HOPE TO COPEHOPE TO COPEDealing With DepressionDealing With Depression

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

Definition 1: Severe despondency and dejection, accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy.

Definition 2: A condition of mental disturbance, typically with lack of energy and difficulty in maintaining concentration or interest in life

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?WHAT IS DEPRESSION?Definition 3: A psychological disorder that affects a person's mood changes, physical functions and social interactions.

Definition 4: Depression is a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration.

Feelings of helplessness and Feelings of helplessness and hopelessnesshopelessness: A bleak outlook; nothing : A bleak outlook; nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.you can do to improve your situation.

Loss of interest in daily activities:Loss of interest in daily activities:  No  No interest in former hobbies, pastimes, interest in former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.ability to feel joy and pleasure.

Symptoms of DepressionSymptoms of Depression

Appetite or weight changes:Appetite or weight changes: Significant Significant weight loss or weight gain; a change of weight loss or weight gain; a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month.more than 5% of body weight in a month.

Sleep changes:Sleep changes: Either insomnia, Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping (also known the morning, or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).as hypersomnia).

Symptoms of DepressionSymptoms of Depression

Irritability or restlessness:Irritability or restlessness: Feeling Feeling agitated, restless, or on edge. Your tolerance agitated, restless, or on edge. Your tolerance level is low; everything and everyone gets on level is low; everything and everyone gets on your nerves. your nerves.

Loss of energy:Loss of energy: Feeling fatigued, sluggish, Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole body and physically drained. Your whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete. exhausting or take longer to complete.

Symptoms of DepressionSymptoms of Depression

Self-pity/hate:Self-pity/hate: Strong feelings of worthlessness or Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.faults and mistakes.

Concentration problems:Concentration problems: Trouble focusing, Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering things.making decisions, or remembering things.

Unexplained aches and pains:Unexplained aches and pains: An increase in An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain. pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.

Symptoms of DepressionSymptoms of Depression

Physical causes:Physical causes:– Some diseases like Parkinson’s Some diseases like Parkinson’s

disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, electrolyte abnormalities from anorexiaelectrolyte abnormalities from anorexia

– Side effects of prescription drugs such Side effects of prescription drugs such as blood-pressure, heart medication & as blood-pressure, heart medication & psychiatric drugspsychiatric drugs

WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?

Spiritual Causes:Spiritual Causes:- Faulty response to unfavorable - Faulty response to unfavorable

circumstancescircumstances

- Guilt from wrong done- Guilt from wrong done

- Self-pity from wrong (or perceived wrong) - Self-pity from wrong (or perceived wrong) done to youdone to you

WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?

Cultivate supportive relationships Cultivate supportive relationships

Get regular exercise and sleep Get regular exercise and sleep

Eat healthy to naturally boost mood Eat healthy to naturally boost mood

Manage your stress Manage your stress

Practice relaxation techniques Practice relaxation techniques

Challenge negative thought Challenge negative thought patterns patterns

Overcoming DepressionOvercoming Depression

“Make healthy lifestyle changes”“Make healthy lifestyle changes”

Pray regularly / ask for help to prayPray regularly / ask for help to pray

Execute your responsibilities no Execute your responsibilities no matter how you feelmatter how you feel

Refocus on God (worship, praise)Refocus on God (worship, praise)

Make yourself accountable to someoneMake yourself accountable to someone

Seek help & supportSeek help & support

Meditate & practice Scriptures….Meditate & practice Scriptures….

Overcoming DepressionOvercoming Depression

“Make spiritual decisions”“Make spiritual decisions”

UPLIFTING SCRIPTURESUPLIFTING SCRIPTURES

Psalm 118Psalm 118

Psalm 91Psalm 91

Isaiah 40:25-31; 41:10-13Isaiah 40:25-31; 41:10-13

Hebrews 4:14-16; 12:12-15Hebrews 4:14-16; 12:12-15

Habakkuk 3:17-19Habakkuk 3:17-19