The medical world was shocked last week by revelations from an academic study which shows that depression is not a chemical imbalance in the brain, as has been taken for granted for many decades, and that scientists have no real idea how antidepressants work.
Even prior to Covid and the lockdowns, depression was an increasing trend in western society. Continuous low moods or feelings of deep sadness, feeling hopeless and helpless, and having low self-esteem were all increasingly common symptoms. One recurrent outworking of depression is that people struggle to think clearly or to gain proper sleep.
Isolating lockdowns
The first Covid lockdown “had a profound effect” in increasing the prevalence of anxiety and depression among the general UK population (according to a study by psychologists at the University of Bath). The increased social isolation, uncertainty about the state of the world, and constant media bombardment outlining the serious – even fatal – consequence of catching Covid succeeded in causing widespread distress.
While diagnosed depression was experienced by around 4% of the UK population prior to the pandemic, this rose to a staggering 32% following lockdown.
We are now paying the cost for this fearmongering ‘pandemic’. While diagnosed depression was experienced by around 4% of the UK population prior to the pandemic, this rose to a staggering 32% following lockdown.
The personal reality of this has been brought home to me over recent weeks, on discovery that several friends, or close relatives of friends – all young men in their 20s or early 30s incidentally – were suffering from serious depression. All three had been signed off work for several months. My friend, Mark, is normally a highly sociable character, a hard worker, and the host of many a late-night party; but we began to observe an air of eery quiet around the house: next to no visitors, blinds constantly drawn, even in daytime, and rarely a sight of him outside his door. More recently, he has been forced to move back in with his parents. I pray for him often.
Personal experience
I felt I could relate to Mark’s situation only too well. I went through an extended ‘dark night of the soul’ when around the same age as him. In my case, as in so many others, there were a number of contributing factors, all converging and leading to a total collapse. Emotionally and spiritually, I was totally undone.
It was a profoundly difficult period. My family, although deeply caring, had little understanding of what was happening. Pals, including a number of Christian friends, perhaps also feeling unsure of how to help, tended to keep their distance, adding significantly to my feeling of loneliness and isolation.
Well-meaning friends urged me to ‘Doubt my doubts and believe my beliefs' – but their throwaway panaceas were of little practical help.
Everything seemed dark. Life had lost purpose and I lost all inclination to do or even try to do anything. Nothing interested, amused, or stimulated me. My entire life had come to a standstill – and remained so for some time.
Although I had been a Christian for several years, I had begun to develop intellectual doubts regarding the validity of the Christian faith. This was unquestionably a significant factor in my developing depression. Well-meaning friends urged me to ‘Doubt my doubts and believe my beliefs' – but their throwaway panaceas were of little practical help.
My turning point
Constantly praying to a God I was no longer certain even existed, I eventually began to sense the Spirit inviting me to put my trust in him despite my doubts. For weeks on end, I considered the very notion preposterous, feeling that if such were even achievable, it would be tantamount to committing intellectual suicide.
But the sense that this was God speaking persisted; I couldn’t keep ignoring it. Besides, I was in such a low position that frankly, I was willing to try anything. As an act of faith, I re-committed my life to Christ, choosing as an act of will to trust him despite any intellectual doubts I still had.
I was able to connect with people, engaging in conversation, enjoying walks, music – countless things that had hitherto felt ‘stolen’ from me. I had found life again.
It proved a critical turning point. My depression quickly began to lift, and hope and joy began to stream into my life. I was able to connect with people, engaging in conversation, enjoying walks, music – countless things that had hitherto felt ‘stolen’ from me. I had found life again.
I can honestly say that I have never suffered from depression since. Ups and downs – yes, on a weekly or even daily basis! But depression – no. Believe me, I know the difference.
Trying to help
Sadly, the Church hasn’t had a brilliant track record of helping believers with depression. Some refuse to accept its reality – regarding it as a complete contradiction of the Christian faith. Then, in some, especially charismatic, circles, there still exists a prevailing culture of ‘everything’s fine with me’; of so feeling we need to give a positive expression of the Christian life that we present a false image, and fail to encourage people to open up and be real about their thoughts and feelings.
Well-meaning but ill-thought-through cure-alls like ‘Try to be positive’, ‘Just pray and read your Bible more’, or ‘Get out among folk’, will do no good. Quoting Scripture verses (sometimes out of context) such as ‘Be anxious for nothing’ and ‘don’t worry about your life’ may serve only to heap guilt upon a person already burdened with feelings of shame. On the other hand, simply avoiding that person because we don’t know how to help will equally intensify the inner pain and sense of unworthiness.
Love and compassion
As friends, the burden on us eases when we realise that we don’t have to have the answers. We just need to be ‘there’. I well recall how my dark days were greatly eased by one particular friend who chose to stick by me, despite not understanding my situation, nor ever having experienced depression herself. Yet she phoned or visited often, and just chatted. I felt too low to engage in conversation, but that failed to faze her. She was ‘there’ for me – and that’s all that mattered.
the Scriptures are packed with wisdom and encouragement for those suffering from depression
Depression is a real illness. Being depressed is not in itself a sin. In the Bible, particularly the Psalms, all manner of human emotions and mental states are evoked, including depression. And, while the Scriptures don’t offer easy one-verse platitudes, they are packed with wisdom and encouragement for those suffering from depression (See Deut 31:8; Matt 11:28; John 16:33; Prov 3:5-6; 1 Pet 5:7; Ps 40:1-2, etc).
With the latest research showing that millions may have been taking antidepressants with harmful side-effects for decades with no scientific evidence they achieve benificiary results, it's time the world looked elsewhere for a 'cure' for depression.
Though there are other causes, much experience of depression is ultimately caused by a sense of hopelessness. As Christians, filled with the grace and love of Jesus Christ, our lives are characterised by hope and purpose (Jer 29:11). As such, we have much to offer those who are depressed or anxious. Not least by (sensitively) pointing them to the source of our hope, while simultaneously showing them – in actions as much as in words – how loved and valued and precious they truly are.
"The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed” (Ps 34:18)
