Depression has been called the
“common cold” of mental disorders. The Bible does not use the word
“depression,” although it describes people whom we might call depressed. It
certainly doesn't mention antidepressant drugs. Depression is a widespread condition,
affecting millions of people - Christians and non-Christians alike. They may
begin to feel useless and even suicidal, losing interest in things and people
that they once enjoyed. Depression is often triggered by life circumstances,
such as a loss of job, death of a loved one, divorce, or psychological
problems such as abuse or low self-esteem. It is therefore important that you aim to work on the causes
of your depression, not just the symptoms. Don't just worry about the
depression itself; check to see what other problems need attention.
What then is depression and how can one overcome this
mental situation?
What
is depression?
Most people have felt sad or depressed at times. Feeling depressed can be a normal reaction to loss, life's struggles, or an injured self-esteem.
Depression is a feeling of intense sadness
-- including feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless –it lasts for
many days to weeks and keeps you from functioning normally.
Those who suffer
depression experience intense feelings of being trapped in sadness, despair,
grief, or guilt. When you're depressed, it's hard to see and believe that
there is any hope that things will get better. Depression doesn't just affect
the mind; it affects the whole being - body, soul and spirit. It can be
situational depression (caused by an event, situation, or illness) or chemical
depression (an imbalance that can be helped with medicine). You can
have both.
Depression often has a physical
basis. At the simplest level, we know that lack of sleep, insufficient exercise,
the side effects of drugs, physical illnesses, or improper diet can all
create depression. Thousands of women, especially, experience depression as
part of a monthly premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and some are victimized by
postpartum depression following childbirth. Other physical influences, like
neurochemical malfunctioning, brain tumors, or glandular disorders, are more
complicated creators of depression. There is evidence that depression runs in
families and may have a genetic basis.
These were all great men of God.
But, know this
i.
Realize that you can't base life
on your emotions. Christians base life on truth, not
feelings. Philippians 4:1 commands us to rejoice (whether
we feel like it or not!). And James 1:2 asks us to “Consider it all joy
when we fall into various trials.” Notice that James doesn't tell us to feel
joyful; he tells us to reckon, to choose to think about your situation as a
spot where you can have joy.
ii.
Faith. Choosing
to trust truth rather than your feelings may require a lot of faith. And if
that is what we mean by asking if faith can solve depression, then faith may
be enough in some cases. Trusting what God says rather than your feelings is
certainly a more realistic approach to life!
iii.
Heed God's Advice. Many
people talk about “faith” and only mean a vague hope that God will somehow
pull them through. That's too vague a concept to be reliable. Many of the
same people who claim to have faith keep plunging through life ignoring God's
principles for healthy living. If we spurn the good advice that the Bible
contains, we won't escape the consequences - even if we have faith.
iv.
Unresolved Issues, Root Causes. Any
medication considered for the treatment of depression should be used with
caution. Virtually any medicine has some side effects. Drugs can mask the
symptoms, allowing you to ignore root causes. Some people may use antidepressants
to avoid approaches that require you to deal with other unresolved issues. It
seems easier to pop a pill. A general rule of thumb is to try other
strategies first, unless the depression is so severe that the person
endangers themselves or find themselves unable to participate in other
therapies.
|
Symptoms
of Depressions
Depression is not a state suffered by non-Christians
but Christians as well. Some would say that a Christian should be emotionally
strong and healthy and if you’re not, something’s wrong spiritually. This has
caused many Christians to hide their depression and refuse to get help. But
that teaching is not supported by Scripture. There are many examples of strong
people of faith in Scripture who battled emotional issues. Read Psalm 38 and
you will hear David describe great emotional pain. Elijah, the great prophet,
did mighty deeds for the Lord. Yet listen to his words: “Elijah came to a
broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough,
Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” (read 1Kings
19). Those are words of discouraged and depressed men–even wanting to die.
