Avoiding the Depression Trap

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From Teen Connection at In Touch Ministries

Avoiding the Depression Trap

Sometimes it seems like the world is at your fingertips, everything you touch turns to gold. And then there are those days, weeks, even years, when nothing, absolutely nothing, goes as planned.
Don’t you just hate the tough times?

What’s God’s purpose behind our struggles?
As believers, why can’t everything be rosy and stress-free?
Why does that seemingly perfect relationship end with a nasty break-up? Why does your best friend turn her back on you? Why did your folks split up when you were only three?

If God’s an all-knowing, all-powerful God, then certainly He can change our circumstances, right? We know He loves us, we know He sent Jesus to die for us, so why does He allow horrible things to happen? Why does He allow us to become depressed?


Difficult times are a part of life. Throughout the Bible, there are powerful stories of people who suffered through horrible circumstances only to come out stronger, more spiritually mature, and closer to God. These are real stories, not legends, not made-up works of fiction, but real stories of people just like you and me.

Think about the story of Joseph in Genesis: He was just a teenager when his brothers abandoned him and sold him into slavery. Joseph worked for Pharoah, then lived imprisoned for years, isolated and rejected. Yet God miraculously raised Joseph out of that situation and placed him in a position of authority, where he was able to influence even the greatest kingdom of his time.

Sure, that was a long time ago, and completely different circumstances than you are likely dealing with, but God still works in the same way today. ( Hebrews 13:8 ) So the question isâ€â€how do you recognize God working in the middle of your despair? How do you avoid discouragement and depression?

Start by recognizing that you’ve got an issue. In Psalm 42:5, David cried out, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?†David realized his struggles. He knew he could never become who God wanted him to be without facing his issues head-on. Even David, who God labeled as “man after my own heart,†had serious problems. Soak that in and believe itâ€â€you’re not the only person who has suffered. In fact, everyone suffers at some point in time.

Get to the core of the issueâ€â€what specifically has caused your depression? Rejection at school? Family problems? A relationship breakup? Drug addiction? What’s the cause? Once you’ve reached that point, turn your focus to God and just be honest with Him. Remember, you can tell God about your frustrations, even if you don't quite understand why He's allowed your circumstances. He's always willing to listen.

As long as you're focused on your discouragement, then you'll never experience freedom. When you become focused on God and His plan, you will at least begin to understand why you are experiencing frustration. Realize that God is working in your life. View your discouragement and frustration as a test, and when you've completed the test you'll eventually see why God allowed that time in your life.

What else can you do to overcome depression? Read the Bible. Now, you're probably thinkingâ€â€that's what everyone says. Sure, but don't just read the Bibleâ€â€read it with a plan. Look for verses that relate to what you are experiencing. Start with the Psalms and see how David overcame his pain and suffering to experience victory in Christ. Don't just open the Bible and read the first page you see, but read it with purpose. Use the index and find passages that speak of what you are going through or find a topic-based devotional book at your local Christian bookstore.

Remember, God doesn't want you to live in a state of depression and discouragement. Even though you may not understand why you are experiencing pain and frustration, understand that God has your best in mind. As difficult as it may seemâ€â€if you can simply stay focused on Him and not your circumstances, you can overcome depression and experience the happiness God desires for you.



source: http://www.intouch.org/teen/re/Depression/articles/headsup.html

 

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A Chance to Heal

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From Teen Connection at In Touch Ministries


A Chance to Heal

Have you ever felt so discouraged you didn’t think anyone in the world could relate to your circumstances?
At one time or another, each of us will face emotional "down" times. But what many of us don’t realize is that millions of people, including Christians, struggle with feelings of depression.

You might think you don’t know anyone who fits into this category. The people around you may seem well-adjusted and content. But if you dig deeper into their lives and hearts, you will find that many are afraid to say, "I feel depressed."

Depression touches the lives of the people living next door, occupying the desk next to yours at school, and sitting beside you in church on Sunday morning. You may even be one of those people.

If you suffer from depression, know that you are not alone and there is hope. Many of us have grown up with the wrong assumption that because Christians are supposed to be happy, feelings of depression are a sign of something gone awry in our spiritual walk. All too frequently depression carries with it a stigma of weakness or even sinfulness. Because of these adverse labels, many Christians exert more energy putting up a facade of cheerfulness than dealing with the problem.

Many people erect invisible barriers in an attempt to protect themselves from others who would injure or reject them. In reality, this self-imposed isolation only perpetuates the depression. Healthy relationships are the antidote they need most.

"It is difficult for a depressed individual to develop friendships because he cannot understand how anyone could care for him," write Christian counselors Frank Minith and Paul Meier. "He fears rejection. He fears that if he really gets close, he will be rejected."

