Dealing With Depression - Part 2

 

We discuss the causes of depression and what we can do about it.  We also discuss suicidal thoughts.

~~Watch the Video~~

Worship:  Won't Be Long Now - Blessing Offor

Scriptures:

• Isaiah 41:10
• Proverbs 3:5
• 1 Kings 19:3-8
• Psalms 6: 6-7
• Philipians 4:8
• Ecclesiastes 9:11
• Luke 22: 31-32
• Jonah 4:1-3
• Matthew 7:24-27

Introduction

Isaiah 41:10

10‘Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not be afraid, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, I will also help you,

I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Clock Analogy

Story: My melted clock

• Looks cool on the outside
• At 12:57 it looks cool
• Right twice a day
• Change the battery - refresh the power
• Cool on the outside but broken on the inside

When depressed

• Cool on the outside but broken on the inside
• If you look at it at the right time it looks fine
• But you’re actually broken

Broken arm

• Go to doctor

Telling Other Christians

We are often afraid to share how we really feel with other Christians

They may think

• I don’t have enough faith
• I’m not really saved
• I’m not spiritual enough

We know the sins we’ve committed, so we believe ourselves that we aren’t spiritual enough

They’ll tell us

• You should pray more
• You should work harder
• You should be more spiritual

Depression  is not

• Weakness
• Because of sin
• You identity

Example: bed wetting

• Diagnosis becomes a crutch

Outline:

• Introduction
• Traits of Wholeness
• What is Depression?
• Causes of Depression (Review)
• Don’t Dismiss Your Emotions
• Renew Your Mind
• Use your pain to help others
• Suicide
• Your Foundation
• Orchestra Conclusion

Traits of Wholeness

We are in our series called Seeking Wholeness

How can we be:

• Spiritually healthy
• Emotionally healthy
• Mentally healthy

Free from oppression of

• Our past
• Ourself
• Bad thinking
• Strongholds
• The enemy

We’re talking about

• dealing with life’s current stresses
• being healed from experiences/wounds of the past

We’re not just supposed to have eternal life

• We’re supposed to have: joy, peace, patience, and self control here on earth

Disclaimer 

I’m not a trained clinical professional

• This study is not therapy
• It’s education and biblical advice

Traits of Wholeness

• Authenticity
• Honesty
• Kindness
• Not seeking external approval / validation
• Living by values and principles
• Setting Boundaries
• Taking ownership of your responsibilities
• Living with purpose and passion
• Optimism
• Confidence
• Healthy relationships with others
• Not losing control of your emotions
• Free from addictions
• Addressing Conflict with truth and love
• Vulnerability
• Not critical or Judgemental
• Not jealous of others
• Forgive those who have wronged you in the past
• Know that you’re worthy of receiving love
• Not afraid to fail
• Able to manage irrational fear, worry, and anxiety
• Selfless encounters with others
• Not manipulating others trying to control their actions/reactions
• You care about how others feel
• Patient
• Don’t give into peer/social pressure
• Can communicate directly
• Don’t take responsibility for other people's emotions
• Take responsibility for your own emotions
• Slow to anger
• Ability to maturely express your wants, needs and desires
• Being led by the Spirit

What is Depression?

Depression is feeling of

• Sadness
• lack of motivation
• Hopelessness
• Helplessness
• Powerlessness
• Worthlessness

Depression is

1. A normal emotion
2. A psychiatric disorder
3. Major depression is the name of the illness

Major Depression vs Mild Depression

Being depressed versus having depression

Signs of Depression

D-epressed mood

E-nervy loss - fatigue

P-leisure loss - things that were previously pleasurable

R-etardation - slowed activity

E-ating change - increase or decrease in appetite

S-leep changed - less than usual, tossing and turning; more than 10 hours and still not rested

S-uicidal thoughts

I-am a failure - lack of confidence

O-nly me to blame - guilt

N-o concentration

Major Depression

Having 5 of the symptoms you have major depression

• At least 2 weeks
• Must include

• Depressed mood
• Inability to experience pleasure in anything

It usually comes and goes naturally within 3-12 months

Mild depression

2 to 4 of the depressed symptoms

Last at least 2 weeks

——-

Recovery doesn’t mean zero symptoms

3 signs that most depressed people have

Three symptoms that most depressed people have

1. Low motivation in combination with fatigue
2. Hopelessness or helplessness
3. Indecisiveness

Depression has many symptoms that cause impairment in your day to day functions

Low motivation with fatigue

This is what makes people not want to get out of bed or do important things.  

It is hard for a non-depressed person to lay in bed unstimulated all day

Sometimes they have the TV on but they aren’t really watching it

They could be asleep or ruminating on negative situations

Depression versus laziness

Laziness means you don’t want to do anything.

