Loved one suffering in depression

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by jennifer on October 16, 2011 at 2:00pm

hi Carla,
it may be depression, depression manifests itself differently on different people.
but it also sounds like something significant has haopened to this person to bring on these changes.
a doctor will diagnose the depression, and whether it is severe enough for medication. 
medication will help with the chemical imbalance but it's not always the answer. 
counselling can he very helpful, getting to the core of the problem. 
medication as well as counsellng can help but before anything depression needs to be
diagnosed first by a doctor. I believe there's a series of questions a doctor will ask to help them diagnose. 

some people who are depressed are withdrawn from loved ones and some can't 
even bring themselves out of bed to do the simplest everyday tasks. 

depression is serious and can completely consume a persons life but completely 
curable and manageable with the right support. 
first take this loved on to the doctor.

I hope Iv helped.

god bless you and your loved one and I pray the Jesus gives you knowlege and guidance
through this time. 

Jennifer

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Permalink Reply by Carla on October 16, 2011 at 7:21pm

Dear Jennifer and Amanda,

 

Thank you.  Both of your responses help to give me clarity and give me understanding.  When a loved one suffers from depression it is very personal.  Please pray for me in this.  Thanks.

 

Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by Charles Burwell on October 17, 2011 at 4:04pm

Dear Carla

 

I would like to share something with you from a book I am currently reading . It concerns what the author calls " marshmallow grace."  In one of the incidents he's speaking of a close friend of his was experiencing many of the symptoms you are describing and told the author of the book that he simply struggled just to get out of bed every morning and hated living his life.

The guy tried giving different scriptures and 'pep talks' and all uplifting things that he could think of to say and his friend just stared in the distance and nodded his head in a feeble acknowledgement of what the man was trying to tell him. 

 

The author began to silently and ernestly ask God what he was to say to help his friend. He said that the Lord lead him to ask his friend " will we be having this same conversation 5 years from now ? "   He went on to say that he knew that that almost sounded mean but that his friend suddenly perked up a little and got to really listening.  He then asked his friend is he was just resigning himself to the state he was in as being 'all there would be for the rest of his life.

 

He explained that , many times when people are very depressed or discouraged that they are only thinking of the present and their seemingly ' impossible ' situation . He said these questions caused his friend to begin looking outside of the immmediate. Then when his friend told him he couldn't bear to live like that any longer let alone for 5 more years , this man was able to help him understand that it won't be any better until he choses to get help.  Thank God this was the very thing to jolt him out of his negative thinking and look for help .  Fortunately he dedicated his life to the Lord and got the help he needed.

 

Please don't misunderstand me , I'm not saying that this would be the solution to your loved one's problem but sometimes we must lovingly confront someone in order to help them take an action to help themselves.

 

Also , I by no means would take depression lightly and lovingly 'confronting' people can more sucessfully be done by someone who knows that you care about them.. I know this from personal experience because my brother had to lovingly confront me when I was having an incredibly serious 'pity party' that was leading me into some real depression.   I would have listening to that kind of straight talk from no one else , but from my brother I listened and faced up to my part in my depression cycle and was able to confront this with a lot of prayer and help from the Lord.  What I'm saying is that some people ( like myself) had to be confronted with' reality' and put aside this ' alternate life ' that was going on in my mind.

 

I'm not saying that this is the solution in your loved one's case I'm simply saying that it worked for this man in the book I'm reading and it worked for me.  Depression is a very serious mind set ( wether caused by tragic events or by chemical imbalance)

but God has the answer to it. In my opinion only I would take it to God first ( please don't think i'm saying you haven't already because I know better than that ) and you may be very pleasantly surprised with the solution He gives you .  It may also not be a solution that you had ever heard before.  I say that because of an incredible ' off the wall ' solution to a problem that I had that worked out incredibly well. But that's another story.

 

God bless you for your care and concern for your loved one and I pray that God gives you true wisdom in how to deal with this and be of the most help to your loved one.

 

 

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Carla on October 19, 2011 at 9:41am

Dear Charles,

 

Thank you.  It's always wonderful to hear from you..  i miss hearing from you, your responses are always refreshing, biblical and sincere filled with compassion and love. 

I like the approach it gives...  It puts the ownership on to the person and causes them to face it rather than run away.

I understand that some are not ready to face it, that's why the Lord's leading is essential in the matter. 

I will most definately pray about this. 

Unfortunately this person does not know the Lord,  I'm praying about that too.

 

Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by Carla on October 21, 2011 at 10:50am

Thank you Mischelle,  I think you're right..  Prayer is so powerful.

 

This person has not professed Christ as Saviour.  my prayer is for opening of eyes and softening of heart.

 

I ask that all please join me in this prayer.

Thank u beloved,

Carla

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Permalink Reply by Carla on October 21, 2011 at 1:28pm

Thank you Nancy and Amanda.

 

Prayer is a powerful tool.  We are commanded to pray even when all we can see is unchanging.  We never give up hope. 

 

However, over the past week I have seen changes in this loved ones demeanor.  Some of the things that made a difference is realizing they are loved and valued and needed.  Prayer, submission to the Lord and walking His promptings out in obedience really help.  I'll keep everyone informed.  Thank you for praying. 

 

Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by JB on October 21, 2011 at 2:53pm

I had a long dissertation with a psychologist about depression, I still believe that depression is nothing more than a spirit of fear, or rather it begins with fear, fear being the root cause.

Of course we never did come to an agreement on the subject.

Still if I am called on to pray for someone that claims to have depression, I will immediately take authority over the spirit of fear, because I have never heard of a spirit of depression. And I know it is a work of the enemy and I also know that we have authority over all the works of the enemy, and we know that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind, or [clear thinking] 2Tim.1:7

But still some will be asking God to take it away, when the Word says that He has given us all things that pertains unto life and godliness, He has given to us the power and authority to cast out devils, lay hands on the sick and they will recover, He doesn’t say to ask Him to do it for us, He has already completed His work through Jesus Christ and destroyed our enemies.

So if you want to be praying for the person with depression, start casting out that evil spirit.

Blessings

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Permalink Reply by JB on October 21, 2011 at 2:58pm

Amanda,

I 'm rushed right now, but I will get something written up , maybe tonight or tomorrow, OK? Thanks

Joe

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Permalink Reply by JB on October 21, 2011 at 3:00pm

 For starters ,

you might start with Mrk.16

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Permalink Reply by Carla on October 21, 2011 at 3:15pm

Joe, I think you may be referring to Mark 16:17-18

 

These signs will acompany those who have believed:  in My name they will cast out demons and speak in tongues, they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

 

These signs were promised to the apostolic community... not all believers in all ages.

Matt 10:1; 1 Co 12:12; 1 Cor 12:29,30.  All were experienced in the apolstolic church (except the poison) and reported in scripture (Acts 28:5) ...but not afterward.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Marie triska on July 4, 2012 at 4:17pm

Please pray god heals my depression without medication

Permalink Reply by Carla on October 21, 2011 at 3:02pm

Joe, I hadn't seriously considered that depression could be an evil spirit..  but when I read your post the story of Paul's thorn in the side came to mind.

 

We can't command an evil spirit to leave a non-believer...  if we do they will return to find the house swept empty and clean, but will return yet again with more evil spirits ...even more evil than the first one.

 

I'm not fully convinced that depression could be an evil spirit as the only option..  Sometimes people do have chemical imbalances where medication is helpful.

I could be wrong.  I just think it would be careless of me to say it is an evil spirit for sure.

Here's the story of Paul:

 

http://www.gotquestions.org/Paul-thorn-flesh.html

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