What is Depression?

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.

Some of most confusing and stressful periods of life are those of adolescence and puberty. It is rife with distressing and confusing thoughts instigated by various hormonal changes which manifest in physical, emotional, and psychological changes. Teenagers have a lot more on their plates than most people would expect. They have to deal with expectations for their academical performances, the societal pressures to fit in and of course, the changes they experience in their developing bodies. These are only a few of the common reasons for the frequent ups and downs in teenagers’ dispositions. However, for some teens, these negative feelings never seem to cease-it is then when it becomes a symptom of depression.

The results from recent studies have yielded that one out of every five teenagers have been diagnosed with clinical depression. There are a variety of different forms in which depression can show up as. It can be quite difficult to distinguish the signs of depression from the common bouts of mood swings or rebellious actions that are not uncommon to see in a teenager. Moreover, many adolescents may even be completely oblivious to the symptoms they maybe showing, which makes it all the more confusing, frightening, and overall difficult to ask for help.

Often the teenage years are considered a precarious stage in life. Because most are typically quite vulnerable or inexperienced in those years, many teenagers may try to reach out to authoritative figures, such as parents, teachers, or older comrades to recognize their symptoms and assist them in getting the proper help that they need. There is a multitude of possible reasons why a teenager may become depressed. Teens maybe subject to overwhelming pressure when it comes to areas such as academics, struggles with their identity, their sexual orientation, or even problems in their household. Another major cause could possibly be as simple as genetics. The disorder has been proven to more prevalent among adolescents with a family history of clinical depression.

If you suspect that someone you know might be depressed, then it might be crucial to take note of any of the classic symptoms, such as a sudden detachment from friends or family, changes in their sleeping or eating habits, problems with authority, and poor academic performance. Though some of these could easily be considered perfectly normal behavior for teenagers to exhibit, it’s possibly that there is more than meets the eye. If you’ve noticed that this unusual behavior has persisted for more than two weeks, then it should become a serious cause for concern. Other signs to watch out for include lack of energy or motivation especially when it comes to activities they had previously enjoyed participating in, constantly appearing sad, angry, or restless, or more severe actions like partaking in smoking cigarettes, doing drugs, or drinking alcohol. Teenage depression has also been commonly linked to other mental health issues, such as eating disorders and self-harming.

Unfortunately, depression does not always externalize in the same way for every person. There could be instance where it is extremely difficult to recognize depression in someone because they lack all the standard symptoms of clinical depression. Because every individual is unique, each and every person deals with the terrible disorder differently. However, the absence of depressive behavior or severity in symptoms does not mean to indicate that they do not require support or treatment. Depression can be an incredibly debilitating illness and if it is not properly addressed, it can become life-threatening.

There are numerous, different ways with which you can approach an adolescent who is suffering from depression. Therapy, for instance, can provide a good outlet for kids to be able to get to the root of their emotions and learn of ways to deal with them. Upon thorough consultation with a psychiatrist, they may be able to prescribe the proper and necessary medication for treatment.

When communicating with a depressed teenager, one should be careful as to listen rather than talk. It is simply not the time for you to give lectures or make your opinion known once the teenager has begun to open up about their feelings. By simply listening, this lets the teen know that they have someone who truly cares about them.

All they need at the moment is for their feelings to be heard and acknowledged. Even if their reasons may seem irrational to you, by all you means, you should take them seriously. Simply acknowledging the pain and sadness that they feel within them will easily make them feel understood and supported.

Depression is a very subject, especially for teenagers. Most of the time, depressed adolescents do not realize that they need help, or are too ashamed to ask for it. They may require fervent encouragement from their friends and support from trusted adults in order to obtain the appropriate help and follow through with the recommended procedures for treatment. Even if they do wish to reach out, it may be difficult for them to properly express themselves. If this is the case, it is best not to rush them. Avoid giving the teen the feeling that they’re being coerced or pressured into something they’re not ready for.

Depression in children, teens, and young adults is much more than just a phase that they will eventually recover from. It is a real condition that can inordinately interfere with their daily lives, which could bring to destructive, reckless, or even suicidal behavior. The proper guidance, unconditional support, and most importantly, love, may be the key that is vital to helping someone overcome depression.

Here are some of Bible Verses to help calm their anxious mind.

The Lord is Your Shield

…But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head (Psalm 3:3).

God is your shield when you are weak, helpless, and hopeless. He is standing over you, guarding you, protecting you, keeping watch over you. Even though you are broken by depression, the almighty God is your shield.

He will lift your head out of the dirt and set you on your feet again. He will move you to sweet places and green pastures. You can trust HIS sustaining, protecting power even though you have no strength in yourself.

God Hears Your Cry

…I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God (Psalm 40:1-3).

God hears your cries and sees your tears. He is not ignoring you and his heart breaks over your suffering. He takes no delight in the suffering of his people.