In their book, Happiness is a Choice, Minith and Meier suggest several practical ways to overcome depression. A few are paraphrased here:

Change your self-talk. Measure what you tell yourself against the truth of Scripture. Instead of convincing yourself that you will never measure up (a concept found nowhere in Scripture), remind yourself that, "God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7).

Understand your feelings, but focus on your behavior. Feelings are important and should be dealt with, but we should not let them rule our lives. When we take our eyes off ourselves and focus on God’s truth, we gain the right perspective of His eternal love for us.

Pray. Prayer is more than positive thinking or the power of suggestion. It is calling upon the power of God Himself who is available to all His children.

Share your feelings with a friend. Many people experience great relief from depression when a friend takes the time to listen and offer support and guidance. When we finally overcome the mindset of isolation and develop friendships, we often find that our self-concept is inaccurate. As we listen to our friends speaking the truth, we begin to heal.

Focus on a specific plan of action. Learn to set reachable goals for your life. It is the little things that we do in our day-to-day activities that determine how we feel. Our first response in the morning to our friend or co-worker can set the tone for the entire day. Things like whether or not we eat breakfast, spend time with the Lord, or exercise have an enormous impact on our frame of mind. When you make time for God first, He will fill your mind and heart with thoughts of encouragement.

There is hope. Many believe suffering is equally as noble. If we struggle with depression, we can look to the apostle Paul for encouragement. He was shipwrecked, beaten, and left without any earthly hope, yet he learned to be content, whatever his circumstance.

Paul discovered that his afflictions made Christ more real in his life. In a letter to the Corinthians he wrote, "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Even though Paul had many reasons to be depressed, he wasn’t. The focus of his life was not set on his circumstances or the approval of others. He lived a life of intense joy and hope because Christ was the anchor of his soul. Maybe you feel as though you cannot face another day. You can.

God has promised to meet every need you have. Paul reminds us that He is sufficient. When we are weak, He gives us the strength we need. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)


source: http://www.intouch.org/teen/re/Depression/articles/Achancetoheal.html

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Never Alone

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From Teen ConnectionTeen Connection at In Touch Ministries


Never Alone

With two-dozen sets of eyes following his every move, Alan cautiously maneuvered down the aisle to the desk on the other side of the classroom. The ten-second journey seemed like a lifetime; the only noise to be heard was Alan’s self-conscious footsteps on the hard, tile floor.

He placed his backpack under his desk, sat down, and opened his book to the page number scrawled on the chalkboard. Like a slow erupting volcano, the room’s peacefulness returned to a persistent, unrelenting chatter. Thirty seconds ago, everyone in the room had been watching him; now, it seemed, no one knew he existed.

It was the first day of class, and Alan was the new guy. Once a popular athlete at his old school, he was forced to move cross-country when his dad took a new job. Three thousand miles from home, Alan was just another face in the crowd. Surrounded by voices and laughter in a classroom full of people, he felt sad and completely alone.

Have you ever gone through a situation similar to Alan’s? Do you know people at your school who are isolated and left out? What does the Bible say about loneliness and rejection? How do we handle these painful feelings?

Loneliness is a fact of life. At one time or another, everyone will feel shut out from those around them. Sometimes, you may be the new kid in town, like Alan. On other occasions, you may take an unpopular stand that leads to rejection. Whatever the cause, loneliness can damage your confidence, shatter your self-esteem, and, ultimately, ruin your chance to be a witness for Christ.

From the beginning, God recognized that “it is not good for the man to be alone†(Genesis 2:18), so He formed a companion (Eve). God created you, He knew you before you were born, and He will not turn His back on you. Friends may come and go, but God’s love for you is unconditional. In other words, God doesn’t care about what name brand of clothes you wear, what neighborhood you live in, what car you drive, or what sports you play. God only cares about the condition of your heart

Think about this: God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christâ€â€the only perfect man to ever step foot on earthâ€â€was left abandoned to die on the cross. With nails driven through His hands, He was stripped, spit upon, beaten, and mocked. As He hung on the cross, bearing the sins of the entire world upon His shoulders, Christ cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?†(Matthew 27:46). In order for God to save you, He briefly turned away from Christ, offering His Son as a sacrifice for your sin.

Isaiah tells us that Christ was “despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…†(Isaiah 53:3). While we have little knowledge about Jesus’ early years, imagine the pressure, rejection, and loneliness Jesus must have felt as a perfect, sinless child in a world full of evil.

Jesus knew pain and suffering long before you existed. He’ll never reject your call for help, and “He will not fail you†(Deuteronomy 4:31) or leave you. “I am with you always,†Christ says in Matthew 28:20, “even to the end of the age.†Loneliness and rejection are temporary; they can be overcome if you’ll place your trust in Christ and realize that He’ll deliver you from isolation.

