Understanding Depression from a Christian Perspective

In Psalm 42:11, the psalmist speaks to himself, saying “Why so downcast O my soul? Why the unease within me?” He gives himself the advice of putting his trust in the LORD, reminding himself that God is steady when everything else is in turmoil. Throughout the Psalms, and the rest of the Scriptures, there are honest and raw accounts of people engaged in battles with depression, sometimes to the point of despair, all of which can help in understanding depression.

People have been battling depression for centuries, well before there was the research or the framework of understanding that we currently have. Despite this, there is still much conflict and a lack of understanding in the area of emotions and how to integrate spiritual concepts with psychological research.

Fear and shame abound where there is a lack of understanding and educating yourself on the topic of depression can make you a valuable resource for friends, family, or even yourself.

What Is Depression?

Depression is different from just being sad or down. Certainly, these moods are a part of depression, but depression is a disorder that may or may not be rooted in brain chemistry, meaning that a person cannot just “snap out of it.” Called MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) or clinical depression, a person experiencing this will feel low energy, low enthusiasm, an unwillingness to engage in day-to-day tasks and may feel an overwhelming sense of defeat, sadness, and hopelessness.

It may even have regular thoughts of suicide. It is very important to note that depression does not always have a logical cause. People may experience depression because of going through a traumatic or difficult situation like divorce, the death of a loved one, unemployment, or ongoing hardships. At other times, depression can accompany other disorders such as anxiety, ADHD, chronic illness, etc.

A person may battle MDD once in their life, for a month or a year, or it may recur at many points throughout their lives. This means that certain people will have multiple battles to fight, both psychological and physical. Elderly people are a demographic susceptible to depression, with an estimated seven million adults over the age of sixty-five experiencing Clinical Depression.

Depression affects nearly twice the number of women as men, with many women experiencing post-partum depression that can range anywhere from transient blues to depression that is crippling and psychotic. In the latter case, this woman will have likely experienced MDD at some point in her life before childbirth.

Depression is commonly born of the economic impact of living through such times as these, and the adult population aged between eighteen and forty is most susceptible to this. From student debt to unemployment to toxic working environments, poor healthcare, and exorbitant rental rates, today’s adult is often faced with enormous pressures that may seem insurmountable.

What is more, most adults have to deal with these hardships without the benefit of having a support system of any kind. As such, in 2018 suicide was recognized as the second leading cause of death in American adults under the age of thirty-four. The suicide rate increased thirty-one percent between 2001 and 2017. (National Institute of Mental Health, 2018) alone.

Self-diagnosing depression can be a relatively simple task, as anyone who has experienced depression, or is currently experiencing it will testify. Symptoms of MDD include:

• Having waves of heightened emotions (being tearful, sad, or frustrated and annoyed without explanation) OR having waves of numbed emotions – not feeling anything, feeling numb
• Affected sleep patterns: sleeping too much or experiencing insomnia
• A general lethargy; lack of energy
• An accompanying lack of enthusiasm and/or focus
• Affected memory: forgetting things more frequently and trouble concentrating
• Restlessness, anxiety and bodily agitation, and fidgeting
• A general loss of interest in activities, hobbies, and sports
• A noticeably diminished sex drive
• Dwelling on feelings of shame, embarrassment, blame, and worthlessness
• Recurring thoughts of self-harm or suicide
• Actual attempts at self-harm or suicide

Depression is treatable. Most treatments focus on helping you to deal with the symptoms of depression enough to engage in the necessary daily tasks. It is important to remember that depression happens in episodes and if dealt with at one point it is most likely to return.

It can be difficult to ascertain what the root cause of depression is without the help of a therapist. This is because it can be the cause of one or more of the following: genetics, hormonal or chemical imbalances, or specific life-altering events.

Understanding Depression: How to Help

Understanding depression is not always easy, nor is it always easy to talk about it. Sadly, despite how prevalent depression is across the age brackets, it remains a sensitive and stigmatized topic to talk about regardless of the culture you are in. As mentioned before, fear and shame abound where there is a lack of understanding. Getting informed on the issue is an important first step.

Experiencing depression is not a failing, weakness, or any kind of inability. If it were any of those things, that would also be acceptable. It is acceptable to fail, to be weak, and to have inabilities. These are areas that can (and should be) worked on. But they are not to blame for depression. Looking to place blame anywhere might be a human thing, but it is also an unhelpful thing.

How to Help a Friend or Family Member

Be available. Set time aside in a comfortable space where your friend or family member may open up to you in confidence. You may prompt them by asking “How are things going, honestly?” or something as simple as asking how they are sleeping or how their health is.

Many people need only a prompt and some sincere attention to share the things that have been burdening them. In many cases, the first step of getting something off their chest is a monumental first step in tackling depression.

When they begin sharing, listen. Hear the things they are saying and try to identify the emotions behind them. Remember that this is not about fixing them, or finding the underlying cause of anything: just the opposite.

Remember that it takes patience, gentleness, and sensitivity to properly help someone and that there may not be any answers or breakthroughs immediately. Many people do not appreciate the need to “fix” them, but rather need connection and emotional support.

Seeking Professional Help for Understanding Depression

Depression is a complex disorder for one to deal with, thankfully countless professionals are trained to help. It is advisable to take those we love to see a professional when it is required. It doesn’t have to reach serious levels for one to seek therapy, looking to professionals can be helpful to prevent dire situations.

There will be different types of therapy available to people experiencing depression namely, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), and Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).

Each approach is different, meaning that there is an option of therapy choices depending on the person, their circumstance, and the Therapists training. In addition to therapy, it is important to note that it might become necessary for someone to be put on medication. Where therapy will often get to the emotional root of depression, medication will help the physical symptoms of depression.

Medications used to treat depression may include mood stabilizers, anti-psychotics, antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which also help with chronic pain.

Taking medication for depression can be viewed as taking medication for any other ailment. There is stigma around medication, but the option should never be discounted without consulting with a medical professional.

Though going through depression can be a hard journey, there is hope. With the numerous awareness campaigns, it has become much easier for people to have a conversation about mental health and thus be able to seek help when needed. As the body of Christ, we are encouraged to walk with those who are suffering, to be safe havens for those that need it, and to lend a listening ear when needed.

We heal in the community. However, if there is a need for professional intervention, please do not hesitate to contact our reception. They will match you or your loved one with trained therapists who will be able to help.