Unshackled The Christian And Depression

By Howard Smith

I hate it.
I hate me.
I try, but I can’t shake it.
If only someone could tell me how to get out of this great, big
black hole!
Unshackled is a book that demystifies and disables
depression with both understanding and effective strategies
for change.
Everything you need to know about overcoming
Major Depression and turning on the light in your life once
more!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Howard Smith
• Release date: Dec 4, 2013
• ISBN: 9780992352912

Howard Smith

Howard Smith completed post-graduate studies at Monash University and has subsequently been involved in counselling, pastoral ministry and tertiary education for the past thirty five years.His work experience encompasses forensic, mental health and addiction counselling.Married, and father to three, he currently lives in New South Wales, Australia, where he is employed as a clinician with the Area Health Service.

Book preview

UNSHACKLED

The Christian And Depression

HOWARD SMITH

© 2013 Howard Smith

All Rights Reserved

Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible®

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979 by the Lockman Foundation

Used by permission

Book design and formatting

www.finitepublishing.com

Book cover artwork by Steve Guest

Published by Impetus Publications

ISBN: 978-0-9923529-1-2

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

To Ros, my wife and constant inspiration

CONTENTS

Introduction

Section 1: Understanding Depression

Chapter 1: What the Heck Is It?

Chapter 2: Where the Devil Does It Come From?

Section 2: Overcoming Depression

Chapter 3: Get the Right Picture

Chapter 4: Experiencing Forgiveness

Chapter 5: March According to the Right Tune

Chapter 6: Believing is Receiving

Chapter 7: Think About What You Are Thinking About

Chapter 8: Start Using Your Weapons

Section 3: Appendices

Appendix 1: Scenario One

Scenario Two

Appendix 2: Managing the Ups and Downs

Appendix 3: What Do I Really Believe?

Appendix 4: Anxiety and Depression

Appendix 5: You Choose

Limited Bibliography

INTRODUCTION

Only those who experience depression can really know what it is like. Others see from the outside and their reactions to what they see may be concern and sympathy, or just as often frustration and impatience. They observe the crying spells, the withdrawal, the neglect of responsibilities and loss of motivation, but they cannot understand what is happening inside. The impact on friends and loved ones, particularly those who live with someone in depression, can be devastating. To the sufferer, depression is an enormous dark void that blankets every area of life. It is a toxic mix of sadness, anxiety, guilt, anger, moodiness, inability to respond emotionally, helplessness and hopelessness. It affects their ability to work, to enjoy satisfying relationships, or to take pleasure in things they once enjoyed. It clouds not only the present, but blackens the future and they can see no way out. To demand that a person with depression cheer up, or ‘look on the bright side’, is pointless and only serves to confirm their sense of guilt and failure. Curiously, to adjure a Christian to have faith, or believe God for healing, generally does the same thing.

This book is written for sufferers and particularly those who are Christians and have wondered why they have never been healed. If you are such a person, this book aims to comfort and console, to remove the guilt, shame and disappointment that you have felt so deeply, and to help you understand ‘why’ you have been feeling this way. Most importantly, it will show you how to achieve change and banish depression from your life. Jesus said ‘I came that they might have life and have it abundantly’ (John 10:10.) This has not been your experience, but he was not lying when he made the statement, nor was he simply referring to ‘heaven in the sky, by and by.’ To know God, by his definition, is life itself. So abundance of life is our birthright. He has given us life in his Son and if he has, then that life has to ‘work’. It is simply a matter of discovering God’s pattern and learning to live the way he intends.

Someone once said the only good psychology is biblical psychology. It is interesting how in the last few decades, much of the theoretical development of this discipline, and particularly the growing emphasis on evidence-based practice, finds resonance with the ancient teachings of scripture. Therefore, no apology is made for either the application of scripture, or the application of psychological principles, or the insights of neuroscience (though nothing complex will be involved), and the reader will find no conflict between these teachings.

Finally, it must be emphasized that nothing in this little book will help, unless it is put into practice. The apostle James cautioned that we should ‘… prove (ourselves) doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves’ (James 1:22) Understanding is one thing, but application, practice, courage and determination are another. The old adage is ‘sow a thought, reap an action, sow an action, reap a habit, sow a habit reap a character, sow a character, reap a destiny’. It is the choices you make, that make you. To date, your destiny may have seemed bleak. It need not be. However, many people stop at the thought, and wonder why nothing changes. Many Christian teachers encourage their flocks to exercise positive thinking, even to exercise faith, and for a while their listeners are inspired – but eventually they become discouraged and fall away because they have not been taught how to actively change their lives.

This book may help you to understand ‘thinking’ and faith, a little differently. Many sufferers have been Christians most of their lives and can quote chapters of the Bible by heart, but have found to their dismay that their knowledge has not made a scrap of difference. If anything it confuses and judges them. It makes them feel as though God Himself has cast them off, that past failures condemn them today, and they struggle with confidence in God’s forgiveness, acceptance and love. It is to you this book is written. ‘As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him’ is always the heart of the message (Colossians 2:6). It is always a walk of faith and repentance, but it is a walk. It is action. At times it may be difficult, but as Nelson Mandela said, ‘there is no easy walk to freedom’.

It is my prayer that in reading this book, you will find a way to walk to freedom. If you learn how to be doers of the word, life will change forever.

This is not a long book. It is intended to be read and understood and the strategies applied. However, only the diagnoses in Section 1 that are relevant to you, need to be read carefully. The others you can ‘speed read’ through, as understanding those conditions may not be important, or relevant for you.

Before you begin, look at the scenarios in Appendix 1 and consider how you might answer the questions. Then, when you have finished reading this book, consider the questions again.

SECTION 1

UNDERSTANDING DEPRESSION

CHAPTER ONE

WHAT THE HECK IS IT?

DEPRESSION IN THE BIBLE

It may be of comfort to know that depression is seen in some of the Bible characters, including ones that we greatly admire. I have included three examples that in some ways demonstrate how and why depression can strike us. Two of these characters find solutions, one does not. The eminent psychiatrist Aaron Beck developed the theory that depression flowed from cognitive processes, rather than being a form of inverted hostility (one wonders how inverted hostility could exist without cognitive processes) and from these ideas, he developed the Beck Depression Inventory which has been widely used since its first formation in 1961. Beck believed that these cognitive processes were demonstrated in three emotional frames: overwhelming feelings of hopelessness about oneself, hopelessness about one’s future and hopelessness regarding one’s world, situation or circumstances. We see these three manifestations of hopelessness in three Old Testament characters.

KING SAUL

Saul started well. He was the people’s choice as King – tall, doubtlessly handsome, endorsed by, and well supported by God and the prophet Samuel. He was however headstrong, proud and carnal in his outlook, with