Depression, according to Dr. Gene A. Getz, is when we dwell on the past, misinterpret the present, or anticipate the future all in a bad light. It is caused by unhealthy thoughts in most cases, though it is possible not to know the reason: Refer to Psalm 42 and 43 where the psalmist wonders just why he is so "downcast." It is popularly defined as impression without expression equals depression. Sometimes the blues are called the doldrums or being in the pits or in a funk.
The problem we have today is not that we have a new problem labeled "depression" which was somehow invented by the psychiatrists in this modern age to define a new phenomenon, but that we don't want to admit our problem or weakness and keep it all to ourselves until it is too late and we are victims. Many veterans are committing suicide and they have learned to cope in the most trying of circumstances, but find civilian life unwelcome and unsettling and can't readjust or acclimatize back into the common society, which is another culture shock. Job, Jonah, and Elijah all had death wishes and we have their records in Scripture to warn us or show us that it is not unusual or something God can't deal with or heal.
The problem with depression, is not that we get it, because most will at one time or another ("Song sung blue, everyone knows one"), but how we cope with it (we all have coping mechanisms that "work" for us, some are just self-destructive like binge eating)--what is the therapeutic thing to do and is this a helpful solution, or part of the problem? If we go shopping, eat, sleep, gamble, drink, withdraw, or get into trouble every time we get depressed, it may become an ingrained habit and become part of our nature. "Sow a thought, and reap an act; sow an act and reap a habit; sow a habit, and reap a character; sow a character, and reap a destiny.' We are what our thoughts make us up to be: "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he" (Prov. 23:7). It is important what we make out reality to be and our viewpoint, regarding reality and how we adjust to it. We cannot live in a fantasy world but must be realistic.
Depression, to some, is a choice: they choose to have a pity party and wallow in their self-pity, just not able to cope. But in some cases, it is more of an inherited trait or personality trait, and not a flaw to be ashamed of, but something that can be helped. We may not choose to be depressed, but we do choose how we react to it and how to cope. Psychiatry today is focusing more on the positive thing to do and depending less on trying to figure out the reason for the depression. Living a healthy lifestyle is the cure, not understanding ourselves. The Greek axiom of Socrates, "Know thyself" may be valid for success, but we need to interact with others and get help if we are to overcome our depression--by the way, knowing the Lord is even more vital. People who need people are the happiest people! "I get by with a little help from my friends," sing The Beatles. You'd be surprised at how much a good friend can get you out of your depression simply by talk therapy. Things tend to work them out if we give them a chance.
Some people are known to have "bipolar disorder" and abnormally have highs and lows due to some inborn. inherited trait, but this per se is not wrong or a "sin" but how they deal with it and what happens when they are in their periods of depression or euphoria. They may even frown upon someone feeling "too good" for their own good. Creative people would often rather stay that way because they find creativity has a lot to do with their feelings. It is not good to rely on feelings but some people are more maudlin and sentimental; others are more stoical and less demonstrative in their feelings and don't even relate to their feminine side--they want to "be a man" or act like a man and be "tough."
We don't want to get out of touch with our emotions and harden our hearts, but God desires a tender heart that is in tune with Him and his feelings. Great men in the Bible also were in touch with their feelings and were not ashamed. Sometimes all we need to do is to get it out in the open and express ourselves in the interaction with others by having and making friends--we don't want to end up loners who live in their own little world without any fellowship or interaction with people they are in touch within their circle of friends or sphere of influence.
Ted Turner says that "Christianity is for losers." They say that it's a crutch! Everyone has a crutch of some kind--no one is an island that needs no one. We all need each other--only God is a rock. The Buddhists say that we to face up to our own karma and we only get what we deserve--what goes around, comes around.
We all are meant to be a religious people that can only find fulfillment in God--a vacuum that only God can fulfill. Augustine said only God can meet our needs for this longing of the soul. Men are said to be Homo religiosus or a religious being. We will worship something, whether it is God or not doesn't matter, it will be something (fame, fortune, power) or someone (heroes, family, friends, lovers), but letting anything take God's place is idolatry and breaking the first commandment not to have any gods before our God in His rightful place. When we learn to depend on Christ in our daily walk we have certainly matured and we all must learn that we are all part of the body of Christ and are in this together. Soli Deo Gloria!
