Captive No More: Freedom From Pain, Shame and GuiltSample
Depression
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”
1 Peter 2:16-17
Depression is another one of those tough topics to cover completely because there are so many facets of dealing with it. There are legitimate medical complications like chemical imbalances that cause depression, and there is demonic harassment as well as negative thinking.
Let’s start with the most complex because of its medical ramifications: chemical imbalance and biogenic depression. There’s no secret that we are an overly medicated society. We can thank big pharma, and doctors who don’t understand pain and depression management over the excessive prescription writing that has us over-addicted and under-functioning.
While there are legitimate causes for medication to manage chemical imbalances, one concern is that the person’s significant issues of past pain are not being addressed. When there are issues of abuse, abandonment, self-hate, and the many other problems that arise from a stressed struggle through life, it’s vital to combine the medical treatments with counseling (preferably Christian counseling).
We need time to allow our emotions to relax and restore. Unhealthy and unbiblical thinking is another cause of depressed feelings. We must make up our minds that tough times will come, and situations in life have sucked before and they are going to suck again, but the difference is what decision will you make today. No matter what may come, commit that you will immediately turn to God, seek His counsel, and do what He tells you to do.
Call To Action
- Write out in detail what you recall about the times you experienced depression.
- Write out in detail if they were bouts of clinical depression or one of the variations described above.
- Write out in detail how the bouts ended and whether you took affirmative action or solved it over time.
- Write out, in detail, struggles you face where there is a strong mental draw toward destructive behavior (porn, substances, physical abuse.)
- Research neuroplasticity and write out in detail how you understand the process of rewiring your mind as it relates to the list from #4.
Scripture
About this Plan
“Suck it up.” Those words empowered and encouraged me as a boy. They injured me as a man. When we talk about pain, we first think of physical pain from injury or accident. There is a masculine, internal block on the notion of our emotions or feelings being hurt. How could they be, we’re men after all!
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