Jesus spoke

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
Luke 4:18

Written by:  Elizabeth
Oath of God Ministries

Without exception, every person in the world has experienced some form of depression.  Sometimes depression may last for a lengthy period of time and sometimes it can be short-lived. 

Depression may be the result of a physical, emotional or spiritual problem or it might very well be a combination of any or all of the above.

There are many state-licensed psychiatrists, clinical social workers and clinical psychologists, as well as other licensed mental health providers who are also classified as Christian counselors.  Many Christians prefer to see only a Christian mental health provider because they know mankind is made in the image of God whereby the spiritual, moral and ethical component cannot be dismissed during counseling.      

The Holy Spirit can use a licensed Christian counselor to examine the believer’s relationship between his thoughts, feelings and behavior and subsequently compare those thoughts or behaviors to scripture.  In Christian counseling, the standard of behavior is the Word of God.  The Holy Spirit can use the counselor as a facilitator to take a believer step-by-step through an emotional healing because God alone knows what we are able to bear and where the dark and heavy hindrances are located in our spiritual heart and thought processes.  God is the Great Physician and He will determine both the method and timetable of an emotional healing for those who are willing to rely on His direction. 

The Christian mental health provider may use specific counseling methods to compliment the therapy process by applying the Word in tandem with prayer and other spiritual gifts given to him by Christ Jesus.  Sometimes a Christian counselor may initially require the client’s primary physician to order certain medical tests to eliminate the possibility of blood deficiencies, underlying injuries or possible primary diseases which might be contributing factors to the depression.   

A qualified Christian counselor should have a statement of faith, attend church regularly and be highly recommended by his local pastor and church community.  He should also have a biblical viewpoint regarding marriage, divorce, homosexuality, abortion, pre-marital sex, disciplining children and the role of husband and wife.  A licensed Christian Counselor is also able to point to very specific scripture to encourage, strengthen and redirect the patient.  The counselor himself must be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to accomplish these objectives.  The believer should also ask the Holy Spirit to help choose the right counselor as some are better than others.  If, however, the Christian counselor is not applying the Word of God to the therapy and does not urge the believer to stay in the Word on a regular basis, it might be time to find another counselor. 

God is both compassionate and loving.  He desires to bless His children who are living under His grace.  Sometimes, however, we won’t go to God to find out why we are depressed.  Sometimes we know exactly why we’re depressed but still won’t permit God into our inner circle where the depression resides.  We frequently leave God out of the healing process altogether despite the fact that He might be knocking on the door to our hearts with a desire to heal.  So let’s remember that God is our solution not our problem and repeating the same human processes over and over without His involvement will not produce the desired result.

Our identity is always in Christ Jesus and never in the current problem.  The world’s attitudes, our moods and circumstances may fluctuate but God never changes. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Heb 13:8)  We can trust in Him whose mercy and love are immediately available to transform mighty problems and heavy burdens into godly solutions and supernatural healings.  Even when the healings are measured in baby steps they are still considered victories and when we turn back to review our progress we can see that we’ve come a long way.

God can heal depression.  If we do not ask God then we oftentimes forfeit a healing.  Sometimes believers will even refuse counseling because it requires them to delve deeper into their emotions and this process in itself can be uncomfortable at times.  Some believers resist the Holy Spirit because they believe that God doesn’t care when in fact He deeply desires to be invited into our lives to provide a healing solution.  

Please read the article “Why Christians Don’t Get Healed” as well as “Why You Need Jesus” for further clarification on why we need the Holy Spirit’s help in many mental health cases.  The additional articles titled, “Strongholds”, Generational Curses, Demonic Possession and Spiritual Warfare may also prove helpful.

Depression or Disease? 

Some mental health physicians call depression a disease.  For example, it is true that diabetes as a primary disease can cause depression as a secondary condition but most physicians are attempting to convince the general public that depression should always be classified as a disease in and of itself.  Yet I know a Christian woman who was completely healed of her bipolar condition.  She declares that Christ Jesus healed her.  Therefore was her bipolar condition a disease or was it a spiritual condition?  

If a licensed psychiatrist is an atheist he will not be able to see the critical need for anyone’s identity in Christ Jesus as he has abandoned altogether his own spiritual needs classifying them as obsolete.  Yet many people suffer from depression due to an immoral lifestyle.  Therefore, would we classify an immoral lifestyle as a disease?  Nor has anyone discovered a “depression gene” in our DNA.  As stated earlier, depression may be the result of a physical, emotional or spiritual problem or it might very well be a combination of any or all of the above.

