Depression: Emerging from the Darkness (pt.4)

In our final look at depression, we are going to look at what can help and give some homework assignments that counselees can work on when trying to come out of depression.

B. What Can Help
1. Medical Treatments: Antidepressant medications are the best known and most popular treatments, but there are hundreds of proposed physical aids, and many of them can change the physical experience of depression. They will not give the counselee hope, but they might make him feel less miserable. Physical treatments are able to change physical symptoms but they are only able to change physical symptoms. They will not change the root cause.[1] If one cannot function, medication may be of use. However, it is unclear whether medication is any more helpful than counseling. Furthermore, medication has side effects. If a counselee is on medication have him withdraw very carefully if he decides he wants to come off the medication. Depression can also be caused by a number of medical problems. Have the counselee also consult a physician for a medical exam. Discussions about medications and other physical treatments tend to provoke strong and sometimes volatile responses. Some people are vehemently opposed to them if they have been hurt by them and others swear by them if they have been helped. Scripture takes a third position that encourages wisdom and opens our eyes to larger issues in the culture and keeps its focus on the heart.
2. Families and Friends: Encourage the counselee to thank, greet, pray, listen and touch friends and family members that are there to help. For families and friends, the relationship with the depressed person may not be reciprocal. This is the most obvious challenge for the family member or friend. There are some ways to deal with this issue. First, have the friend realize that he can no longer rely on natural affection. To help a depressed person, the friend needs an awareness of his own spiritual neediness, a growing knowledge of Jesus, and an eagerness to learn from others, including the person he would like to help.[2] What depressed people need are daily reminders of spiritual reality. The target is always Christ and Him crucified. Wisdom and love must dominate the relationship. Challenge the friend to persevere and never give up on the relationship.

IV. Homework Assignments
Have the counselee select one biblical story and read it every day. As he reads the story, he can write down ten or more applications. The goal of this exercise is to have the depressed person to meditate on something other then himself. Otherwise, the counselee’s mind will drift towards despondency. If the counselee can see merit in this strategy and is willing to do it, stay with the assignment until it is done.

Have the counselee find ten positive qualities in a friend. Have him write these down and send the list to that person.

Each day, have the counselee speak or write something that edifies others.

Have the counselee write out his purpose for living. Have him allow it to be revised by others and then have him memorize it.

Have the counselee listen to God’s Word. Use music that points him to Christ, or have him ask someone to read it to him to teach him what he is learning. Have the counselee be able to summarize what he has heard and to continue practice listening.
[1] Ibid., 210.

[2] Ibid., 224.