The problem we have today is not that we have a new problem labeled "depression" which was somehow invented by the psychiatrists in this modern age to define a new phenomenon, but that we don't want to admit our problem or weakness and keep it all to ourselves until it is too late and we are victims. Many veterans are committing suicide and they have learned to cope in the most trying of circumstances, but find civilian life unwelcome and unsettling and can't readjust or acclimatize back into the common society, which is another culture shock. Job, Jonah, and Elijah all had death wishes and we have their records in Scripture to warn us or show us that it is not unusual or something God can't deal with or heal.
The problem with depression, is not that we get it, because most will at one time or another ("Song sung blue, everyone knows one"), but how we cope with it (we all have coping mechanisms that "work" for us, some are just self-destructive like binge eating)--what is the therapeutic thing to do and is this a helpful solution, or part of the problem? If we go shopping, eat, sleep, gamble, drink, withdraw, or get into trouble every time we get depressed, it may become an ingrained habit and become part of our nature. "Sow a thought, and reap an act; sow an act and reap a habit; sow a habit, and reap a character; sow a character, and reap a destiny.' We are what our thoughts make us up to be: "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he" (Prov. 23:7). It is important what we make out reality to be and our viewpoint, regarding reality and how we adjust to it. We cannot live in a fantasy world but must be realistic.
Depression, to some, is a choice: they choose to have a pity party and wallow in their self-pity, just not able to cope. But in some cases, it is more of an inherited trait or personality trait, and not a flaw to be ashamed of, but something that can be helped. We may not choose to be depressed, but we do choose how we react to it and how to cope. Psychiatry today is focusing more on the positive thing to do and depending less on trying to figure out the reason for the depression. Living a healthy lifestyle is the cure, not understanding ourselves. The Greek axiom of Socrates, "Know thyself" may be valid for success, but we need to interact with others and get help if we are to overcome our depression--by the way, knowing the Lord is even more vital. People who need people are the happiest people! "I get by with a little help from my friends," sing The Beatles. You'd be surprised at how much a good friend can get you out of your depression simply by talk therapy. Things tend to work them out if we give them a chance.
Some people are known to have "bipolar disorder" and abnormally have highs and lows due to some inborn. inherited trait, but this per se is not wrong or a "sin" but how they deal with it and what happens when they are in their periods of depression or euphoria. They may even frown upon someone feeling "too good" for their own good. Creative people would often rather stay that way because they find creativity has a lot to do with their feelings. It is not good to rely on feelings but some people are more maudlin and sentimental; others are more stoical and less demonstrative in their feelings and don't even relate to their feminine side--they want to "be a man" or act like a man and be "tough."
We don't want to get out of touch with our emotions and harden our hearts, but God desires a tender heart that is in tune with Him and his feelings. Great men in the Bible also were in touch with their feelings and were not ashamed. Sometimes all we need to do is to get it out in the open and express ourselves in the interaction with others by having and making friends--we don't want to end up loners who live in their own little world without any fellowship or interaction with people they are in touch within their circle of friends or sphere of influence.
Ted Turner says that "Christianity is for losers." They say that it's a crutch! Everyone has a crutch of some kind--no one is an island that needs no one. We all need each other--only God is a rock. The Buddhists say that we to face up to our own karma and we only get what we deserve--what goes around, comes around.
We all are meant to be a religious people that can only find fulfillment in God--a vacuum that only God can fulfill. Augustine said only God can meet our needs for this longing of the soul. Men are said to be Homo religiosus or a religious being. We will worship something, whether it is God or not doesn't matter, it will be something (fame, fortune, power) or someone (heroes, family, friends, lovers), but letting anything take God's place is idolatry and breaking the first commandment not to have any gods before our God in His rightful place. When we learn to depend on Christ in our daily walk we have certainly matured and we all must learn that we are all part of the body of Christ and are in this together. Soli Deo Gloria!
Sometime in our life we may have to face "separation anxiety" when we lose a loved one or can't be in touch with a significant other. It may be celebrating a holiday away from home or being divorced, but we may be forced to start over and go from scratch and find new friends that can influence us and we can make our impact on. Like God said, "It is not good that man should live alone." We are social creatures as well and not solitary, the worst form of punishment. We are verbal ones as well and need to stay in touch and communicate our feelings and maintain the power of expression--all inhale and no exhale equals depression.
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