We will be convening here at the ZigZag café, Suisse, on Thursdays for conversation and dialogue.
I invite you to stop by every Thursday for the question of the day. Your thoughts and participation are most welcome. Pull up a stool, avec un café, un thé, ou un chocolat chaud, et un croissant, and join in here on Thursday at the ZZ café.
For today:
Ever been depressed? Why do you think depression is so widespread today?
11 comments:
I think depression is widespread because of a lack of hope.
I was severely depressed prior to becoming a Christian. Since then there have been times when I've been depressed but I've always felt like there was hope because God was in my life. These days if I get depressed I know it will pass, based on past experience.
Susan,
Thanks. Seems to me that lack of hope is indeed one of the major causes of depression. Christians can be driven to this type of hopelessness, but as you say this is not the end of the story.
Hi Greg
It comes when you are afraid of being on the wrong path. It comes when you are walking through the Alpes and dont know where the holes are, because everything is covered with snow. It comes when you look for something that unifies us from the resurrection until today and you dont find anything. I comes when God seems to be silent. It comes when people jump into despair cause they cant stand life any more and you are left behind and wonder why you should trust someone who couldnt bring living water to this despaired person. It comes and goes - Up and down, between belief and doubt, between dogma and reality, between self-deception and deception, between total suspicion and total self-distrust, between cynism and hope, between correction and pride. Between evil/wicked arrogance and justified/valid questions.
Like shipwrecked people in an endless sea,
mankind often seems to me.
We dont want to drown, so we struggle and swim
and look for a rock to find peace in him,
but in the end, the rough sea will win.
Greetings
Micha,
Thanks for your comment. Poetic depression laced with hope?
I used to be depressed and believed that the "rough sea" would win, but alas I now have a vision that the sea will be no more.
thank you
I've been depressed, for sure. It comes and goes in phases, as Susan said.
I don't know why depression is so widespread today. Part of it, I think honestly, is over-diagnosis. Too many people who are not depressed think they are.
Also, I think what Micha and Susan both said about a lack of hope is very intuitive. I think people feel like they can't control anything, and that scares them. They try to be in control and realize that things happen outside of their control.
This is a draw of Christianity, that we know that all things work together for God's glory and a greater purpose (even if God doesn't orchestrate everything directly).
Greg, I also have that vision, that there will be no more sea one day. I look forward to that day, and I'm glad I've been redeemed from the depths of my depression.
John,
Thanks. I think that you're right about over diagnosis. Sometimes depression seems to be assumed without any in depth searching for why someone may be feeling depressed. Other times there is a medical reason and meds can be of help.
No doubt, however, as you point out, there are many reasons for being overwhelmed today and this can lead to depression.
Greg-
I definitely agree that meds are needed for some people. I know many close to me (family, indeed) who are on and need meds. But I know others who are on meds who probably just need to get their act together and listen to their conscience every once in a while. I think there are deeper issues to a lot of people, as you said. Like myself. You know me, once I got a lot of issues sorted out in my personal life (mostly during my time at L'Abri in 2006), my life turned around. I think the same is possible for many many other people.
John,
True. Good points.
I don't think people pray enough.
People look to medicine too much and knowledge instead of going to the one who knows all.
I'm guilty as charged ...
and
I think people are generally angry with God but it's not nice to admit that so they just get sad.
My theory ;-)
Valorosa,
Thanks. True. Anger at God seems to drive us to being sad and resigned, instead of towards God.
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