Describe and
diagram how depression develops and is to be alleviated.
Depression is
defined as; “debilitating mood, feeling or attitude of hopelessness, which
becomes a person’s reason for not handling the most important issues of life.”1
Depression takes place over a
period of time. The diagram below
depicts how this process could take place in a person’s life, and two potential
responses to it.
A life event
(miscarriage, negative health diagnosis, ect.), or emotional turmoil (teen
child’s rebellion, tragic death of someone close) are triggers which are
grounds (cause) for depression to be a possibility in someone’s life. There are so many possible triggers, I’ve
just mentioned a few here. On the left
side of the page is diagramed an unbiblical response to the situation, and on
the right a biblical response. You’ll
notice that on the onset of the circumstances (trigger) the responses are the
same (overwhelmed, hopeless). It is
natural for difficult challenges that come up in life unexpectedly to catch us
off guard, to make us sad, and come unravelled emotionally. We can however choose how we respond.
On the left side of the page we see depicted
an unbiblical response. The person’s
feeling continue to be negative and grow in intensity. They are spiraling downward in a
struggle. With the cross icon there with
a question mark I am seeking to convey that Jesus, and Scripture is the hope
that will provide answers, relief, and a way out for them. It is never too late in the process, God’s
Word offers hope and help to all.
The right side of the page is
illustrating a biblical response to the same life event/emotional
turmoil/trigger situation. This person
hears biblical truth, personally believes it, and finds hope for their
circumstances. This change in
perspective enables a turn around, a progression towards contentment, joy, and
peace. As the individual intentionally
builds a biblical view of their circumstances into their thinking, and grows in
faith they are able to overcome emotionally even if their trigger situation
never does. Scripture is listed on the
diagram that would be effective in aiding someone facing depression.
1
Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries Track 1 conference notes
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