why do so many Christains struggle with depression ?

[Loki]

There may or may not be an external event that triggers clinical depression. It has, however, been linked to reuptake of serotonin by the presynaptic neuron. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors effectively reduce the reuptake of serotonin, thus allowing the neurotransmitter to bind to the postsynaptic receptor.

Sometimes people have destructive thought cycles that they cannot learn to deal with while depressed. Medication may alleviate the symptoms and allow for rational thought, which can lead to coping strategies that can help if someone wishes to discontinue use of the medication.

I'd like to think that doctors don't prescribe medication when less chemical methods would work; indeed, many people balk at going on psychotropic drugs because of the stigma of "being crazy," "taking a happy pill," or "not being oneself." I know I fought tooth and nail to avoid them, but eventually conceded that I couldn't lick it by myself. So a year later, I'm doing much better; can sit down and study again, my sleep's much more restful and regular, the destructive though cycles are gone, and the depressive mood is gone.

Best of luck to all struggling through mental disorders. The only (unqualified) advice I can give is to journal; it helped me immensely in dealing with thoughts and feelings and sorting it all out, and serves as a unique marker of how one was at a given point in time.

 

[DJ_1]

KnightCross and LittleLaura thank you for your posts, they were both very good and were helpful in reminding me that knowlege & wisdom has to go hand-in-hand with genuine love and caring in order to help someone effectively.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

29th March 2003 at 04:10 PM Didymus said this in Post #1

you would think we would be the happiest people on earth but so many --including me -- post here with problems. do you think it is satanic oprression of some sort ?

Hey Didy

Personally, I think it's because we get our eyes off of Him and onto ourselves.

There's been many a time. . .when I find myself falling towards depression. . .and I'll hear God say, "it's not about you Barbara, it's about Me". 

That usually jerks me to attention . . .and I repent. . .and then turn my eyes back on to Him. . .the Author and the Finisher of my faith.




 

 

[PuppyforChrist]

I only became a Christian a year ago, and I got depression because of my horrid past when I wasn't a Christian. But just because I have depression, it doesn't make me a werid or different person. I believe that depression is just another one of God's tests that he's putting me through. When I really think about it, depression really isn't a big deal at all.

 

[Shamash Of Yeshua]

Depression is more then you think it is. People have killed themselves over it. I know depression so well I have it on a daily basis. So please don't tell me it isn't a big deal. I don't want to exist is how I feel most of the time I get depressed.
I do believe that Satan does use many such things to put the heat on. Don't say he doesn't because he has since Adam and Eve.

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians
6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; 16 above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the spoken word of God; 18 with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the holy ones: 19 on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

I reckon I know this yet I guess I ain't appling it to my life. How sad that is. Since I want to move from this place I live and don't have the money, a job, my truck is broke down, and most of all I don't have any close friends that live here in the area. I feel like just leaving all my stuff and just living on the streets, maybe up in the mountains away from all people. When I went into the kitchen today, the person I share the house with, his girlfriend would just slam doors and just show that she just hates me living here. She doesn't have to say a word, because I know and therefore I don't talk with her at all for what can I say. I am unemployed and my truck is broke down, "DO YOU EVEN CARE with your two vehicles" and of course she is driving her boyfriends second vehicle.
I just get the feeling they don't even want me here at all since I lost my job and she moved in a month ago. She said "I was going to live in the room you are living in" Well I have lived here almost a YEAR. So where does she get off on saying those CUTTING WORDS TO ME. So you see how I am living now with depression I already had and NOW THIS. I was going to sell my computer to Him but now I am just going to take my computer and move somewhere else if I am able to get a truck to move all my stuff. Maybe I'll just let someone else have all my stuff and just disappear. I am going NUTS!!! WHO WANTS TO HIRE SOMEONE WHO DOESN"T HAVE A LIFE!!!

