Depression - Part 2

What Are Some of the Symptoms of Depression?

          One of the most obvious symptom is the “sad affect” that a person has.  He will often break into tears, sometimes not even knowing why he is crying, and will have a general sad expression.  He often loses interest in his personal appearance.

          Painful thinking is the second major symptom.  A depressed person will become very introspective, filled with regrets and guilt and hopelessness.  He feels very rejected, unloved and lonely, and feels he will never be happy again.  He loses interest in activities he once enjoyed and lacks motivation.  It becomes hard for him to make decisions and he will begin to withdraw.  This can lead to suicidal tendencies.

          There are several physical symptoms that are noticeable in a depressed person.  His sleep pattern is affected, leaving him feeling fatigued.  His appetite is affected, which usually results in a significant weight loss or gain.  A loss of sexual interest may occur. Tension headaches are often present.  The brain chemistry becomes disturbed, causing a loss in serotonin.

          Another major symptom is anxiety.  A person becomes very anxious, worried, and more irritable.  This may cause discomfort in being in public places.

Delusional thinking is yet another major symptom.  The individual is out of touch with reality, thinking irrational thoughts.  He may hear voices, or think people are out to get him.  A person that becomes delusional for six months or longer without receiving a major tranquilizer could be insane for life.  However, with the proper medicine and counseling, delusional thinkers are curable. 

­What Causes Depression?

          The best description of depression is anger turned inward.  This anger may be anger toward ourselves (true or false guilt), or anger toward others (unconscious grudges).  Anger is usually the root of depression, but there are other emotions that are painful also.

          Suffering a significant loss is the most common stress that causes depression.  The loss may be the death of a loved one, or a divorce, or perhaps even a job situation.

          A low self-esteem, or lack of self-worth, is a primary source of emotional pain.  Parents that are overly strict may cause a child to strive to be perfect, and he gains a false guilt when he fails to meet the standard set for him.  This is seen most often in the first born.  He has a drive to be the most successful, and often ends up the most depressed.  This perfectionist drive often creates a workaholic, self-sacrificing type individual.  He is usually a person who wants to be in control, and lost control can cause a frustration, anger, that creates depression.

          Loneliness is another emotional pain.  God created us to need each other.  If there is a lack of intimacy with others, there is a void which can lead to depression.  Sometimes this loneliness is caused by rejection, which affects one’s self-image, causing a person to feel unneeded, unwanted.

          Guilt is a cause of depression, both true guilt and false guilt.  True guilt is a violation of God’s moral law.  It is a valuable tool God has built into us to influence us to do right.  False guilt, however, usually stems from an overgrown conscience, often derived in childhood by being taught that everything is sin.

          Wrong perspectives and priorities, also contribute to depression.  Often our dependency upon God and our relationships with others lose their place of value.  Having the right relationship with God, allowing Him control in our lives, and keeping the right relationships with others in the proper perspective and priority will relieve much stress that causes depression.

          Attacks by satan are another very real cause of depression.  He wants to make us ineffective as Christians, and he knows depression is real joy killer.  No one is attracted to a depressed Christian.

          There are several physical symptoms that cause depression.  A few of these are:  hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, endocrine imbalance, viral infections, and fatigue.  Often a person will blame his depression on one of these physical ailments rather than admitting to an emotional disturbance.  That is why it is important to be diagnosed by a medical doctor or psychiatrist.