THE TRUTH ABOUT DEPRESSION

I. The depressed person must recognize their responsibility for depression.

A. From time to time all of us get down. (2Cor. 4:8)
1. But this is not depression.
2. Depression is ceasing to function in our daily chores and interests (giving up on responsibilities).
B. When we get down we do not need to be out.
C. Depression is when one is both down and out.

II. Depression results from handling a down period sinfully.

A. We get down (blue, discouraged, etc.) for both sinful causes (guilt), and non-sinful causes (sickness, financial problems, etc.)
B. But when we give in to down feelings...
1. We let chores and interests slide;
2. We then “feel” even less like doing them and brood instead,
3. Thus increasing our guilt from failure to achieve,
4. And this makes us “feel” less like doing things, and we spiral downward into a depression.

III. Depressed people may spiral up out of depression.

A. By confession.
B. By doing chores and assuming responsibilities;
C. And by similarly dealing with any other matter of guilt/sin.

IV. People can stay out of depression.

A. By following God’s commands when down, rather than following their “feelings”;
B. By carefully scheduling and following the schedule no matter how they “feel”;
C. By avoiding pity parties and refusing to engage in brooding;
D. By repenting of any sin immediately;
E. By immediately straightening out any relationship to God or man that goes wrong;
F. And by changing all erroneous vocabulary (by which they convince themselves that “things are hopeless” or “I can’t take it any more,” etc.).