Dealing With Depression Class Outline · My personal experience with depression Defining depression...
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Dealing With Depression Class Outline March 20 Chapter 1-The Crisis March 27 NO CLASS/EASTER April 3 Chapter 2-The Complexity April 10 Chapter 3-The Condition April 17 Chapter 4-The Causes April 24 Chapter 5-The Cures May 1 Chapter 6-The Caregivers
Transcript of Dealing With Depression Class Outline · My personal experience with depression Defining depression...
Dealing With Depression Class Outline
March 20 Chapter 1-The Crisis
March 27 NO CLASS/EASTER
April 3 Chapter 2-The Complexity
April 10 Chapter 3-The Condition
April 17 Chapter 4-The Causes
April 24 Chapter 5-The Cures
May 1 Chapter 6-The Caregivers
Chapter 1-The Crisis March 20
Hand out books. “Christians Get Depressed Too” by David Murray
Go over outline for the class
Admitting the limitations of my knowledge in this area
o You may get weary of me saying “I don’t know”
o Which is why I want you to take a moment to look over the resource
page
My personal experience with depression
Defining depression
o Depression: Feeling low in mood is a normal part of life. Difficult
circumstances in life will cause us to feel bad. There is nothing unusual
about this. In some cases this depressed feeling can worsen and begin to
dominate a person’s life. When someone feels very low for more than
two weeks and feels like this day after day, week after week, this is
called a depressive illness. – Info taken and adapted from “I’m Not
Suppose To Feel Like This” by Chris Williams, Paul Richards and Ingrid
Whitton
QUESTION: Why did you decide to be a part of this class?
QUESTION: Why do you think depression is not talked about much in the
church?
EIGHT REASONS why we should study and talk about depression in the
church (taken directly from Chapter 1-The Crisis)
o Because the Bible speaks of it (A LOT)
Moses: Numbers 11:1-15
Elijah: 1 Kings 19:1-8
Job: Job 10:1
Solomon: Ecclesiastes 1
David: Psalm 42:5
Paul and Timothy: 2 Corinthians 1:8
Read 1 Kings 19:1-8
QUESTION: Why was Elijah feeling so depressed?
QUESTION: Is it possible to take some comfort from this story? If
so, how?
QUESTION: What are some of the different reasons people get
depressed?
o Because it is so common
One in five people experience depression
Studies show that 5.8 percent of men and 9.5 percent of women
will experience a depressive episode in any given year
Suicide is the leading cause of violent deaths worldwide
o Because it impacts our spiritual life
QUESTION: How can depression impact a person’s spiritual life?
o Because it may be prevented or mitigated
Knowledge may help stop depression or shorten the length of
depression. Here is another way that knowledge can help…“An
additional benefit of having some knowledge about depression is
that it will prevent the dangerous and damaging
misunderstanding that often leads people, especially Christians, to
view medication as a rejection of God and His grace rather than a
provision of God and His grace. P. 6
o Because it will open doors of usefulness
If we suffer from depression we will be more sympathetic to
others who are suffering
“Winston Churchill used to speak of his black dog: he survived
though he was dogged by depression for much of his life. It is said
that only because Churchill had faced his own black periods was
he able, at sixty years of age, to rally those who felt overwhelmed
by the Nazi threat. His own experience of adversity enabled him
to be a leader who helped to save the world from the darkness of
tyranny.” –Taken from “When the Darkness Will Not Life” by John
Piper
This next piece of advice may be challenging for some
people…“However, the general rule is that those who listen most
and speak least will be the most useful to sufferers.” P. 6
o Because it is so misunderstood
“John Lockey writes: Being depressed is bad enough in itself, but
being a depressed Christian is worse. And being a depressed
Christian in a church full of people who do not understand
depression is like a little taste of hell.” P. 6-7
Question: Can you give some examples of bad advice that you can
give to a person who is struggling with depression?
o Because it is a talent to be invested for God
QUESTION: How might God use a person who has struggled with
depression to minister to others?
QUESTION: How might God use depression to change a person
into the image of Jesus Christ?
QUESTION: Instead of allowing God to transform us in our
depression we may be tempted to “medicate” ourselves. What
are some different ways that people tend to improperly deal with
their depression?
o Because we can all improve our mental and emotional health
Next class we will be discussing Chapter Two-The Complexity
Use this link to find all these resources:
http://headhearthand.org/resources/depression/
Book Recommendations
Broken Minds: Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You’re Losing It by Steve and
Robyn Bloem
Dealing with Depression by Sarah Collins and Jayne Haynes
Overcoming Spiritual Depression by Arie Elshout
Will Medicine Stop the Pain?: Finding God’s Healing for Depression, Anxiety, and
other Troubling Emotions by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Laura Hendrickson
Good Mood Bad Mood: Help and Hope for Depression and Bipolar Disorder by
Charles Hodges
D Is for Depression: Spiritual, psychological and medical sources for healing
depression by Michael Lawson
Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Its Cure by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Practical Workbook For The Depressed by Dr. John Lockley
Christians Get Depressed Too by David Murray