• With depression you can’t.  
• In your head everything is hard and takes a tremendous effort

A less extreme version of this may be… Failing to follow through on applications

• Or you are late or produce low quality end the product

Hopelessness or helplessness

Hopelessness is the precursor to… “Why am I even alive“

“I will never see the light at the end of this tunnel… Because someone has blown up the tunnel“

Helplessness makes you feel incapable of doing anything for yourself

Indecisiveness

You get easily overwhelmed having to think about options

• So you may not be able to get started with a plan

The effort to analyze the situation and see how much it affects you… It’s too much to work through

You may doubt yourself so much that you don’t trust your own judgment

Solution

Get a therapist or friend who can help you break down the issue into smaller issues that you can think through

Small successes give you a more positive self image

• More positive self image give you the momentum for you to make to bigger successes

Other things that look like depression

Do you want want to take an antidepressant for these things

• Stress
• Burn out
• Pandemic melancholy
• being in a funk because of situational factors

Depression vs Grief

They are also different in important ways:

1. In grief, painful feelings come in waves, often intermixed with positive memories of the deceased.

1. In major depression, mood and/or interest (pleasure) are decreased for most of two weeks.

2. In grief, self-esteem is usually maintained. 

1. In major depression, feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are common.

3. In grief, thoughts of death may surface when thinking of or fantasizing about “joining” the deceased loved one.

1. In major depression, thoughts are focused on ending one’s life due to feeling worthless or undeserving of living or being unable to cope with the pain of depression.

Grief and depression can co-exist. 

A Terrible Life

Are you depressed or do you have a terrible life?

https://youtu.be/2e5a1TIl_Ts

• “being depressed“ means there’s something emotionally wrong with you
• If you have a terrible life… You are having a normal reaction to having a terrible life

Life changes

Example: friend thought she was depressed

• Move
• Married
• Job

Burnout Vs Depression

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrQfuFIsJKE/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Causes of Depression (Review)

In part one we dug into the various causes of depression:

• Physical
• Circumstance
• Relationship
• Environment
• Personality/Mindset
• Spiritual

Some things that can cause depressed mood include:

• Physical

• Poor Diet
• Dehydration
• Sleep difficulties
• Lack of exercise

• Lack of sunlight (vitamin D)
• Biochemical

• Hormone imbalances

• Life circumstances

• Death of loved one
• Job loss
• Traumatic event
• Overworking / burnout
• Isolation
• Chronic and recurring stress

• Relationships
• Personality/Mindset

• Pessimist
• Low self esteem
• Comparison

• Spiritual

• Meaning of life
• Shame
• Unbiblical expectations

Fatherless Generation

Fatherless generation

• 50% marriages end in divorce
• 90% of youth runaways - fatherless home
• 70% men in prison
• The father’s role is to help shape the identity

Fathers aid in establishing identity.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cegv49opo3D/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Solutions (Review)

Armor of God

Breastplate of Righteousness

Don’t seek temporary escape/pleasure

Coping mechanisms

Hope of Salvation

Remember your future is bright

focus on the Kingdom vs the World

Shield of Faith

Can be caused by loss of control

Not dependant on our own strength

Proverbs 3:5

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and lean not on your own understanding;

Sword of the Spirit

Presence of God cures depression

Spend time with God

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cp3b8W1gy-7/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Gospel of Peace

Focus on the Love of God - dahter

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cqy2zTQv8YP/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

• We have peace with God

Get Up and Eat

1 Kings 19:3-8

3 And he was afraid, and got up and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah; and he left his servant there. 4But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked for himself to die, and said, “Enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5Then he lay down and fell asleep under a broom tree; but behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat!” 6And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a round loaf of bread baked on hot coals, and a pitcher of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7But the angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him, and said, “Arise, eat; because the journey is too long for you.” 8So he arose and ate and drank, and he journeyed in the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.

• He slept
• He ate
• He got up and went on a journey
• Went to be in God’s presence

Many of your problems would be solved if we got 8 hours of sleep

There is a difference between resting and being lazy

Rest has to be combined with you getting up

get a consistent rhythm

• You might need to change your diet
• Make sure you’re sleeping and eating

The rhythm of life is that you work in the day and sleep at night

You have to get up to discover…God has more purpose for you

Practical Solutions

• Perform some normal activities

• Get out of bed
• Shower
• brush teeth

• Get some sunlight
• Get your circadian rhythms resynced
• Set boundaries and minimize exposure to  negative and stressed out people.
• Do something that cheers you up
• Set small goals

• Example: Brush teeth and shower

• 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise
• Change diet

• Mediterranean diet
• Eat whole food mindfully

• Go into nature
• Sleep optimization

• Less than 6 hours per night can worsen/cause depression
• Wear blue light blocking glasses 2 hours before bedtime

Don’t Dismiss Your Emotions

Psalms 6: 6-7

6I am weary with my sighing;

Every night I make my bed swim

I flood my couch with my tears.

