Even then, in my muddled state, I knew it was a piece of trash. I’d read classic literature in college and to go from that to this? Tolstoy to this crap…I should’ve burned the ‘freakin’ book!

I am no longer a fundie, or a practicing Xian, at all. I don’t miss it.

Anxiety disorder. A chronic condition that causes anxiety so severe it interferes with your life. Some people with depression also have overlapping anxiety disorders.

Bipolar Disorder. A type of depression that causes sometimes extreme mood swings between depression and mania (or hypomania.) This condition used to be called manic depression.

Dysthymia. A type of chronic depression that is less severe than major depression. It can also last for years.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). A treatment for depression that uses electric current to create a brief, controlled seizure. It is safe and often effective for depression that hasn’t responded to drugs or therapy.

Hypomania. A milder form of mania.

Major Depression. The medical diagnosis for depression that lasts for at least two weeks and interferes with daily life. It causes symptoms like low energy, fatigue, and feelings of hopelessness.

Mania. A symptom of bipolar disorder, mania is a period of intense happiness, irritability, or recklessness. It is so extreme that it interferes with a person’s life.

Mood stabilizers. A class of drugs used to treat some types of depression, like bipolar disorder. They include lithium and some drugs originally used for seizures called anticonvulsants.

Neurotransmitter. A chemical in the brain, like serotonin or norepinephrine, that sends messages between brain cells. Medicines that treat depression often alter the levels of these chemicals.

Panic attack. A sudden feeling of intense fear or anxiety, accompanied by physical symptoms, that isn’t triggered by real danger. Panic attacks are common in many anxiety disorders.

Postpartum depression. Depression that affects women who have recently given birth.

Psychotherapy. A way of treating a mental or emotional disorder by talking with a therapist. It may also be called “talking therapy” or “talk therapy.”

Psychologist. A professional who specializes in the treatment of mental or emotional disorders. Psychologists typically use psychotherapy to treat people with depression and other conditions.

Psychiatrist. A medical doctor who specializes in treating psychological disorders. Since psychiatrists are doctors, they can prescribe drugs like antidepressants. Some also use psychotherapy.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Depression that occurs seasonally, usually starting in fall or winter and ending in spring or early summer. It is often treated with phototherapy, which is regular exposure to special lights.

WebMD Medical Reference

Depression has affected so many people in my life, and I have seen firsthand what it does to people.

I’m especially passionate about this issue simply because of my experience and my own medical/psychological struggles. I think was as Christians do so much damage when we compartmentalize the various aspects of our lives – “mental health goes in one box, spiritual health goes in another box, and physical health goes in another box” – and act like all those things don’t touch each other in a thousand different ways. I pray that we can all help each other recognize how to help people find healing using all the wonderful things God has blessed us with – whether they be medications or counseling sessions or laying of hands or group prayer. Because the awesome thing is that God is SO BIG, and wants to reach out to a hurting world – and to do so using us as instruments of healing! What an incredible and humbling thing.

I couldn’t agree more, and I hope I didn’t leave the impression that was what I meant. Telling someone who just had their arm cut off to ‘pray more and the pain will go away’ is somewhat foolish in my mind. So too would it be to tell somone with just as serious of a contidion to simply pray. James 2:14-16 comes to mind.
14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Telling someone that they need to pray more or have more faith without actually helping them with a medical condition, how does that actually help that person? Perhaps I misinterpret the passage, but I believe a principle you could draw from this would be to seek medical solutions along with faith and prayer, combining faith with action. Much like you did with counseling, going to the doctor, and prayer. I am glad you found healing, I am, and I praise God with you. I hope you understand what I mean, I am not against medicine or doctors, faith without works is dead, if I could put it that way without being too heretical.

