Can You Help Me Distinguish between a Person with a "Nervous Breakdown" and Someone Who Is Depressed?
Anxiety and Depression, My Strange Friends
Do you suffer from depression and anxiety? This article shares the experience of a minister who has once suffered from anxiety and depression, and the lessons learned along the way.
What I Learned in My Season of Depression
Are you suffering from depression? The article shares an experience of a Christian who experienced depression, in order to be of assistance to you during your struggle.
When Depression Makes Church So Hard
Depression can make the experience at church very hard. This article explains why, and also provides some thoughts on how the church can help those who struggle in this respect.
Cultivating Churches That Care for the Downcast
This article encourages churches to develop a culture in which ministry is provided for those who are suffering with depression.
Six Disciplines of a Depressed Soul (Part 4)
How does one navigate through spiritual depression? This article suggests that personal discipline is required in six critical areas.
Depression: Catastrophizing and Elijah (Part 2)
What exactly is catastrophizing? This article explains what this is in relation to depression. It provides a biblical example of catastrophizing in the story of Elijah fleeing Jezebel after the contest of the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 19). Finally, it offers a response to catastrophizing: recognize, refocus, pray, and love.
Depression and Imbalanced Approaches (Part 1)
This article on depression explains different approaches to counselling depressed people. It dwells particularly on imbalanced approaches that either oversimplify or complicate the issue. It ends by showing how counselling can give hope to the depressed.
I’m Thinking about Going to the Doctor for Depression Meds – What Is a Compassionate, Comprehensive Response? (Part 3)
This article considers an appropriate response to someone thinking about getting medication for depression. It's a response of compassion, one that wants to also help such individuals make an informed decision. The author also considers Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and argues that even "Christian CBT" is insufficient.
How Do We Help Family and Friends of a Person Struggling with Depression? (Part 1)
This article addresses those who want to offer support to friends or family of those struggling with depression, and offers helpful ways to serve them.
Medication, Biblical Counseling, Depression: What’s New in Treatment?
This article reviews some new research on non-medical treatment for depression. In particular, it looks at dietary supplements, exercise, Christian counselling,
Medication: Right or Wrong? Wise or Unwise? Helpful or Not?
This article, written by a medical doctor who is also a biblical counselor, addresses the issue of whether Christians ought to make use of medication in dealing with depression.
Why Pastoral Counsel Matters for Depressed People
The author speaks about the symptoms of depression in light of Scripture, and argues that people described as clinically depressed need pastoral counsel.
The Brain’s Response to Threat
To aid those who struggle with anxiety or depression, this article suggests that we can teach what the Scriptures say about the God who loves them and casts out fears with his perfect love.
Depression and Exercise (Part 3)
This article explains how exercise has been known to significantly reduce the risk of depression in adults.
Chemical Imbalances and Depression (Part 1)
This article considers new medical research on whether chemical imbalances such as low serotonin cause depression. The research concluded that it is likely that serotonin may not be a large factor in depression. Hodges explains why this is good news: it could lead to a more effective treatment for those with severe sadness.
Depression’s Partnership with Death (Part 4)
This is part of a series of articles on the topic of depression. This article explains how to be depressed is to be entangled by death. It shows that a few passages in Hebrews can point a depressed person in the direction of life
Vitamin D and Depression: New Research (Part 3)
This is part of a series of articles on the topic of depression. Here the author considers the role of Vitamin D in depression.
Mood, Medicine, and the Value of Emotions (Part 2)
This is part of a series of articles on the topic of depression. Here the author gives some thought to the value of emotions like sorrow and sadness.
Three Biblical Journey Markers When Working through Depression (Part 1)
This is part of a series of articles on the topic of depression. Here the author uses Psalm 119:25-32 to explain that those suffering from depression ought to begin moving forward by taking small steps of faith through the fog.
Persevering through Sorrow in Prayer
In this article, the author meditates on Psalm 88 in order to offer biblical insights and instruction for those struggling with depression.
How to Pray When You Are Depressed: A Look at Psalm 13
The author meditates on Psalm 13 as a pattern for prayer when believers are struggling with depression.
Lessons from the Dark Valley of Depression
In this article, a woman shares the biblical insights she gained from dealing with her husband’s serious depression.
A Biblical Counsellor’s Testimony on Depression
In this article, a Christian who himself is also a biblical counselor shares his experiences, as well as insights gained, in dealing with his own serious depression.
Why Christian Love Matters in Depression
The author speaks as one who struggles with depression, and offers helpful insights and advice to fellow believers as to how to respond well in support of brothers and sisters who suffer with depression.
The Church’s Ministry to Those Who Are Depressed
Four Steps into Depression—And the Way Out
This article shows how spiritual depression has four very distinct levels moving emotionally and spiritually downward, but how there is good news in that the person can stop his downward slide at any level and move back up and out of depression, by bringing the Lord and his Word to bear on his thought patterns.
