my own, or (2) I can do away with myself. Those are my only alternatives.” My counseling of Sandy and his parents continued for many months. He did not take his life, but neither did his home life improve. As time passed, he learned new ways of coping with his situation, and he made new friends. By following God’s blueprint for dealing with depression, he gradually matured. The major cause of discouragement is a temporary loss of perspective. When a proper perspective is restored, it is almost always