As Jesus reaches out to us when we’re in need, He also wants us to reach out to others. Think about your classmates that aren’t considered “popular,†those that sit alone in the lunchroom and in class. What can you do to make them feel appreciated? Sometimes, all it takes is a smile or a few encouraging words to brighten someone’s day.

Whenever you feel helpless and isolated from friends or family, remember that Christ offered his life for you. You are worth more to Jesus than you can ever imagine.




source: http://www.intouch.org/teen/re/Depression/articles/Neveralone.html

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From Teen Connection at In Touch Ministries



Depression Links
http://www.intouch.org/teen/re/Depression/DepressionLinks.html



"I Felt Dead Inside"-- The True Story of A Cutter (Campus Life)
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2004/005/1.52.html

A Special Report from Campus Life on Depression...
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2001/006/9.54.html

A listing of places to turn for help if you suffer from depression… (Campus Life)
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2001/006/11.57.html

If God loves me, why am I so miserable? (Breakaway Magazine)
http://www.breakawaymag.com/GodFaith/A000000033.cfm

Wannabe Heard? (Breakaway Magazine)
http://www.breakawaymag.com/AllTheRest/A000000021.cfm




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The Bible on Depression

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From Teen Connection at In Touch Ministries


Print these out and keep them in your wallet
for handy reference.
Make these verses your words of truth.

The Bible on Depression

Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.â€Â

Psalm 30:5
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 34:17
The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Isaiah 40:31
Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.

Isaiah 51:11
So the ransomed of the Lord will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 61:3
To grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Luke 18:1
Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.

Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

1 Peter 4:12-13
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

1 Peter 5:6-7
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.



source: http://www.intouch.org/teen/re/Depression/DepressionVerses.html


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From Teen Connection at In Touch Ministries


Singers and Athletes Talk About Depression


Andrew Peterson (singer)
And I think that it's unfair to people who don't know Christ to pretend like [Christians] stop hurting, because then when they become Christians or they know Jesus and they're still hurting, they think something's wrong with them. The truth of the matter is that having Jesus with us gives us hope on the other side of the hurt, but it doesn't take the hurt away.

Marc Martel, downhere
We all have trouble connecting our heads down to our hearts sometimes. We just need to lean on the smallest bit of knowledge that we have about why we live and what hope we have.

Kristin Swinford, Zoegirl
One verse from the Bible that really encourages me when I look in the mirror and I'm disappointed or I'm feeling down on myself, which happens a lot, is Psalm 139:13-14; it says, "For You created my inmost being / You knit me together in my mother's womb / I am fearfully and wonderfully made / Your works are wonderful, I know that full and well." And that's just a Psalm that has encouraged me because just about all the things that I would like to do to make myself look better, feel better about myself externally.

Jason Germaine, downhere
Right after high school, we moved about five hours away . . . and I didn't know anybody . . . . And it was just a bit of isolation and separation from all my high school friends. . . . We need to know in those times . . . that God wants us just to be honest with Him. Whether we're angry, hurt, lonelyâ€â€I can remember times when I was angry and asked God, "Why am I stuck in this situation?" And, in time, I can see those prayers from those times being answered. And to this day, little whispers will come back from God's direction--"This is why you were alone, so you could minister here."

Alisa Girard, Zoegirl
A lot of times, things we go through, [Satan’s] going to try and magnify and make bigger to us. And that's the one thing that I've learned a lot in my life is that when I feel depressed, you know, sometimes it is just a phantom. It's just the enemy trying to magnify something to you that isn't even really there.

Natalie Grant (singer)
There's times where we feel like our family and our friends-everybody's deserted us, but we can know in those total rock-bottom moments that Jesus promised He would never leave us. He promised that He would never forsake us, no matter how bad, rotten, or gross it gets.

Erin O’ Donnell (singer)
You look at these people that were the perfect crowd, and I was never a part of that. And you would look at that and go, "Oh man, their lives must be perfect." Well, you know what? I'm sure it wasn't. They were feeling just as awkward as everybody else. And I think just to know that you weren't alone in that would have been a nice feeling.

Alisa Girard, Zoegirl
There are times that I've thought if I were to look at myself at the age that I am now that I would be a mess, but I'm not a mess because God's fingerprints are all over me. He's put me back together time and time again, and I think it just gets better every time.

Kristin Swinford, Zoegirl
I think that it's very easy to make rash decisions based out of hurt and anger and difficult times and moments of desperation. Sometimes I don't know if there's the perfect answer that you can give a person that is in that state, other than saying, "Can you please just hang in there and wait just a little bit longer because if you wait a little bit longer and let those emotions settle, see if God can really do something ... Maybe it's not going to be perfect yet. If you can make it through that night, that day, that next hour, it just might be better."

