Depression

I posted this on another thread, just thought I would repost it here.

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Hi I just wanted to add my own experiences to this thread.

By the way those people who are saying Christians should always be
happy clappy and joyful if they trust in God, can cause incredible harm to others.
It prevents Christians who do have problems from seeking the help they need.

Can you imagine breaking your leg and been made to feel guilty for going to
A & E!

I‘m currently on antidepressants, SSRI which increase your serotonin levels. There I’ve said it! Now you are probably thinking oh no what! Why! What a shame! But please read the rest and I ask you not to think like that.

Its been a hard 6.5 years single handedly looking after my aunt and getting acquainted with all her medical needs, conditions and moods. Like end of life stage 4 COPD, heart failure, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Vit B12 deficiency, moderate dementia, anyone of which or a combination could take her life at any time.

With no medical training at all, I’ve had to learn all about oxygen saturation levels, gas exchanges in the body, recognise hypoxia and CO2 retention, learn to use an oxymetre and interpret the results, learn what normal body temperature looks and feels like, learn what her normal pulse rate is - she has a slower than normal pulse rate. I’ve had to learn about blood sugars how to test for them. I’ve had to learn how to use an oxygen concentrator machine how to clean it, check the tubing for kinks, what to do if it breaks down. How to set up the emergency back up oxygen canister. What foods are high in potassium and what I can give her in small amounts and what she has to avoid entirely. I’m pretty much being carer, doctor, nurse, respiritory specialist all in one with no training.

I have had to learn how to survive on less than 6 hours sleep a night and sometimes none at all. Ive had the constant worry each morning of wondering if this is the day I get up and find she has died in her sleep. Whenever I leave the house I am on call in case the care alarm people phone me or the carers. Often in church I hold my phone so that I know it’s vibrating if a call comes in. At work I have permission to leave my ringer on low and keep my mobile on my desk.

Ive saved her life more than I care to remember. One instance was last year when I came home from work and she wasn’t herself at all although she didn’t look that bad. I honestly believe God gave me wisdom in that situation as I felt an urgency to call an ambulance. When they came she was scoring 9 out of 10 on the sepsis scale and rushed us in on blue lights. I was told that it was at the very start of sepsis and very hard to spot even for a doctor. If I had waited even a few hours it could have been too late due to her frailty.

Anyway where was I, ah yes It’s taken its toil the sleepless nights disrupting my REM patterns, the constant having to be on alert 24/7 no holidays or breaks. The constant emergencies and hours spent at A and E, the continual discussions with doctors about DNRs and end of life.

I have been depressed and down for a while, it became my new normal. I’ve had to force myself to go to church because I couldn’t bear to be around crowds. Each time I have attended it’s been a battle won. Ive had to force myself to go to work. Each up and coming birthday, Christmas, Easter I've waited until the last minute to make plans not knowing if my aunt would be alive.

Its been an interesting journey onto antidepressants. I argued back and forth the pros and cons. I argued that I was a Christian so shouldn’t I be able to cope. What about my faith, where was my joy. What about the stigma and all the bad press about antidepressants.

Until finally I had no choice but to admit I needed help. I had tried everything else. The strange thing is that the day I decided to try them I asked God why me. God replied why not! Then I sensed Him say, you will be better able to help and have empathy for others through you’re life experiences including this! I would add that since then, God revealed something about another person’s difficulties to me in a dream. I have also been able to help a second person at work. So even in the midst of depression God still can work through christians.

I have been on them now since end of May. What is it like to be on them? Well week 1 there was no side effects effects at all I definitely slept better though. Week 2 and 3 the side effects started mild headaches, getting hot, palpitations as my body adjusted to the changes. By week 4 wow I felt normal again, sleeping better, more able to concentrate, like I started seeing the world in colour again instead of black and white. I feel better equipped to deal with things. I’m still me, I still have feelings and emotions, I’m not drugged up to the eyeballs. I don’t look any different, the side effects have stopped.

Maybe if they were called serotonin supplements instead of antidepressants there would be less stigma attached.

I know there are other Christians out there who are struggling. They dare not tell people because of the stigma of christians with mental health issues. They dare not seek the medical attention they need for fear of being judged - I was one of them and I’m so glad that I did.

Christians who dare not speak of such things for fear of being judged by other Christians. I want to say it’s ok for Christians to admit they have a problem and seek help. It’s ok to use antidepressants where appropriate or anxiety meds. We live in a fallen world things are not going to be perfect this side of heaven. We are body soul and spirit and all are intertwined. What affects one effects the rest.

Some of the most well known people in the bible were depressed, take the example
of Elijah. He ran, hid, separated himself off from everything.

Did God condemn Him? No God first dealt with his physical needs, helped him,
understood where Elijah was at and what he needed the most, allowed him time
out. Then the spiritual needs were dealt with.

God also didn’t expect Elijah to just get on with things, God knew
he needed rest and time out. Then God spoke to him gently, He didn’t just tell Elijah to
man up. If we all used the example of how God dealt with Elijah, we would all be
better off, feel supported and heal quicker.

First, we must ask: Can Christians get depressed? If the answer is yes, then what can be done about it? While depressed, we make a lot of bad decisions because our minds aren't working right. Are we lost while away from God, especially if we are showing fruits of the flesh while depressed? I believe so.

Gal. 5:19-21 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

Do I believe a person can walk away from God? Yes, I think if he gets very depressed because of his health and the cares of the world; he makes bad decisions. That is a characteristic of depression. I know, I have been there. I wrote two Christian books available on my website (see it HERE).

Can I say God was done with me when I walked away? I don't think so. Did God not start the work in me? This says He did:

Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

So, God probably kept His hand on me and drew me back into the fold. Was I ever lost? I don't know, but I did some things that were very fleshly. I never stopped believing. Anyway, I am a lot more humble now. I just presented both sides of the OSAS/NOSAS argument. You tell me: Is one right and the other wrong? You decide.

Depression is something that most people have had some sort of experience with in one way or another.



I don’t believe there is necessarily one

answer to the question I’m going to ask, so feel free to share your views with the understanding that it’s different for everyone.

Is depression or being depressed somehow something we choose? Do we choose to remain depressed?



What have you noticed? What are your experiences?

Thanks for sharing!

View attachment 203053

Depression is something that most people have had some sort of experience with in one way or another.



I don’t believe there is necessarily one

answer to the question I’m going to ask, so feel free to share your views with the understanding that it’s different for everyone.

Is depression or being depressed somehow something we choose? Do we choose to remain depressed?



What have you noticed? What are your experiences?

Thanks for sharing!

I can still choose to think positively, I can still choose to change my perspective, I can still choose to be joyful in hard situations....But, I can still be depressed.

You can be a positive and outgoing person, someone who tries to fight that depression, but depression just is not feeling sad. It's much more.

I do believe God can help you in your depression because He is the source of joy.

I'm not saying I am depressed, but I used to have a belief that depression WAS a choice, and I wish I did not have that mindset because I'm sure it was hurtful to others who struggled.