Depression Part 2: Finding Hope Outside Yourself

How can someone find peace in the storm? When will the depression lift? Is there real hope out there? Has your struggle with depression left you asking similar questions? Perhaps you have tried an exhaustive amount of resources in anticipation of gaining some relief. Yet, time after time you find yourself back at the same spot you started. Ed Welch described depression as ”Stubborn Darkness”. Many individuals suffering from depression often end up contemplating suicide as a way out. Some of them even follow through on their ideation. Stanford (2008) sites up to 15% of people with major depression die from suicide.

Staying silent on the matter is possibly the worse thing we can do. Listen, if you know someone who is suffering and begins to talk about suicide, ask them questions. Suicide is a cry out for help—the pain is overtaking them and they are trying to let others know. Not talking about it could make things worse. As a compassionate and gracious listener it is important to take suicide ideation seriously. Asking questions about how much they have been thinking about committing suicide? Do they have a specific plan or the means to carry out the plan? Have they ever attempted suicide in the past? These questions will help you assess the amount of time and thought they have placed on caring out the action. Direct the individual to supports that are trained with interviewing and assessing suicide ideation could save their life. These supports could include a local community or faith based counseling service. If the person appears to be in immanent danger, it is appropriate to call 911 and they will take the person to a local ER where they can be evaluated. 

Not everyone who suffers from depression is at risk of suicide. The clinical field of counseling has a number of potential methods for treating depression. The most common method in the United States is psychotropic medication. If a depressed individual is seen in a psychiatrist’s office, they will most likely be prescribed an antidepressant. Taking any form of medication for depression should only be done under the guidance of a medical doctor or psychiatrist. Many people have experienced positive psychoactive boosts in their mood as the result of these medications. According to the studies Dr. Powilson (2011) has analyzed, antidepressants are generally responsible for about 25% of the positive mood boost while 65%-75% may be the result of a placebo affect.

Antidepressants often appear to be a quick fix to someone’s problems, but in reality, the full affect can take up to 6 or 8 weeks. Since every individual is biologically unique, they may have to experiment with a multitude of antidepressants to find one that fits them and has minimal negative side affects. One should have a lengthy discussion about the pros and cons to taking antidepressants with their doctor and be informed about the various side affects that may result from the medication. Psychotropic medication can provide temporary relief from the symptoms of depression, but it does not address all of the potential influencers that are leading the person to feel depressed.

Thought processes and behaviors also contribute to depression. As noted earlier, the placebo is affective in helping someone with depression because it gives the suffering individual something to put his or her faith back into. They begin to believe that hope is possible once again. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was developed on the premise that addressing the thoughts and behaviors will decrease the symptoms. This form of therapy is commonly used in conjunction with or independent of the use for antidepressants in treating depression.

Electroconvulsive Therapy is another method that is currently being used to treat depression. This form of therapy uses electricity to stimulate neurotransmitters in the brain. By sending these shocks of electricity into specified sections of the brain, it increases the level of specific neurotransmitters.  Research is not entirely clear on why or how this form of therapy works. Nevertheless, individuals who have multiple sessions claim to have positive outcomes for treating depression.

The above means for treating depression have at least three things in common. They are all focused on symptom reduction as the goal—they do not address the depressed individual as a person and fail to incorporate spirituality into care of the suffering person. Spirituality may not be significant component of care for someone who does not believe in the existence of God. However, simply not believing a fact or truth does not mean it fails to exists or has no impact on the person’s life. Using psychotropic medication or forms of therapy to help symptom reduction are not a sin and can be very beneficial. The goal of biblical counseling is not simply to reduce symptoms. Therefore, I believe that a holistic approach to caring for someone who is suffering must always include each category of influencing factors mentioned in the previous article. In my opinion, this approach is the most effective and biblically based means to care for people suffering with depression.

Practical truths and principles of “whole wellness” can be shared and applied by any one looking to find peace and hope through their experience with depression. Determination is going to have to be used by both the sufferer and the person seeking to be a support. A depressed individual lacks the intrinsic motivation and emotional drive to do anything. The team must determine in their hearts and mind to believe that hope is possible and to work toward it. No longer can they rely on their emotions for motivation.

Someone should never have to go through depression alone. It is critical to have a support group in place made up of friends, families, church leaders, and possibly professional clinicians. This team is there to help encourage and keep the person experiencing depression accountable to following throughon their whole wellness journey. Ann (1995) writes about how a pastor named Walter played a key role in helping her find hope in her journey with depression. One of the ways Walter helped was by not giving up on her. He continued to follow up with Ann long after others stopped showing that they cared. Just being there for someone who is depressed is a huge blessing and shows that you really love and care for them. 

A good support system will make sure practical behavioral and cognitive components are incorporated into the healing process. This can include showing up to their home and helping them get motivated or making them come out and go exercising. Perhaps their diet should be addressed. Help reinstate hobbies (journal, poetry, art, photography…) that they once enjoyed. Assist them with scheduling and balancing their time. Depressed individuals often feel overwhelmed with responsibilities or expectations. Some of those expectations may be unrealistic and should be filtered through the lens of Scripture.

The Bible talks a great deal about our behaviors and thoughts. We should encourage others to meditate on the things of God and apply the principles of godly living. Many of these principles encourage us to reach out to others, even while we are suffering. God never guarantee a pain free lifestyle, but He does promise life transformation and power to find joy and peace in the midst of storms. (Rom. 12:2).  These practical steps can be some of the first ones people take on their journey to finding hope outside of themselves. To find this hope we must first put suffering in perspective.