CAN THE CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE DEPRESSION?


Did you know the great theologian, Charles Spurgeon, suffered from depression? Bible translator, J.B. Phillips felt God did not hear his prayers and scripture brought him no comfort or hope in the midst of his episodes of depression. David, king and author of the Psalms, experienced deep periods of depression.

During any six-month period, nine million American adults suffer from a depressive illness and Christians are not immune from this debilitating disorder. Many well-meaning Christians have attributed the symptoms of depression solely to a lack of faith, slackness in spiritual disciplines, or spiritual warfare. This description belies a fundamental misunderstanding of what depression is and encourages Christians struggling with the disorder to go “underground.”

A depressive disorder is a “whole body” illness involving your body, mood, and thoughts. It often has multiple causes: physical, emotional, spiritual, and situational. It affects the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, and the way you think about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing “blue mood.” It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely “pull themselves together” and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer from depression. Basic symptoms of depression include:

-Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
-Lack of interest or pleasure in all or most activities
-Difficulty sleeping and a change in eating patterns
-Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
-Fatigue or loss of energy
-Feelings of worthlessness
-Excessive agitation, irritability

Depression usually has multiple causes: physical, emotional, spiritual and situational. If you or someone you know is struggling with these symptoms—seeking help is advisable.

Counselors of the Counseling Center are trained Christian professionals who have helped hundreds of individuals to overcome the experience of depression.

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