When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God–and
Joy by John Piper
Troubled Minds: Mental Illness and the Church’s Mission by Amy Simpson
Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness by
Matthew Stanford
Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness by Edward T. Welch
I’m Not Supposed to Feel Like This: A Christian Approach to Coping with
Depression and Anxiety by Chris Williams, et al
Article Links
Six Free Video Curriculum From 2014 | Brad Hambrick
Sorrow, Depression, and the Holidays | The Cripplegate
The Puritans on mental illness – St. Petersburg Mental Health | Examiner.com
The Forgetfulness that Leads to Depression
How to Find Bread and Water in the Dungeon of Depression - Borrowed Light
If I’m a Christian, Why Am I Depressed? | Biblical Counseling Coalition Blogs
7 Things NOT to Say to a Depressed Christian – Parchment and Pen Blog
What If We’re Wrong About Depression? – NYTimes.com
10 Types of Thinking that Undergird Depression-Anxiety | Brad Hambrick
When Is Depression-Anxiety Sinful? | Brad Hambrick
Overcoming Depression-Anxiety: A Personal Responsibility Paradigm (Seminar
Videos) | Brad Hambrick
20 Approaches to Battling Depression-Anxiety as Suffering | Brad Hambrick
Tangled Up in Blue: Depression and the Christian Life – Reformation21
12 Ways Depression-Anxiety Impacts Family and Relationships | Br ad Hambrick
Like Job, I Too Was Surrounded By Darkness
7 Factors that Contribute to the Impact of Depression-Anxiety | Brad Hambrick
Online Depression-Anxiety Evaluation | Brad Hambrick
Why Three Seminars on Depression-Anxiety? | Brad Hambrick
Depression, Divorce & New Life In Jesus: Ronnie’s Story – 20schemes
Depression, a Pastoral Approach
Depression and Common Grace | TGC
When Christians Suffer from Depression | TGC
Anxiety and Depression, My Strange Friends | TGC | The Gospel Coalition
My Second Round with Depression | Parchment and Pen
In The Dark | The Table: The Journal of the Biola University Center for Christian
Thought
Christians Get Depressed Too – Dr. David Murray
8 Books That Have Helped in Battling Depression - Borrowed Light
9 Ways to Battle Depression, Condemnation and Anxiety > The Village Church
When Depression Comes Back | Addie Zierman | How To Talk Evangelical
Keith O’Neil | Game plan | bphope
The Christian Curmudgeon: When Darkness Is Your Only Friend
3 Suggested Uses for My Depression Interview | Counseling One Another
8 Causes of Spiritual Depression | The Christward Collective
How to Beat that Bad Mood | Challies Dot Com
New Study Shows Social Groups Alleviate Depression
Psychiatry Now Admits It’s Been Wrong in Big Ways: But Can It Change? | Biblical
Counseling Coalition Blogs
God Is with You in Depression | Desiring God
5 Things Christians Should Know About Depression and Anxiety | RELEVANT
Magazine
What Depression Teaches Us | Counseling One Another
The Psalmists’ Rich View of Depression
hope for depression | post traumatic stress disorder | depression recovery
In Case It’s the Right Question | Addie Zierman | How To Talk Evangelical
Allie Brosh On Depression | The American Conservative
Homeschooling with Depression
BBC News – Where hyenas are used to treat mental illness
Suffering service | The Briefing
Spiritual Depression: The Dark Night of the Soul by R.C. Sproul | Ligonier
Ministries Blog
Depression among Christians
Examples of mental anguish and depression in the Bible
Mothering Through Depression and Chronic Illness | CBMW | The Council on
Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
The Sad Christian | Parchment and Pen
The Depression Epidemic Revisited | Counseling One Another
Deserted by God? by Starr Meade | Ligonier Ministries Blog
Lessons Learned from the Dark Valley of Depression | Biblical Counseling Coalition
Blogs
How has faith shaped our view of mental illness?
Mental Health Black Community: What African Americans Need To Know About
Mental Health | Breaking News for Black America
The Real Problems With Psychiatry – Hope Reese – The Atlantic
Review – Manufacturing Depression – Depression
Believing in God can help treat depression | Mail Online
Overcome Depression: How to Avoid Hitting Bottom | Lifescript.com
Running the race to the finish!!: Coming Out of the Closet (sort of speak)
My Take: Let’s stop keeping mental illness a secret – CNN Belief Blog – CNN.com
Blogs
13 Truths You Must Know about Depression, re-post from May 2011, Jenny Price
| iwokeupyesterday
Suicide, Mental Illness, Depression, and the Church – Justin Taylor
Can a Christian get depressed?
My Take: How churches can respond to mental illness – CNN Belief Blog –
CNN.com Blogs
Out of the darkness of Depression | Not So Common Sense Blog
Embracing God’s Promises … 1 – Focus on the Family Daily
Depression and the Limits of Psychiatry – NYTimes.com
Any Place for the God of Job? – Reformation21 Blog
When He Feels Far Off – The Gospel Coalition Blog
The Austin Stone Counseling Center
BBC News – Self-help books ‘treat depression’
I am NOT a Depressed Person | Parchment and Pen
Christian—and Depressed | RELEVANT Magazine
Out of the Ordinary: Anxiety and the Battle for the Mind
Describing the indescribable | HeadHeartHand Blog
Unmasking Male Depression: Recognizing the Root Cause to Many Problem
Behaviors Such as Anger, Resentment, Abusiveness, Silence, Addictions, and
Sexual Compulsiveness: Dr. Archibald Hart
Camp Kivu’s Quest to Get Depressed Teens to Disconnect From Social Media –
The Daily Beast
Depression Strikes Again: Leave Me Alone Black Dog
A Biblical Approach to Depression | Counseling One Another (Part 1, Part 2, Part
3)
Mental Illness in the Bible – Christian Mental Illness
The Blues vs Clinical Depression – Christian Mental Illness
