Hope against Depression
By Stephen Terry
The
"Then he said to them, 'My soul is
overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with
me.'" Matthew 26:38, NIV
Every one of us at one time or
another has experienced what it means to feel down. Life is not a continuous
fantasy land of joy unending. Child, teenager, adult, or senior citizen, all
may experience loss or pain that can bring on sadness and worry. While some may
feel that an injection of faith alone into life will solve the problem, this is
not always the case. If the condition that caused the sadness and worry is
prolonged or even chronic, the sadness can become organic and establish itself
as depression. Christians who do not understand this physical aspect of
depression often feel that an admission to feeling depressed is tantamount to
admitting to a lack of faith. Nothing could be further from the truth.
While in depression a person may
have difficulty expressing a faith that God will indeed give them hope again,
but this is after the depression has already begun, not before. The most
hopeful and self-assured Christian can suffer depression in spite of the amount
of faith they possess. Depression can have physical aspects to it. To say
that their lack of faith has contributed to their depression is equal to saying
that their lack of faith has caused a broken leg or glaucoma.
Some patterns that lead to
depression are well known. Chronic pain and the physical exhaustion that ensues
from the body’s never-ending attempt to deal with it is one. Physical
exhaustion from too much work and not enough sleep is another. Some might
say “Well just get enough rest then.” That might be easier said than done.
A person caring for a chronically ill person while holding down a job may
not be able to do that no matter how much they may wish it. The same may
apply to someone who is unable to earn enough income to either provide for
today’s needs, let alone tomorrow’s.
So if lack of faith might have
nothing to do with becoming depressed, where does faith come in? Faith can be
part of the recovery process. It can help to provide hope, but hope alone is
not enough. The situation that produced the depression must be addressed.
Is the person saddled with too many responsibilities? They need help to carry
the load. Is their life situation desperate? They need help dealing with what
life is throwing at them. Once the root cause is addressed, then rest,
nutrition, exercise and even medication can combine with faith to expedite
recovery. Every person who suspects they are dealing with depression
should discuss the idea with their family doctor. Their doctor can be a vital
part of their recovery along with the natural remedies God has provided.
It can be amazing how much simply
getting out into the fresh air and sunshine can lift despairing spirits.
Perhaps, this is why so many people suffer seasonal depression when the days
grow short in the winter time. Sunshine is not so abundant, and fresh air is
avoided to stay warm. However, the simple exercise of walking and
enjoying the out of doors can make a real difference to someone suffering
depression. Overdoing exercise when one is physically and mentally
exhausted is not the answer. But walking
is exercise in moderation, and can play a valuable role in recovery.
To those of us who enjoy food, it
seems strange that food would ever become unappealing, but for the depressed,
loss of appetite may be a problem. If the body is to recover from its
exhaustion, it must have nutrition to do so. When the appetite is gone,
even a piece of bread may be hard to get down. Sometimes nourishment can
only be taken in liquid form until the body is able to recover sufficiently for
solid food. Fortunately, there are many options available today. One can
either use do-it-yourself “smoothies” or commercial products like Ensure or
Instant Breakfast. As long it is nutritious and not empty calories, the
appetite will improve as the body recovers. A desire for solid food will
usually return.
Sometimes depression is so severe
that thoughts of suicide begin to overwhelm the sufferer. This is where
the doctor can play a key role in recovery. Many sufferers of depression
have found that medication to control the amount of available neurotransmitters
such as Serotonin can be helpful in bringing about a fresh perspective on life.
Such “anti-depressant” medicines can buy time for the sufferer to allow
the other remedies to guide them back to a normal life.
Combined with all these elements,
ongoing faith-building activities such as Bible reading, prayer, and
inspirational studies can powerfully push back the clouds of depression. Some
have said that simply listening to music on a Christian radio station was a
turning point in breaking the cycle of sleeplessness and hopelessness. In
any event, many have found hope in the simple message of salvation and faith
presented by Jesus Christ even when they were not even aware they were seeking
it.
The Bible tells us that Jesus not
only came to give us life but to give us abundant life. (See John 10:10) He
will not leave us just barely scraping by in life. No, the Bible tells us “Beloved,
I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your
soul prospers.” 3 John 1:2 God’s plan for mankind is that we
prosper. How can such a God not do everything in His power to bring about our
recovery from depression? The same God that is willing to pour sunshine
into our mornings, will also pour His light and love into our lives. Just
ask Him.
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