#depressionask

[touplift]

I'm currently feeling the lowest I ever had, and I just can't pull myself out of this rut. I just feel so alone, and I can't take it anymore. I have so many loving friends and an accepting and caring family and God but no matter who I'm with or talking to I feel distant.

Hey there, friend.

I understand what you’re going through because I have been there many times before, and am currently going through a slight season of this. 

Here are two tiny bits of advice that I hope can help your sweet soul.

Hold onto hope. God is your hope! “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” -Romans 12:12 // Let your soul sing about the hope it has and be praying, even when you don’t know what to say. 

Remind yourself that this is just a season and isn’t forever. // Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Know that you’re not alone. Talk to a close friend about it, talk to me :), but most importantly, cry out to God. Let Him hear your heart. 

I’m praying for you!

-Summer

[touplift]

hey! this is somewhat generic, but do any of you have advice on dealing with depression? ive been fighting so hard and dont really feel like anythings worth it :(

Hello! 

Depression is always a difficult topic - mostly because I know it is not uncommon among Christians, and also because there has been a lot of shaming toward people, namely Christ followers, who battle it. I do not believe depression is ‘sin’ or something to be guilty about unless you let it manifest itself as something more. It is an illness that often requires medical attention and counsel from an (appropriate) doctor. While it was my personal preference when I battled depression last year not to take medication, I think that in other cases medication can be a good option to consider. I did see a counselor and made it a point to surround myself with friends that I knew I could talk to about several of the dark thoughts and hurts I was encountering. A lot of what I was struggling with were ungodly beliefs about life and who I was as an individual. 

My pastor said something a few weeks ago that really stuck with me - he made a point that several people show up to Church on Sundays and expect that his preaching will be enough to sustain them for the rest of the week, but he respectfully shut that down. “YOU are your most persistent preacher”, he said. And it’s so true. It’s our responsibility to seek Christ and preach hope over our own lives. Too often, though, we preach horrible things over who we are and where we’re going. When we let our thoughts revolve around, “I’m not good enough” or “there’s no hope” or “that person is so much better than me” - we literally train ourselves to believe these FALSE, ungodly beliefs. It can become a painful, habitual pattern that is often brought about by depression. Those thoughts can isolate you and train you to believe a lie as the truth.  I had to mentally remind myself to account for every thought I had and see if it actually aligned with God’s truth. Where I felt discouraged and tempted to think something awful, I would tell myself to “STOP”, and make an effort to surrender those feelings and beliefs to God and seek accountability and prayer from a friend or pastor.

HERE is a good article regarding depression that I found to be insightful. 

Praying for you, friend! God created you for a purpose and he adores you. 

Love, 

Josie

[touplift]

For the past 4 years I've suffered a deep depression. It's been in varying degrees, which I'm sure you can understand. But the thing that never leaves is that nothing feels real. & I don't know if I'm alone in this & I don't know how to explain it. I also struggle with seeing a point in anything. I'm constantly hearing things from christians and non-christians a like that "we are in the end times." which Is obvious. So what's the point in trying? It's hard to have a hope for a future on earth.

Hey there, friend. :)

I have been where you are, so take heart because you're not alone. Depression is one of the toughest things a human being could ever have to go through- it suck the life out of you and leaves you with nothingness. So I understand what you mean when you say that nothing feels real; it's like you're in a funk that you can't shake. I have been there so I know the numbness you are dealing with. I understand the attitude of not seeing a point or meaning in anything...I get it.

But, you have to keep on trying. You need to keep battling each day. It may seem we're in the "end times" but no one truly knows that; people have thought that for centuries upon centuries, so put that aside. If anything when thinking about the end times you should feel a motivation to live with all you've got and to continue to spread the Gospel.

I understand how depression can be crippling, but you will never get through it if you don't try to fight it. I know that's harsh to say, but it's true. Dealing with your stubborn flesh is a constant battle, but praise be to God that He gives us the strength to fight. Amen? You must rejoice in hope...and by rejoice I don't mean you have to be happy and all cheerful. Sometimes the most genuine form of true joy isn't what people think joy to be at all- it's crying out in pain, and screaming to God in hope because you just want the suffering to end. Joy isn't always happy.

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." - Romans 12:12

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." -Romans 15:13

Prayer plays such a huge role in having a real vision of hope in front of you. The Lord of all wants to talk with you, to hear your heart, and to share His with you. If you believe that God will fill you with joy, peace, and hope- then He will fill you up!

The point of trying is to give you a powerful testimony on the Lord's goodness and faithfulness to tell the world! Isn't that a good enough reason to try? Hang on; He will deliver you. You have to want it though and you have to try. Seek Him. Hold fast & take heart, friend! I'm praying for you & am here for you.

-Summer