tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post7622439970661185210..comments2023-06-10T20:10:31.636+08:00Comments on Random Sermons from a Doctor's Chair: Depression and the Christian LifeAlex Tanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04003300678212296112noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-15209743745519580732009-07-01T15:02:38.483+08:002009-07-01T15:02:38.483+08:00Hi Dr.palin,
I agree with you that a diagnosis of...Hi Dr.palin,<br /><br />I agree with you that a diagnosis of depression must be established before any form of treatment is instituted.Alex Tanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04003300678212296112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-55857748207678720242009-04-03T04:32:00.000+08:002009-04-03T04:32:00.000+08:00So glad to hear of your ministry Alex. Many blessi...So glad to hear of your ministry Alex. <BR/><BR/>Many blessings, Bobkc bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17440862813109808755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-68369509268573818012009-04-03T01:24:00.000+08:002009-04-03T01:24:00.000+08:00Hi Bob,I am not aware of any short term study cour...Hi Bob,<BR/><BR/>I am not aware of any short term study course on the subject.<BR/><BR/>I have been teaching classes on the subject and is/have been walking with people with depression, teaching them to cope and even dealing with a few suicide attempts.Alex Tanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04003300678212296112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-91652763238301498762009-04-02T04:30:00.000+08:002009-04-02T04:30:00.000+08:00Thanks Alex for the very nice reply. I think that ...Thanks Alex for the very nice reply. I think that the words "reactive" and "major" are kind of confusing because depression can be both major and reactive. In my experience the church does a very bad in the areas of mental health.. sometimes they engage in areas like grief recovery, life after divorce or other groups around addictive behaviors but I have not seen a class that deals with the topic of depression. I wonder if there is a good short term study on the topic that might be helpful? Have you seen or been involved with such a group?<BR/><BR/>Blessings, Bobkc bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17440862813109808755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-72229449758638100442009-04-02T00:42:00.000+08:002009-04-02T00:42:00.000+08:00Hi Bob,We're cool. No problem. I am not offended.I...Hi Bob,<BR/><BR/>We're cool. No problem. I am not offended.<BR/><BR/>I was just answering your question about factors other than chemical.<BR/><BR/>Depression is a continuum (see <A HREF="http://kairos2.com/depression_the_christian_life.htm" REL="nofollow">figure 2</A>. It ranges from a negative mood to severe 'non existence' state. And there are many manifestations in between.<BR/><BR/>I do not trivialise people who fight against depression everyday. Heavens forbid! In fact, I applaud their courage and stamina.<BR/><BR/>What I tried to emphasise in my sermon is twofold:<BR/>(1) for the church to accept that Christians also suffers from depression<BR/>(2) we as a community of faith must walk with them through this dark valley.<BR/><BR/>People suffering from depression must resis the temptation to give up. They need help. They need flesh and blood company. They need prayers. Sometimes they also need medication (sorry, Ann).<BR/><BR/>I hope I am making sense here. :)Alex Tanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04003300678212296112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-72749795251406946892009-04-02T00:01:00.000+08:002009-04-02T00:01:00.000+08:00The list confused me a bit Alex. It seems that mos...The list confused me a bit Alex. It seems that most of those you listed are reactionary factors.. folks reacting to their childhood, environment, and trials. <BR/><BR/>The line between reactionary and major depression seems to be an arbitrary and tenuous one based more on the extent of the depression and the amount of treatment required.<BR/><BR/>For me.. almost every day is a trial getting out of bed.. watching my wife suffer with her disability and the limitation it has put on our lives is very depressing and heart breaking. It seems that people like me who overcome the temptation to be depressed every day are trivialized because we do not react negatively towards our environment and trials.<BR/><BR/>I am not lacking in compassion for those suffering from major depression.. I have dealt with many depressed people in a pastoral role.. but I wonder if we allow people to be victims by not instructing them about how depression is a journey that is taken one step at a time as folks give into temptation.<BR/><BR/>Of course I am not speaking of people who suffer from depression that comes form chemical imbalances or other physical impairments of the brain.<BR/><BR/>I may be missing the big point here Alex.. I want to better understand the dynamics of depression. Hope that my questions and my comment has not offended.