Tag

 

[PuppyforChrist]

I'm sorry Tag, I didn't mean to offend you. I just meant to me it isn't a big deal. I don't know how long you've had it, but I've been suffering for 5 years with depression and I know it's not easy. I've just learned to deal with it because I have had it so long that's all. My friends have taught me how to deal with it and have made me feel so much better when I felt down and out. To some, depression is very hard, to others it is not. That's all I meant.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Tag,

I know where you're at my friend. I've been there.

When I first moved with my job from Calif to Florida I did not have a car. I moved with a religious orginization and the behavior of other "christians" towards me was bizarre.

I lived in the same apartment complex as one of my co-workers and would ride back and forth to work with her. On many occasions I was treated as if I was in the way. One morning she gave me a tongue lashing for making her late. . .and I always was waiting at her car when she came out of her apt.

When she moved I started catching the bus. At 6 in the morning I would walk a mile to the nearest bus stop which the closest it came to my job was about 2 miles away and I would arrange, a day ahead for someone to pick me up there so that I could arrive to work by 8am. Even then, people fussed about having to drive into the mall parking lot, that they were driving by anyway, and pick me up. Talk about feeling like scum.

Then the Lord sent a new co-worker, who upon hearing that I lived near her, volunteered to give me rides to and from work. What a blessing she was. . .and still is. She told me sometime later that after we started riding together that several of our co-workers approached her and told her "all about me". She say's, the Lord told her not to believe them and she continued giving me rides. She says she is glad she did because she considers me one of her best friends.

I had people try to sell me their junk car at payments I told them I could not afford (they approached me) and when I told them that they belittled me and told me I was foolish and God gave me a mind and I was not using it. That particular car broke down a month later and was quite expensive for them to fix. . .emagine if I had listened to them.

There is load's more but what I really want to stress is that God is the Deliverer. He deliveres us from all that oppresses us. He is not a respector of persons so therefore, since He did it for me, He will do it for you too.

God says, He has not given us a spirit of fear, but He has given us a Spirit of Love, Power, and a Sound Mind. . .I would say that pretty much excludes depression

God also says that He does not tempt us with evil so we know that depression is NOT some test from Him. . .it IS an attack of our enemy and we need to attack the enemy back.

The way we do that is by using all that spiritual armor you listed from Eph 6. First we need to draw nigh to God and then resist the devil and he will flee from us.

We draw nigh to God by putting all of our attention on to Him. I know that can be difficult to do in the beginning but it is well worth what is reaped as a result. If you believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still in opperation today and you speak in tongues, this is a very good time to start utilizing that gift. It WILL help. According to Paul in 1 Cor 14:4 (Amp) "He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself". If you don't have this gift and you want to know more, I can help you with that too. . .just PM me, or come on over to the Charasmatic forum where we can discuss it without interruption.

Anyway, get before God and ask Him to show you what there is that you have done, if anything, to get yourself into this situation. Whatever He shows, if anything, act on what He shows you. If you realize where you might have brought it on then repent and ask God to show you the way out. We all get ourselves into bad places and need God's help.

If He does not show you anything then just ask for Him to show you the way out. He says there is always an escape. . .ask Him to reveal where the escape is. He is faithful. He will help you.

Now this is not to say that everything will change overnight. . .but then again. . .is there anything too hard for God?

Also, when you get before God, just love on Him. That is the best way to get your attention off of yourself and your issues and on to Him and what He desires to do in and through you.

I sense that God is wanting to take you into an area of ministry that will bring you in contact with people who are struggling with depression the way you are . . .however, when you do this you will be helping lead them out as you see God lead you out.

He loves you so much. . .He adores you. It does not matter what other people think. It's only what God thinks that is the truth. And He see's you as the finished product. . .and when God say's He is finished. . . He also declairs that "it is good".

Tag, there is so much more that I can share with you if you are interested. I'm in no way saying it's an easy trip but it's definately a trip. . .out of despair, depression, anxiety, etc. You don't have to stay there. There is a way out.

Please feel free to PM me. That goes for anybody else reading this too.

Be blessed, and I'll be praying for you.