Storytelling and Your Brain | Everyday Theology
10 Tips For Getting Through Seasonal Depression
Swing Low: A Life: Miriam Toews: Amazon.com: Books
Theology for Girls: When “Anxiety” Is Not A Sin – My Journey Through the
Labyrinth Of Panic Disorder
Battling Depression . . . Redemption, Medication, and Christ – Desiring God
Battling Depression – Justin Taylor
A Day In The Life Of This Christian Living With Anxiety/Depression | Ragamuffin
Soul
Every Time I Talk About Depression – Being Brave
Injecting the Light of H-O-P-E into a Dyed-Black Perspective | Biblical Counseling
Coalition Blogs
How to Pray When You’re Depressed: A Look at Psalm 13 | Biblical Counseling
Coalition Blogs
When Despair is Our Only Song – Christian foundations – Christianity.com
Depression: Hurtful Things to Avoid
When Feelings Fail – Wog Magazine
Depression: Helpful Things to Say and Do
Jesse Jackson Jr’s Shame on Us » Amy Simpson
When God Withdraws the Sense of His Presence – The Gospel Coalition Blog
Desert Springs Church Blog » Resources for Depression and Spiritual Desertion
The Ministry of Sorrow | Counseling One Another
The Internet Knows You’re Depressed, but Can It Help You? | Healthland |
TIME.com
Depression and your internet usage? | Musings of a Christian Psychologist
What can a depressed person do daily while fighting for joy? | Practical
Shepherding
Depression – When We Want to Die | Parchment and Pen
Her.meneutics: Why Stay-at-Home Moms Are More Depressed Than Working
Moms
Anxiety Therapy, Depression Therapy, New York City
Borrowed Light: How John Piper Helped Me In the Midst of Darkness
A Prayer for Serving Our Friends Who Struggle with Depression – Heavenward by
Scotty Smith
Depression and Scripture Reading | Gospel Grace
The Doctor Is IN | CCEF (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7)
How can I help my spouse through depression? | CCEF
How to Cope with a Depressed Spouse | Reader’s Digest
Pyromaniacs: Spurgeon on Depression
Wasted Depression | Thistletown Baptist Church
Depression | Biblical Counselling Australia
Pyromaniacs : Battling depression
Pyromaniacs: Book review — Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cures (re-issued
and enhanced), by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Depressed and Doubting While Sitting in a Dungeon! – SermonAudio.com
The Upward Call – The Upward Call – Those nasty family legacies
With Depression, Helping Others May in Turn Help You –Doctors Lounge
BBC – Chris Bevan: Andy Morrison’s biggest battle
Out of the Darkness — Modern Love – NYTimes.com
Danny Rossi’s Story on Vimeo
William Cowper’s Letters « Soliloquium
Cultivating Distrust of the Certainties of Despair – Justin Taylor
Grace for the Afflicted: Viewing … – Google Books
Depression: how should we understand it? | Wisdom for Life
BBC News – Persistent depression risk ‘doubles’ in abused children
Women Bible Life: depression
Anxiety and Depression Together | Psychology Today
No room for sadness (a closer look at depression) | Wisdom for Life
Spiritual Depression | Wisdom for Life
Spiritual Depression | RPM Ministries
Christians Get Depressed Too by Guy Waters | Ligonier Ministries Blog
Depression | The Counseling Solutions Group, Inc.
Discerning Reader: Review of Depression: A Stubborn Darkness by Ed Welch
Institute for Nouthetic Studies Blog » Blog Archive » Book Review: Depression, A
Stubborn Darkness
Ann L. Dunnewold, Ph.D. » Blog Archive » Stigma
Do You See the Glory of God in the Sun? Spurgeon’s Battle Against Depression –
Justin Taylor
BBC News – Not depressed, just sad, lonely or unhappy
Does Your Depression Mak e You Hypersensitive to Criticism? – Postpartum
Progress
Depression and the Holidays – Roxborough-Manayunk, PA Patch
Hope for Your Dark Night of the Soul – Justin Taylor
The Dark Night of the Soul – Audio and Book Available (Links Corrected)
Inside the Battle to Define Mental Illness | Magazine
The Happiness Project: 5 Common Happiness Mistakes — “Boosters” That
Actually Do More Harm Than Good.
Lisa Notes: If you’re discouraged with yourself…
The Bleakest Psalm Is Really a Night-light :: Desiring God
A Boomer in the Pew: Video: David and Carol Porter – Our Story Filmed by
Scottsdale Bible Church
What should a Christian do when overwhelmed with depression? –
ChristianAnswers.Net
Hope for the Depressed
Children and Teenagers
Why Teenage Suicide is More than a Statistic for Me | TGC
BBC News – Test ‘predicts’ teen depression risk
Christian Teenagers – Depression FAQ For Teens
Time on the Internet Linked to Teen Depression | Covenant Eyes
The Internet Usage Patterns of Depressed College Students
BBC News – Late-night teens ‘face greater depression risk’
Post-Partum Depression
When The Psychologist Has Postpartum Depression
When Christian Moms Get the Blues | Her.meneutics | Christianitytoday.com
When New Moms Can’t Stop Worrying | Her.meneutics | Christianitytoday.com
Baby Blues & Postpartum Depression: It’s Ok to Admit You Need Help (Part 1) |
Black and Married With Kids.com – A Positive Image of Marriage and Family
Black And Married With Kids Features Story on Postpartum Depression
How Other Cultures Prevent Postpartum Depression | baby gooroo
BBC News – Postpartum psychosis: Affected parents speak out
Bringing new mothers’ pain out of the shadows – latimes.com
One In Five Get Postpartum Depression: Numbers Too Big To Ignore
Black with Postpartum Depression: My Therapist Had Never Treated A Black
Woman
How To Tell Whether It’s Postpartum Depression Or Normal New Mom Stress
7 Postpartum Depression Survivors Share Their Stories Of Having More Children
Is Postpartum Depression Non-Existent in Other Cultures?
How Do You Tell A Pregnant Friend About Postpartum Depression?
