by Zeke Flores<\/p>\n
I understand the hard-fought struggle for those who wrestle with feelings of inadequacy, isolation, and gloom. And I know that when others say that depressed people should just “snap out of it,” well, that’s just dumb.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, too many who grapple with depression hinder their own recovery by dwelling on the depression itself. For instance, one who loses a loved one may linger far too long on the pain of loss instead of allowing the memories of that loved one to comfort and cushion the pain.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0believe that, over time, a person can be lifted from those dark depths, whether it be through self-counseling, friendly encouragement, or professional therapy. And I believe that the most significant help a person can receive may come from within themselves, with God’s support. By working (and it is <\/b>work) to control their thoughts and thus their emotions, a person can begin to move past the darkness of depression to a better, healthier outlook. Then, acting on more positive thoughts, they can start to interact with the world in a more confident manner and, ultimately, feel much better about themselves and their circumstances.<\/p>\n
I’m not a mental health doctor, but I do know that for a person sinking into the depths of despondency, perspective is everything. And there is a Doctor for that.<\/p>\n
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you<\/em>” (Philippians 4:8-9).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Zeke Flores I understand the hard-fought struggle for those who wrestle with feelings of inadequacy, isolation, and gloom. And I know that when others say that depressed people should just “snap out of it,” well, that’s just dumb. Unfortunately, too many who grapple with depression hinder their own recovery by dwelling on the depression…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[397],"class_list":["post-90868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-depression"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":54207,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-find-your-article-on-why-suicide-is-a-sin-to-be-completely-unsympathetic-and-untrue\/","url_meta":{"origin":90868,"position":0},"title":"I find your article on why suicide is a sin to be completely unsympathetic and untrue","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I feel compelled by God to send you these words of enlightenment. As a Christian person who suffers from deep depression (on medication and under a doctor's care), I find\u00a0your article to be completely unsympathetic and untrue. There are many, many other Christian writings out there that contradict what\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":26140,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/to-the-depressed-or-anxious-who-are-on-medication\/","url_meta":{"origin":90868,"position":1},"title":"To the Depressed or Anxious Who Are on Medication","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 21, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Douglas Groothuis To those who are depressed or anxious and on medications for it or for those who are considering medication: Christians often consider the use of medications for depression or anxiety a spiritual failure. I know of a Christian man who has been depressed for at least thirty\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/depression-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":32420,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-struggle-with-depression-and-thoughts-of-suicide-do-you-have-any-advice-for-me\/","url_meta":{"origin":90868,"position":2},"title":"I struggle with depression and thoughts of suicide. Do you have any advice for me?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 5, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi, My question is regarding depression and suicide. I'm hoping you can answer it. I have been dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts for a while. I've come to the conclusion that this is a result of my low self-esteem. I know how God feels about me, but I'm\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":28299,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/it-is-encouraging-to-see-a-positive-attitude-toward-the-mentally-ill\/","url_meta":{"origin":90868,"position":3},"title":"It is encouraging to see a positive attitude toward the mentally ill","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 3, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I cannot tell you just how encouraging it is to see Christians who have such a positive attitude toward the mentally ill. I am educated, have traveled, been a public speaker, and done all kinds of things, but I am mentally ill, too. It has kind of challenged my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":37346,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/if-someone-wasnt-in-a-good-mental-state-when-getting-married-is-the-marriage-still-valid\/","url_meta":{"origin":90868,"position":4},"title":"If someone wasn’t in a good mental state when getting married, is the marriage still valid?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: If someone was diagnosed with depression, and post-traumatic stress, and were put on meds like Zoloft and Lyrica for chronic pain, and the meds made them crazy, are they really responsible for their actions? If someone got married in that kind of mental state is that marriage still valid\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24434,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-depression-make-you-feel-empty\/","url_meta":{"origin":90868,"position":5},"title":"Can depression make you feel empty?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 2, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Can our own minds push us away from God? I mean, if you're too hurt, can you feel dead? I've been really hurt lately. I haven't had the intent to do anything.\u00a0My parents are worried and my friends. I'm feeling like I never did before. I spend every minute\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90868","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90868"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90868\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90868"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90868"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90868"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}