7My eye has wasted away with grief;

It has grown old because of all my enemies.

Your emotions are valid

• But they are not permanent

Name your emotions

I feel

• Afraid
• Empty
• Hopeless
• Numb
• Betrayed

Tarantula Experiment

4 groups…

1. Label what you are feeling

1. “Fear”

2. Make observations

1. “ The tarantulas in a cage”

3. Say something irrelevant

1. “it’s a Tuesday“

4. Don’t say anything at all

The one who did better

• Labeled their feelings

Naming your emotions opens the door to changing your emotions

You need to acknowledge your emotions… But you don’t need to obey them

– – ML

Check engine light

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cqtz1JVN3kh/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

• Don’t just cover the check engine light

Don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary emotions

Renew Your Mind

Philipians 4:8

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Depression is Caused By Your Thinking*

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxNRFGBhtwqTyO5NJVeL9ehUfr96TeXOiI

• Identify the lie

*we’ve already discussed physical and biological factors that can cause depression

It’s not just in your head

• It’s also throughout the rest of your body
• It’s in your stomach

Identify the lies with the enemy is attacking

Strongholds That Impact Your Depression

Examine the stated beliefs for…

All or nothing thinking

• “Everyone I know gets cancer”
• “It always…”
• “They never…”
• “Nobody cares about me…”

Emotional reasoning

• “I am angry therefore… Someone needs to be blamed“

The fallacy of fairness

Ecclesiastes 9:11

I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to the skillful; for time and chance overtake them all.

We think

• If I train and become fast…I should win the race
• If I train to be a warrior…I should win the fight
• If I’m wise…I should be rich
• If I’m skilled…I should do better

…it don’t always work like that

sometimes Life is not fair

It might be the healthiest, holiest, friendliest person who dies young

The person may have thought that “if I live my life good and healthy then I can have a long life“

• Now it is scary because that may not happen

Control Fallacy

1. anything that goes wrong is inherently your fault
2. Or you feel completely out of control

Example: They died because of my sins

Are you taking on more responsibility and more self blame than is accurate?

The Devil influences your perspective - Bizzle

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrN8dVxuDna/?igshid=ZjE2NGZiNDQ=

Self Evaluation Questions

• What are the facts supporting and not supporting this belief that I have?
• What aspects of the situation do I have control over?
• What is the probability that my fear can come true?

Use your pain to help others

Serve Others

Luke 22: 31-32

31“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you men like wheat; 32but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail; and you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

• I pray you pass the test
• Come back and strengthen your brothers

Sometimes God will let you go through pain for the benefit of other people

Your greatest ministry can come out of your deepest hurt if

Use Your Pain

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cpa48kBLHry/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

• Jackie Hill Perry

Scars

• Doubting Thomas / Jesus
• Some people will only believe you if they can see your scars

How to help family members

• Be consistent
• Be responsive to them
• Don’t minimize how they are feeling
• Ask what you can do to help
• Change the environment

• E.g. Open the blinds

Suicide

Jonah 4:1-3

1 But it greatly displeased Jonah, and he became angry. 2 Then he prayed to the LORD and said, “Please LORD, was this not what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore in anticipation of this I fled to Tarshish, since I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in mercy, and One who relents of disaster. 3 “So now, LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.”

• Jonah thought “it’s not fair”

Werther effect

A well-documented phenomenon around the world, the Werther Effect refers to the identified rise in sucide rates following well-publicised reports of deaths by suicide of celebrities or other well-known figures in the media.

• When Marilyn Monroe committed suicide it increased 12%

Suicide Facts

• Death by suicide is 4 times as frequent in men than in women
• critical periods

• Between age 10 and 24 years
• over 70 years
• Suicidal elders give fewer warnings

• Women who are pregnant or have young children are less likely to kill themselves
• Suicide in whites and a non-Hispanic native Americans are approximately two times those observed and Hispanics, not Hispanic African-Americans and Asian pacific islanders
• Suicide rate of single persons is twice that of those who are married
• Divorce, separated or widowed individuals have rates 4 to 5 times higher than married individuals
• More than 90% of persons who die from suicide satisfy the criteria for one or more psychiatric disorders
• Alcohol abuse or dependence is present in 25% to 50% of those who died by suicide
• Personality disorders exist in approximately 30–40% of those who attempt or die by suicide

Story:  friend’s coworker recent family suicide

Religion

Some religions view suicide as honorable to prevent shame from coming to the family

Some Christians view suicide as an unforgivable sin

• Suicide is not the unforgivable sin

Assessing Suicide Risk

After crises you either start to feel better or become suicidal within two days

Risk factors

Factors that increase suicide risk include:

• Communications of suicidal intent
• Prior suicide attempts
• Continued or heavier drinking
• Recent unemployment
• living alone
• Poor social support
• Legal and financial difficulties
• Serious medical or mental illness
• Personality disturbance
• Other substance use

Active vs Passive Suicidal Thoughts

https://youtube.com/shorts/-IkLej8x6SM

• Active suicidal thinking is when you think through a plan.