Fact Checking The Postpartum Depression Doubters: “Pills Are The Easy Way Out”
Dads Must Deal With Indecisiveness During Postpartum Depression – Postpartum
Progress – postpartum depression hope
Being Open to Treatment for Postpartum Depression – Postpartum Progress –
postpartum depression hope
Having A Child After Postpartum Depression: A Short Film – Postpartum Progress
– postpartum depression hope
Postpartum Anxiety: A Multitude of Fears – Postpartum Progress – postpartum
depression hope
Postpartum Depression & The Pain of Perfectionism – Postpartum Progress –
postpartum depression hope
The Impossible Simplicity of Treating Postpartum Depression – Postpartum
Progress
Need the Latest Postpartum Depression Research? It’s A Click Away – Postpartum
Progress
How Can You Help Yourself ? Join the 21-Day Self-Care Challenge – Postpartum
Progress
Tips For Supporting Someone With Postpartum Depression – Postpartum Progress
How Your Diet Can Raise The Risk of Postpartum Depression – Postpartum
Progress
Good Morning America Misses The Mark on PPD
Pastors/Ministry Leaders
When A Pastor Gets Depressed – J.A. Medders
Breaking the Silence: When Christian Leaders Speak Openly about Depression |
Everyday Theology
The Pastor’s Wife Who Went Crazy: A guest post by Heather Palacios | The
Exchange | A Blog by Ed Stetzer
Top Ten Causes of Depression in Pastors | Andrew Knott.org
7 Ways The Lord Uses Depression in the Life of a Minister
Depression and the Pastor’s Wife: Suffering in Silence | Counseling One Another
Using Effort-Reward Imbalance Theory to Understand High Rates of Depression
and Anxiety Among Clergy – Springer
Rising stress boosts clergy depression
Encouragement for Pastors Tempted with Depression – Justin Taylor
Depression and the Ministry, Part 5: Facing Depression with Christ | Biblical
Counseling Coalition Blogs
Depression Claims Many Pastors, Ministry Leaders, Christian News
Depression and the Ministry, Part 1: The Setup | Biblical Counseling Coalition
Blogs
Spurgeon’s Sorrows | TGC | The Gospel Coalition
Physical Health
Depression and Exercise | Biblical Counseling Coalition Blogs
Depression & Exercise: I Run! Therefore I Am Not Depressed! – Good Mood Bad
Mood
6 Changes in Lifestyle that Add to the Impact of Depression-Anxiety | Brad
Hambrick
Treating Your Stomach For Depression « The Dish
The Nutrition of Mental Health
8 Components of a Healthy Lifestyle ‹ Christian Mental Health and Mental Illness
The Hormone Connection to Women’s Mental Health
BBC NEWS | Health | Depression link to processed food
Suicide
The beginning of wisdom: on suicide, gratitude and compassion
I’m Glad I Stopped My Suicide Attempt
When You Are Thinking About Suicide
Depression and suicide: Football’s secret uncovered – BBC Sport
Matthew Warren and the effects of suicide – DanielSpratlin.com
When a Loved One Takes His Life
http://www.abpnews.com/ministry/people/item/8276-rising-stress-boosts-clergy-depression#.UTvMF9HF0yy
http://biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/blogs/2011/07/11/depression-and-the-ministry-part-1-the-setup
BBC News – Call for action to tackle ‘Scottish effect’ on suicide rates
Research and Brain Science
Chemical Imbalances and Depression | Biblical Counseling Coalition Blogs
Chemical Imbalances & Depression: A Theory Falls victim to New Research – Good
Mood Bad Mood
Helping a Counselee Understand Chemical Imbalance | Biblical Counseling
Coalition Blogs
BBC News – Ketamine ‘exciting’ depression therapy
Can Our Brains Tell Us How To Best Treat Us For Depression? | Co.Exist: World
changing ideas and innovation
NIMH · Scan Predicts Whether Therapy or Meds Will Best Lift Depression
Researchers Want Stroke Patients on Anti-Depressants Even If Not Depressed |
Techyville
BBC News – Cognitive behavioural therapy ‘can reduce depression’
BBC News – Does sunshine make us happier?
Phone-Based Psychotherapy May Help Depression as Much as Face-to-Face
Treatment, at Least in the Short Term | Healthland | TIME.com
BBC News – Brain training ‘helps treat depression’
How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs
A Video Game Designed to Treat Depression Worked Better Than Counseling –
medGadget – Health – The Atlantic
Treating depression with electrodes inside the brain – CNN.com
Avoid Working Long Hours of Overtime to Reduce Your Risk of Depression
Is Gluten Making You Depressed? | Psychology Today
One in four American women take medication for a mental disorder | Mail Online
Report: 1 in 5 American Adults Takes Mental Health Drugs – TIME Healthland
Why Patients Don’t Open Up to Doctors About Depression – TIME Healthland
New Mouse Study Links Chronic Stress to Depression, Adds Evidence to the
Benefits of Antidepressants – - TIME Healthland
Misdiagnosed Mood Disorders – Fox News Video – FoxNews.com
VeriPsych Says It Can Spot Depression, Schizophrenia in Blood | Fast Company
How a flash of light to the brain can banish fear | Mail Online
Dr. David Powlison – Is Depression Purely Biological? on Vimeo
Yale Medicine-Findings
Human brain has more switches than all computers on Earth | Health Tech –
CNET News
A Gene to Explain Depression – TIME Healthland – StumbleUpon
The Evolutionary Reason for Depression – Mind – Lifehacker
BBC News – GPs access to depression treatment ‘is too narrow’
Medication
Hope Is a Very Good Thing: What Is the Active Ingredient in Antidepressant
Medication? | Biblical Counseling Coalition Blogs
Jesus Isn’t Going To Take My Zoloft
Christianity Can’t Replace My Zoloft – TIME
Listening to Prozac… and to the Scriptures: A Primer on Psychoactive Medications
| Biblical Counseling Coalition Blogs
This Demon Only Comes Out By Prayer and Prozac | Mere Orthodoxy |
Christianity, Politics, and Culture
How to Fight Depression (Without the Pills)
Sufficiency of Scripture and Psychotropic Medication | Biblical Counseling
Coalition Blogs
6 Steps to Wise Decision Making About Psychotropic Medications | Brad
Hambrick
Is it right for a Christian to take antidepressants? | Healthy, Wealthy & Wise
Should Christians Take Medication for Mental Illness? | Blog | Perry Noble ·
Senior Pastor of NewSpring Church
Healing Hope: Depressed about Taking Antidepressants?
Unraveling the Mystery of How Antidepression Drugs Work: Scientific American
Mental Illness, Psychiatric Drugs, and Counseling Education | Biblical Counseling
Coalition Blogs
Should Christians Take Antidepressants? | Her.meneutics | Christianitytoday.com
Will Medicine Stop the Pain? – Book Reviews | Biblical Counseling Coalition
Can We Be Positive about Psychiatric Medications? | CCEF
Why Do We Seem Negative about Psychiatric Medications? | CCEF
Moore to the Point – Is It Right for a Christian to Take Anti-Depressants?