When I was diagnosed with a severe hormonal disorder and received treatment for it, I finally stopped feeling the awful mood swings and depressive symptoms that accompanied the severe, ‘roid-rage-level testosterone surges I was experiencing (I’m a woman). I also saw a Christian counselor who helped me deal with some of the emotions I was feeling after receiving my diagnosis. I know that God was working through my prayers, the doctor’s hands, and the counselor’s words.

I think we tread on very dangerous ground when we say “this is the only way you can receive help/be healed.” Should a prescription for Prozac be the automatic solution to depression for every person? No. But neither should saying, “You don’t need to see a doctor or a counselor. Just pray more.” God can work in many, many ways. And God has a perfect plan for each of us – and it won’t look the same for every person.

clinical depression 
–noun Psychiatry. a depression so severe as to be considered abnormal, either because of no obvious environmental causes, or because the reaction to unfortunate life circumstances is more intense or prolonged than would generally be expected.

If you identify with several of the following signs and symptoms, and they just won’t go away, you may be suffering from clinical depression.
you can’t sleep or you sleep too much
you can’t concentrate or find that previously easy tasks are now difficult
you feel hopeless and helpless
you can’t control your negative thoughts, no matter how much you try
you have lost your appetite or you can’t stop eating
you are much more irritable and short-tempered than usual
you have thoughts that life is not worth living (Seek help immediately if this is the case)

I was never tested to see if I was under “clinical depression” so you may be correct in saying that I was not clinically depressed. However, from what I listed above about defining what clinical depression is, I fit every qualifier. I was suicidal, in that most of my thoughts revolved around suicide, although I never actually tried to commit suicide.

Now, there are many different causes of depression, and I am not saying a chemical imbalance is an invalid cause of depression. What you call misplaced guilt, or angst or bad feelings is no less valid a cause of depression then chemical imbalance.

I did not mean to imply that a friend saying a cliche’ verse is what knocked me out of what I call depression. What I am trying to say is that God supernaturally used His Word, a verse that I have known most of my life to the point it was cliche’, and He used a friend, one who was outside what I would call Fundamentalism with the capitol F, and I am trying to say that God used these seemingly trivial things to break my heart, as opposed to trying to will myself better through my own power which I had been trying since before highschool.

I am not even trying to say that this will work the same for everyone everywhere everytime. I don’t believe it will. I am saying that in my darkest moments what broke me was the realization that Christ is sufficient.

Not only had that simple fact radically changed my depression to a peace, but it changed just about everything else in my relationship with my friends, family and God, and my Doctrine, my theology. That moment everything radically changed, and looking back there are times where I wonder if that was the moment God saved me.

I can’t say I never battled with pain or suffering since then, but now when I go through these trials I no longer turn to myself, but God. Is it so radical for me to say that God, that Christ really is the ultimate answer for depression? I can only speak from what God has done in my life for my depression, and I believe that God can do the same for others. I do not believe I am in opposition to Scripture in what I have said, although perhaps I am in opposition to Medical Science. Still, I cannot say authoritatively from Scripture that what I have said is true for someone else who suffers from a different cause of depression, although I believe it to be true, I will not condemn anyone from disagreeing. I still will say, Christ is sufficient.

Her other books, Beauty and Best & With Heart and Hand give explanations on how to carry yourself, how to control your emotions, how to counsel women, how to plan your wardrobe, how to lead the ladies at church without getting close to any of them so as to avoid favoritism, how to apply make-up, the proper role of bathing and shaving in stewardship of the body, the use of technology in the role of pastor’s wife, how to Baby-sit other people’s children, how to sit properly, how to walk in heels, how to deal with irritating people, how to plan retreats, how to deal with eating disorders, differences in body types, etc.

She also has harsh words for overweight people. She writes, “Because overeating is a manifestation of weak self-discipline and pandering to fleshly desires, it can have an unwholesome effect upon the testimony God wants us to bear for Him.” She then relates a story of a girl who lost 100 pounds because it was marring her testimony with a bunch of small children.

Are you impressed yet? She has Bible verses (many times out of context) to support everything.