Marc Martel, downhere
I think a lot of people who don't understand what depression is and how that happens, as far as clinical depression anyway, are just baffled at the idea of "Well, why don't you want to go on living?" It's just a natural instinct to want to keep living. And I think those people just want you to love them and show them the love and acceptance that anybody wants. I don't think it gets more complicated than that.

Alisa Girard, Zoegirl
And there are so many times in everybody's life when we feel like our spirits are crushed and how in earth are we going to find ourselves again. But that's when God finds you, when your spirit is crushed. Then He can come in and rebuild it and remold it and put His fingerprints on the clay that He is rebuilding in your life.

Andrew Peterson (singer)
I think that it will ultimately do a lot more good-to admit that we hurt, we're not perfect, and hurt along with the people who are in pain in the worldâ€â€Christians and non-Christians alike. And I've just kind of reached the point where I'm tired of pretending like I have it all together.




source: http://www.intouch.org/teen/re/Depression/DepressionQuotes.html

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Depression FAQ's

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From Teen Connection at In Touch Ministries


Sometimes I feel like God doesn’t really care. Is He really behind everything I experienceâ€â€both good and bad?

Sometimes it’s very difficult to understand how God works. Romans 11:33 tells us not to even try and figure out Godâ€â€it’s impossible! What’s so cool about God is that, even though He isn’t the God of evil, He can masterfully take our hardship and shape it into something that glorifies Him.

You may wonder how God could possibly be a part of your parent’s divorce, or your girlfriend or boyfriend cheating on you. God cannot and will not involve Himself with sin. He created each of us with a free will. His ultimate desire is that we would follow Him in obedience, which positions us for God’s awesome blessings. Unfortunately, many people seek their own way apart from God. The prophet Isaiah wrote: "All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way . . ." ( Isaiah 53:6 ). When a person sins against God, he or she must also bear the consequences.

However, there is another agent at work, and that is the fact that we live in a fallen world. Adam and Eve enjoyed enormous bliss in the Garden of Eden until they submitted to Satan's temptation. Sin shattered God's sanctuary of peace and security. However, the stain was not eternal. We can know and experience the matchless joy that comes from fellowshipping with His Son and our Saviorâ€â€the Lord Jesus Christ.

You may think that God is not aware of the trials you are facing, but He is. He is sovereign and in control of all things. In the book Trusting God Even When Life Hurts, Jerry Bridges writes:

"One of our problems with the sovereignty of God is that it frequently does not appear that God is in control of the circumstances of our lives. We see unjust or uncaring or even clearly wicked people doing things that adversely affect us. . . . We even do foolish and sinful things ourselves and suffer the bitter fruit of our actions. It is difficult to see God working through secondary causes and frail, sinful human beings. But it is God's ability to so arrange diverse human actions to fufill His purpose that makes His sovereignty marvelous and yet mysterious. . . .

"The question naturally arises, however, 'Does God always orchestrate the events of my life for my good?' . . . According to Romans 8:28, the answer is a solid yes.

"The verse says, 'We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose'. It is this assurance that . . . gives sense to Paul's exhortation elsewhere to 'give thanks in all circumstances' ( 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ). How could we possibly give thanks to God for all the circumstances of our lives if He were not at work in them for our good?"



If God really loves me, why do I have to go through pain?

This question bothers many believers in our darkest hours. While pain comes in different forms and has different durations, suffering always comes with an objective greater than our comfort, pleasure, or personal goals. If we seek God's purpose for grief, we will find both His peace and His deep love for us.

Here are a few points to help you understand the nature of emotional pain:

Pain instructs. Christ's sufficiency is more apparent during times of suffering than in the middle of the good times. Discovering God's faithfulness strengthens our resolve to endure.

Pain purifies. Fraudulent faith cannot withstand hardship's flames. Like gold in a refiner's fire, suffering believers experience the burning away of impurities until all that’s left are the things of value. Trials bring into focus the truth about the world we live in, the nature of the people we meet, and the incomparable worth of the Lord.

Pain motivates. Pain drives us to God. How often do we hear testimony from people who discovered Him during their worst trial? In His wisdom, God knows whether we require motivation from blessing or from distress.

Pain opens us to intimacy with God. At the end of our own resources is the Lord's boundless strength. Running into His arms guarantees us the comfort and energy that is available only through an intimate relationship with the Father.

Living an easy life doesn't earn rewards. Though our instinct is to sidestep pain, suffering helps us find intimacy with God and the great purpose He sets for our life.



source: http://www.intouch.org/teen/re/Depression/DepressionFAQ.html

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Believe it!

GOD TEACHES HOW TO GAIN CONTROL OF DEPRESSION!

Click:
http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=253744#253744

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