DEPRESSION: Many of us feel depressed around Christmas. Did you know scientists and biblical counselors recognize at least three myths about depression?
In part 1 of this three-part series, find out the truth about causes of depression. Part 2 covers the a depression diagnosis. Part 3 looks at medication–when it’s useful, when it’s not. This post first appeared here on CareLeader.org, June 29, 2016, and is used with permisison.
Would you or someone you love like caring biblical counseling for depression? I offer online counseling by video. Contact me. Let’s set up a short complimentary consultation. Don’t go it alone.
“Pastor, I’m depressed…doctor says it’s some sort of major depressive disorder.”
We don’t take for granted the amount of trust displayed when someone discloses the diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder. And that’s why we respond gently and compassionately. But we also need to respond accurately.
Here is the first of three common myths about depression to keep you from misleading those you care so deeply for.
Myth #1: Scientists Know Exactly What Causes Depression
Even though pharmaceutical ads say that major depression may be caused by chemical imbalances, many people assume that it is caused by chemical imbalances. But it’s not that simple. As Dr. Joseph Coyle of Harvard Medical School was quoted by National Public Radio,
Chemical imbalance is sort of last-century thinking. It’s much more complicated than that.
And Dr. Coyle isn’t alone in his sentiment. PLOS Medicine collected an eye-opening list of quotes from medical researchers who don’t share the confidence that the general public, some doctors, and even pharmaceutical companies have about the cause of depression.
To get a better idea of what causes depression, scientists are exploring whether the depression is due to problems with brain structure, diminished activity levels in certain parts of the brain, and psychosocial factors like stress. But to date, scientists have not been able to make a clear link between physiological factors and depression. A Scientific American article puts it this way:
[N]o studies have established a cause-and-effect relation between any brain or psychosocial dysfunction and the disorder. In addition, depression almost certainly does not result from just one change in the brain or environmental factor. A focus on one piece of the depression puzzle—be it brain chemistry, neural networks or stress—is shortsighted.
The Brain Is Complicated
Even though we hear a lot of promising news about the latest in brain and genetic code research, it’s important to realize that scientists aren’t even close to being able to explain what causes depression or any other mental disorder. Dr. Allen Frances, former chair of the DSM-IV Task Force and of the department of psychiatry at Duke University School of Medicine, writes:
Although we have learned a great deal about brain functioning, we have not yet figured out ways of translating basic science into clinical psychiatry. The powerful new tools of molecular biology, genetics, and imaging have not yet led to laboratory tests for dementia or depression or schizophrenia or bipolar or obsessive-compulsive disorder or for any other mental disorders. The expectation that there would be a simple gene or neurotransmitter or circuitry explanation for any mental disorder has turned out to be naive and illusory.
Frances goes on to quote Roger Sperry, who won the Nobel Prize in medicine:
The more we learn, the more we recognize the unique complexity of any one individual intellect, the stronger the conclusion becomes that the individuality inherent in our brain networks makes that of fingerprints or facial features gross and simple by comparison.
Teasing out the heterogeneous underlying mechanisms of mental disorder will be the work of lifetimes.
Spritual Aspects of Depression Matter Too
Even if scientists are able to identify which parts of the body produce a state of depression, that would be incomplete as an explanation of the cause of depression. Why? It would not take into account man’s makeup as a spiritual and physical creature created in the image of God.
Dr. Sam Williams, a former psychologist who is now a counseling professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, explains:
That which makes us distinctively human, our spiritual and moral facets, is neglected by secular definitions of mental order, disorder, and reordering. Thus, the secular concept of mental disorder is not a thorough description of nor does it provide an explanation for people’s problems.
A more thorough biblical psychology must factor God (and subsequently the moral and spiritual valence of each symptom) back into the equation if we are interested in a diagnosis that is consistent with our worldview.
This is important for the people you care for to understand, because many of them become less receptive to nonmedicinal treatments when they accept a biomedical explanation for their depression. Dr. Todd B. Kashdan, psychologist and professor of psychology at George Mason University, explains in a post on myths about what causes depression:
They become pessimistic that recovery is possible. They become less confident that they can manage and regulate negative moods that arise (and they always do)…. Essentially, they become less flexible in their options for treating depression and less confident that they will escape its clutches.
Just because depression scientists don’t know exactly what causes it does not mean that biological factors don’t play a significant role in why people experience depression. But, again, as Dr. Williams observes,
Superficial, deterministic explanations dehumanize people, rendering them as automatons rather than persons with the dignity and honor ascribed to us in Psalm 8.
Now What?
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A Christmas without Jesus is a Christmas without hope. A Christmas with Emmanuel — God with us! — is real hope that transcends our hurts.
Hope.
Christmas brings hope, God-confident hope–letting go of wishful thinking and grabbing on to God-kind-of-hope.
Is there any other real hope?
Your greatest hopes and dreams are fulfilled in One: Jesus Christ.
What do you hope this day, this CHRISTmas day?
Let’s begin talking about hope. We need to. I need to. God says that in this world, “you will have tribulation.” He also says we are overcomers. With hope your trials melt like a snowflake of your tongue.