How to Help Someone Suicidal

• Assess for danger/safety for self and others
• Reflection and empathy
• Hear what they have to say
• They are feeling out of control
• If someone else gets it there may be hope
• Address medical needs
• Build rapport by allowing them to tell their story
• Don’t take all their power away
• Understand not fixing
• Provide support through active and empathetic listening
• Bring the person to the present, describe future events
• What do you need right now?
• If someone is willing to make future plans… That is a good sign
• Provide referrals as needed

SAFER-R

Stabilize

Acknowledge what’s going on (don’t judge)

Facilitate understanding (for you and them)

Encourage adaptive coping

Restore functioning

• What’s the minimum you need to do?

Refer

Suicide Safety Plan*

If you are concerned you may be suicidal you can set up these precautions

• Identify your warning signs
• Write down coping strategies
• Going for a walk outside
• Watch a movie
• Something pleasurable
• Social contacts or settings you enjoy
• Coffee shop
• Bookstore
• Supportive family members you can tell
• Contact info for a professional / agency
• Make your environment safe
• Remove Guns
• Pills
• Ask Yourself: What’s the one thing in your life important enough to stay alive?

* This does not replace seeing a therapist

https://988lifeline.org

The devil wants to take away people with potential for God

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrQaSfKxVQq/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Your Foundation

Matthew 7:24-27

24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 “And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 “And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 “And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and its collapse was great.”

The Foundation Makes the Difference - Jasmine

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRTXtHyF/

What is the strong foundation?

Spiritual Band-Aids

We tell people.

• Read your Bible.
• Pray more.
• Don’t miss church.

The counseling community assumes a real battle is.

• Psychological stress.
• Emotional scars.
• Sexual confusion.
• Self rejection

We Don't want to elevate psychological and personal problems to a position of top priority.  

Our foundation is a life in the kingdom of God connected to the father being led by the Holy Spirit.

Orchestration

Praise him in a pit.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cq6Q_OStDIH/?igshid=ZjE2NGZiNDQ=

Our fiercest battles are fought when we stick with all of our hearts to trust God so fully that we see every misfortune as something he permits, and wants to use to know him so richly that we turn to no Him and nothing else to experience what our soul so richly longs for.  To love him so completely And with such consuming passion That we hate anything that comes between us and eagerly give it up.  

That is the battle…

Do I trust God enough that I turn to him when things are going bad?

—Larry Cobb (Connecting)

God is the conductor

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cq9QX19sQmf/?igshid=ZjE2NGZiNDQ=

Instructor: Michael Leadon

References

The ultimate cure for depression | apostle Joshua Selman

Dunamis hub

Three signs that most depressed people have

Dr. Tracy marks

Minor depression versus major depression – how to tell the difference

Dr. Tracy Marx

Suicide prevention

Doc snipes

What is really considered a suicidal thought?

Dr. Tracy marks

Rich Wilkerson Jr - Are You OK?: The Suicide Deception

Vous Church

Is Suicide the Unforgivable Sin? - Banner of Truth UK

Extra

2 Corinthians 7:6 ESV 

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

Struggles lead to success – T.D. Jakes.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnmEG77pmm6/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

How to get a haunting memory to go away

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpgJhWEOVYo/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Justin Peterson

It’s all in your mind.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqO_WYUpc3K/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

You gotta put some weight on it to make it stronger.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cq79oJqgirB/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

You learn that God is great when he carries your cross – Kobe.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CplfpBSgqFM/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

The devil causes dark days - Darius

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrJgLd4ulTW/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Find your purpose partners.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqVPWF1DaIz/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Stop speaking against God’s plans - Dahter

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrCNfXJuYv6/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

• When you speak negatively… You may be speaking against the plans of God

Victim mentality - Josh Terry

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrWO76rguh8/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Pain reveals people - Tye Tribbet

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqlYBBMAI3d/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Everything happens for a reason. - Inky

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cqplta3Akgs/?igshid=ZjE2NGZiNDQ=

Circumin helps depression - Tracy Marks

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cra-rYNpbV4/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Suicide

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrtKR3aPiMO/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Depression 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsBlUmgPV1p/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Suicide

Self Harm

Without having any desire for death, individuals may intentionally injure themselves to

• Express anger
• Relieve anxiety or tension
• Generate a feeling of “normality or self control“
• Terminate his state of depersonalization
• Distract or punish themselves

Peace

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

John 14:27

27 Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.

The peace of God is not based on results

The world is waiting for everything to be in place to have peace

Worry does not solve today’s problems

• Worry kills today’s peace

If your piece depends on your external environment

• Satan has mastered you