Why Am I Downcast?

Why Am I Downcast? Psalm 42:1-5TLB

Mental health isn’t taboo any longer. Thank God we’re beginning to understand that we need to be honest with what we’re going through. That our mental health is important.You should always confide in someone who cares, someone who will follow up.

There are several things we can do to fight back at—mental illness.

General Mental Health Data

Nearly 1 in 5 American adults will have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year.

46 percent of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life, and half of those people will develop conditions by the age of 14.

Prevalence By Condition*

Overall

Number of US Adults with Mental Illness: 44 million.

Percent of US Adults with Mental Illness: 18%

Anxiety

Lifetime prevalence of any Anxiety Disorder: 31.6%

Number of US Adults with Anxiety Disorders: 42.5 million.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses in America.

Addiction/Substance Use Disorder

Percent of US Adults with a Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year: 8%. 

Number of US Adults with a Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year: 19 million.

Percent of Youth with a Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year: 4.6% 

Number of Youth with a Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year: 1.1 million.

Bipolar Disorder

Past year prevalence of Bipolar Disorder: 1.8% 

Number of US Adults with Bipolar Disorder: 3.3 million.

An estimated 2.5% of US adults experience bipolar disorder at some time in their lives.

Depression

Percent of US Adults with Major Depression: 7.1% 

Number of US Adults with Depression: 17.3 million 

Percent of Youth (aged 12-17) with Major Depression: 13%. 

Number of Youth (aged 12-17) with Major Depression: 3.1 million.

Percent of Youth with Severe Depression: 9% 

Number of Youth with Severe Depression: 2 million.

Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Percent of People (ages 13+) in US with PTSD (Lifetime prevalence): 5.7%.

Percent of People (ages 13+) in US with PTSD (One year prevalence): 3.7%.

Number of US Adults with PTSD: 12 million.

Schizophrenia

Percent of US Adults with Schizophrenia: <1%.

Number of US Adults with Schizophrenia: 1.5 million.

Suicidal Thoughts

Percent of US Adults with Suicidal Thoughts: 4%.

Number of US Adults with Suicidal Thoughts: 9.8 million. (Wikipedia)

The Sons of Korah are the contributors of Psalm 42. One wonders if the poet who penned these lyrics was remembering his shameful beginnings, his distant ancestor who perished in an earthquake for his pride and rebellion. https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/spiritual-depression-in-the-psalms

Again, There are several things we can do to fight back at—mental illness.

Psalm 42:1-5TLB As the deer pants for water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. Where can I find him to come and stand before him? 3 Day and night I weep for his help, and all the while my enemies taunt me. “Where is this God of yours?” they scoff. 4-5 Take courage, my soul! Do you remember those times (but how could you ever forget them!) when you led a great procession to the Temple on festival days, singing with joy, praising the Lord? Why then be downcast? Why be discouraged and sad? Hope in God! I shall yet praise him again. Yes, I shall again praise him for his help.

The book of Psalms is divided into 5 sections. 1—Psalms 1-41, 2—Psalms 42-72, 3—Psalms 73-89, 4—Psalms 90-106, 5—Psalms 107-150. This Psalm is the first psalm of book two. Again, its contributor is the sons of Korah.

1. The first way to stay on the offense during emotional times, depression, anxiety, and such, is to keep a daily gratitude journal.

Refuse to withdraw, allow yourself room to know that you’re loved.

Psalm 42:1TM A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to drink God, deep drafts of God.

The sons of Korah were a group of priests who were charged with the ministry of singing. Second Chronicles 20:19, describes them in action: “The Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.”

The The late Rev. Charles Spurgeon said this of Psalm 42. “Ease he did not seek, honour he did not covet, but the enjoyment of communion with God was an urgent need of his soul; he viewed it not merely as the sweetest of all luxuries, but as an absolute necessity, like water to a stag.” (Spurgeon)

Psalm 42:1TPT I long to drink of you, O God, to drink deeply from the streams of pleasure flowing from your presence. My longings overwhelm me for more of you!

I think it’s safe to say that these Sons of Korah were grateful. I’m sure they remember ‘why’ and ‘what’ tragedies occurred to their ancestors.

Again, The Sons of Korah were grateful.

2. The Sons of Korah stayed—hungry for God. They had an appetite for God. They made him a major part in the equation.