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Christianity Today, March, 2009 |

COVER PACKAGE

When You're Depressed

Three questions to ask—five ways to respond.

Mark R. McMinn | posted 3/05/2009 10:45AM

I was mistaken for a real doctor once and invited to a seminar for physicians on the topic of depression. Instead of admitting to being a psychologist with a Ph.D. rather than an M.D., I decided to attend ...

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Cephas

Posted: March 13, 2009 8:16 AM

I think the psychologist has a wholistic view of the Christian response to depression. I had to face one sometime and the fact that I viewed my life differently helped me a deal. I never thought it was all about medications, though I took some, but knowing that ultimately God loves me, hard times can only last for a while, my biological and Christian families love me, and I have a lot in me that many people need to benefit from, of which I can't give out while staying in my emotional jail, and my personal devotion and Bible study helped me a lot. I guess the author realizes, more than the rest, that medications take care of the symptoms, while the root cause is unattended to. I think that that is where Christian counseling and love remain the most tangible helping hand for the depressed. Let's show some love, who knows, we will be saving someone from a self-murder.

revjmike

Posted: March 10, 2009 8:01 PM


Thanks for this very good article.

steve

Posted: March 08, 2009 2:07 PM


i was as a psych nurse in the UK, and I am glad that over here we promote a much more bio-psycho-social model of treating depression. Still at least drugs reps give away freebies. Medication (like anything else) is good if properly used and effectively monitored... but the sad fact is most GP's/MD's have neither the time nor inclination for adequate managment.

Dave	Posted: March 06, 2009 9:19 AM

I would add, before or beyond all five of the good ideas above: First, draw close to God. Open your heart to him. Read the Psalms that speak of depression (Ps 6, 31.9-13; 42; 69.1, 2, 3, 20; 77.1-10; 88; 102; 107; 109.22-25). Write out your feelings and thoughts in a spiritual journal, maybe your own psalms of depression. Pursue an understanding of whether your depression may be rooted in worldly sorrow or godly sorrow (2 Co 7.8-11). Sing, possibly Negro spirituals of longing and sorrow. Of all the possible resources for overcoming depression, none is greater than God. And conversely, of all the possible problems, none is greater than being far from God and/or having an inadequate vision or understanding of who He is. If you don’t go on to the other suggestions in the article, you may get stuck in being super-spiritual. But if you don’t connect well with God, you may do everything else that’s been recommended and not really resolve your depression.

Deanna

Posted: March 06, 2009 6:29 AM

As someone who has suffered from and still walking out of depression, I can appreciate the steps the author presents for dealing with depression - if it is possible to build up a social network. However, I wish he would have encouraged setting aside time daily for prayer and for Bible reading/devotions. A depressed person needs to draw deeper into the Lord and learn how to hear from Him. The spirit of death (desire for death) was broken one time I was spending time with Him and the Holy Spirit walked me through not just the general value of pain but the specific value, what I gained from, the pain I personally went through growing up and beyond. In understanding and accepting this, for the first time in my life I could honestly thank Him for the pain in my life, and I expressed this verbally; it was hard to do, but I said it. Immediately after saying, "Thank You Lord for the pain in my life," that whole death spirit that had hung over me was just gone! I felt real joy! Prayers.

M J Spaulding

Posted: March 05, 2009 11:03 PM


For some depressions the answer is to find out why you are depressed and change that part of your life. The other suggestions in the article are very good, but medication I would take only as a last resort.

M	Posted: March 05, 2009 8:22 PM

To anon, from someone who has been there. Find another church. That one is not a good fit for you. Your friends mean well, but they are ignorant of what depression really is about. Trust me, there are other biblically-sound congregations out there where people will understand. And find a good Christian counselor. Mine helps me tackle the medical, situational and spiritual aspects of my depression.

anon	Posted: March 05, 2009 5:51 PM


What does one do when their church, women's Bible study and other members only make them more depressed? When they act like, if one is a REAL Christian, one does not get depressed.

anonymous

Posted: March 05, 2009 1:47 PM


Love the idea of a psychologist going undercover. But the gist of the conference is evidence to the degree of power the pharmaceuticals wield in the doctors' offices.

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