Depression

“You would settle for anything that would make your brain slow down or stop. Break this circle of thoughts you chase before they catch back up with you. Try to find some source of light, try to name one thing you like. You used to have such a longer list, and light —you never had to look for it. But now it’s so easy to second-guess everything you do. This feeling used to pass, but it seems like it’s every day, seems like it’s every night now.” Conor Oberst

a serious medical illness more than just feeling “down in the dumps” or “blue” for a few days it’s feeling "down" or “hopeless” for weeks, months or even years. it affects the way you eat, sleep, the way you feel about yourself, your whole outlook on life changes. it is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away Depression:

Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down" Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping Appetite and weight loss or overeating and weight gain Thoughts of death or suicide Depression:

1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year Women are more likely to suffer than men About 10% of children have a mental health problem at any one time More than half of the people in Canada will suffer some form of mental illness in their lifetime Depression:

“The Church in general has not been sympathetic towards its own members with emotional problems. Their general attitude is that prayer and bible reading will heal all emotional problems.” Dr. Dwight Carlson Why Do Christians Shoot Their Wounded? Depression: Depression causes spiritual withdrawal, not the other way around

“I cannot eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water. What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come to be. I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest; instead, only trouble comes …. I will never again experience pleasure... I would rather die of strangulation than go on and on like this. I hate my life” Job 3:23-26, 7:11, 15-16, NLT

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?” Psalm 13 “I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind” Ecclesiastes 2:17

The presence of depression is not the absence of faith; it’s an opportunity for faith What we do in our depression and how we respond to others battling with it, may be the greatest demonstration of our faith we have in our lives

Elijah`s Story – 1 Kings Factors in depression : fear (v. 3) failure (v. 4) fatigue (v. 5) futility (v. 10)

Elijah`s Story – 1 Kings Factors in recovery: take care of yourself physically tell your story, your struggle

“More good is done between two friends at ten o'clock in the morning over a cup of coffee than in the doctor's office all day long. Talking to a friend can help to bring life back into perspective and enable us to solve our problems. If we had more friends we would need fewer doctors and psychiatrists.” Dean, University of Oregon Medical School

Elijah`s Story – 1 Kings Factors in recovery : take care of yourself physically talk, share your story, your struggle tell your self the truth, challenge the lie

“Still small voice" literally means "a voice of low whispers, a sound of gentle stillness”. Though God was silent, He was not absent. Though Jezebel was thundering, she was not in control.

Elijah`s Story – 1 Kings Factors in recovery : take care of yourself physically talk, share your story, your struggle tell your self the truth, challenge the lie take the next step, reengage in mission