Four Methods For Assisting Depressed Christians

When someone we know is depressed, we are often at a loss about what to do. We want to assist, but fear, perplexity, or misunderstanding prevents us from doing so. So, here are eight tips for helping depressed persons.

Don't make assumptions about personal sin.

Don't presume that a single personal sin is to blame for your depression. That is a frequent reaction in the church for depressed individuals. When you develop cancer or heart disease, no one asks, "What did you do wrong?" When you suffer from depression, people question, "Who sinned, this man or his parents?"

I've discovered that the most pious people often suffer from depression. This is because they are far more sensitive to sin and evil in themselves and their surroundings. They are also the most overcommitted to the Lord's ministry. They are also, of course, prime candidates for diabolical attacks.

Take the measurements.

Examine the symptoms' breadth, depth, and length. In terms of symptom breadth, most books or articles on depression include a list of twelve to fifteen symptoms. Before you become too worried, you should normally check off at least five or six of them.

In terms of depth, depression isn't only feeling sad or nervous. These sentiments should be unusually intense, to the point of endangering a person's life and rendering them incapacitated.

Don't rush into or dismiss drugs.

Don't start taking antidepressants right away. Unless the case is dire, medication should seldom be the first option. People's emotional upheavals are frequently transient and may be healed with understanding, family support, pastoral care, counseling, addressing harmful lifestyle choices, and repenting of any sinful behaviors. There are several additional steps we should take before turning to drugs.

Although we should not rush to drugs, we should also not rule them out. Examine if your unwillingness to consider them stems from sinful pride, incorrect assumptions, or an unbiblical and overly simple anthropology.

Be all-encompassing.

One of the common misconceptions is that popping a prescription would heal depression. I've never seen someone heal from depression only via medicine. Medication can only be effective when it is part of a comprehensive care plan that treats our entire humanity.

Consider both the causes and the solution from a holistic standpoint. Examine life events, lifestyle, physiological symptoms, thinking habits, and how a person is feeling, as well as social and spiritual influences. Examine all of these worlds and dimensions in terms of cause and remedy.

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