This is a prayer to be said by someone facing the hopelessness and debilitation of depression. According to statistics, 80 percent of people facing depression are untreated. This prayer can be customized to the particular issues facing an individual. Word choices are shown in [brackets], but are only illustrative. Please include whatever description is needed to help you with your particular situation. This prayer and three others on addiction and mental illness appear in my new book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.

My Depression
I have fallen into blackness,
A hole,
A cave without light.
How deep is this pain?
This loneliness?
This suffering and isolation?

G-d of Old,
I call out to You
From the depths of confusion and fear.
What balm will ease my suffering?
What consolation will guide me?
I am afraid and ashamed.
I am sad and lost.

G-d of healing,
Be the light that guides me
Back to myself,
Back to my joy,
Back to my holiness and wonder.
Help me to stop committing acts of violence against myself
With [self-abuse][anger][shame][food][a blade][alcohol][drugs][sex].
I know Your healing power,
Your salvation and grace.
Lead me on a journey
Back to wholeness and to self-respect.
Help me to live a life of happiness and love.

© 2014 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: Here’s a prayer to be said on behalf of some facing “Mental Illness.” This also appears in my new book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

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Tags: depression, healing, health, major depression prayer, mental illness