What You Need to Know About Clinical Depression
by Susan Stiles, M.S.W.

"I don’t know what’s wrong with me." a woman confided to me recently, "I’m just not my old self. It seems like I’m always sad and crying for no reason. Most days I don’t want to get out of bed. I just don’t understand it. The other day at the supermarket I just "froze up", I stopped what I was doing and just started to cry."

As I listened to her, I could’t help think that she was describing depression, a treatable illness that afflicts over 19 million people in the U.S. each year. If you are a ministry leader, it is important for you to understand the signs of depression, how it might affect those suffering from it, and ways that depression can be treated.

Symptoms
There are many different causes for depression (such as post-partum, Seasonal Affective Disorder and others) however, there are some common symptoms that people experience. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Model (DSM-IV), a manual used by clinicians and healthcare professionals, a person struggling with depression might experience:

• Sleeping problems such as insomnia or the desire to sleep all the time.
• Appetite problems such as a loss of appetite or major weight gain.
• Lack of energy such as apathy, lethargy, or a lack of interest in anything.
• Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and/or terrible guilt.
• Difficulty concentrating, or unusual indecisiveness.
• Suicidal thoughts, or suicide attempts

What to Do About it
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression there are several things I’d encourage you to do:

One of the first things is consult a physician. There are a number of anti-depressant medications that a physician might prescribe to treat the depression.

Secondly, I'd encourage you to remember that depression is an illness; it is not a reflection on a person's character, who their spouse is, if they have sinned, etc.

Third, I'd encourage you to look for caring people who are willing to listen, a Christian small group, support and recovery group or Bible Study might be one such place. Depression affects not only those that have the illness but spouses, children, parents and friends. Finding a support group or building a network of concerned friends can really help as others join to support you in this difficult issue.

My final piece of advice would be to not give up hope. The Bible is full of passages that are filled with hope, describing the love and mercy of God, here are a few :

• "The Lord is my strength and my song" (Exodus 15:2)
• "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)
• "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." (Psalm 103:8)

Just because a person has faith in God does not necessarily mean a person's struggle with depression will necessarily go away. However, God's ever-present love can provide strength and hope to those in need.

What about Suicidal Comments?
Finally, I’d like to address an issue of great importance, which does not apply to all who suffer from depression. Some people struggling with depression may have suicidal thoughts or comments.

It is essential to call authorities if you or someone you know is discussing suicide. There are trained healthcare professionals that can help. If you are a leader in a church, such as a small group leader, you need to inform your pastor if someone is suicidal. Even though confidentiality is highly valued in Christian small groups, your pastor still needs to be informed about this life or death issue.

Note: Information provided on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Only your healthcare provider should diagnose your healthcare problems and prescribe treatment.

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