You can be sure that God will respond to your pleas for mercy. Maybe not when you want or in the way you want, but he is your loving, merciful Father, and he can’t ignore the cries of his children. He will put a new song in your mouth and set your feet upon the rock. Joy will come in the morning.

God Will Strengthen You and Uphold You

…Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

In your depression, you feel like you can’t hang on to God. Like you’re weak and helpless, unable to do anything. Sometimes you can’t even get out of bed. The last thing you feel is “spiritual“.

God is holding to you. When you fall, he will uphold you with his righteous right hand. When you are weak, he will strengthen you. Even if you don’t have assurance of your salvation, you can be assured that God has a firm hold on you.

The reality is, you are weak, and you’re just feeling it more acutely now. Take heart, because God loves to sustain the weak. God’s grace is sufficient for you, even in these deep, dark times.

The Lord Will Renew Your Strength

…But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

Few things sap your strength like depression or feeling anxious. Everything seems overwhelming and impossible. Even the most mundane acts require a massive amount of effort.

The good news is that God is in the business of giving strength to those who have none. He loves to sustain those who are fainting and give life to those who feel completely depleted. Wait for the Lord and he will give you life. He has promised to renew your strength even though you don’t feel it now. He has good things in store for you.

Come All Who Labor and Are Heavy Laden

…Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

Jesus gives rest to those who are crushed by the weight of the world. He is gentle and lowly in heart, and he doesn’t rebuke those who find themselves laboring under the overwhelming yoke of depression.

Come to Jesus in your depression and find rest for your soul. Let him carry the heavy end of your burden. Confess your utter weakness and frailty and let him be the burden bearer.

Nothing Can Separate You from God

…For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

When you’re haunted by the specter of depression, you feel much cut off from the love of God. Everything seems dark and bleak, as if there will never be another good thing in your life. You feel as though God has left you to wallow in the mire.

Nothing could be further from the truth. You are not outside of God’s sovereign will and gracious love. Because you are in Christ, nothing can separate you from God’s love. The only way God will stop loving you is if he stops loving Jesus. Though you may feel alone and unloved, there is absolutely NOTHING, including depression that can stop God from loving you.

Your body may be a broken down temple, but that doesn’t diminish God’s love for you one bit.

Hope in God

…Why are you cast down, O my soul and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God (Psalm 42:11).

Depression and hopelessness cause turmoil deep within your soul. You feel crushed, broken, downhearted, overwhelmed, and like there is no hope for tomorrow. But even though it feels like you have no hope for tomorrow, you DO have hope.

Why do you have hope? Because God is your salvation. If your hope depended on you and your ability to pull yourself up, you would have no hope. But your hope depends on God. You shall again praise him, even though it feels like that day will never come. Hope in God and trust him to lead you out of the dark valley you find yourself in.

Comforted By God

…Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

When you’re in the midst of a bout of depression or hopelessness or anxiety, it feels like you’re all alone. Like no one understands and like no one cares about you. But there is at least one person who deeply loves you and desires to comfort you, and that is God.

God is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. Run to him in the midst of your brokenness. Flee to him for comfort and grace and strength. He desires to meet you and to comfort you and refresh you.

Don’t try to make it through the darkness of depression on your own. Run to the God of all comfort. Take shelter in the Father of mercies. He is for you and on your side.

A Bruised Reed He Will Not Break

…A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice (Isaiah 42:3).

A bruised reed is one that that is on the verge of breaking, and a faintly burning wick is a flame that is almost entirely extinguished. That’s a very apt description of depression. You feel as though you’re about to be completely broken or totally extinguished.

And though others may judge you because they don’t understand what you’re experiencing, God most certainly does not.

But doesn’t break bruised reeds or blow out flames that are sputtering and smoking. Rather, he nurtures them and heals them and brings them back to life. God doesn’t despise you in your bruised, broken, smoldering state. Rather, he is near to you, nurturing you and sustaining you.

God Will Never Leave You

…It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Don’t be dismayed because God is with you! Just as he swore to never desert the people of Israel, he will NEVER leave you or forsake you because you are in Christ. You are his child, and like a dad clearing a path through the woods for his small child, so God is going ahead of you, clearing the way.

These are just some of the verses that can motivate someone with depression. Depression is a storm that overtakes the souls of many. It’s a storm that brings monstrous waves, huge swells, and at times makes you feel like you are going to capsize — possibly drown. Even though you might feel hopelessly lost, remember that Jesus is in that boat with you. The Bible was not created for us to read and feel good about every day, but to speak truth into our lives. One of these important truths is the strength and support God will give to you when you feel like your own strength and support has vanished. Simply reading these Bible verses won’t heal you of your depression, but they will help you ground yourself in TRUTH so that when these feelings arise you can remember who you are rooted in.

                                                                                -End-