Depression

[Timmy]

I started a poll: http://apostolicfriendsforum.com/showthread.php?t=29608

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

The video is pretty long. Can you sum it up for us?

I wouldn't do it justice. It's mostly a testimony. Give it a listen when you have a moment.

I'm wondering how much of depression is caused by attacks of the enemy and us not guarding our hearts and how much of it is due to physiological problems like what this pastor will relate.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

I wouldn't do it justice. It's mostly a testimony. Give it a listen when you have a moment.

I'm wondering how much of depression is caused by attacks of the enemy and us not guarding our hearts and how much of it is due to physiological problems like what this pastor will relate.

I would say that nearly all depression (in the form were talking about here -not just feeling down from time to time or having a bad day) is psychological in nature and NOT the result of an "attack by the enemy". In fact, having a "bad day" shares almost nothing with real depression. The kind that makes you not want to get out of bed or makes you want to just crawl into a ball and die because nothing seems to matter.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

I'm wondering how much of depression is caused by attacks of the enemy and us not guarding our hearts and how much of it is due to physiological problems like what this pastor will relate.

I have battled PMDD off and on.... it's very real, and completely brought on by shifts in hormone levels in my body.

Many other things can trigger very real depression. I get very frustrated when I hear people trying to make all depression "spiritual". It's NOT. It's very frequently something physical that is causing it.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Did He?

Exodus 23:25; Deuteronomy 7:15

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by Sam

Exodus 23:25; Deuteronomy 7:15

Oh yeah! And James 5:14-15.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

I wouldn't do it justice. It's mostly a testimony. Give it a listen when you have a moment.

I'm wondering how much of depression is caused by attacks of the enemy and us not guarding our hearts and how much of it is due to physiological problems like what this pastor will relate.

How does the enemy attack us and cause depression? I can understand the physiological aspects. I can also understand the life circumstances of someone who genuinely "sees" no hope in their life. The latter may just be a cognitive thing that a good coach or therapist may be able to get someone out of.

But how does the enemy "attack" us (Other than through other people)?

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Sam

Exodus 23:25; Deuteronomy 7:15

Originally Posted by Timmy

Oh yeah! And James 5:14-15.

Does one have to "hate" the nation of Israel in order to be sick?

[Pragmatist]

There have been two occasions in my life when I went through a period of depression and both were circumstantial. Once when I graduated from college, lived on my own with no real friends and no support system, and once after the birth of my daughter who was an extremely fussy baby and no one around to help me.

I don't know if I was clinically depressed or not, but taking meds never crossed my mind, because I knew it wasn't a chemical imbalance, but a bad situation.

[DaveC519]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I would say that nearly all depression (in the form were talking about here -not just feeling down from time to time or having a bad day) is psychological in nature and NOT the result of an "attack by the enemy". In fact, having a "bad day" shares almost nothing with real depression. The kind that makes you not want to get out of bed or makes you want to just crawl into a ball and die because nothing seems to matter.

Yep. Clinical depression is a physiological condition, but it can have detrimental affects on the entire being (body, soul, spirit). As Tommy Nelson (the speaker) talked about, it can affect the mind, which then affects the way someone thinks, the way they process information and perceive their surroundings, etc. Although it is not caused by a "lack of faith", it can affect the faith of a believer, and the ol' enemy can try to take advantage of this.

Unfortunately, this condition is not understood by many Christians, including pastors. There is a stigma attached to it, and that's why many Christians who suffer from it don't seek the help they need.