Godly Resources for Dealing with Depression (Week 4)
For the last few weeks, I have explored the issues of mental health, especially depression, in a world that is affected by sin. I shared four major factors which doctors and psychiatrists who treat individuals with depression focus on. This week, I want to wrap up by looking at resources to help you if you or your loved one are struggling with depression.
Lean into Your Social Support System
Over the past few decades, researchers who are not siloed into one camp, look at the whole picture of what is affecting a person struggling with depression. What I mean is that the pharmaceutical companies are looking at one issue: chemical imbalances in the brain. Mental health care often focuses on what is going on in the brain, addressing issues like cognitive distortions and negative self-talk. Sociologists broaden their scope to include what is going on in a person’s community, addressing issues like misogyny, systemic racism, and other social issues which suppress individuals. As I have shared in the previous two blogs, there are a variety of factors affecting individuals who struggle with depression. It is best to be circumspect: to look at the forest and not get stuck on one tree.
One the best ways to do that is to connect with the helpers in our social support systems. Taking time to talk about your moods with friends or family. Get some regular exercise. Watch your diet. Not just what you eat, but also what you read and watch on tv or the internet. When you need it, seek out the care providers in your health network: doctors, psychiatrists, therapists or other clinicians who can help. Talk to your pastor or other believers whom you feel comfortable with. Ask for their prayers and guidance.
If you are having a particularly hard moment of struggling with depression, did you know that if you text 741741 when you are feeling depressed, suicidal, or just needing someone to talk to, a crisis counselor will text with you? Many people do not like talking on the phone. Spread the word. It’s a free service. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available to anyone who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts. It is toll-free, 1-800-273-8255. Keep the number somewhere you can use it. Put it in your contact list on your cell-phone. Even if you do not ever need it, you likely will know someone who could. Then you can pass it on. It may save a life. Sometimes, all a person needs is someone to talk to in order to overcome a passing moment of suicidal thoughts.
Self-care is Good Stewardship
A meme I read this week discussed the importance of self-care and showed how self-care is not selfishness. In fact, it is taking care of the one person God has entrusted to you for your whole life. As Dr. Martin Luther put it in the catechism’s explanation to the First Article of the Creed, “I believe that God has made me and all creatures, that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them.” So, God “gave” us this body and mind, and reason. He wants me to take care of it as best I can. He is the one who promised to be faithful to you and help you. He also invites to call upon Him in every trouble and to pray.
Jesus has redeemed us completely: body, mind, and spirit. Yet, we struggle against our fallen nature every day. Thankfully, we are reminded of Baptism’s significance for our daily life, as Luther put it in the Catechism, “[Baptism] indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.” So that the believer would desire to continue to grow, Luther also included a passage that indicates how this occurs by posing the question, “Where is this written?” and answering it, “St. Paul writes in Romans chapter six: “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” [Romans 6:4]
See you next week right here at the intersection of faith and mental health.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Chad Wright