‘I Wanted To Live’: New Depression Drugs Offer Hope For Toughest Cases : Shots
– Health Blog : NPR
Antidepressants
New drugs for depression? | Musings of a Christian Psychologist
New Research on the Antidepressant-Versus-Placebo Debate | Healthland |
TIME.com
Her.meneutics: Should Christians Take Antidepressants?: A Response
The New York Times’ Defense of Antidepressants | Psychology Today
Talk Therapy vs. Drugs | Psychology Today
BBC NEWS | Health | Antidepressants ‘work instantly’
Antidepressants May Prevent Hippocampus From Shrinking — Psychiatric News
BBC News – ‘Doctors should stop pushing drugs at depressed people’
In the News
BBC News – What are the top five happiest parts of the UK?
BBC News – Would-be MP on depression battle
NAMI | Winston Churchill and his “Black Dog” that Helped Win World War II
Rick Warren acts on mental health in son’s death
Her.meneutics: Kay Warren Talks to CT about Her Battle with Depression
Robin Williams & Depression | The American Conservative
BBC News – Why are sports stars prone to depression?
BBC Sport – Cricket – Cricket World Cup – England hit by Yardy withdrawal
Chapter 2 -The Complexity
April 3
We will begin this class by giving you an opportunity to share your experience
with depression
Last time (Chapter 1-The Crisis) we looked at 8 reasons why a Christian should
study depression. This morning we will look how a Christian should study
depression.
Avoid dogmatism and seek humility
Avoid extremes and seek balance
o There are three simplistic extremes that we should avoid when
considering the cause of depression:
ONE: The cause is all physical
QUESTION: What are the dangers to this simplistic
approach?
QUESTION: Why do you think so many people in our culture
only think of physical causes for depression?
QUESTION: Explain why a secular counselor is limited in the
advice and wisdom he/she can give a person who is
struggling with depression.
TWO: The cause is all spiritual
Depression is caused by demonic possession and requires
exorcism
o Possessed
There is not one example in Scripture of a
believer being possessed by a demon. There is
not one example in Scripture of a Christian
having a demon exorcised.
Read 1 Corinthians 6:19
Read 2 Corinthians 6:15-16
QUESTION: How do these verse relate to the
idea of a believer being demon possessed?
Scripture does not teach that a Christian can be possessed by a demon. The believer is “in Christ,”- one of His. Every example in the Bible of a person being demon-possessed concerns an unbeliever – there are no examples of believers being possessed. Furthermore, we must be careful not to rely on stories of believers and demon-possession – many other explanations are possible. The Christian, who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, need not fear demon possession. Yet, demons do attack believers in various ways. Therefore, it would be wrong to say that they cannot have any effect on the Christian. –Don Stewart
o Influenced by the demonic
Read Ephesians 4:26-27
QUESTION: What do you think it means for a
Christian to give the devil an opportunity or a
foothold in their life? How do you think it
happens?
Depression is caused by sin; therefore, rebuke, repentance,
and confession are required.
o QUESTION: Can you give an example of how sin in
someone’s life may lead to depression?
o QUESTION: What are the strengths of this way of
thinking (sin leads to depression)?
o QUESTION: What are the weaknesses of this way of
thinking (sin leads to depression)?
o Important to notice. Later in the book the author will
examine how we decide if depression has spiritual
causes or simply spiritual consequences.
THREE: The cause is all mental (“in the mind”)
This can mean two different things. Some people use this
expression correctly identifying the seat of a depression-the
chemical imbalances in the brain. However, most people
who use it incorrectly mean that the depression is fictional,
made up.
o Concluding thoughts for this chapter
All this reminds us that the prescription of solutions is often a
matter that takes much time, and even trial and error. There are
usually no quick fixes. For Christians there will often need to be a
balance between medicines for the brain, rest for the body,
counsel for the mind, and spiritual encouragement for the soul.
Recovery will usually take patient perseverance over a period of
many months, and in some cases, even years. P.30
Chapter 3 -The Condition April 10
Watch video by Brene Brown on empathy (a key in interacting with people
who are struggling with depression…or anything for that matter)
o QUESTION: What is the main point of the video?
Suggestions on how to use this book (Christians Get Depressed Too):
o Read through the book with someone who is struggling with
depression
o If you are personally struggling with depression open up to a godly
friend who will spend time with you going through the book
We began with 8 reasons WHY we should study depression and two
principles to govern how we should study depression.
We also examined three extreme positions some take regarding the cause
of depression
o All physical
o All spiritual
o All mental
This morning we will be talking discussing “what is depression?”
We won’t go into detail about how to help someone dealing with
depression until chapter 5 (The Cures)
Two reasons we should be concerned about getting the right answer to the
above question (what is depression?).
o The physical reason is that only by knowing the symptoms can I know
if others or I are suffering from depression and then seek appropriate
help.
o The spiritual reason…is that many who have symptoms of
depression, without identifying then as such, reason, “If I have these
thoughts and feelings, I cannot be a Christian.”
o QUESTION: Why would lead a person who is struggling with
depression to question their salvation? What would you say to them
to encourage them?
We will answer the question “What is depression?” by looking at how it is
related to and reflected in five areas of our lives: our situation, our
thoughts, our feelings, our bodies, and our behavior.
LIFE SITUATION
o One of the first steps in treating depression is to take time to
examine our lives and, with God’s help, to trace our present
depressed thoughts and feelings to events in our lives.
o QUESTION: Can you give an example of how an event in life could
lead a person to depression?
THOUGHTS
o The biggest focus of this chapter is on our thoughts…
o As the writers of Mind Over Mood put it, “Our perception of an event
or experience powerfully affects our emotional, behavioral, and
psychological responses to it.” Or, as the Bible puts it: “As a man
thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov 23:7).
o Ten false thought patterns that reflect, but also contribute to, the
symptoms of depression.
o FALSE EXTREMES
Sometimes called all or nothing thinking
Life example: You make one mistake in cooking a meal and
conclude you are a total disaster.
Spiritual example: You have a sinful thought in prayer and
conclude that you are an apostate.
