Last Sunday, we learned about grief. Today and next week, we will learn about depression. Depression is different from sadness or grief. The death of a loved one, loss of a job, or the ending of a relationship are difficult experiences for a person to endure. But being sad is not the same as having depression. When grief and depression co-occur, the grief is more severe and lasts longer than grief without depression. So, what is Depression?
Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. It is a widespread condition, affecting more than 264 million people, Christians and non-Christians alike. According to the American Psychiatric Association, one in 15 adults experiences the chemical imbalance that is depression in any given year, with one in six experiencing it at some point in their life. Depression can occur at any time, but on average, it first appears during the late teens to mid-20s. Women are more likely than men to experience depression. Some studies show that one-third of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime.
In his book “Deadly Emotions,” Doctor Don Colbert says, “People who are depressed tend to experience excruciating pain. Chronic pain - such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, degenerative joint disease, headaches, TMJ problems, tendonitis, as well as chronic pain from an accident - all increase when a person is also depressed. The pain is getting worse, of course, can increase heart rate and blood pressure. These side effects can lead to increased consumption of drugs.”
At its worst, depression can lead to suicide. Close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds. The burden of depression and other mental health conditions is on the rise globally. A World Health Assembly resolution passed in May 2013 has called for a comprehensive, coordinated response to mental disorders at the country level.
For those who do not have it, depression can be hard to understand. A mood disorder with mental and physical impacts, depression is different from typical feelings of sadness or grief. Some people describe it as feeling like a series of weights have been placed upon their shoulders, dragging them lower and lower until they can barely crawl. Others say it is persistent, invading melancholy that will not go away no matter how good life seems to be. It is like being in a hole you cannot climb out of or a net that will not let you go free. Crying does not help, and neither does rage. You have prayed hard, yet it is still there. How do you know if you suffer from depression? Depression varies from person to person, but there are some common signs and symptoms. It is important to remember that these symptoms can be part of life’s normal lows. But the more symptoms you have, the stronger they are, and the longer they have lasted—the more likely it is that you are dealing with depression.
Here are eleven common depression symptoms: 1. Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak outlook—nothing will ever get better, and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation. 2. Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed. You don’t care anymore about former hobbies, pastimes, or social activities. You have lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure. 3. Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month. 4. Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping. 5. Anger or irritability. Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent. Your tolerance level is low, your temper short, and everything and everyone gets on your nerves. 6. Loss of energy or increased fatigue. Your whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete. 7. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes. 8. Reckless behavior. You engage in escapist behavior such as substance abuse, compulsive gambling, reckless driving, or dangerous sports. 9. Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions or remembering things. 10. Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain. 11. Thoughts of death or suicide. Symptoms must last at least two weeks and represent a change in your previous level of functioning to diagnose depression. 5 or more symptoms are a sign of heavy depression.
Factors that cause depression. There is a misconception among some Christians who think that sin or lack of faith causes depression. It may be accurate, but several factors can play a role in depression. Therefore, some Christians who love the Lord can suffer from depression too. I give you two examples. First, Don Tinder’s sister-in-law, Janet, a Bible College teacher in France, desired very much to trust and obey the Lord, but nevertheless was afflicted by depression. Second, in his book “Healing for Damaged Emotions,” David Seamands talked about Samuel Logan Brengle. His classic works on holiness have been translated into many languages and have led millions of believers into a deeper life in Christ. In a letter, Brengle wrote, “My nerves were ragged, frazzled, exhausted. And such gloom and depression fell upon me as I have never known, although depression is an old acquaintance of mine.” Both Janet and Brengle love the Lord, and yet they suffer from depression. So, depression is not necessarily a sign of spiritual failure.
Here are some factors that can cause depression: a. Biochemistry: Differences in certain chemicals in the brain may contribute to symptoms of depression. b. Genetics: Depression can run in families. For example, there is a high degree of heritability (approximately 40%) when first-degree relatives (parents/children/siblings) have depression. If one identical twin has depression, the other has a 70 percent chance of having the illness sometime in life. c. Personality: People with poor self-image, easily overwhelmed by stress, or generally pessimistic appear to be more likely to experience depression. d. Environment: Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse, or poverty may make some people more vulnerable to depression. e. Spiritual: Sin, guilt, and wrong concepts of God may make some Christians suffer from depression. Doctors also find a relationship between depression and physical health. For example, cardiovascular disease can lead to depression and vice versa. So, depression results from a complex interaction of social, psychological, biological factors, and I believe, also spiritual.
What Does the Bible Say About Depression?
The word depression does not appear in Scripture as it is used today except for Proverbs 12:25, which says, “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” The Hebrew word for “weighs down” is “shachah,” which translates to “bow down” or “depress.” The Book of Psalms is full of depression. Most of the chapters were written by King David during extremely low periods in his life. For example, “So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed,” he writes in Psalm 143:4, and then a few lines later, “Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit” (143:7). Other references appear in Psalm 3:3; 30:11; 34:18; 40:1-3; 42:11; 77:4; and 102.
But it’s not just the psalms. In 1 Kings, when Elijah made King Ahab understand how much evil the ruler had done to the Lord, Ahab fasted, slept in mourning clothes, and walked around depressed (1 Kings 21:27). In 1 Samuel, King Saul was so depressed he sank into fits of despair and rage (1 Samuel 16-20). And the entire book of Lamentations is a poetic expression of the Hebrews’ deep depression after the fall of Jerusalem, with no hope of redemption or rescue. In addition to David and Saul, other Bible characters wrestled hard with depression and mood disorders.
Moses had a dark wilderness period of his several times throughout his long life. God had tasked him with leading Israel out of Egypt and to the Promised Land, a job Moses did not want, yet God insisted. He obeyed doing it, only to face opposition, complaint, and rejection from his people, who were dissatisfied and scared. At one point, after the people turned against him in the desert, Moses cried to the Lord, “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me — if I have found favor in your eyes — and do not let me face my own ruin” (Numbers 11:14-15).
The prophet Jeremiah — rejected, mocked by his people, poverty-stricken, and deeply lonely — struggled with depression throughout his days. At one of his lows, he cursed the day he’d been born (Jeremiah 20:14) and, a few breaths later, cried out, “Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?” (20:18 CEB).
Job was discouraged after he lost everything he held dear. He lost his seven sons and three daughters, his servants and livestock, his wealth, and his physical health to the point that he was struck with painful, terribly itchy sores from head to toe. After his friends arrived to mourn, he became so depressed that he wished he had never been born (Job 3). After he achieved massive success for the Lord against the prophets of Baal, Elijah sank into depression after he was forced to flee for his life into the desert beyond Beer-sheba. He even begged God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4). Jonah, the reluctant prophet who ran from God’s call before spending three days in the belly of a fish, became bitterly, angrily depressed after his ordeal over God’s decision to spare Nineveh (Jonah 4:1-11).
How should Christians view depression? Depression is not a new problem. In the past, depression might have been referred to as "melancholy" or "demon-possessed," leading to great suffering, hopelessness, and in some cases, suicide. So depression is a real, very disturbing, and hopeless problem, which has no easy solution. Depression is also not always related to sin or weak faith. The Bible tells of depressed people crying out to God, asking for help, or for Him to take their pain away. However, it is not associated with sin, but problems/sufferings in the world, perhaps such as oppression or even poverty, which Jesus himself said will always be with us (Matthew 26:11). So what should we do? There is hope! Next week, we will continue with “How to Cope With Depression?” We will study what the Bible says about dealing with depression.