<BR/><BR/>In friendship, Bobkc bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17440862813109808755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-44675769579088089912009-04-01T23:35:00.000+08:002009-04-01T23:35:00.000+08:00Psychological; emotional;unresolved conflicts; chi...Psychological; emotional;unresolved conflicts; childhood trauma; self-esteem,; psychosocial deprivation; chronic diseases and disabilities; loss of sense of worth; loneliness; and presence of family history of suicides.Alex Tanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04003300678212296112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-81284117128498278072009-04-01T23:07:00.000+08:002009-04-01T23:07:00.000+08:00Thx Alex. What other non-chemical and non-reaction...Thx Alex. What other non-chemical and non-reactionary factors are involved in major depression?kc bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17440862813109808755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-18319167570066297702009-04-01T23:05:00.000+08:002009-04-01T23:05:00.000+08:00Hi Bob,Major depression is multifactorial, which m...Hi Bob,<BR/><BR/>Major depression is multifactorial, which means there is no single cause. However it is often associated with low serotononin level (a neurotransmitter) so medication that increases serotonin level may be used at some time or other.Alex Tanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04003300678212296112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-38455587454711950482009-04-01T21:50:00.000+08:002009-04-01T21:50:00.000+08:00Thanks for the reply Alex. Is "major depression" a...Thanks for the reply Alex. Is "major depression" a chemical imbalance in the brain that can be treated with Rx drugs? I was wondering because it seems that would have to be if it not was a reaction to the events of one life (as in "reactive depression"). <BR/><BR/>I am pretty ignorant about this and I appreciate your helping us understand this better.<BR/><BR/>Blessings, Bobkc bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17440862813109808755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-4775560197083242642009-03-31T11:50:00.000+08:002009-03-31T11:50:00.000+08:00Hi Bob,I read through your blog posts about depres...Hi Bob,<BR/><BR/>I read through your blog posts about depression. Many of us suffering through reactive depression. However I do want to awaken the church to the fact that there are people who are suffering from major depression.<BR/><BR/>In major depression, you are so deep in despair that you cannot summon your energies to get up, let alone connect with God. They need help. It is cruel to say to them 'snap out of it and praise the Lord.' If they could, do you think they would not have done so? That's like asking them to lift themselves by their bootstraps.Alex Tanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04003300678212296112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-9728550160645514232009-03-31T11:42:00.000+08:002009-03-31T11:42:00.000+08:00Hi SP Lim and Bob,I agree that SP Lim's comment on...Hi SP Lim and Bob,<BR/><BR/>I agree that SP Lim's comment on the church as a healing community is so very important.Alex Tanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04003300678212296112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-75404101970392376142009-03-30T09:31:00.000+08:002009-03-30T09:31:00.000+08:00The advice was great until the recommendation of P...The advice was great until the recommendation of Prozac and Zoloft. <BR/><BR/>Did you see any of the prophets take these drugs? The angels brought food, not drugs. These prophets could not have felt deeply enough to accomplish their missions had they taken these drugs.<BR/><BR/>WHY? Because antidepressants cut you off from God. (And yes I can show you the science as to why.)<BR/><BR/>They are the deception John wrote of in Rev. 18:21-24. The Greek translation of sorcery is pharmakia or medicine from a pharmacy. John tells us the whole earth will be deceived (lied to) about drugs in our day. <BR/><BR/>WE ARE THERE NOW! <BR/><BR/>The truth came out last year from manufacturer's studies kept hidden for years that these drugs are of NO more benefit than a sugar pill, yet they have listed side effects as deadly as "homicidal ideation" and "suicidal ideation." <BR/><BR/>MANY good Christians have had their lives destroyed by these deadly drugs already, do not become another one!!<BR/><BR/>Dr. Ann Blake-Tracy, Executive Director, International Coalition for Drug Awareness, www.drugawareness.org & www.ssristories.comDrAnnBlakeTracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11891294734485891942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-29343732610312503892009-03-30T07:23:00.000+08:002009-03-30T07:23:00.000+08:00I think that SP Lim's last paragraph in his commen...I think that SP Lim's last paragraph in his comment is very insightful. People are simply not comfortable discussing depression in Christian circles.<BR/><BR/>It has been a few years since <A HREF="http://redeemed.kansasbob.com/2006/12/depression.html" REL="nofollow">I blogged about my bouts with depression</A>.. maybe I need to rethink those thoughts?kc bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17440862813109808755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20719069.post-58610201128454003202009-03-29T22:38:00.000+08:002009-03-29T22:38:00.000+08:00One of my favorite hymns is "There is a fountain f...One of my favorite hymns is "There is a fountain filled with blood" penned by William Cowper.Cowper penned many other well known hymns and poems. He suffered from severe depression and tried committing suicide a few times. <BR/><BR/>His life is truly a testimony of God's grace. How God not only preserve his life but to use him to bless so many long after he is dead.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes the church is not a safe place to be depressed. So much triumphalism. So often we want instant healing. Instant results. Anything less than that, our faith is called into question. We really ought to be a healing community extending to each other restorative grace.sp limhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11418651887408472990noreply@blogger.com