Depression
You may have trouble doing day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living.
More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn't a weakness and you can't simply 'snap out' of it. Depression may require long-term treatment. But don't get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychotherapy or both.
Quote from Mayo Clinic
Info from WebMD
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million adults alone live with depression (as of 2020).
source: Forbes
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Depression is real!
And the Church has been ignoring and mislabeling it for far too long.
Many depressed believers are dismissed and being told their faith "isn't strong enough". But in reality, your faith has nothing to do with your depressive disorder. Even the most devout people can develop depressive disorders.
As of 2021, an estimated 7 million Christians live with depression in some way, shape or form (The Psychiatry Resource). And Church leaders who blame the believer for not having enough faith aren't helping.
Many depressed believers are dismissed and being told their faith "isn't strong enough". But in reality, your faith has nothing to do with your depressive disorder. Even the most devout people can develop depressive disorders.
As of 2021, an estimated 7 million Christians live with depression in some way, shape or form (The Psychiatry Resource). And Church leaders who blame the believer for not having enough faith aren't helping.
It's not a character defect, a spiritual disorder or an emotional dysfunction. And chief of all, it's not a choice. Asking someone to 'try' not being depressed is tantamount to asking someone who's been shot to try and stop bleeding. Such an attitude can dangerously appear in the Church as, 'if only you had enough faith.'
Quote from Relevant
There's no guaranteed way to prevent depression.
But Mayo Clinic suggests these actions to help prevent depression as much as possible:
Take steps to control stress, to increase your resilience and boost your self-esteem.
Reach out to family and friends, especially in times of crisis, to help you weather rough spells.
Get treatment at the earliest sign of the problem to help prevent depression from worsening.
Consider getting long-term maintenance treatment to help prevent a relapse of symptoms.
Take steps to control stress, to increase your resilience and boost your self-esteem.
Reach out to family and friends, especially in times of crisis, to help you weather rough spells.
Get treatment at the earliest sign of the problem to help prevent depression from worsening.
Consider getting long-term maintenance treatment to help prevent a relapse of symptoms.
What should I do if I think I have clinical depression?
Talk to a doctor as soon as you can. Talk to your family and friends about what your doctor says. Ask them to be patient as you deal with symptoms and to help you point out symptoms so you can report them to your doctor.
Share your struggles with a prayer partner(s) who can continue praying for you while you cope with your depression.
Run to God, who will provide comfort and relief.
Share your struggles with a prayer partner(s) who can continue praying for you while you cope with your depression.
Run to God, who will provide comfort and relief.