Health & Fitness

Can Spirituality Cure Depression?
by Natasha Munson

For those of us that have a relationship with God the word depression is rarely, if ever, spoken. In some circles stating that you are experiencing symptoms of depression is taboo. Many people believe that with God in your life depression cannot exist. Can you truly have the love of God in your life, the word of God in your heart and still experience depression? Well, yes. Because you are human and you are dealing with human emotions and reactions.

Depression can affect anyone. Symptoms of depression can include: feelings of sadness or irritability; loss of energy or constantly feeling tired; change in appetite or significant weight loss; difficultly sleeping or sleeping for longer periods of time; feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness; decreased ability to concentrate or make decisions and even thoughts of suicide or death.

Although some 7 million women in the United States report a case of depression every year, eighty percent of Americans who feel depressed will never seek professional help, choosing instead to suffer in silence. The Attention Deficit Disorder Help Center reports that women are twice as likely than men to experience some form of depression in their lifetime. Studies also indicate that married women have more periods of depression than single women and ten percent of women will experience postpartum depression.

The statistics show that far more of us are depressed than we are willing to admit. And a large number of those people are Christians who firmly believe that because they are Christians they should never experience depression. Many feel almost ashamed to admit they are feeling anxious, worried or overwhelmed. They wonder, How will a Christian who is depressed be perceived by the church and fellow Christians? Aren’t Christians exempt from depression?

Christians cannot avoid depression. As a human being you will experience moments of frustration, doubt, and concern. You will worry about your child and your job. You will worry about life. We all know that an anxious spirit cannot receive blessings and that our Father will help us through all adversity. But again, we are human beings and we must be more understanding of one another. Simply telling one another to pray is not enough. What if a person feels as though their prayers are never answered and that’s why they’re depressed?

It is at these moments that we must use the gift of spirituality, the connection we have with God to help ourselves and others. Spirituality is the best resource we have. Spirituality helps us to lean on our relationship with God during good and bad times. Spirituality gives us faith to know that we will survive our lowest moments. Spirituality provides us with wisdom to handle problems and adversity. For many, spirituality can be a cure-all.

My journey to becoming an author began with feelings of depression. I became involved in a relationship during my third year of college that eventually left me with a drug-addicted boyfriend and an unplanned pregnancy. I literally felt that I had disappointed God and myself. I felt as though there was no way to correct this. I felt emotionally and spiritually bankrupt. I didn’t know how I would or could go on. Although I didn’t have the terminology for it at the time, I began to feel the weight of depression.

When I first acknowledged that I was depressed it was a liberating experience. As an African-American woman with Jamaican heritage the word depressed was not programmed into my life. I was born to be a survivor and a fighter. So family members looked at me quizzically when I mentioned being depressed. In their opinion you simply dealt with whatever challenges you are confronted with and the choices you have made.

I would’ve had a better time saying I wanted to move to Russia. At least they could relate to a climate change. Saying that your mind and body was tired and needed rejuvenation was abnormal. They looked at me and wondered if I would ever recover. I did the only thing and the best thing I could do for myself. I turned inward and started talking to God.

Initially I received four words, This Too Shall Pass. I was feeling as though my life choices were spinning out of my control but somehow those words were like salve to my soul. I recited them during every moment of doubt and frustration. I recited them until I knew them to be true. I knew that with God in my life I could deal with and handle anything. I knew that no matter how devastating a situation could appear there was one truth, eventually this too would pass.

Depression began to have less of a presence in my life and my heart and I embraced the freedom of having God in my life. Our relationship with God can free us from these human emotions and dramas. Aside from those who are clinically depressed and require medicine and professional help, spirituality can help with the everyday depression that can sneak into our lives and spirits.

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