Depression

Definition:
A self-focused emotional form of suffering that totally obscures hope.

Symptoms of Depression:

Insomnia, depressed mood, always feeling low, lack of energy, fatigue, apathy,
changes in appetite, feeling of alienation, crying spells, inability to concentrate, indecisiveness, negative attitude, lack of pleasure, procrastination, lack of libido, can’t think your way forward, hopelessness

Types of Depression:
1) Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood.

Situational, short-term, less than 6 months

2) Disthymia

Person’s mood is always sub-normal Joyless, not much satisfaction in life Develops gradually

Chronic low self-esteem

1 yr for adolescents – 2 years for adults
Pessimistic feelings of failure but they are functioning

3) Major Depression

Often incapacitating or debilitating
More abrupt onset – for at least two weeks of duration Much more profound sense of despair and hopelessness Vague aches and pains
Withdrawn and alienated
Can be combined with anxiety

4) Bipolar I and II

Periods of depression mixed with periods of mania or euphoria, hyperactivity and creativity
They are very up or very down

5) Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Periods of depression brought on by periods of little sunlight

Possible Physical Causes of Depression

1)  Side effects of medications Blood pressure meds Heart meds
Antibacterial Meds Psychotropic meds

2)  Neurological Disorders Parkinson’s, MS

3)  Lupus,Hepatitis

4)  Addison’s, Cushing’s Disease

5)  Mononucleosis

6)  Electrolyte Disorder (Anorexia and Bulimia)

7)  Drug/Alcohol Abuse

8)  HeartSurgery

9)  Fatigue and exhaustion

10) Insomnia

Other Contributing Factors of Depression

1) A major loss – actual or perceived – death, divorce, job
2) Loneliness, isolation – we were made to live in relationship to others

3) Trauma – combat, crime, abuse, major betrayals (adultery)
4) Introverted anger

Spiritual Factors

1) Sin of self or others – guilt
2) “Dark night of the Soul” – spiritual dryness – pruning
3) The Flaming darts of Satan – spiritual warfare
4) A lack of assurance of salvation – A lack of understanding of salvation 5) A lack of overall growth in the Christian life
6) Religious Obsession Compulsion – legalism, fear of punishment

Help from the Psalms

Ps. 77

Ps. 42

Ps. 43

Ps. 88