Is this sadness? Or depression?
By: Amy Rager, student in the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Christian Theological Seminary
Sadness is an unavoidable, natural emotion for human beings. But how can you tell if what you are experiencing is more than ‘just’ sadness? While depression and sadness can seem similar, the following symptoms may indicate you are dealing with a depressive disorder:
Things that typically bring you happiness are no longer enjoyable.
Feelings of hopelessness
Feeling ‘empty’
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
Insomnia (Trouble going to sleep and/or staying asleep) or hypersomnia (feeling excessively sleepy, increased daytime sleeping)
Fatigue or loss of energy
Reduced ability to think clearly or make decisions
Unexplained headaches and body aches
As you think about the above symptoms, it may be helpful to consider: Is my life being negatively impacted by my mood? For example, are you having difficulty getting out of bed and getting to work on time? Are you unable to engage with your loved ones as you normally would? Are your relationships showing signs of stress because of your mood?
The following symptoms require immediate attention from your doctor or a mental health professional:
Thoughts of harming yourself or others.
Feeling as if those you love would be better off if you were dead.
Wishing that you could fall asleep and not wake up.
There is no reason to endure sadness or depression in silence. Many of us have been exposed to teaching that says the answer to mental and emotional anguish can only be found in Christ and in scripture. Ironically, these same Christians would never recommend that a believer forgo insulin for their diabetes or financial advice from an expert. If all of life is a spiritual endeavor, why is mental health the only arena where ‘secular’ help is prohibited?
It is true that spiritual, mental, and emotional health are very much intertwined. But I would like to propose that instead of viewing that relatedness as a danger to tiptoe around, we view it as a distinct advantage. Spirituality is a tremendous resource during mental health treatment and, likewise, mental health treatment can be a tremendous resource for spirituality. After all, a rising tide raises all boats.
Personally, I have been on a psychotropic drug since 2014 to treat ADHD. I can attest to improved mental health benefiting spiritual health. Meditation, sustained prayer, and Bible reading were such a struggle before treatment. I thank God for Adderall. I enjoy more sustained attention to his presence because of it (and can now keep car insurance because I'm not having fender benders 3-4 times a year).
In closing, my plea to you is this: if you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, reach out to someone. It is not a failure of faith to ask for help. Engaging in mental health services does not indicate that you have a ‘too small’ view of God and his capacity to heal. There’s nothing small about believing God is willing and able to work in tandem with scientific interventions.
Help is out there, friends. Don’t needlessly resign yourself to suffering.
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*Look for a blog post about the different options for professional Helpers next week!*
**A note about grief: Many of the eight symptoms listed after the first paragraph are present during the normal grieving process- particularly feeling ‘empty,’ loss of joy during formerly enjoyable activities, and insomnia. It often takes an appointment with a clinician to determine the difference between extended grief and clinical depression. In general, and over time, grief should be experienced in waves with a decrease in intensity. Waves of grief typically follow reminders of the lost loved one whereas clinical depression is more consistently present. Feelings of worthlessness often distinguish depression from grief. When in doubt please talk with your doctor.
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American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
