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Counselling Connections Across Australia

PREAMBLE being shunned or rejected by others.’ Second, they give credence to the
comment that “the only army to shoot its
When I was a young Christian, I was The two Biblical references in part 1, wounded is the Christian Army”.
told -in hushed tones which bespoke would suggest that one does not need a
both disgust and stigma -that people Ph.D., in either theology or psychology, to Third, human problems are far too
struggling with depression lacked ascertain that both our Lord Jesus and complex to think that we can “fix them”
spirituality. After many years, such the Psalmist were experiencing some with simple ABC Formulae; for example,
stigma and misunderstanding still type of depression. the Psalmist recognised humanity’s
exists and it’s important that we, as complexity when he said, in Psalm
Counsellors/Psychotherapists, are not Notwithstanding the fact that the theme 139v14: ‘I am fearfully and wonderfully
only well acquainted with the problem and problem of depression is frequently made’. (NIV 1973)
of depression, but that we can also undo dealt with in Scripture; many people,
some of the very real stigma, shame and including Evangelical Christians, are Dr L J Crabb (1988) laments that: ‘In
guilt which is so often still attached to the intolerant, if not prejudiced, against the minds of thousands of Christians,
problem of depression. any individual who struggles with this the route to abundant living and spiritual
problem—especially if that individual is maturity requires only that we become
In response, this paper will consider a man. disciplined students of God’s Word,
the following issues: the reality people who faithfully and fervently pray,
of depression, the root causes of One of the most wonderful things about eager witnesses of the gospel who seize
depression and a variety of healing the story of creation is that when God opportunities to tell others about Christ,
responses which Counsellors may use in created men and women in His own and tireless Church members willing to
their work. image, He created them as equals who give our time, talents and tithes to the local
are different. Men are not superior Church.’ He goes on to debunk that myth.
to women, nor are women inferior to
1. DEPRESSION DEFINED men. Rather, God created them to be a Fourth, they do not address the problem as
diversity in unity and He gave both men a whole and, therefore, offer an inadequate
Dr James P. Chaplin (1975) says: ‘In the and women four glorious gifts (Crabb solution for a very complex problem.
normal individual, depression is a state of 1987); namely: they are personal, thus
despondency characterised by feelings of they have a deep longing for relationship; People keep coming to counsellors
inadequacy, lowered activity and pessimism they are rational, thus both have a for help with the problem of their
about the future.’ God-given capacity for thought; they are depression. Accordingly, counsellors
volitional, thus both can make decisions; have to “make the rubber hit the road”.
Drs David B. Biebel and Harold G. Koenig and they are emotional, thus both can This implies that counsellors will need to
(2004) purport that: ‘Depression is a state deeply feel. do a lot of hard thinking in keeping with
of existence marked by a sense of being Dr Os Guinness (1975) who proposes
pressed down, weighed down, or burdened, It is in the fourth gift, the gift of emotions, that: ‘A Christian must be a man (or
which affects a person physically, mentally, that problems come to the fore. woman) of careful study, intelligent prayer,
spiritually and relationally.’ wide thinking and penetrating analysis.’
Whilst both men and women have been These words may equally be applied to a
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual created by God with a glorious range of Christian Counsellor/Psychotherapist.
of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (2013) emotions, Terrence Real (1997) observes
[DSM-5], describes it in this way: ‘The that: ‘Traditional gender socialisation
essential feature of a major depressive has allowed girls to maintain emotional 3. ThE REALITY OF DEPRESSION
episode is a period of at least 2 weeks expressiveness and cultivate attachment.
during which there is either depressed Men, on the other hand, are encouraged The symptomatology of depression
mood or the loss of interest or pleasure to develop their social assertiveness by
in nearly all activities.’ systematically pushing them away from DSM-5 (2013) defines a Major Depressive
their full range of emotional expressiveness Disorder as follows: ‘A depressed mood
The Bible is prolific in its references to and the skill of cultivating attachment.’ most of the day; Anhedonia; an impaired
Depression; for example: appetite; insomnia or hypersomnia nearly
To make matters worse, some well- every day; psychomotor retardation or
Luke 22v44: ‘And being in anguish (Greek known and eminent Christian authors agitation; fatigue and/or loss of energy;
conflicted in mind), He prayed more have added more fuel to the fires of feelings of worthlessness or excessive,
earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of stigma and judgement by suggesting inappropriate guilt; impaired cognition;
blood falling to the ground.’ (NIV 1973) that most, if not all, emotional problems and recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal
are the direct result of personal sin or ideation or suicidal intent.’
Psalm 42v11: ‘Why are you downcast, bad choices.
(Hebrew to sink or depress) O my soul? The complexity of depression lies in its
Why so disturbed within me?’ (NIV 1973) However, these eminent men appear to various manifestations. DSM-5 (2013)
raise at least four problems: lists, inter alia, no less than 10 types of
depression.
2. ThE STIGMA OFTEN ATTAChED First, their judgement adds an enormous
TO DEPRESSION burden of guilt to the people already An historical overview of people who
struggling with the heavy load of struggled with depression
The National Mental Health Strategy depression; much like the Pharisees in
(undated) defines stigma as ‘a mark or our Lord’s day. The problem of depression is as ancient
sign of shame, disgrace or disapproval; of as man!

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Edition 12 November 2020