Depression: Cry of the Soul

by Victoria Gaines
Published July 15, 2006

“Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears, it is well to pay the closest attention. They are not only telling you something of the secret of who you are, but more often than not, God is speaking to you through them of the mystery of where you have come from, and is summoning you to where, if your soul is to be saved, you should go next.” ~ Frederich Buechner, Whistling in the Dark

Depression didn’t exactly knock at her front door. According to Renee, it crept through the back windows of disappointment and grief, leaving her heart in shambles. To move to a new community and lose lifelong friends was one adjustment, but the blow of debilitating illness, job loss, then the death of her mother—well, it was just too much. Renee slipped into a dark hole. She felt abandoned and couldn’t pray. It became increasingly hard to ignore the whispers of her imagination: Life’s not worth living. I’m useless, tired…can’t keep going like this. Where are you anyway, God?

Meanwhile, tears trickled down Dottie’s cheeks as she drove across town. She searched her purse for a tissue, trying not to veer off the road. Months of unexplained fatigue, crying jags, and apathy forced her to finally make a doctor’s appointment. Muddled thinking and negativity crowded her tender brain. Lately she felt cranky, indecisive, and guilty for withdrawing from friends. She could barely pull herself out of bed. Dottie tried to hide her lethargy from friends and family, but even that took a toll. Folks thought she had the ‘good life’-- a loving husband, close friends, a thriving home business, a wonderful women’s ministry. But Dottie couldn’t handle it anymore. Maybe she was losing her mind.

Sheryl’s friends thought she was creative, a bit melancholy sometimes, but a loyal and loveable friend nonetheless. As life stresses mounted--her divorce, a new job, her son’s wedding--friends were unable to console her. She isolated. Quick-tempered and emotional, she blew up at the slightest provocation. She couldn’t concentrate to read her bible. Pride stifled her cry for help. If only she could get a grip…if only she could sleep. Maybe she’d pull through.

Janie’s life crumbled after years of emotional turmoil. Sick of the guilt, despair, and inability to carry out her normal routines, she admitted a problem. Incapacitated by fear, she thought about getting help. But where should she turn? A psychiatrist, her pastor, or a counselor? Confusion held her captive. Fleeting thoughts of suicide finally drove Janie to her pastor.

What do these women have in common? Depression. Not the blues, not learned helplessness, not just a bad frame of mind. Hopelessness is the classic symptom of an ailment that has been misjudged by people who simply don’t understand.

What causes depression? Renee, Dottie, Sheryl, and Janie each had different root causes. Simplistic answers do more harm than good if we don’t understand this. While Renee’s symptoms stemmed from a normal response to loss and the need to do grief work, Dottie’s depression was caused by a deficiency of neurotransmitters in the brain. At first the doctors thought she had a thyroid problem, maybe menopausal symptoms, but testing ruled that out. Sheryl’s sleep deprivation produced a tired brain in need of medication to balance her brain chemicals in order to sleep again and better cope with her daily stressors. Janie didn’t need a psychiatrist; she needed truth and spiritual counseling. But to tell any of these women to ‘pull yourself together’ or ‘get a life’ or ‘just read your bible and pray harder’ would minimize their struggle and further isolate them at a time they desperately needed help and support.

To minister to the hurting, we need to get rid of preconceived notions, skepticism, or personal biases. Depressive illness is quite treatable, but left unchecked, it’s potentially life-threatening. Not only have I dealt with major depression in my own life from various causes, I’ve known persons who quietly took their own lives because they didn’t seek help. Cliches and pat answers will only build walls between people, but a little education goes a long way.

Depression often requires a holistic approach:

1. Spiritual care.
2. Appropriate counseling.
3. Medical care to rule out physical illness.
4. Medication for the brain when needed.

But prayer is our best ‘first resort.’ As we turn to the Lord for healing, He can be absolutely trusted to lead us out of our darkness. It may take awhile. If it’s a matter of spiritual oppression, submitting to the Lord, confessing sin, dealing with forgiveness, renewing our minds with truth, renouncing lies and false deceptions—these efforts to “do business with God” set us free from spiritual strongholds. Spiritually speaking, depression is bondage if we’re not right with God. A good biblical counselor always points us to the Lord for change and healing. For other causes of depression, God may heal through doctors, counseling, and/or medication. But first, we pray.

Isn’t depression a result of anger or unresolved issues? It can be. But depression can also result from a neuro-chemical malfunctioning of the brain. Stress adds to this, but so do genetics. Just as heart disease sometimes runs in families, so can depressive illness. But depression is no more a character flaw than diabetes or heart disease. Consider physical ailments that trigger depression: thyroid conditions, hormonal imbalance, sleep deprivation, postpartum hormonal shifts, menopausal symptoms, PMS, etc. Certain drugs cause mental depression as a side affect. Inadequate sunlight can cause seasonal affective disorder (SAD). People with chronic illness almost always battle depression, and understandably so. While some argue that “pills” don’t resolve personal issues, sometimes an antidepressant is vital in stabilizing brain chemicals so the person can finally get enough relief from the overwhelming symptoms to engage in counseling.

Just like the heart, pancreas, or liver, the brain is an organ. It gets sick. Ironically, we balk at psychotropic drugs and antidepressants, but wouldn’t hesitate to take insulin in diabetes, or blood pressure medicine for hypertension. Granted, antidepressants are sometimes over-prescribed, but serious clinical depression cannot be ignored. Yet it’s still stigmatized, especially within the church. People with depression are not crazy.

But according to Dr. Achibald D. Hart, “One of the biggest mistakes we can make is to think of depression only in terms of pathology. Depression can be a healing emotion. It can bring us face to face with ourselves so that we are forced to make healthier choices.” Dr. Hart describes depression as usually a “slowing down” of the body, marked by profound lethargy or fatigue rather than feelings of sadness. The worse the fatigue, the more serious the depression.

“As a symptom, depression is part of the body’s warning system. In the case of a serious illness, it slows us down so that healing can follow. Otherwise we would self-destruct. If we heed its call and get the necessary treatment, the depression brings healing, ” Dr. Archibald Hart says. As strange as it sounds, depression can be God’s gift to us. God often speaks to our heart through seasons of darkness when we’re open to His movement in our life. God will do whatever it takes to get our attention.

Whether depression stems from biological, psychological, or spiritual causes, God will see us through. Depression is not the end of the world—it just feels like it. There are no instant formulas for healing, but we stake our lives on Christ and trust Him to bring us through the dark cries of our soul. God is completely Sovereign and able to turn our nights into daylight. If we trust Him, we’ll come to realize that no experience is ever wasted, not our darkest nights, not even the misunderstandings of others.

Depression may be a symptom, disease, or reaction to extreme loss, but how we view it will shape our response to those who suffer its grip. If you know someone depressed, pray for them. Don’t heap unrealistic expectations on them. Love and accept them right where they are. Seek the Holy Spirit for discernment when it comes to speaking truth into their lives. Send reminders of your care and concern. Drive them to the doctor if needed. Don’t take it personally if they don’t return your calls. Be available. Always hold out hope.

“Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” ~ Psalm 30:5b

My favorite hope verses:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

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