Anti-Depressants: When Not to Take Them

We also live in a culture that heavily promotes anti-depressants.  Oath of God Ministries strongly believes that God can heal depression without any help from medication.  There are occasions, however, when a deep-rooted trauma has assaulted either a family or individual where a Christian counselor may prescribe an anti-depressant to assist the believer throughout the recovery stages of healing and during the different phases of Christian counseling. 

Many mental health experts believe that anti-depressants still serve a strong purpose especially for patients recovering from uncommon and deep rooted traumas, underlying primary diseases causing depression as a secondary condition, clinical depression and other equally serious or related problems.  Many experts remain concerned by the epidemic increase in anti-depressants being prescribed to patients who are dealing with nothing more than life’s everyday problems.  Nevertheless, a person should never discontinue their medications without a physician’s supervision or approval.  If you are currently experiencing suicidal ideation, please contact 911, tell a trusted family member or friend and contact a licensed Christian counselor on an immediate basis.

There are contributing factors which have led to the increase of anti-depressants in America.  The pharmaceutical companies spend millions of dollars on television advertisements, insurance companies promote their coverage of these medications and general practitioners too frequently prescribe them.  Given this exposure, it’s not unusual to find a patient demanding a prescription.  All of these factors contribute to the overuse of anti-depressants in our culture.  An additional concern is that many of these medications have very serious side effects for some patients.

Studies show that over the past 20 years the use of antidepressants has skyrocketed.  Statistics indicate that one in ten Americans now takes an antidepressant medication.  Within that group and among women in their 40s and 50s, the figure is one in four.  Many critics claim that anti-depressants are now being prescribed to patients who are simply dealing with temporary if not common events in everyday life.  In some cases this may lead to a long-term diagnosis of mental illness.  Realistically, there will always be the ups and down in life with disappointments along the way but anti-depressants may not be the best solution in these cases.

A recent August 12, 2013 article written by Roni Caryn Rabin, titled “A Glut of Anti-depressants” indicates that depression is being over diagnosed by the medical field.   “The study, published in April in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, found that nearly two-thirds of a sample of more than 5,000 patients who had been given a diagnosis of depression within the previous 12 months did not meet the criteria for major depressive episode as described by the psychiatrists’ bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (or D.S.M.).” The study is not the first to find that patients frequently get “false positive” diagnoses for depression. Several earlier review studies have reported that diagnostic accuracy is low in general practice offices, in large part because serious depression is so rare in that setting.”

The author also pointed out that Americans are more willing to take medication in order to deal with their problems. “It’s not only that physicians are prescribing more, the population is demanding more,” Dr. Mojtabai said. “Feelings of sadness, the stresses of daily life and relationship problems can all cause feelings of upset or sadness that may be passing and not last long.  But Americans have become more and more willing to use medication to address them.”  Dr. Ramin Mojtabai is an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  It was also noted that many doctors are prescribing anti-depressants for individuals who are responding to the loss of loved ones.  “Many doctors have long prescribed antidepressants soon after the death of a family member, even though the D.S.M. urges clinicians to differentiate between normal grief and pathological bereavement.”  

Sometimes asking a trusted friend to pray, going to a praise and worship service, staying in the Word, having quiet moments alone with God or simply asking Him to divinely intervene can make a world of difference which can manifest an emotional healing or at least redirect the believer in a renewed direction.  All of these spiritual activities can compliment your sessions with the licensed Christian counselor.  You may also realize considerable peace when reading scriptures that help in overcoming depression.   

 

Scripture to Overcome Depression
click on above link

 

Here are a few reasons why a person may experience depression:

1.  Individuals who do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit may suffer depression.  Without the spiritual component being taken into consideration, depression can continue without any healing.  These individuals are not spirit-led because they do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit.  If not spirit-led they may suffer from poor decisions which can also compound the problem of depression.  

2.  Not spending time with God to hear from Him and not spending time in His Word can cause anyone to fall prey to the world’s trap of busyness and performance related activities with the hope of finding acceptance directly or indirectly from either God or man.  Ultimately we will miss our true identity in Christ Jesus whereby we find ourselves exhausted, depressed, overworked and disappointed.  Skipping over our need for quiet prayer time with the Lord or refusing to repent for our shortcomings towards God and others while clinging to unforgiveness will also allow depression to seep into our thoughts.