We need to acknowledge our struggles
with depression so we can find healing and help. Those who suffer with
depression don’t need clichés or trite answers. We around the depressed have to
show how God’s grace can bring healing and help in their everyday lives.
Depression comes in many types and sizes. For some it is
a life-long battle. For others it is a short-term struggle, perhaps
precipitated by some traumatic event or physical problem. Or it may come on
some people every so often for no good reason, but it will go away after some
time. We need a biblical perspective of this emotional struggle we call
depression, to debunk some of the myths that have come to be accepted about
depression, and to assure you that God’s grace is enough. But that grace is
dispersed to us in many ways, and often we need help from others in order to
deal with this problem.
Here are some common symptoms of
depression. How many of these would be descriptive of you very frequently:
§ I’m often restless and irritable.
§
I don’t enjoy hobbies, leisure activities, or
time with friends anymore.
§
I’m having
trouble managing my diabetes, hypertension, or other illness.
§ I have nagging aches and pains that don’t get better, no
matter what I do.
My sleep patterns are irregular:
§ I’m sleeping too much.
§
I’m not
sleeping enough.
I often have:
§ Digestive problems
§
Headaches or
backaches
§
Vague aches and
pains (e.g., joint or muscle pains)
§
Chest pains
§
Dizziness
§
I have trouble
concentrating or making simple decisions.
§
People have
commented on my mood or attitude lately.
§
My weight has
changed considerably.
§
My functioning
in everyday life is suffering because of these problems.
§
I’ve had
several of these symptoms for more than two weeks.
§
I have a family
history of depression.
§
I’ve thought
about suicide.
As a child of God, you may notice some spiritual symptoms
that are brought on by depression:
§ Punitive image of God
§
Not able to
feel close to God
§
No desire to
read the Bible, pray, fast, fellowship, etc.
Any of us can experience any of these
symptoms from time to time, but if you see a pattern in your own life or the
life of someone you love, it could be a serious battle with depression.
Causes of
Depression
There are many causes of depression,
which can be physical/ sociological or spiritual as these:
(i)
For some it is
a genetic cause or perhaps one that has been passed on to them by role-modeling.
For example, people who have depression in their family are more likely to
experience depression. If you were raised in a very negative environment, you
are more likely to struggle with depression.
(ii)
Neuro-chemical
imbalances are often associated with depression, and these can begin with a
traumatic experience. Medication side effects and hormonal changes, like
menopause, an often cause of depression.
(iii)
Major changes
like moves, new jobs, new baby, new marriage can bring on depression. And these
changes may be happy ones, yet the change itself can cause a period of
depression.
(iv)
There are also spiritual
causes that lead to depression. As believers in Jesus Christ, we must always
take stock of our spiritual life to see if it is causing or contributing to our
feelings of depression. For example, when we’re not walking close with the
Lord, not spending time in Bible reading and prayer, not fellowshipping with
other believers regularly–these can
definitely contribute to our feelings of depression.
The causes of
depression differ from one individual to another and what can cause one person
to be depressed may not cause another. It becomes a problem when it interferes
with our daily activities over a long period of time. We can be down for a few
days, and that is not necessarily a cause for concern. But when it lasts for
weeks and even months, then we need to assess what is causing it and what we
need to do about it.
How
to deal with Depression
You may find
some Christians who believe that depression is a sin, that no Christian should
ever feel depressed. But I don’t believe Scripture teaches that. Depression is
not a sin; it is a feeling. It becomes a sin when we decide we’re going to
stay depressed, instead of taking steps out of it. When we choose to
listen to the negative messages and do nothing to change them or get rid of
them. So, rather than feeling guilty because you feel depressed, you need
to take some positive steps both to understand why, and to make some positive
moves out of depression.
Here are some suggestions that may help you find victory
over depression:
1.
For a
Christian, the most obvious first step is to pray about it. Ask God for wisdom
as to its causes, and seek His guidance in finding victory over it. Put your hope in God. Trust Him to make things better.
Draw closer to Him. Grow spiritually.
