The Facts of Depression

Our national economy has made the past year difficult for many in terms of employment, investments, housing, etc.  Even in times without so many uncertainties, however, approximately 16 million new cases of depression occur every year in the US.  The World Health Organization named depression the second most common cause of disability worldwide after cardiovascular disease and it is expected to become number one in the next 10 years
 
According to the American Psychiatric Association, several diagnostic criteria are necessary to distinguish major depression from just feeling blue:

--one or both of two core symptoms: 

• depressed mood
• lack of interest

            --four or more of other symptoms for at least two weeks: 

• feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
• diminished ability to concentrate or make decisions
• fatigue
• psychomotor agitation (cannot sit still) or retardation (just sitting around
• insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too much)
• significant decrease or increase in weight or appetite
• recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation

In the US, “up to 25% of adults will meet the diagnostic criteria for major depression during their lifetime making it one of the most common conditions treated by primary care physicians.  At any given time, around 15% of American adults are taking antidepressant medications.” [www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/march/15.22.html]
Despite many successful treatment options, according to a recent report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than a third of those suffering from depression will never receive treatment.

The reasons for not seeking treatment are varied.  For some, there is a lack of knowledge that there is treatment available to deal with their symptoms and struggles.   For others, they may still struggle with a sense of stigma attached to seeking professional help for mental or emotional issues while some may believe that faith should exempt one from depression.  Why should we expect Christians to be immune to depression?  In the Old Testament, David in some of his Psalms and Jeremiah in Lamentations clearly struggled.  Other examples of faith such as Martin Luther or Spurgeon were known to deal with depression as well. 

Ruth Graham, daughter of Billy and Ruth Bell Graham, has written a powerful story of her life journey entitled In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart.  “Studies of religious groups, from Orthodox Jews to evangelical Christians, reveal no evidence that the frequency of depression varies across religious groups or between those who attend religious services and those who do not.  So in a typical congregation of 200 adults, 50 attendees will experience depression at some point, and at least 30 are currently taking antidepressants.” [www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/march/15.22.html]

Psalm 34:18 says,  “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  As the Body of Christ, we are to be His hands and feet, to come beside those who struggle, not to condemn but to help them find hope.

If you or someone you care about has experienced the criteria described above,
call 336-896-0065, ext. 203 to begin seeking help.

©2009Associates in Christian Counseling, all rights reserved.