3.  An unresolved childhood wound or conflict may cause depression which manifests itself throughout the person’s adult life.  Depression and other aberrant behaviors may persist until the emotional wound is properly uncovered and healed.  Any unresolved childhood wounds will cloud a believer’s identity in Christ Jesus whereby the never ending vicious cycle of redundant problems will continue. 

4.  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can cause depression.  If a number of ADHD symptoms manifest – the believer should seek counselling immediately in order to manage the symptoms.  This disorder can also cause marital problems.  Therefore if the believer is married both spouses should attend counseling together.

5.  People have high expectations that are not realistic.  When the plan doesn’t work out a deep depression may ensue.  Every decision should be brought to the Lord in prayer before the next step is taken and especially those which deal with money, marriage, family, dating or careers.

6.  Chronic pain can cause depression.  For example, arthritis causes unrelenting pain and is oftentimes disabling.  This medical condition has been known to cause depression.  Many Christians have been delivered of the affliction of arthritis through reading scripture, radical diet change, weight loss, appropriate exercise and prayer.  Again, God can heal both the arthritis and the depression.  

7.  Stress related jobs or sporting endeavors may lead to depression especially if the goal or objective is unrealistic or unattainable.

8. A busy schedule with little time to rest can cause depression.

9. Individuals who have experienced the loss of a loved one may become sorrowful or depressed for periods of time.

10. The severing of a relationship can cause sorrow and feelings of depression.

11. An unfulfilled career path or problems in one’s marriage as well as financial difficulties may produce a sense of hopelessness which leads to periods of depression.

12. Hormonal imbalances especially in women may cause depression.  For example, hypothyroidism which is common in women over 40 years is known to cause depression.  Other types of hormonal imbalances can also cause depression.  God is able to heal the thyroid problem as well as the depression.  In the physical realm, many women eat processed foods which contain harmful food additives which negatively affect the thyroid.  In some cases a radical diet change, regular exercise and rest can help to balance the thyroid.    

13. A state of depression may occur just after a person has successfully survived or overcome an enormous life challenge.  The individual may have experienced a great deal of stress whereby a backlash of depression may follow this victory or episode.

14. Certain medications can cause depression such as beta blockers or corticosteroids as well other prescribed drugs.

15. Persistent sin in one’s life can result in depression.  King Saul was jealous of young David and made attempts to kill him.  King Saul’s sin of jealousy legally opened the door for the demonic host to influence his mood which caused frequent episodes of depression.

16. Dosage reduction in anti-depressants can cause depression and should be done only under a physician’s supervision.  Christians should slowly migrate away from anti-depressants with more dependency on Christ Jesus for healing.  This may be a process since a physician’s oversight is required whenever a dosage reduction of anti-depressants takes place.

17. An allergic reaction to gluten has been known to cause depression.

18. Substance abuse can cause depression

19. A person may be battling a primary disease which co-exists with depression as the secondary condition.  The core disease must first be healed or managed before the depression can be eliminated.  For example, diabetes may cause depression although God is able to heal both.

20. Men are especially prone to depression during the onset of retirement because it is an enormous departure from a lifelong habit of working.  Retirement may give the individual a sense of having no further purpose in life.  A counselor can point to a plethora of scripture which can supplant these lies with God’s enduring truths to rejuvenate hope. 

21. Often times depression is associated with a poor diet of processed foods which contain synthetic chemicals, food additives, excessive salt, fat and refined sugars. 

22. Constantly watching the news on television which broadcasts world events can cause a sense of hopelessness and depression especially if the world events are viewed without any biblical interpretation

23. An enormous change in one’s lifestyle such as relocating to a different area, changing a job, going to college or experiencing the empty nest syndrome can cause depression.  If God has foreordained these new changes – the believer can be assured that whatever God has asked him to do, God will supply the means to accomplish the objective.  This new activity can be filled with the joy of the Lord.   

24. Depression sometimes runs in families.  Some researchers believe that depression might be genetic in nature although no gene has ever been identified for causing depression.  Therefore there may be other reasons such as dysfunctional or poor learned behaviors being taught from one generation to the next.  Nevertheless, God is quite able to break all patterns of generational depression.

25. People who have inadequate fluid intake can become extremely fatigued and may become mentally disoriented or depressed.  Athletes and the elderly are more prone to dehydration and this can cause irritability and depression

 


 

 

 

 

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