2. One of the most important ways to manage depression is to
exercise regularly, whether you feel like it or not. Serotonin and endorphins (both
are anti-depressant drugs) are stimulated by exercise, and they make you feel
better.
3.
Healthy dieting
and sleep patterns are very important. If your diet is full of the wrong kind
of food and you are not allowing yourself enough sleep time, they could be
major reasons you are battling depression.
4.
Become part of
a small group of some kind–a Bible study group, or a discussion group–some kind
of group that will encourage you to think correctly. Make sure it’s not a group
of gripers and complainers.
5.
Counseling may
be needed at times. Sometimes you need someone to walk alongside you–maybe
someone who doesn’t know you as a friend, and can be objective. The right
counseling can help you un-learn wrong thinking.
6.
Medication is
sometimes the right course to take for relief, when there is a chemical
imbalance. Typically it takes eight weeks before you feel the effect of that
kind of medication, and obviously you need to contact a doctor for that help.
Depression is not a sin unless you refuse
to do what you know you should do to recover from it. As a family and friends
of those who suffer with depression it is important to know your part in
helping that person recover.
1. Avoid
being alone. Force yourself to be with people. It isn't
good to spend a lot of time alone when you're depressed.
2. Seek
help from others. Especially, matured Christians.
3. Sing.
Music can uplift your spirit as it did for King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-23).
Listen to positive Christian
music and sing hymns that will get your mind off of
you and onto the Lord.
4.
Praise and give thanks. “In
everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
5.
Lean heavily on the power of God's
Word. Emotions can lead us
astray, but God's Word stands firm and unchanging. We must maintain strong
faith in God and hold even more tightly to Him when we undergo trials and
temptations.
6.
Rest confidently in the presence of
God's Spirit. “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His
countenance” (Psalm 42:5). Do
not accept your negative thinking as the truth.
7. Thank God for your blessings (even if they seem little).
8.
Memorize bible verses
that will give you hope. Isaiah 54:10, Jeremiah 29:11,
Isaiah 42:16,
James 1:12,
1Thessalonians 5:24,
Psalms 130:5,
Isaiah 43:2;1Peter 4:12, Phil. 4:4
9.
Do not make major life
decisions while you are depressed without getting advice from others who may
see your situation differently.
10. Tell someone if you feel like harming yourself. Don't dismiss
the thoughts and wait until it gets really bad.
11. Do some activities that
you enjoy and that could make you feel better. Consider volunteering.
12. Remember
also that, God can use this difficult time in your life to encourage
others later.
Depression
affects people spiritually. It may be extremely difficult for some people to
pray or do spiritual things. This is very common. If this is true for you, know
that you're not alone and take smaller steps.
Conclusion
Life on Earth doesn't always have to be happy. We have to wait for Heaven if we want no more sadness, pain, or death. Even though you struggle with depression, you can have joy in the Lord. You will start to experience this joy in the Lord as you grow closer to Jesus, make yourself available to do God's will, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you. Please remember that this will take time though. During depression, turn to God for comfort and strength. Only God can truly heal those deep hurts and make you feel whole again. And please remember - things will get better. This is just a season of your life - maybe a long and painful one, but still it is just a season. Remember that, when left untreated, depression can worsen.
Life on Earth doesn't always have to be happy. We have to wait for Heaven if we want no more sadness, pain, or death. Even though you struggle with depression, you can have joy in the Lord. You will start to experience this joy in the Lord as you grow closer to Jesus, make yourself available to do God's will, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you. Please remember that this will take time though. During depression, turn to God for comfort and strength. Only God can truly heal those deep hurts and make you feel whole again. And please remember - things will get better. This is just a season of your life - maybe a long and painful one, but still it is just a season. Remember that, when left untreated, depression can worsen.
Let’s not be moved by
emotions that can destroy even the loved ones around us, but let’s be moved by
the word of God. Amen!
Sing these hymns with
me…MHB634,427,516,517,758,548,478,313,335,371,400,423,428,538.
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