Help for Depression (Christian Perspective)


Causes

When people are feeling depressed, I’ve noticed there are basically three causes: thoughts, circumstances, and physical / mental imbalance. Consider what is the cause, or what are the causes, so you can begin working toward a solution.

1. Thoughts

Do any of these thoughts sound like yours?

I feel like a failure.”

My job is boring.”

I’m frustrated and stuck.”

No one cares.”

That won’t help.” (when someone offers advice)

I regret my past.”

Be honest with yourself and look for any thoughts you need to change. Watch for passivity and lack of motivation; it might feel easier to stay in the negative rut, but overall it makes life extremely difficult.

Solutions:

2. Circumstances

Loneliness, marriage problems, loss of loved ones, traumatic memories, and other negative experiences can make it feel impossible to move forward, but through Christ we are “more than conquerors.” He offers you joy and peace, and will never leave you, if you belong to Him. (See “Am I Saved?”)

Paul described himself as “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). While there is suffering in life, we can find joy through God’s Word and His Spirit.

What you can do:

Look into therapies (as I share in this post on trauma)

Meditate on Romans 8:28–39 and remind yourself:

1- God is working all things for my good.

2- He is making me more like Jesus.

3- Nothing can separate me from His love.

4- I am eternally secure because God is taking me to heaven forever.

3. Physical

When you have a good life and feel like depression is “out of the blue,” it could very likely be physical. Of the people I talk with, this is probably 5% of the time, but it’s worth looking into.

Balance your brain chemicals

SSRIs are the typical anti-depressants doctors prescribe, and help you maintain a healthy level of serotonin. However, they don’t always work and sometimes come with side effects, so you might benefit from other ways of boosting serotonin.

These are scientific (a bit technical, but helpful!) ways you can overcome depression:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-U5OX3sbA8

https://www.brainmdhealth.com/blog/4-ways-to-boost-your-serotonin/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077351/

There are other chemical causes of depression besides low serotonin; high serotonin, low dopamine, estrogen dominance, and hormonal fluctuations in general can also be causes.

Talk to your doctor and do your own research about other treatments. Keep in mind, there are more options than medications.

4. Spiritual oppression

One of my friends has a testimony of a very real experience with a spiritual attack that led to depression. After 2 years, she found freedom through Jesus. It’s good to consider the possibility of oppression and pray for insight to know if this is the case, especially if you can’t trace the depression to any other cause.

If you think it could be oppression, follow these steps!

(1) Repent: Examine your life to see if there is any unrepentant sin, or even any area that is not fully surrendered to God.

(2) Renounce: Think about any lies of the enemy you might be allowing, and renounce them.

(3) Replace: Replace all lies and negative thinking with the right perspective (Philippians 4:8).

(4) Resist: We have authority over the enemy, and once we’ve submitted ourselves to God, we must resist the enemy and know that we have the victory (James 4:6–7).

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Keep in mind that it might not be one single cause; you might have to work on multiple root issues, as it could be a combination of causes.

Jesus gives us hope as our anchor (Hebrews 6:19). Seek Him with your whole heart!

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.” Psalm 55:22