California. I buried my mother when I was twenty years old. Just three years after exiting the foster care system and starting my own family in Arizona. Depression is a serious illness.

Depression is the most common psychological problem in the country, afflicting more than 17 million Americans and more than 100 million people worldwide each year. It is estimated to affect about 25 percent of women and 15 percent of men during their lives, and 15 percent of people during adolescence. It has been increasing in recent decades and appears to be starting earlier in life today. Since the numbers for young people are teen depression it is often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Kind of what happen to me during those years in foster care and the boys orphanage. I truly believe adolescence today have a reputation for being more fragile, less resilient and more overwhelmed then those years of their parents. In fact, 2016 marked a whopping 3-4 million teens ages 10 - 17 had at lest on major depressive episode in the past year, according to the Department of Health and Human Service. More then 2 million reports experiencing depression that impairs their daily function. Today, it is about 30% are girls and 22% are boys and totaling 6.3 million teens have had an anxiety or stress disorder according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

These are some of the symptoms that effected mother and even myself; sad mood, frequent crying, feeling hopeless or self-worth. Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed. Change in appetite or difficulty sleeping or oversleeping. Physical slowing or agitation "jumpy," "edgy." Loss of energy or difficulty thinking. And lastly thoughts of death or suicide

I know that many of you have heard the phrase "a glass can be half empty or half full?" This example shows how it is possible to think in different terms about the same thing. We call it critical thinking. When you see a glass as "half full," this is a (positive) thought. You are looking for good things about the situation, problem, or circumstance. Of course, when you see that same glass as being "half empty," this is a negative thought. You are looking at the bad parts of the same situation. I learned something from Abraham Lincoln who once said: "An optimist is one who sees an opportunity in every difficulty and a pessimist is one who sees a difficulty in every opportunity." The same thing can be said about our life. If you look at your life and see only the bad parts. That's pessimistic thinking, you are more likely to stay depressed. However, if you can teach yourself or perhaps find a surrounding of people to aid you in looking for the good things. This will reduces depression, anxiety, stress and heartache. You'll be living the optimistic way. Which will bring great happiness and health. Even when something bad happens, find the good in it or the lesson. There's always going to be parts of the day, or parts of your life that are going to be difficulty. That's the process, but when you change your mind and heart. You'll change the way your life will be, both internally and externally. Is hard? Absolutely! But the real question is it worth it? I want you to really think about that for a moment and look very closely at your life. Do you see bad areas in your life, such as your past and you worry about them? Do you see bad habits in your life? The greatest thing that happen to me after all my hours and years of researching. Is when I took action to win over depression, anxiety, and anger. I still practice thinking and training my mind of fruitful things, by planting the right seeds we want to grow for the future. These tools have helped win and have made a life-changing difference for countless people worldwide. I could even say this blog has helped shape the future for me and my family. A major thanks to Dr. Eric Thomas aka (The HipHop Preacher) for push this style of writing on my life.

Okay, here's a tool I learned from non other then Napoleon Hill. I want you to list five things that are "bad or wrong" with your life. On the right-side. Then list five things that are going "good or well" right now. On the left-side. It may take you longer to do the "good or great" side list. And that quite alright, keep at it. Once you have made both lists, read over your "bad" list. How do you feel? Now read over your "Great" list. Read them over and over.

BAD... GREAT...

_______________ _______________

Are you surprised to notice that reading the "Great" list feels better? This is what happens when you feed your mind, before your belly. It makes a huge difference. I say, give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others or to be distracted by the noisy world. You are worth more then opinions and you have something deep within you that needs to shine. Lets take it to the next level.

Best

Coach Frank Sagasta