Biblical example: Despite most of his life being characterized
by God’s blessing and prosperity, when Job passed through a
time of suffering, he decided he must be an enemy of God (Job
13:24; 33:10)
Do you see this in your life?
o FALSE GENERALIZATIONS
This happens when, after experiencing one unpleasant event,
we conclude that the same thing will happen to us again and
again.
Life example: If a young man’s feelings for a young woman are
rebuffed, he concludes that this will happen to him and that he
will never marry a woman.
Spiritual example: When you try to witness to someone, you
are mocked, and you conclude that this will always happen to
you and that you will never win a soul for Christ.
Biblical example: At a low point in his own life, Jacob deduced
that because Joseph was dead and Simeon as captive in Egypt
that Benjamin would also be taken from him (Gen 42:36).
Do you see this in your life?
o FALSE FILTER
When we are depressed, we tend to pick out the negative in
every situation and think about it alone, to the exclusion of
everything else.
Life example: You get ninety percent on an exam, but all you
can think about is the ten percent you got wrong.
Spiritual example: You heard something in a sermon you did
not like or agree with and went home thinking and talking only
about that part of the service.
Biblical example: Despite having just seen God’s mighty ad
miraculous intervention on Mount Carmel, Elijah filtered out
all the positives and focused only on the continued opposition
of Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 19:10).
Do you see this in your life?
o FALSE TRANSFORMATION
Another aspect of depression is that we transform neutral or
positive experiences into negative ones.
Life example: If someone compliments you, you conclude that
the person is just being hypocritical or that he or she is trying
to get something from you.
Spiritual example: When you receive a blessing from a verse or
a sermon, you decide that it is just the devil trying to deceive
you.
Do you see this in your life?
o FALSE MIND READING
We may think we can tell what someone is thinking about us,
that the person hates us or views us as stupid. But such
negative conclusions usually are not supported by the facts.
Life example: A friend may pass you without stopping to talk
because, unknown to you, he is late for a meeting. But you
conclude that he no longer likes you.
Spiritual example: Someone who used to talk to you at church
now passes you with hardly a word, so you decide that you
have fallen out of her favor. But unknown to you the person’s
marriage is in deep trouble, and she is too embarrassed to risk
talking to anyone.
Do you see this in your life?
o FALSE FORTUNE TELLING
This occurs when we feel so strongly that things will turn out
badly that our feelings-based prediction seems to become an
already established fact. We expect catastrophe, and the
expectation itself produces hopelessness and helplessness.
Life example: You feel sure that you will always feel depressed
and will never be better again. This is despite the evidence that
almost everybody recovers.
Spiritual example: You are convinced that you will never be
able to pray in public. Again, this is despite the evidence that,
though difficult at first, with practice almost everybody
manages it.
Biblical example: Anticipating the opposition that Jesus would
face in Bethany, Thomas falsely predicted not only his own
death there but also that of the Lord and the other disciples
(John 11:16).
Do you see this in your life?
o FALSE LENS
This is when we view our fears, errors, or mistakes through a
magnifying glass and deduce catastrophic consequences.
Everything is then out of proportion.
Life example: When you make a mistake a work, you conclude,
“I’m going to get fired.”
Spiritual example: Despite having received forgiveness from
God, you focus on your sins from the distant past in a way that
leads to continued feelings of guilt, self-condemnation, and
fear of punishment.
Biblical example: When Peter sinfully denied the Lord, he not
only wept bitterly but decided that since his mistake was so
spiritually catastrophic, there was no alternative but to forget
about preaching about Christ and go back to catching fish
(John 21:3).
Do you see this in your life?
o FALSE FEELINGS-BASED REASONING
People suffering from depression tend to take their emotions
as the truth. They let their feelings determine the facts.
Life example: You feel useless and conclude that you are
useless.
Spiritual example: You feel unforgiven and conclude that you
are unforgiven. You feel cut off from God and conclude that
you are cut off from God.
Biblical example: At one of his low points, David felt and hastily
concluded that he was cut off from God. “I said in my haste, I
am cut off from before thine eyes” (Ps. 31:22).
Do you see this in your life?
o FALSE SHOULDS
Our lives may be dominated by “shoulds” or “oughts” applied
to ourselves or others.
Life example: The busy mother who tries to keep her house as
tidy and orderly as if there were no children is putting herself
under undue pressure to reach unattainable standards.
Spiritual example: The conscientious Christian who feels that
despite being responsible for taking care of her household,
preparing meals and raising children, she ought to also be at
every prayer meeting, worship service, and Bible study and
should also serve on several church committees, prepare
meals for needy church members, read good books, always
feel close to God.
Do you see this in your life?
o FALSE RESPOSIBILITY
This is when we assume responsibility and blame ourselves for
a negative outcome, even when there is no basis for this.
Life example: When your child does not get excellent grades
you conclude that you are an awful mother. The real reason
may be instead that your child has a poor teacher or that the
child does not have academic gifts.
Spiritual example: When your child turns against the Lord and
turns his back on the church, you assume that, despite doing
everything you possibly could to bring him up for the Lord, it is
all your fault.
Biblical example: Moses felt responsible for the negative
reactions of Israel to God’s providence and was so cast down
about this that he prayed for death (Num. 11:14-15).
Do you see this in your life?
o Important points to remember
False thinking patterns are compatible with being a Christian.
False though patterns will have a detrimental effect on our
feelings, our bodies, our behavior, and our souls, usually in
that order.
One of the first steps in getting better is recognizing these false
thinking patterns, which do not reflect reality.
While we can do little, if anything, to change our providence
(our life situation), we can change the false ay we may think
our providence.
FEELINGS
o Do you feel overwhelming sadness? Biblical examples: Job (Job 3:20;
6:2-3; 16:6, 16); David (Ps. 42:3, 7).
o Do you feel angry with God and others? Jonah 4:4, 9); Moses (Num.
