British folklore talks about a ghostly black dog that has large glowing eyes. This made me wonder if that was the thought behind Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s, The Hound of the Baskervilles. I have not researched that idea but did a quick search of the question on the internet and found, not surprisingly, that Conan Doyle did suffer from depression after his wife and several other family members died. It would have been difficult not to be depressed in those circumstances. I wonder if his writing helped him cope.

My point is that anyone can suffer from any mental disease. Depression and anxiety are more commonly known than some of the other disorders, but even obsessive-compulsive disorder is out of the closest now with some help from Adrian Monk, the defective detective. Please visit: http://www.ocfoundation.org/

Fear can suck happiness from our lives by not allowing ourselves the joy and freedom of living to the fullest as God wants us to. Fear can lead to depression and a number of anxiety disorders. In the worst possible circumstances suicide becomes a risk and all too often a reality.

If anyone ever tells you they are planning on killing themselves, whether you think it’s true or not, take it very seriously and call 911. Teens will sometimes jokingly talk about suicide. Don’t ignore that talk. And be especially vigilant for our men and women returning from Iraq, Afganistan or any military service. They are  vulnerable to thoughts and actions of suicide. Never give up!
There is HOPE!