Dealing with Depression

Finding Hope after Despair

After Gary’s1 heart surgery, he struggled with many conflicting feelings. He knew he would need to change his diet, do cardiac rehabilitation, and take several medications indefinitely. He wanted to “get back to normal.” Yet, try as he might, he still felt extremely tired and blue—as if he was going through life in a fog.

Gary’s young adult daughter, living with his ex-wife in a different city, had stayed with him for a week after the surgery and would phone occasionally, but she seemed far off.  Old friends called and asked him to lunch, but he said he was “catching up.” Gary often went to sleep watching television. When he went to bed, he tossed and turned for hours, feeling hopeless and unsettled, and he couldn’t figure out why. . . .

What is Depression? 

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a person to feel sad or hopeless for an extended time. It can occur in anyone—men, women, teens, children and the elderly. If you have symptoms of depression, you are not alone. At least 15 per cent of North Americans will have depression at some point in their lives.

Chances of becoming depressed are higher for certain groups of people. People who have had a serious illness are more likely to suffer from depression. Similarly, people who have experienced crisis in relationships (as in a divorce) are prone to depression. Family patterns of depression—or other problems such as domestic abuse—can also increase the risk.

We know that depression involves a chemical imbalance in the brain, but it is not clear whether this causes or is caused by depression. Some people have a genetic predisposition to depression (it runs in the family), while for others, depression is triggered by difficult life events, including medical interventions like Gary’s. Often,  predisposition and life events work together to bring on depression. Other mental health problems, such as anxiety or addiction, may also feed depression . . .  

Depression , the Bible, and the Christian story

Many people who experience depression find that their feelings involve spiritual associations. They may have excessive feelings of guilt and shame. They may feel flawed or worthless, rejected even by God.  Or they may think they are lazy when they experience low motivation. Others feel strong negative feelings such as anger, fear, and loathing.

But did you know that all of these feelings appear in the Bible? Hagar, Moses, David, the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ cloak, and many others—all show symptoms of depression. Elijah and Jonah, immediately after they had done important work for God, were so low emotionally that they prayed that God would end their lives (See 1 Kings 19, and Jonah 4.) It is probable that at least some of these godly people experienced classic depression, not just temporary cases of the blues. , , ,

Steps toward wholeness

Depending on the kind and severity of your depression, your road to emotional health may involve one or more of the following: counseling, medication, a change of diet, more rest, better exercise patterns, a group of caring peers— or, likely, a combination of these.

Professionals who deal with depression include medical doctors, psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and social workers. In getting help, be sure that the people you see have proper credentials in your state or province. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about their qualifications and their professional skills.

To ensure that you are getting the right kind of help, the following can help. . . :

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