Book Talk: Christians Get Depressed Too - Chapter Three

Chapter Three – The Condition

Summary:

After writing about 8 reasons ‘why’ we should study depression, two principles to guide us in ‘how’ we should study depression, including 3 extreme positions often taken in regarding depression, David Murray moves on in Chapter Three to the question of ‘what is depression’? He states we need to know what depression is to recognize the symptoms physically as well as spiritually, with the latter one he is most concerned about. He spends the rest of the chapter on the spiritual side of depression, using Scripture to show that depression is ‘compatible with being a Christian’.

Murray uses 5 areas of our lives to answer the question “What is depression?”, areas that are interrelated, spending the most time on the second area:

1.       Life Situation:

·         Murray speaks here of providential changes (grief, death, family difficulties, loss of job, lack of money), changes that affect our mental and emotional health.

·         In order to recognize and connect depression to a providential change, this means examining our lives to trace back to a particular event

·         Murray believes we don’t like to do this, linking our depressed thoughts/anxiety to life events as that makes us feel exposed as weak

·         Not all depression is because of providential changes, but due to genetics

2.       Thoughts:

·         Unhelpful thought patterns (distortion of reality)

·         With God’s help, Murray reminds us that while we can’t change the providential changes, we can change our way of thinking

·         Murray lists 10 false thought patterns, using a life, spiritual and Biblical example for each one:

ü  False extremes: all or nothing thinking i.e. one mistake in cooking means you are a total disaster (life)

ü  False generalization: concluding that once experiencing an unpleasant even, this will always continue i.e. trying to witness to someone about God and you are mocked, which makes you feel this will always happen (spiritual)

ü  False filter: filtering anything positive, everything is negative i.e. 90% on a test but focus is on the 10% that you got wrong (life)

ü  False transformation: ignores positive experiences, even turning them into a negative experience i.e. you receive a compliment but figure the person has ulterior motives (wants something from you) (life)

ü  False mind reading: when we think we can tell what others are thinking of us, always concluding they are negative thoughts i.e. a friend passes you by, being late for something, but you conclude s/he doesn’t like you anymore (life)

ü  False fortune telling: when we think we know things will turn out so badly, that we tell ourselves it’s a fact i.e. convinced that you will never be able to pray in public (spiritual)

ü  False lens: when we see our mistakes and fears through a magnifying glass, which makes everything out of proportion i.e. although we know we have received forgiveness of sins, we can’t shake the guilt and fear of punishment (spiritual)

ü  False feelings-based reasoning:  when we let our feelings determine the facts i.e. you feel unforgiven and conclude you are unforgiven (spiritual)

ü  False ‘shoulds’: pressure that we ‘should’ be doing this, and ‘ought’ to be doing that, pressures that can lead to frustration, especially when we fail i.e. when we feel we need to do as much kingdom work as our neighbour, while our neighbour does not have children to look after, and a home to run (spiritual)

ü  False responsibility: when it’s assumed and we blame ourselves for a negative result i.e. when a child turns away from the Lord, a parent assumes that it is her/his fault, even when s/he has done everything ‘right’ (spiritual)

3.       Feelings:

·         Murray states that unhelpful thought patterns will give us unhelpful emotions and feelings

·         Murray then lists 6 emotional symptoms of depression, with Biblical examples for each one:

ü  Overwhelming and long-term sadness (David in Ps. 42: 3, 7)

ü  (often) Irrational anger towards God and/or others (Jonah in Jonah 4:4, 9)

ü  When you feel your life is worthless (Jeremiah in Jer. 20: 14-18)

ü  Extreme anxiety or panic (David in 1 Sam. 21: 12)

ü  The feeling that God hates you and is far away (Job in well, many places of Job)

ü  Having a longing to die (suicidal) (Elijah in 1 Kings 19:4)

4.       Bodily Symptoms:

·         Disturbed sleep, tiredness, weight fluctuations, digestive problems, breathlessness

5.       Behaviour and Activity:

·         When we stop what we love to do and start doing things that make us feel worse (drinking, eating excessively, push people away from us)

Murray concludes the chapter with a summary (go figure! And it’s much shorter than mine!) to:

                                 i.            Assess the 5 areas in our life, remembering that one false thought pattern will affect all areas of life

                               ii.            Physical symptoms may very well be related to depression

                              iii.            To seek medical advice if serious symptoms persist

                             iv.            With God’s help, reverse false thinking patterns, focusing on one area at a time

                               v.            Pray for ourselves and others

                             vi.            Seek the Christ’s sympathy, who also suffered through deep sadness

                            vii.            Believe that depression is part of God’s plan – He may want you to go through it. That you are where God wants you to be, to possible learn from it, to gain something from going through it.

My Thoughts:

Yikes. Too many, that’s for sure!! I love how he gives so many life, spiritual and biblical examples. I only listed one each, but he actually has an example for all three, under each false thought pattern. I found those to be very helpful. I also think it will leave all of us knowing that we have found ourselves in one or more false thought pattern. I will be honest though, I really struggle with the last summary point, that depression may not be a punishment, but part of God’s plan. Murray ends with the question: if God wants you to go through this it would be wrong for you to avoid it, wouldn’t it? I am not so sure about that statement, and have to chew on it a bit longer.

My other thought is that David Murray loves lists. :o)

Your Thoughts:

What do you think about that last question of Murray’s? Has Murray given a true definition of depression?

Prayer Points:

·         For all those who suffer short and long term depression

·         For clarity to assess the 5 areas in my life

·         For help in changing the false thought patterns that have taken root

·         Thankfulness for the medical options we have

·         That we may recognize and help others who may be struggling

Next Time:

We are halfway through the book! Next week, we will look at Chapter 4: The Causes (of Depression)

Thanks again for participating in this.....I am hearing from a few here, as well as via email and face to face. I always look forward to hearing what others are thinking.