A few years ago I was going through therapy for severe depression.  My counselor told me that going into depression is like going down a flight of stairs until the bottom is reached.  He went on to tell me that coming out of depression is not the reverse.  A person comes out of depression in cycles. 

I didn't understand at first but as he went through this concept again I began to understand.  I had to learn and then recognize the signs of depression.  Then I had to break the cycle.  This was difficult but eventually I learned how to take action -- do something that would take my mind off of it - and break the cycle.  The cycle would return but it would take longer to come back around and then I would break it again. 

The more I practiced the more effective I became.  He had me do something that helped greatly.  He instructed me to take a note book and start writing daily whether I had a good day or bad day.  An up arrow meant a good day and a down arrow meant bad.  Then I rated the day on a scale of 1 to 10 evaluating how good or how bad the day was.  Then I wrote why the day was good or bad. 

After a few weeks, I could go back and see a pattern.  I could see the bad days lessening and the good days increasing.  I could see a pattern of what contributed to a good or bad day.  I could see progress right before my eyes, which greatly encouraged me to continue and develop strategies to influence my days.

I've recommended this strategy to men who were fighting depression, alcoholism, and drug addiction.  The feed back has been that it works.  This is a strategy you might consider using on your road to recovery.

During my recovery process God has given me a formula of scripture verses that calmed me and gave me peace.  There were times when I felt I was hanging on to a 1,000 foot cliff with my fingernails.  I would repeat these verses over and over again until they were buried deep in my soul.

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Romans 8:28,29

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

1 Peter 1:6,7

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Romans 8:38,39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God knew the source of my anger and He has helped work through much of it with tremendous love, patience, and support.  He has given me three more verses to which I cling with great joy.

Philippians 1:6

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Psalm 129:2

They have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.

Isaiah 54:17

No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.

Anger Management in Sobriety 

Dealing with Depression