What wrong idea about depression would you most like to set straight?

[Celticroots]

I understand that feeling.

No, we are NOT saying that depression is bigger than God, or that He doesn't have the power to take care of it. We're going through this for some reason we don't understand. He could pluck us up and put us at the top of the mountain, but we gain something by climbing and struggling that we would not have gained otherwise. We trust Him to get us *through* it. But not necessarily *out* of it.

Exactly! I've tried to explain this over and over to people, not only with depression but also OCD. If He hasn't gotten you out of it then you must not have enough faith these people say. I've gotten fed up saying otherwise because they will never understand until they go through it themselves.

I find that individuals who struggle with mental illnesses themselves understand what I am saying.

Oh, and I can't stand people who say God has "delivered" them from depression or any other mental illnesses. Most of these illnesses are chronic but can be managed through medication/counseling, etc. I highly suspect people who say God "delivered" them were never professionally diagnosed with any of the illnesses they claim, or they think "I felt down for a while. I must be depressed!" No. Real depression is a completely different thing.

Sorry if I sound harsh but I believe it to be true.

 

[Celticroots]

Another I wish people would understand.... that depression isn't just young people. And neither is SH. I am 30 and still struggle with it.... it's not that I never grew up. More that I never found another outlet

That too. I still struggle with SH too at 28. A psychiatric nurse practitioner I had said she'd had patients in their 60's who still struggled with self-harm.

 

[majj27]

That too. I still struggle with SH too at 28. A psychiatric nurse practitioner I had said she'd had patients in their 60's who still struggled with self-harm.

I do as well at 45. I'm very fortunate that mine is as minor as it is, but the compulsion, the NEED, is still prowling around in the dark.

 

[Celticroots]

I do as well at 45. I'm very fortunate that mine is as minor as it is, but the compulsion, the NEED, is still prowling around in the dark.

The NEED never goes away IMO. Mine is minor too, never having progressed to needing ER trips for stitches or casts for broken bones. But it's the fact that one is hurting themselves in any way at all is what's important.

 

[faroukfarouk]

All that's been said so far, and I'll add:

People fail so often to understand that for many of us there is a physical component to depression. It's not always that we need more counseling or we haven't tried hard enough. Sometimes we need medication, and better nutrition, and exercise and to avoid negative people and environments, and none of those things are sin. They are self-care that I suspect God is very happy to see us undertake when we need them. The humans, not so much.

Very good points.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Another I wish people would understand.... that depression isn't just young people. And neither is SH. I am 30 and still struggle with it.... it's not that I never grew up. More that I never found another outlet

Part of it is I think learning not to focus uniquely and intensely on one's feelings - however real and deep - when one is depressed but also for one's mind and memory to be able to focus also on the promises of Scripture to the believer. (Lamentations 3: "These things recall I to my mind; therefore have I hope.")