Depression per se, is a clinical term which is not discussed in the Bible. The Psalmist however, cried out in words which implied depression and there are several biblical descriptions which suggest depression.
Consider, for example, Psalms 69, 88, or 102, but notice that these songs of despair are set in a context of hope. In Psalm 43 King David proclaims both depression and rejoicing when he writes:
Why are you downcast, O my soul ? Why so disturbed within me ? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Elsewhere in the Bible it appears that Job, Moses, Jonah, Peter and the whole nation of Israel experienced depression. Jeremiah the prophet wrote a whole book of lamentations. Elijah saw God’s mighty power at work on Mt. Carmel, but when Jezebel threatened murder, Elijah fled to the wilderness where he plunged into despondency. He wanted to die and might have done so except for the "treatment" that came from an angel sent by God.
Then there was Jesus in Gethsemane, where he was greatly depressed, an observation which is poignantly described of the Amplified Bible:
"He began to show grief and distress of mind and was deeply depressed. Then He said to them, My soul is very sad and deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow"
Depression often has a physical basis, ranking highest among the misunderstood emotions and the most painful of all emotional disorders. One needs to be finely tuned to the convoluted intricacy of this multi-faceted ailment. Good intentions are not enough, you need to know enough about your own propersonity to depression to be inoculated against sympathetically picking it up from another. You cannot help when you don’t understand. Even experienced psychotherapists lack the patience needed to walk through the dark valley with the melancholic. Sometimes their own depression reactions are too easily set in motion by the pain of another’s unhappiness. Depression often referred to as the ‘hidden’ illness. We cannot escape the reality of depression, we will either be a victim to it or called upon to support someone through it. Depression significantly impacts the Spiritual dimensions of life therefore the Christian church has to face this challenge with understanding, be willing to confront the challenge. Failure to understand and have a clear understanding of the nature of depression can produce consequences more serious than the depression itself. There are times when depression can be welcome and even valued, it can be used to bring healing to the total person.
Depression is more disabling than most chronic illnesses. Even though there are now very effective treatments available, most people with depression remain undiagnosed and untreated due to lack of awareness and not accepting depression as a legitimate illness. The unnecessary suffering often continues for a lifetime, causing intense mental, emotional and physical anguish.
Depression is a complex emotion, often referred to as "the common cold of the mind." and has been with us since beginning of human existence, built into our minds and bodies just as thinking and feeling. There are various kinds of depression, ranging from clinical depression to unceasing spiritual attack, and also biochemical imbalances. While the more serious forms of the disorder must be referred to a trained specialist, help can and must be provided at many levels. Some needing only caring and concerned lay counseling help and understanding friends and loved ones. Depression effects the whole person. Even though we may not be aware of it, when we are depressed all areas of our life are affected. There are many forms as well as many causes of depression. A common theme that depression is the result of sin must also be balanced with the fact that sin is not the only cause of depression nor is all depression the consequence of sinful acts. Depression should never be seen as God’s punishment for sin.
Galations 6:7 tells us..
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."
This is not only a spiritual law but a natural one also. Sinful behavior can and will give rise to circumstances that cause depression.
The expression of ‘loss’ is one of the most common forms of depression. One must be careful to distinguish between the cause of depression and the consequences of the loss. Separating the cause from the depression is extremely important and for these reasons:
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If the cause is natural loss then the element of guilt should be removed, this guilt adds more loss, and aggravates the depression further.
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If the cause is sinful focus on that.
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Separate the pain from the disease, in other words the cause for the depression.
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Separation speeds up the healing process.
Sometimes the cause of a depression can be clearly traced back to an inability to accept God’s conditions for our lives or to adjust to situations in which God has placed us.
It is not true to think that whenever we are depressed it is a sign of weak faith, nor is it true that depression is a form of God’s abandonment this is nonsense. Depression is not caused by God turning his back on us, but us turning our back on Him.
Remember never take away from deeply hurting and painful individuals the relief that modern medicine and Christian Counseling can provide.
God never intended that He should cure all our pain and suffering. If this was His intention, why would He have encouraged us to "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Gal.. 6:2.
