Signs, Symptoms And Salvation From Depression

SIGNS, SYMPTOMS AND SAVATION FROM DEPRESSION

INTRO:

Psychiatry students were in their college class one day when their professor began a discussion to prove a point. "What we’re going to talk about today," the professor said, "are the emotional extremes that many mentally disturbed people go through… for example “What’s the opposite of joy?" he asked one student."Sadness" the student answered."The opposite of depression?" he asked a young lady."Elation," she replied.Turning to a young man from Texas he asked "the opposite of woe?""Well, now," the Texan replied "I suppose the opposite of woe, would be giddy up."

According to Psychiatrists Frank Minrith & Paul Meier, the majority of Americans suffer from a serious, clinical depression at some point in their lives.

Depression is no respecter of persons. Even stout, strong, stable men in the Bible battled depression.

Elijah was a tremendous spokesmen for God. He was Gods quarterback for Israel in some tough turbulent times.

For three and half years he had been God’s spoken. All kinds of miracles had taken place. We see in I Kings 18 how Elijah challenges Ahab the king of Israel and 450 prophet of Baal or destroyed as Elijah prays down fire on the alter on Mt. Carmel.

Jezebel, the queen of Israel a extremely wicked women was out to kill Elijah because of the powerful prophet that Elijah was

I Kings 19:1-2 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."

Depression causes us to lose perspective and to over exaggerate our problems. Elijah as just seen a mighty act of God on Mt Carmel, now he hears that one women is out to get him, he is afraid and runs for his life.

I KINGS 19: 3-4 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 desert. He 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."

ELIJAH A PRIME CANIDATE FOR DEPRESSION

Physically tired

Emotionally exhausted

His life threatened

ELIJAH WAS FACING THE EMOTONAL SYMPTIONS

OF:DEPRESSION:

Fear

Resentment

Anger

Loneliness

Worry

He wanted to die

Lest we are too hard on Elijah, the Bible says, ELIJAH WAS A MAN JUST LIKE US:--James 5:17

Examples of Men of God becoming depressed.

1. King David—I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. (Psalm 38:6,8

2. Apostle Paul I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches”2 Corinthians 11:23-28

Elijah was so depressed He wanted to die. WHY DO WE GET OURSEVES INTO SUCH EMOTIONAL TURMOIL?

Sometimes because if bad circumstances

Sometimes because of faulty thinking

While there are factors that are out of our control, much depression is caused because of faulty thinking. OUR EMOTIONS ARE CAUSED BY OUR THOUGHTS

Your emotional state is how you decide to interpret life.

If you think in a negative way –you are going to feel depressed. (As a man thinks in his heart so is he)

A nurse committed suicide after she was wrongly diagnosed with a painful and progressive brain disorder,Sally Moth, 31, fell into a severe depression after she was told that the disease would cause increasing pain for the rest of her life.Seven months after the diagnosis, which was made by a specialist doctor. Miss Moth was found hanging from the loft hatch of her home , a coroner revealed that Miss Moth, who had a four-month-old son, had been mistakenly diagnosed with the degenerative disorder because medical examinations showed no indication of the illness.