God has called me to bring comfort, truth, and hope to women and to the leaders who serve them. It is a privilege and I am humbled.
You know it’s a tough world beyond your front door, and maybe in your home, which is why we each need comfort, truth, and hope everyday, all day.
I want to share two songs with you, one traditional, the other “un.” Christians are counter-cultural, you know. We must be, for our Lord bucked the culture too. I just love that guy. 🙂 The second son is my different kind of Christmas carol.
Here is the first: O Holy Night. How my heart soars, every lyric speaking glorious truth.
Here is my counter-cultural offering. . .my different kind of Christmas carol: It is who God is making me, a window to my heart, a heart to hear, to see, to love.
Do you need comfort, truth, and hope this Christmas? God loves you SO much, dear friend. He cannot love you any less or any more, for He Is LOVE! He sees. He hears. He cares. Praise His holy name.
When your husband isn’t there for you and the kids — whatever the reason — be encouraged. You can overcome loneliness, even feelings of rejection.
Marriage means celebrating Christmas together. Usually. But not always. That’s why celebrating alone hurts.
If you’re a married mom yet solo parent, you understand. You may fly solo during the holidays because your hubby is serving in the military, away on business, or another reason. (He may be a long-distance truck driver, a busy doctor, an alcoholic or addict, a man with a chronic health condition, someone serving time in prison, or so on). If so you know the pain of loneliness like no one else.
Kids, young or old, want desperately to celebrate the birth of Jesus with mom and dad. You want your husband to join the joyful Christmas morning melee too.
Wrapping-paper ripping.
Eggnog sipping.
Squealing, climbing, fa la la la.
It’s not quite the same without. . .papa.
So what’s a solo married mom to do at Christmas or other celebrations?
In her new book Married Mom, Solo Parent: Finding God’s Strength to Face the Challenge (Kregel, 2011), author Carla Anne Coroy gives practical suggestions and biblical teaching to equip you for the holidays and beyond.
Among them:
~ involve Dad. Tell him about special dates (such as your child’s holiday play, family gatherings) and ask him to tell you which days he can make it. Have him write it on his calendar. Let him know you are counting on him.
~ schedule a phone call. If it is difficult for him to attend a celebration, arrange with him that you will call him at an important point in the celebration, fill him in on essential details, and let broadcast your husband’s celebratory words over the speaker phone.
~ know it is okay to feel sad. When your husband has to miss a Christmas party — or even be away from home on Christmas — you may feel a plethora of emotions. So may your children. “When you see your children hurting and missing their dad, it is the hardest thing to not allow a root of resentment, anger, hurt, and betrayal take residence in your heart. It’s those times when we need to hold our children chose and pray,” Carla writes.
Carla has many more ideas. As a veteran solo parent, she has a passion to share her story–the good and the bad–to encourage other married women who feel like they’re going it alone. Chances are, you know someone like her in your neighborhood, church, or child’s classroom. She may be your daughter-in-law or daughter.
For more encouraging ideas, check out Carla’s website. Being a married mom, solo parent is a challenge. With God’s strength you can face daily challenges with grace.
Question: Are the holidays lonely for you? What helps most?
Who inspires you? The woman who inspires me is stopping child trafficking. Just one small thing can help save a life of a child.
Have you met someone who inspired you to make a difference?
A life-or-death-oh-my-God-help-me-be-the-change kind of difference? I have. Her name is Diana Scimone, a Christian women and the heart of Born2Fly, a nonprofit dedicated to stopping child trafficking in the United States and around the world.
Child-trafficking. You’ve heard about it. It’s a crime forcing little kids to do things no child should. Like sew tiny beads to saris sold to tourists in the markets of Calcutta. All day every day. Even worse: child sex trafficking of girls and boys.
When Diana, a journalist, first discovered these crimes against children, she got mad — who wouldn’t! — and asked herself what she could do to stop it and save lives?
God gave her the answer: write!
SOLUTION 1
One part of the Born2Fly solution is a new, beautifully illustrated children’s ebook called Born to Fly.Born to Fly inspires children to pursue their dreams. Proceeds from book sales help fund a worldwide anti-trafficking prevention program.
“Each year more than 1 million kids get lured into trafficking including in the U.S.,” Diana says. “Some of them are just 5 years old. We’ve launched a program to reach kids before the traffickers do—and we’re hoping that sales of this new ebook will help fund it.”
Born to Fly features 43 illustrations in soft pastel by artist Leah Wiedemer. A companion website, www.borntoflybook.com, has games and activities for kids and a free reading guide/curriculum for schools. Born to Fly is published solely as an ebook and is available for iPad, Kindle, Nook, Sony, and other readers. Read more solutions at www.BasicsMatter.com, where I write on Mondays. Come on over and join the folks.
P.S. To get Diana’s beautifully illustrated children’s book in time for Christmas,click here.
DEPRESSION: Many of us feel depressed around Christmas. Did you know scientists and biblical counselors recognize at least three myths about depression?