Depression more than any other emotional disturbance prompts questions because the depression itself increases the sensitivity to guilt feelings and creates a helpless outlook. All depression have spiritual components. One cannot be depressed, whatever the cause and not experience some spiritual sequence. They are commonly negative and annihilative.
God’s healing is a gift and it is His precedence when to give it. He can clearly cut across nature and perform the supernatural. In the Christian’s life the indwelling Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit enables a healing process to take place.
James 5:16 tell us; "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." Confession of faults to one another is closely akin to Christian Counseling and we do this with prayer so as to be healed. This is the privilege of every Christian. Good daily living and living at peace with God is freedom for every person not just the Christian. As Christians we should be open to and allow the following levels of healing to be available in our lives:
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God heals through miraculous interventions.
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God heals through the resources of the Gospel.
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Healing is effected through Christian living.
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Healing through human interventions with nature.
There are four conditions under which depression is related to sin:
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When the cause is sinful.
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When we fail to take the necessary steps toward healing.
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When depression is the consequence of giving power to others, allowing others to control our lives and deviate us from the plan and purpose to which God has called us.
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Fail to rise from depression at the appropriate time.
The effects of depression can be very devastating. Assure the client that depression makes spiritual problems seem worse. Reassure them that you will help them find a way back to God.
Assure them that God is still in control!! AMEN he understands their pain and will help in the healing process. Don’t allow them to try and figure out why. Encourage them to cerise faith even if qualms are over whelping create hope; reassure them that they will come out of this. Show your confidence that healing will take place and assure your client that you will be there until it is over. Encourage regular praying, even if they don’t feel like God is not near, regular Bible reading.
Many people hide their depression or see it as something they must live with or deny. Some factors that may add to a person’s depression may be:
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Sex ; being that there is a higher rate in women with evidence leaning strong that the menstrual cycle may be adding risk for depression.
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Age, showing that a higher prevalence of depression symptoms in young adults.
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The elderly are also becoming more depression prone as life-span is lengthened.
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Separation and or divorce persons show a higher incidence of depression than do others.
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There is evidence that depression is higher in persons of lower socioeconomic status
Manic depression has a compelling evidence of hereditary factors and much more than other types of depression.
It is our responsibility as well as obligation to help these people cope with this pain in an effective and life restoring way. There are many approaches to counseling and the big question facing all new comers to the counseling field is: which approach is most effective. All types of therapy have been shown to contribute some help.
Depressed people are often passive, nonverbal, poorly motivated, pessimistic and characterized by a resigned "what’s the use?" attitude. The counselor, therefore, must reach out verbally, taking a more active role than he or she might take with most other counselees. Optimistic reassuring statements, sharing of facts about how depression affects people, patiently encouraging counselees to talk (but NOT pushing them to talk), asking questions, giving periodic compliments and gently sharing scripture without preaching can all be helpful.. Confrontation, probing questions, demands for action, and non-directive approaches should all be avoided, especially in the beginning, since these techniques often increase anxiety and this creates more discouragement and pessimism. It does not follow, of course, that the counselor talks and does not listen. As the counselee becomes more comfortable and begins to talk, the counselor should listen attentively. Watch for evidences of anger, hurt, negative thinking, poor self-esteem, and guilt.. Encourage the counselee to talk about those life situations that are bothersome. Avoid "taking sides", but try to be understanding and accepting of feelings. Watch, especially for talk about losses, failures, rejection and other incidents which may have stimulated the current depression.
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Physical-Genetic Causes
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Learned Helplessness
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Negative Thinking
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Life Stress
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Anger
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Guilt
Effects of Depression
Depression leads to many effects. In general, the deeper the depression the more intense the effects. Several are; Unhappiness and Inefficiency, Masked Reactions, Withdrawal, Suicide.
Depressed people are often passive, nonverbal, poorly motivated, pessimistic and characterized by a resigned "what’s the use?" attitude. The counselor, therefore must reach out verbally, taking a more active role than he or she might take with most other counselees.