20:10-11).
o Do you feel your life is worthless? Biblical examples: Job (job 3:3-26);
Jeremiah (Jer. 20:14-18)
o Do you feel extreme anxiety or panic? Biblical examples: David (1
Sam. 21:12); disciples (Matt. 8:25).
o Do you feel God hates you and is far from you? Biblical examples: Job
(Job 6:4; 13:24; 16:11; 19:11; 30:19-23, 26); Jeremiah (Lam. 3:1-3).
o Do you feel suicidal or do you have a longing to die? Biblical
examples Job (Job 3:20-22; 6:9; 7:15-16); Moses (Num. 11:14); Elijah
(1 Kings 19:4).
BODILY SYMPTOMS
o Disturbed sleep, tiredness, weight fluctuations, digestive problems,
loss of appetite, bodily pain, choking feelings and breathlessness.
o Do you see this in your life?
BEHAVIOR AND ACTIVITY
o Stop doing the things we use to enjoy (not going to church, not
contacting family and friends).
o Start doing things that make us feel worse (drinking alcohol, staying
indoors, pushing people away who care).
o Do you see this in your life?
Let’s look at the important summary on pages 50-51 (this will help you to
know how to respond to depression!!)
For next week please read Chapter 4-The Causes
Chapter 4 -The Causes April 17
VIDEO: Are Christians more susceptible to depression than non-Christians? By
David Murray
o Please take note of David Murray’s blog! Lots of great resources to help
you think biblically about depression. Headhearthand.org
This morning we will go into greater detail regarding the CAUSES of depression
Depression is often divided into two main categories
o Reactive
Reactive depression is usually traced to some obvious trigger,
perhaps a stressful life event or unhelpful thought patterns
o Endogenous
Endogenous depressions are thought to be organic or biological in
nature. It is the name usually given to depressions that seem to
have no obvious external trigger, and they are often traced to
genetic disposition.
Let’s consider five triggers of depression: stress, psychology, sin, sickness, and
sovereignty
STRESS
o QUESTION: Do you believe stress could lead to depression? If so, how?
o Life events
Life events including marriage, relocating, exams, bereavement,
illness, unemployment, and birth of children.
My recent bout with stress, shingles and depression (in that
specific order!)
o Lifestyle
While we have little if any control over life events, we do have
substantial control over our lifestyle-the proportion of time and
energy we give to work, socializing, shopping, traveling,
recreation, exercise, rest, and sleep. Much of the increase in
depression and anxiety today is largely the result of an
unbalanced lifestyle where people are, on the one hand, working
too hard, are exercising, resting, and sleeping too little.
QUESTION: Do you have an example or a story to tell of how
lifestyle has led to depression?
PSYCHOLOGY (The way that we think)
QUESTION: Can you give any examples of negative ways of
thinking that you have picked up from your early formative years?
SIN
o Non-Christians may be depressed because of their sin.
o QUESTION: Can you explain how this might happen?
o How does a Christian know if his depression has a spiritual cause or not?
Here are some questions from Ed Welch to help you think through
this
If you made someone besides God the center of your life, and you
lose him or her, you will feel isolated and without purpose. Can
you see how this can give way to depression?
If you feel like you have failed in the eyes of other people, and
your success and the opinions of others is of critical importance,
you can slip into depression. Can you see the spiritual roots?
If you feel like you did something very wrong, and you want to
manage your sin apart from the cross of Jesus, depression is
inevitable. Can you see how this can lead to depression?
If you are angry and don’t practice forgiveness, you can easily
slide into depression. What makes us angry shows us what we
love and what rights we hold dear. Can you see how this can lead
to depression?
“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting
the other person to die.” –Anne Lamott
Ways that I have seen this in my family
SICKNESS
o We need to have a balanced approach to what causes depression!
Yes, sin can cause depression!
Yes, our fallen, not fully redeemed bodies can cause depression!
If we come to the point that our default position in dealing with
the causes of depression is that it is sin until proven otherwise we
are getting painfully close to the disciples position: “Master, who
did sin, this man or his parents?” (John 9:2)
SOVEREIGNTY
o A well-known example of this is Job, where God allowed Satan to afflict
His beloved servant. A lesser-known example is Hezekiah. “God left him,
to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chron. 32:31).
Chapter 5 -The Cures April 24
The Road to sorrow has been well trodden, it is the regular sheep track to
heaven, and all the flock of God have had to pass along it. –Charles Spurgeon
Sometimes our feet can’t tap when the music plays. –Zack Eswine
Video: Randy Alcorn talks about depression
o Write down anything that is said that you find helpful
o ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
o QUESTION: What do you find helpful?
Chapter 5 talks about the cures for depression. Before we move in that
direction we need to ask this question…“do you want to get better?”
POSSIBLE CURES
Correct your lifestyle
o Routine
Stay with a routine even when your feelings tell you to drop
everything and spend the day in bed.
o Relaxation
Do you have enough margin in your life to slow down and relax?
o Recreation
Exercise helps to expel unhelpful chemicals from our system and
stimulates the production of helpful chemicals.
o Rest
Regular sleep patterns enable the body to repair and re-charge…
o Reprioritize
Is your schedule overloaded?
o QUESTION: Which one of these do you struggle with most?
Correct your false thoughts
o As we have already noted, one of the most common contributory
factors to depression is wrong and unhelpful thoughts.
o LET’S READ PSALM 77
ONE: Asaph’s life situation
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
TWO: Asaph’s feelings
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
THREE: Asaph’s thoughts
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
FOUR: Asaph’s analysis
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
FIVE: Asaph’s behavior
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
SIX: Asaph’s reasons
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
SEVEN: Asaph’s challenge
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
EIGHT: Asaph’s conclusion
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
NINE: Asaph’s feelings
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
TEN: Asaph’s plan
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
o QUESTION: What does this teach you about dealing with depression?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Correct your brain chemistry
o Talk to a doctor
o QUESTION: What are some false assumptions people make about using
medicine to help with depression?
