Experiencing Depression
“I am bowed
down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. My back is filled
with searing pain; there is no health in my body. I am feeble and utterly crushed;
I groan in anguish of heart.” (Psalm 38:6-8)
Did you know
that 1 in 10 people in America suffer from depression each day? Depression can be brought on by many different
factors in our daily lives. Sometimes it is temporary, and sometimes it
can last for months. Each person experiences it differently, but the
symptoms are the same: Feelings of loneliness, sadness, exhaustion and even
thoughts of suicide. You find yourself at the bottom of a deep, dark hole
with no apparent way out, and there is a sense of losing all hope.
Unless you
have experienced depression for yourself, you probably won’t understand how a depressed
person feels. When you are experiencing a
darkness so deep that you cannot see anything else, nothing else matters. Depression can be a very lonely battle, and
even marriages can begin to unravel because the depressed spouse has lost their
passion, energy, sex drive, and any interest in activities they once enjoyed.
Sometimes
people mistakenly think that if someone is a Christian they should not struggle
with depression. And I want to expose
that myth. In the Psalms, we read that
King David experienced terrible depression, as did many other people in the
Bible. Some of those most familiar were
Job, Elijah (1 Kings 19) and Jonah (Jonah 4). More recently, two of history’s great
preachers, Martin Luther and Charles H. Spurgeon, both suffered from
depression.
Now, the word
depression is not found in the Bible, but the symptoms are certainly described.
There are two factors that cause depression. It is either physical
or spiritual. Physical, meaning that you may have an illness or medical
issue in your body. There are many different factors and you should
consult a medical doctor to eliminate any possible biological issues. The
other cause of depression is always spiritual, and we will look to scripture to
treat this deep darkness in our souls. At times, the physical and
spiritual are interwoven, resulting in that miserable and hopeless state.
In his
article “How I Know Clinical Depression Isn’t Sinful” author Tim Laitinen
shares that it became necessary for his health and safety to begin prescription
medication for his depression, something many Christians find hard to
understand:
“…chronic clinical depression is not fun. But
neither is it immoral. It’s not a crime. It’s a mental condition that doctors
are recognizing has a distinct biological component. Have you ever heard of
serotonin? Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in our brains, and scientific
studies indicate that imbalances of serotonin may play a key factor in clinical
depression.”
And now for my true
life confession. Not many people know,
and even my parents never knew, that I
have struggled with depression off and on for most of my life. I seem to remember first noticing the symptoms
about the time I became a teenager. Sometimes
it grew with persistent problems in my life. Other times it came on with no apparent
reason. During those periods I didn’t understand my own feelings. My family and friends assumed I was just a
bit shy, and no one ever asked how I felt.
I had heard about other people with depression, but I was much older before I
finally realized what my problem was.
In
researching about depression in Christians, I found that many believers felt that
people who were depressed probably have sin in their lives, or they needed to
pray more. For many years I lived with
this problem before I finally realized it wasn’t just a spiritual problem. I learned
that depression could have its roots in the physical as well as the
emotional. This realization alone has
given me hope. I realize there is a
reason and there are ways to alleviate the symptoms.
Do you feel
hopeless right now? Do you lack the energy to even go through life each
day? Maybe you are feeling all alone and sad, and you don’t know why.
Perhaps someone you love is currently suffering from depression. Here are 10 symptoms from the National
Institute of Mental Health to consider:
1)
Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
2)
Fatigue and decreased energy
3)
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness
4)
Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
5)
Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
6)
Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
7)
Irritability, restlessness
8)
Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings
9)
Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
10) Overeating or appetite loss
If the
majority of these symptoms describe you, then you might be suffering from
depression. The first thing I want you to know is that you are NOT alone. There are people ready and willing to meet you
right where you are, and join you on your journey to recover your life. Call your primary doctor for help, go to your
minister at church, or find a Christian therapist in your area.
The myth
that Christians are not supposed to be depressed is one reason I believe that
some people simply do not seek treatment.
Do not be
ashamed for what you are experiencing.
Find the courage to seek help, especially if you are thinking about
ending your life. Even the great man of
God, Elijah, felt this way.
“Elijah
was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left
his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness.
He came to a broom bush, 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.’” (1 Kings
19:3-4)
God
understood the problem, and encouraged Elijah to rest and eat, knowing this
would help relieve the symptoms of Elijah’s depression.
“Then he lay
down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said,
“Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was a cake
of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then
lay down again. The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him
and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” (1 Kings
19:5-7)
In addition
to professional help, I recommend a few practical suggestions you can do on a
daily basis to help alleviate your symptoms:
1) Pray
2) Exercise
3) Eat healthy
4) Watch a
comedy
5) Journal
your feelings
6) Stay
connected with friends and family and tell them how you are feeling
7) Take one
day at a time.
8) Read and
quote scriptures. For example:
“Come to
me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew
11:28)
“I can
do everything through him who gives me strength.”
(Philippians 4:13)
“The LORD
himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor
forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
“For I know
the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
As we
continue this journey and battle to overcome this hopeless state in our
souls, take heart, and recognize that even though you have lost all
courage, you can have hope in God; He is your only hope. And until you
realize that, despair and hopelessness will continue to paralyze your life.
One day, our
depression might be used to encourage another believer, or to refine our faith
so that we will have less sin, and more peace and perseverance in our lives. (James
1:2, 3)
Unless you
have taken a step in faith and followed Jesus Christ, and recognized Him as
Lord of your life, you will never have true hope. If you would like to know how to become a
follower of Christ and truly crush the empty void in your life as a result of
sin, please watch this video:
Can God change
your life?
God has made it
possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life.
Discover how you
can find peace with God.
