Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Depression, part 1

Mom and I were talking the other day about all the people we know who have "depression" and are taking medication for it as they would for a bacterial infection. They truly believe that it is a disease for which there is a modern medical cure/treatment. Do you all realize just how scary this is????? Pretty soon all of Americans will be so doped up, they won't know which way is up.

The beginning of depression is, in my opinion, a disagreement with God, that leads to discontentment, which leads to bitterness, which leads to very real physical ailments of all kinds. Yes, its real, but cannot be cured with medication.
A disagreement with God? Yes, let's talk about that. Here is a hypothetical situation: take an average Christian who goes through the motions of church-going, but does not have a dynamic, real relationship with Christ. If anything is less than perfect in her life, she will start to complain. She will try to manipulate the situation to fix whatever is wrong. She will grow bitter against her husband or child or pastor, etc. She becomes depressed. She wants meds to feel better.
The Truth is that we all have apparently negative things in our lives, but when we agree with God that everything He sends our way, even the "bad" stuff is for our good, we joyfully accept whatever situation we are in. We eagerly read His Word for strength for the journey. We hunger for fellowship and worship with the Body of Christ, just as eagerly as we hunger for physical food.
In my family and my husband's family, in the past 6 years, we have been through: Death, abandonment, divorce, criminal behaviour and subsequent jail time. We have had ample reason to be depressed. But we are not! we praise the Lord for His provision. We eargerly await to see His deliverance.
He is truimphant over our emotions.
Lets show the world that we are more than conquerors though him who loved us. Lets conquer depression!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I totally agree Rhonda that many cases of depression are just basically selfishness and frustration at not getting our own ways or fears that build up to such a point that we cannot cope.

But depression can be a symptom of an illness. Our brains do release chemicals that can go awry and cause inexplicable depression that does need medication just as a heart condition needs medication to enable it to function better.

I have a degree in Psychology and I can tell you the psychologists have no idea how to determine if Mr Depressed is just lazy and selfish or if he really does have a condition that needs medication. There also all to keen to start hypnotising people these days too, honestly!!! Christians who visit worldly counsellors beware, I'm not making it up it was done to me (quite a few years ago now), but I resisted.

Prozac and the like are often just a band-aid on a festering wound it just covers up the real problem but take off the band-aid and the festering wound is still there.

I've suffered depression myself in the past, as a Christian. I know that the first bout was due to silly fears building up and it was sorted out by prayer. The most recent was simply selfishness in me because I was frustrated about some things. A dear sister from church ministered to me and just simply told me to get my eyes off me and back onto Jesus; and also to read read read my Bible. Instant removal of depression! I'd say to Christians who are depressed: repent, get your eyes off yourself and back on your Lord; pray, read your Bible over and over, learn how much your Lord loves you and what he's done for you and that there is no need for depression.

Lol I've almost written a post here. Sorry about that I'll stop now! ;)

Blessings.

Rhonda in Chile said...

Oh Sarah! what a great follow-up comment to my post! Yes, in some cases depression is a symptom of something else, but not usually.
"Turn you eyes upon Jesus" is the best anti-depressant there is!

Blessings and joy to you this morning!

R

Cherish the Home said...

Another cure for depression I've used is to read the book of Philippians once a day, every day, for 5 days.

Works great!

And I agree, sometimes depression can be from a chemical imbalance and in those cases medication might be needed. I do feel however that most times this is not the case.

In our fast-paced society we want an instant quick-fix. Sometimes things take time.

Something else to remember is that there were many people in the Bible who suffered from depression at times. I always think of David in the Psalms often saying---'I feel _________, but I will trust in You, Lord.' I think our thinking can changer or alter our brain chemistry.

Sorry for my scattered thoughts, I hope they're coherent enough to understand. (o;

Blessings,
~Mrs.B

Sis. Julie said...

Doctors are very quick to prescribe anti-depressants. My husband saw a fybromialgia specialist a while back only to be told that he didn't have it and that he needed to be put on anti-depressants. My husband isn't depressed...he just has physical health issues and need someone to tell him what is wrong. Doctors prescribe those things for most everything I"m afraid.