In counseling the depressed, be aware of their special need to be dependent. Ask yourself, " Am I encouraging dependence in an already depressed dependent person, so that I can build my own feelings of power or importance?" "Am I encouraging anger or negative thinking?" "Am I making so many demands that the counselee feels devastated and thus needs to cling?" Unaware of these tendencies, counselors sometimes increase the depression inadvertently instead of contributing to its relief.
Counseling the depressed can take different directions, many of which you may want to use with each counselee.
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Medical Approaches: Psychiatrists and other medical doctors often use antidepressant drugs to help change the counselee’s mood and make him or her more amenable to therapy. More controversial is the use of shock treatment. This leads to convulsions and a period of confusion followed by a brightening of mood. Although widely criticized this remains a popular form of treatment for severely depressed, the actively suicidal and those people who for medical reasons, cannot take drugs. All of this helps with symptom relief but such techniques are only temporary if they are not followed or accompanied by counselling which deals with the sources of the depression. Non-medical counselors may want to contact a psychiatrist or other physician who could prescribe drugs for the temporary relief of a depressed counselee. Also if the counselee has physical symptoms, referral to a psychologically astute physician is extremely important.
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Evaluating Causes: Counseling is always easier if we can find the psychological and spiritual causes which produce the symptoms. Through questioning and careful listening look for signs that may be causing this depression.
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Stimulate Realistic Thinking: Most people do not "snap out" of depression. The road to recovery is long, difficult and marked by mood fluctuations which come with special intensity when there are disappointments, failures, or separations. Counselees must be helped to accept human frailty. " We all need to make a list of our priorities and then figure out how much we can do without becoming angry, frustrated, exhausted or sorry for ourselves" when we fail. To change feelings we must change thinking and we must change actions.
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Change the Environment: Counselors cannot do much to change the depression-producing circumstances in a person’s life, but it possible to encourage counselees to modify routines, reduce work loads or take periodic vacations.
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Protect the Counselee from Self-harm: People can harm themselves in ways- by changing jobs, for example, by quitting school or by making unwise marriage decisions. The counselor must be alert to a tendency for people to make major long lasting decisions when they are in the grip of depression.
Suicide is one action which is contemplated by many depressed people. Since most of these people give prior clues about their intentions, the counselor should be alert to indications that suicide is being considered. Be alert, for example, to any of the following:
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evidence of a "Thought out" plan of action for actually killing one"s self
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talk of suicide
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feeling of hopelessness and / or meaninglessness
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indications of guilt and worthlessness
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an inability to cope with stress
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excessive concern about physical illness
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evidence of depression, disorientation and or defiance
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dependent and dissatisfied at the same time
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sudden shift to a happy, cheerful mood
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Knowledge regarding the most effective methods of suicide (shooting, drugs and carbon monoxide works best; wrist slashing is least successful, and
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history of prior suicide attempts
Counselors should not hesitate to ask whether or not the counselee has been thinking of suicide. Such questions gets the issue into the open and lets the counselee consider it rationally.
Can depression be prevented? The answer is "no, not completely. " We all experience disappointments, losses, rejections and failures which lead to periods of discouragements and unhappiness. For some the depression is more prevalent and long-lasting. It may not be possible or even desirable to prevent times of discouragement, but long-lasting depression are preventable.
There are several ways in which this can be done:
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Trust God
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Expect discouragement
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Learn to handle anger and guilt
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Challenge thinking
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Provide support
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Reach out
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Encourage physical fitness
Van Havner, a preacher hoped that his dying wife would be healed through some miracle. But she died and Havner was plunged into grief. Although he did not understand why this happened, he concluded that God makes no mistakes. Although deeply saddened he never became depressed. He had a realistic perspective on life and death. This is a perspective which can help both counselor and counselee to deal effectively with the problem of depression.
"Whoever thinks he has the ways of God conveniently tabulated, analyzed, and correlated with convenient, glib answers to ease every question from aching hearts has not been far in this maze of mystery we call life and death… He has no stereotyped way of doing what He does. He delivered Peter from prison but left John the Baptist in a dungeon to die.. Have confidence in God.. accept whatever He does, however He does it… He makes no mistakes."
©2002 Ozell M. Borden
For Personal Use Only. Any commercial use or publication without authorization is strictly prohibited.