Quaffer

 

[Shamash Of Yeshua]

I'm sorry Tag, I didn't mean to offend you. I just meant to me it isn't a big deal. I don't know how long you've had it, but I've been suffering for 5 years with depression and I know it's not easy. I've just learned to deal with it because I have had it so long that's all. My friends have taught me how to deal with it and have made me feel so much better when I felt down and out. To some, depression is very hard, to others it is not. That's all I meant.

PuppyforChrist,

No offense taken. I don't mean to be so adimant in my reply, yet I feel at times that I just don't want to live. Doesn't mean I will kill myself, but you know at times I sure do feel like it.

Only in Him, Yeshua will we prevail in all things great and small. It is great to have friends close by that can be a great help when you are depressed. Yet I don't and therefore I feel alone and therefore stay depressed unless I get my mind on something else, which can be very hard at times. I just want to sleep, but just stay up and try to do something.

Tag

 

[Shamash Of Yeshua]

Thank you Quaffer for your words of encouragement very much. What I have said in my post before is just the tip of the Iceberg. I crossed a line in 1985 that will always be a thorn in my side for the rest of my life in this present world. It is very hard to find a place to live let alone find a job anymore that doesn't say "No Felonies" And when I have to explain to them my past they will most likely throw my application in the trash. Thank YHWH this is mainly in the businesses like Express Personal Services. Which by the way when I got out of prison I did work for them, but now they won't even use me because Insurance reasons as most others are doing the same. And on top of that with my truck broke down it is even harder since many jobs I can do require a vehicle that is running. Even ones that are located in ONE SPOT. Right now I only have a mountain bike. I am very thankful for having even that, because I know how hard it is for others that only have their feet and possibly NO PLACE TO LIVE. I met someone earlier this week that lives under a bridge. Seeing that there are many people that don't have a home to live makes me sick that I didn't help out when I did have a good paying job and a vehicle. It even makes me sick seeing that so many others aren't lifting a hand and are so in a hurry in this life they seem to not care. I do know their are people in this world that do care. It is just that I don't know any personally in person here where I live. Maybe we all ought to be like the Koreans on how they help each other in every way they can and therefore they end up OWNING their HOUSE and their Business after a few years because they WORK TOGETHER. For a long time I used to think they are getting help from the Government which really ticked me off since there are many in this country that don't get any help at all. But recently I talked with someone in the Fellowship I am attending on Shabbat that talked about how the Koreans work together to get ahead in life. WHY CAN'T PEOPLE OF YHWH DO THAT? The people in this world have become so INDIVIDUALISTIC that they aren't connected anymore. Everyone is in such a rush to get somewhere they don't have time to help out. They are so worried about this life they forget the ONE that IS COMING that will be FOR ETERNITY.

Thank you again Quaffer for your words of encouragement. I went wrong when I was born into the family I grew up in. I'm not implying it is YHWH's fault at all. For SIN will go on for seven generations. I don't know how long this SIN has in my dad's family but since his dad I would say counting granddad, 4 generations have been affected. I don't know of before granddad though.

Tag

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Tag,

Have I got a story for you. . .

One of our Pastors has always wanted to be in the National Guard. However, several years ago, before he knew the Lord he went to prison for attempted murder. I don't know the whole story but he was an adult when it happened and I know that he came to know God sometime after that and the Lord worked in his behalf in getting him out of prison early.

He's in his 30's now and for years now, he has had his own business but in the last few months his desire to be in the coast guard increased. He thought he would be turned down but he decided to apply anyway.

Well. . . to make a long story short. . . In Sept he is going into the National Guard. He was open and honest with them and told them everything. They told him, he needed to contact the State of NY, which is where he commited the crime and make a formal apology and request a pardon.

He called the proper authoritys and did as requested. . .now get this. . .

this is so cool. . .they told him they would be happy to pardon him but there was nothing to pardon.

There is absolutely no record of his offense.

So be of good cheer Tag, nothing is impossible with God. Have you ever heard that song by Hillsongs "All Things Are Possible"? Get yourself a copy of it and play it over and over and over again. . . until you not only believe it but that you live it.

God is not a respector of persons. . .if He did it for my Pastor, He will do it for you.

Be blessed!

Quaffer