Correct your spiritual life
o ONE: Accept that being depressed is not necessarily a sin and indeed
compatible with Christianity. Many Bible characters and many of the
greatest Christians passed through times of depression.
o TWO: Try to understand that your loss of spiritual feelings is not the
cause of your depression, but rather the depression has caused a
general loss of feeling in all parts of your life, your spiritual life included.
o THREE: Patiently wait for the corrections in your lifestyle, thinking, or
brain chemistry to have an effect on your feelings as a whole, and your
spiritual life will pick up at the same time also.
o FOUR: Have a set time for reading your Bible and praying.
This is Bible 101 but so many times we overlook it!
o FIVE: Bring objective truth to mind (for example, the doctrine of
justification or the atonement), especially positive verses that set forth
God’s love, mercy, and grace for sinners…
Our feelings are not always very reliable! Follow your heart can be
some of the worst advice a person can receive!
o SIX: When you pray, tell God exactly how you feel. Be total honest. Ask
God to help you with your doubts and fears and to restore to you the joy
of salvation.
o SEVEN: Keep going to church and seek out fellowship of one or two
sympathetic Christians you can confide in, and ask them to pray with
you and for you.
o EIGHT: Remember, GOD LOVES YOU AS YOU ARE, not as you would like
to be.
Correct the spiritual causes
o Repent
Feeling overwhelmed?
o That is understandable. Think and pray about the material we have
covered. Jot down 3-4 different things you want to do to help yourself
recover from depression.
Chapter 6 -The Caregivers
May 1
“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.” -Psalm 43:5
“I am the subject of depression so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to. But I always get back again by this–I know that I trust Christ. I have no reliance but in Him, and if He falls, I shall fall with
Him. But if He does not, I shall not. Because He lives, I shall live also, and I spring to my legs again and fight with my depressions of spirit and get the victory
through it. And so may you do, and so you must, for there is no other way of escaping from it.” –Charles Spurgeon
“I often feel very grateful to God that I have undergone fearful depression of
spirits. I know the borders of despair, and the horrible brink of that gulf of
darkness into which my feet have almost gone; but hundreds of times I have been
able to give a helpful grip to brethren and sisters who have come into that same
condition, which grip I could never have given if I had not known their deep
despondency. So I believe that the darkest and most dreadful experience of a
child of God will help him to be a fisher of men if he will but follow Christ.” –
Charles Spurgeon
Pray
Heads up! Good Biblical Counseling Resources: Christian Counseling
Educational Foundation. WWW.CCEF.ORG.
Video: John Piper talks about how we can worship when we are depressed
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7RKkV8USdA
o Write down ideas or thoughts that seem helpful to you
o ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
o QUESTION: Share with us some of the things you jotted down from
Piper’s talk
o QUESTION: How can a person worship and stay close to God when they
are feeling depressed?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
o QUESTION: What would you do if a family member or friend told you
they were struggling with depression?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
o Briefly go over the article that talks about what we should do if someone
tells us they are contemplating suicide.
https://www.westernseminary.edu/transformedblog/2012/03/01
/8-things-you-need-to-know-about-suicide-prevention/
Ten areas for caregivers to consider when they are trying to help a depressed
person get better.
1. Study
a. When loved ones suffer from depression we want to provide the best
possible care, which means we will need to do some studying.
i. I’m Not Suppose To Feel Like This by Chris Williams, Paul
Richards, and Ingrid Whitton
ii. Overcoming Spiritual Depression by Arie Elshout
iii. Broken Minds by Steve and Robyn Bloem
iv. A Practical Workbook for the Depressed Christian by Dr. John
Lockey
v. Spiritual Depression by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (focuses on
spiritual consequences of depression)
2. Sympathy (this is interesting based on the video we watched about
empathy from Brene Brown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw).
a. By sympathy, I mean an ability to communicate that we truly
understand the problem and the symptoms, that we are deeply
concerned, and that we will do all we can to help. In many cases such
sympathy can have a powerful therapeutic effect on the sufferer. The
lack of it can only multiply the pain and deepen the darkness.
3. Support
a. Support follows sympathy. It involves being available to listen and
talk either in person or at the end of the phone.
4. Stigma
a. We need to work hard as Christians to do away with the bogus idea
that Christianity means we don’t have problems. A third of the
Psalms deals with fear, anxiety and despair.
5. Secrecy
a. Because of the stigma associated with depression it takes a lot of
courage for them to come and open up to you about it. If they do
share how they are feeling make sure you maintain the strictest
confidence. No sanctified gossip.
6. Self-esteem
a. Often times a depressed person has an unhealthy view of who they
are. Look to use words of life with them. Encourage them, remind
them of their worth and value.
7. Subjectivism
a. One of the most common tendencies for those with depression is to
focus on feelings and to base beliefs and conclusions on those
feelings. We should encourage the depressed person to move away
from the realm of the subjective and to instead think on the
objective truths of Christianity, things that are true regardless of our
feelings: justification, adoption, the atonement, the attributes of
God, and heaven, for example.
8. Speak
a. THE GENERAL RULE IS TO LISTEN MUCH AND TO SPEAK LITTLE. The
following is a helpful list of what NOT to say:
i. Pull yourself together.
ii. But you’ve got nothing to be sad about.
iii. Don’t get so emotional.
iv. Oh, you’ll soon get over it.
v. It’s a sin to be depressed.
vi. Just believe the promises.
vii. Smile, it can’t be that bad.
viii. Well, things could be worse.
ix. At least it’s nothing serious.
x. You should confess your sins.
xi. You are not still on medication, are you?
9. Suicide
a. Don’t be afraid to ask some questions regarding whether or not the
person is contemplating suicide. If they are then you should get them
professional help.
10. Slow
a. It is important to realize that there are no easy answers and there are
no quick fixes in dealing with depression. It usually takes months, and
in some cases even years, to recover. You should, therefore, take a
long-term view and patiently wait for improvement. Don’t get
frustrated over lack of progress, and be aware that temporary lapses
may occur
“Churches can talk about it, and talk about it often. I’m a firm believer that secrets lose power when they exit the dark. Confession is a healing balm toward connectivity and we’re loved to the measure we are known. The more we name our struggles, the more others have permission to do the same. I can’t think of a
more perfect medium to provide this healing community than the church.” –Rebekah Lyons
