On June 20, 2001, Andrea Pia Yates, a Christian mother in Texas, drowned her five children; the oldest was seven, and the youngest was six months, in their bathtub. She had been suffering for some time from very severe postpartum depression after the birth of her fourth child.
Last Sunday, we have learned how depression has badly impacted the lives (feelings, thinking, behavior, and physical health) of almost three hundred million people worldwide. You may not know this, but even the famous president Abraham Lincoln suffered from it, describing his feelings in the following quote: "I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would be not one cheerful face on earth. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell. I awfully (regretfully) forebode (foretell) I shall not. To remain as I am is impossible. I must die or be better it appears to me."—Abraham Lincoln. Tragically, some of those who suffered from depression really took their lives because they no longer had hope for healing, like what Matthew Warren, the youngest child of Pastor Ric Warren, did. On April 5, 2013, he took his own life. He was 27 years old. According to his father, he suffered from depression for years.
Depression can have its source in our body, soul, or spirit. Our body can affect our soul and spirit and vice versa. For example: if one has low thyroid function, it may affect the soul (for example, the emotions), leading to depression which then affects one's spiritual life. Affecting our spiritual life does not mean changing our standing or position in Christ; we are still saved, but we may be less productive in our outreach/ministry or have a more self-oriented prayer life.
Depression reactions have been classified in several ways:
A. Reactive depression, for example, usually comes as a reaction to some actual or imagined loss or trauma. It is accompanied by high levels of anxiety but is often of short duration and self-correcting.
B. Endogenous depression (psychotic depression) is more likely to arise spontaneously from within. It involves intense despair, sometimes accompanied by self-destructive tendencies, persists for a more extended period, is more resistant to treatment, and has a high recurrence rate.
C. Primary depression occurs by itself, while secondary depression comes as the side effect of some medication, the influence of one's diet, or the result of an illness like cancer, diabetes, or even influenza. Other types of depression include the following: dysthymic depression (chronic daily depression), seasonal affective disorders (period of depression), bipolar disorders (manic-depressive), postpartum disorders, major depressive disorders (the most severe and complex).
In general, there are two categories of depression: Clinical and Situational. Clinical Depression can be caused by: • nutrient deficiency or excess • drugs (prescription, illicit, caffeine) • hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) • hormonal imbalances • allergies • heavy metals • sexual abuse as a child • microbial overgrowths/toxins • medical conditions (stroke, heart disease, cancer, Parkinson's, diabetes, thyroid) • natural light deprivation.
Today we will learn how to deal with Depression biblically and psychologically. We need to know it because a wrong response to depression can make depression worse. For example, Dr. Paul Meier, in his book, "Mood Swings," told how millions of people use alcohol and marijuana to self-medicate their depression. When they do, they cause a lot of damage to themselves. Alcohol sends about twenty-five thousand people to their death in America every year. And like alcohol, marijuana can damage the brain and lungs and change one's personality. And while it is doing all that, marijuana is eroding the memory, altering chromosomes, and dampening the person's motivation. Research reveals that if it is used twice per week, the memory starts to go, sleep is disturbed, moods begin to swing, and the person generally works at a lower level. Suppose at least two marijuana cigarettes a day are smoked for two years. In that case, the person develops permanently abnormal brain waves and corresponding behavioral changes such as chronic tiredness and loss of motives. (Page 91-92)
If you suffer from Clinical Depression, you should see a doctor who can prescribe antidepressant medication for you. Antidepressants are classified into different types depending on their structure and the way that they work. There are at least seven types of antidepressants that the doctor knows work better for you. The new ones are Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil. Your doctor may tell you to see a counselor, nutrient foods, and give you vitamins to help your depression. If you want to help someone (your parent, spouse, sibling, child, or friend) who is struggling with Clinical Depression, these are things that you need to know: It is not enough to tell the person: "Just look on the bright side!” or “Count your blessings” or "Pray and believe in God’s power!” or “Read the Bible every day.” Also, don't condemn them for having negative thoughts even if those thoughts scare you. Rather than criticize, pray. Pray over the entire situation. Pray for God to provide mental clarity and pray for protection over the person and those around them as they seek healing. And try to guide them to a place of receptivity, where they can address these negative thoughts professionally before they cause harm to themselves or others. Please support them. Actively listen, console if able, but mostly let them know that you are not standing in condemnation toward them and that they do not walk alone. Encourage them that not only are you there for them—God, the Maker of the universe, is in their corner. And He wants them to be well. If possible, help them to pursue the help they need.