Christian Counselling: Satan’s Devices
Lonely and Miserable
From Strength to Complaint
Depression: Is It All in Your Mind? (Part 3)
Is depression strictly a physiological condition? Or is there a heart/mind connection? This article enters the discussion, and argues that to understand depression requires examining both the body and the inner person, and making the necessary connections. It explains that much depression has roots in the spiritual dimension of someone's life. It offers guidance for those who are depressed.
Depression, God, and You
This article discusses depression, particularly spiritual depression. It highlights four different levels of such depression, starting with disappointment, then discontentment, despair, and finally, destruction.
Five Ways to Help the Depressed among Us
How can you help those suffering from depression? This article provides five ways you can help the depressed.
We Can Help Ordinary Christians can Minister to the Depressed
Nine Ways to Battle the Darkness
Christians battle with depression, self-condemnation, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. How are they to face these times of darkness? This article offers nine considerations.
Depression and the Ministry, the Need for Wise Disclosure
This article offers counsel on how much a pastor should share about his depression with others.
Seven Ways The Lord Uses Depression in the Life of a Minister
There are pastors who have struggled with depression. Are there lessons that can be learned from depression? This article explains that though depression itself is not something to be thankful for, God uses it in the life of the minister.
Christians Get Depressed Too – The Crisis
Depression is a kind of emotional disorder. Associated with depression are anxiety and panic attacks. In this chapter the author give eight reasons for studying this subject.
Hope for the Depressed
This article speaks directly to the depressed person, and speaks openly about depression. The author gives a picture of the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual dimensions of depression, and then moves into biblical principles and strategies for change. Though a relatively short piece on the subject, the author capably handles some of its complexities, and leaves the reader with the encouragement to persevere in hope through the cross of Christ.
Depression: Then…And Now
God's Grace for the Depressed and Suicidal
Depression and thoughts of suicide are realities in which Christians can find themselves. Looking at Psalm 88, this article shows how Christ understands the reality of depression and how his grace can reach those battling with it.
"My Pastor, A Sabbatical?"
Uninvited and Unwanted!
The Way Ahead? Towards a Resolution: Looking at Mental Illness
Mental Illness A Christian Perspective
Depression and Faith: Can Christian Doctrines Induce Despondency and Depression?
Ministerial Depression
Luke 18:1-8 - The Unjust Judge (Part 2)
This is the second of two articles on Luke 18:1-8 and the parable of the unjust judge. These articles encourage the Christian in fighting against depression and discouragement. The focus here is on the love of God and His patience as source of encouragement for our faith. We can cling to Him in prayer.
Luke 18:1-8 - The Unjust Judge (Part 1)
This is the first of two articles on Luke 18:1-8 and the parable of the unjust judge. These articles encourage the Christian in fighting against depression and discouragement. The focus here is on the contrast between the unjust judge and God, who is sovereign and gracious. The author also speaks about the confidence we can have in prayer.
Pastoral Collegiality and Accountability in Calvin's Geneva
This article discusses the challenge of loneliness, isolation and depression facing many pastors today. The author presents John Calvin's model of collegiality, accountability, and gospel faithfulness among pastors as a way to address this challenge.
Tangled Up in Blue: Depression and the Christian Life
The author of this article shows from the Bible and from history that Christians also experience depression. The church plays an important role in supporting and comforting those struggling with depression.
"Rarely, Rarely Comest Thou Spirit of Delight"
This article looks at John 20:19-31. Jesus dealt lovingly with doubting Thomas, and is able in the same way to deal lovingly with those struggling wih doubt, depression or anxiety today.
Spiritual Depression
This article looks at depression and the way it relates to Christians. The author answers the question: do Christians get depressed? The emphasis of the article is on spiritual depression.
What about Christian Faith and Depression?
Depression: Description and Causes
Depression and the Christian
Thank You, Lord, for Melancholy Saints
Loss of Joy in the Christian Life
Faith and Depression
H.E.L.P. Spells "HELP!"
The Church's Ministry to those who Suffer from Depression
Christians DO Get Depressed Part 6 - The Carers
This article is about the support for depressed people. The stigma surrounding depression, and depression and self-esteem and suicide is also discussed.
Christians DO Get Depressed Part 5 - The Cures
This article looks at four important measured that should be considered to help in the healing of depression: correct your lifestyle, correct your false thoughts, correct your brain chemistry, and correct your spiritual life.
Christians DO Get Depressed Part 3 - The Condition
What is depression? The author looks at how it is related to five areas of our lives: Life situation, our thoughts, our feelings, our bodies and our behaviour.
Christians DO Get Depressed Part 1 - The Crisis
This article gives 8 reasons why it is important to study depression.
Psychological Theory
This article looks at recent trends in the psychological sciences and their implications for pastoral care. The author discusses current ideas regarding mood (specifically depression), personal identity, and unconscious motivation.
What to Say to the Depressed, Doubting, Skeptical, Confused, Angry
Here is some wisdom for how to support those struggling with depression, doubt, skepticism, confusion or anger.