Christians, How do I deal with my depression?

Question

I know a lot of people may ask this question. But, I am finding myself on the cusp of a nervous breakdown. I have been dealing with depression for a little over two years and I'm at the breaking point. I went to my college therapist and I have been diagnosed with dsthymiuh, the milder form of depression. Seeing a psychologist was wonderful. But, at my university, we are limited to so many sessions and I am out of sessions. So, I am trying a support group but I find that difficult because I never have the opportunity to bring up my issues. I am going to begin taking Prozac. But, honestly I am not sure if that will help. I am Christian, so I find depression especially hard to deal with. I know we are supposed to be filled with eternal joy. But, I am not. I try to read my bible but I get sooo distracted. I don't know, I just find it so hard to get through a bible study. I try praying but honestly I don't feel God is going to release this from me. I don't know what to do at this point.

Answer 1

There was a young Christian guy in our church that had a great job, beautiful wife, and three daughters. He was very involved in the church and was even a deacon. Everyone was shocked when they found him in his garage with the car running, a hose attached from the exhaust. He had commited suicide. I'm sure his wife and chrildren now wished he had gone to his doctor or a psychiatrist and gotten medication to treat his illness. You can't overcome depression by having more faith in God or being more positive. The good thing about being a Christian though is that if you do go to church you do have a support group of friends, although not always. If you have an infection, you wouldn't hestitate to take antibiotics. Christians should not hesitate to their doctors or a psychiatrist who is a specialist and take their medicine if they are depressed. Be patient as it takes a while for medication to work. Sometimes it take a while to find the right one, or you may need a combination of medicines. And prayer does help :)

Answer 2

Based on what you have said here - you found the psychologist helpful, you respond well to the idea of a support group but it doesn't seem to work - it sounds as though you need to find someone to talk to.

Since you started the question in a Christian context, find someone in the ministry. Ideally, someone who has had some psychological as well as theological training. God gave us intellect and curiosity and expects us to use them.

Find someone you feel comfortable with and open the conversation. You are still capable of wanting to get help, you are capable of going out to do things - which means (and this is good news) that the depression is not as bad as it could be. May seem dreadful to you who are in the depths of it, but deep depression can be paralyzing.

Before it gets there - find someone. Local church, local clinic - God will be there to help you once you actively start helping yourself. And letting others help you.

I will pray for you - if you get a chance, in the form of a question, of course, let us know how you're doing.

Answer 3

I also am a Christian and deal with depression ALOT. I took Prozac for several years and did well with it. If there is any way that you can get into a Christian psychologist by all means do. Even a pastor would be great if you can't find a psychologist. I have seen the same psychologist since 1991. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Medicine helps if needed.

Answer 4

First of all KNOW that depression is not something you can just control mentally. It is a chemical imbalance in your brain. I went through this for almost 2 years after a divorce and beat myself up for not being able to snap my fingers and be done with it. Talk to your minister, to friends, find something to do that keeps your mind off of your problems (that's tough to do sometimes when all you want to do is sit and feel sorry for yourself), I Know. Ask your doctor about other drugs besides Prozac. There are a lot of side effects to Prozac. Also KNOW that God is there for you. YOU just have to believe that, He does not want to see you go thru this. But you will get thru this and you will be stronger and better for it. Do not get impatient with yourself. Sit down and write in a journal what your feeling are and at the same time write down all the good qualities you have and all the blessings you have. You'll be surprised how much you are blessed. Do not be ashamed to ask people to pray for you. As a matter of fact I will put you some prayer lists tonight. By tomorrow morning know there will people all over the world praying for you. Last, but not least; no matter how hard it is, put a BIG smile on your face. force it if you have to; but SMILE. Get dressed up like you were going out on the hottest date of your life just to go to the grocery store.

Answer 5

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Answer 6

you know Christian or not God did not say Don't take care of yourself. If you are depressed and your doctor wants you to take some prozac try it out and see if it does not help your symptoms. What can it hurt? It is not forever, it is just a bump in the road. God will see you through the rough spots and bring you round this mountain!

Answer 7

It might be a chemical imbalance. If necessary, take a semester off from college and get more therapy and the prozac should help.

And always, pray.

Talking to a pastor will help also.. they seem to always know the right things to say and are good at giving advice too.

EDIT: try checking out who you are hanging out with too! are they supportive and uplifting? are they helping you grow more as a person? or are they putting you down? You may want to get rid of a few "friends" or you may be in a toxic relationship with someone and not realize it. People can be very manipulative, and its important to only associate yourself with someone who truly cares about you.

Answer 8

God may be testing your faith. He is with you! That's His Enduring Promise! Give It All To Him! Everything! Keep Praying! Ask for strength to deal with your stress. I will pray for you. I will also try to edit this tomorrow and give you a prayer, from my prayer book, The book Of Psalms. It is great! You say the prayer, for depression. I am in bed now, but will look for you tomorrow. Keep your faith. You will have ups and downs, but He is with you to pick you up when you fall. God Bless you! Your friend In Christ!

Answer 9

When I doubt Gods love for me, then I can feel miserable. This has happened in the past. I have been miraculously healed by Jesus. And my husband persecuted me. So? I would argue back, but then get knocked down in self confidence. So, then I would doubt God. With this is feeling miserable. Crying. Feeling separated from Gods love. Seeing visions of cutting wrists. Feeling like throwing or hitting things, also a vision of clashing of swords (indicating spiritual warfare), etc... But I go to the bathroom & cry. (I am not a violent person.) Then the tempter comes & tempts me with tobacco, or tells me I'm worthless, ugly, stupid, etc... Many of the accusations from my drunk husband. And the tobacco nag returned two of these times... So? Realizing how awful I felt & recognizing the nicotine nag, I prayed to God. Jesus. And then the verse comes to mind. Without faith it is impossible to please God for those who come to God must believe God Is & is a rewarder to those who diligently seek Him. That God has promised to never leave or forsake me. God Is who God says God Is. That God loves me & it doesn't matter so much what my drunk husband thinks. What matters is that God knows my honest heart & I must trust & obey God. So? I confess my sins of doubting God. My tears are really because of my doubting Gods Word as truth & Gods love & this is grieving the Holy Spirit who has sealed me unto the day of redemption. Then He is faithful & just to forgive me my sins & cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Now God cleanses by washing us in His Word. So I claim Gods Word. And then Gods Blessed Assurance floods my spiritual soul. And I feel better. I submit to God, resist satan & satan runs away. Adding later. Medical help is a bandaid only. I tried medication during a breakdown 17yrs ago. It just made it more difficult to do things but did help so I could sleep during this 1yr breakdown at least for a little while. And seeing a psychiatrist. Jesus is the Christians Great Counselor. So also heals us from the inside out. While professional counselors are helpful, especially Christian counselors. Christian counselors are very helpful, because they also direct toward Jesus for spiritual soul healing. While the world just helps with the mental & physical healing. While the root of the mental problems is rebelling against God, trying to make right choices but failing & the devil stays around causing more problems. Regarding Suola's answer, The first 1/2 writes Christian, but the 2nd 1/2 sounds confusing. That is because it is Mormon that starts Christians & ends with some twists of scripture meaning. But I think Suola is a Christian stuck in Mormon doctrine. So would experience depression also.

Answer 10

First thing is first yes be close with god but you have to be eating healthy for your body to respond in a positive way. Try eating two raw organic meals a day. There are even un-cook books out there. Eating and excersie is the best cure for depression. Taking care of your body by feeding it what god has provided on the earth naturally for us helps us to be more connected with him all around. hope this helps... good luck.