In dealing with Situational Depression or Reactive Depression, it's essential to know the significant factors that lead to or increase depression. For example, feelings of depression are most often a result of emotional problems such as Anger, Fear/Anxiety, Stress, Guilt and Shame (Real or False), and Broken Relationships (Death, Divorce, Dysfunction, Distance, or Damage). Recent studies of individuals battling depression have identified those emotional stressors multiply the feelings of depression and trigger waves of depressed feelings.
We cannot effectively deal with depression without evaluating our responses to our life's difficult circumstances and emotional stressors. The Bible provides much guidance on how to respond better. To reduce feelings of depression, we have to learn how to respond to emotional stressors. According to Jason McVey, depression begins with disappointment. Our emotional stressors are often rooted in a deep feeling of disappointment regarding something we had lost or something we have longed for and never received. Depression is a progression that, left unchecked, can go deeper and deeper. The following chart illustrates how this often happens: Stage 1: Difficult Circumstances Lead to Disappointment and Discouragement. If we cannot overcome our disappointment, it will lead to Stage 2: Discontentment. This discontentment can lead to Stage 3: Despair. And despair can lead to Stage 4: Destruction (See the PP). Therefore, before our disappointment leads to destruction, we need to deal with it.
We all sometimes experience disappointment because things do not happen like what we plan, want, or expect. For example, we want to get support; instead, we face challenges, rejection, injustice, betrayal, or unfairness. We want to be successful, but we fail. When those things happen, we need to remind ourselves that everyone deals with the problem, trouble, and pain in this fallen world. The Bible shows us that the people of God also experienced them. Remember Job, Abraham, Moses, David, Jonah, Jeremiah, and Elijah experienced loss, rejection, loneliness, self-pity, hopelessness, and overwhelming grief. So, no one can avoid difficult circumstances. Jesus reminds us: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). When we understand that, we will be less disappointed since we will not have unrealistic hope of having a problem-free life, and we are more ready to face disappointment in our lives.
Not many people know that Martin Luther wrote a great deal about depression because of an overbearingly strict upbringing and many challenges in his ministries. Based on his experience, Luther offered a lot of essential suggestions on how to deal with depression. I will share a few of his and some of my own.
1. Avoid being alone. When you are depressed, you don't want to be around people, but withdrawing means isolation.
2. Seek help from others. During the depression, your perceptions change. A little hill becomes a great mountain. You need someone to help you see its proper height in perspective.
3. Focus your mind on His word and what is right. Many therapists use cognitive therapy that focuses on addressing the negative thought patterns that contribute to depression. The idea is that our thoughts can affect our emotions. Therefore, instead of thinking about negative things, the Bible tells us to “meditate on His words day and night” (Psalm 1) and advises us to: "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Phil. 4:8).
4. Come to God. God tells us: "call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." (Psalm 50:15). Jesus invites us, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28).
5. Praise and give thanks. Last week I told you about Samuel Brengle, who suffered from deep depression. This is what he said, "Prayer brought no relief. Indeed, I see to have lost the spirit of Prayer and the power of joy. Then I remembered to give thanks and to praise God, though I felt no spirit of praise and thanksgiving. Feeling, except that of utter depression and gloom, was gone. But as I thanked God for the trial, it began to turn to blessing, light glimmered, grew very slowly, and then broke through the gloom. The depression passed away, and life was beautiful and desirable again, and full of gracious incomings once more." Paul told the Thessalonians to "give thanks in everything" not "feel thankful for everything" (1 Thes. 5:18).
6. Rest confidently in the presence of God. Next Sunday, I will share a chapter from Psalms that beautifully shows the secret of deliverance from depression by resting in God’s presence.
