Depression

Our Mental Health Struggles, Day 1

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (ESV)

              When I first started teaching, I didn’t put much time into what I wore or how my hair looked. I like wearing khakis and golf or button-up shirts with the school logo, so choices were easy. There was no focus on what I ate or drank. Sodas, milkshakes, chocolate, and other junk food were my comforts in the evenings and on the weekends. I stayed up late and hurried out the door in the morning. I completed all my tasks for the classroom and performed well, but my house was a disaster.

I never cleaned the house. Dishes always filled the sink and laundry piled in the hallway. Sometimes I vacuumed if you could see dirt on the carpet. Years of dust piled on every flat surface and don’t even get me started on the bathroom or our junk room.

If someone had looked at my work life, they would think I was a young professional making my mark. But if they had come to my home, they would have seen the truth. I was depressed.

Back then I didn’t call it depression, though. I called it tired. Lazy. Procrastination. No want-to. I convinced myself I’d get around to it on breaks or over the summer, but I never did. I just couldn’t muster up the willpower or desire. I gave every ounce of focus and effort in my job and my house suffered the consequences.

Depression doesn’t hit us all in the same way. Sometimes it comes when we lose someone and we are walking through the stages of grief. Other times it’s seasonal and comes on certain days or holidays that hit us harder than they should. It can also hit us when we are emotionally overloaded and depleted. Sometimes it even sneaks in when we feel overwhelmed with no clear direction. Other types of depression include life-time depression that seems to be a result of the body not producing enough serotonin and people will struggle over a lifetime. Then there is the deep clinical depression. This depression requires medication, therapy, and often a stint in a facility of some kind to gain control. Hallucinations, self-harm, hearing and seeing things can also happen at this level.

As a teacher, I never called myself depressed even though I clearly see the signs when I look back. I’ve struggled with seasons of depression my whole life, but I never realized it until the last decade or so. I have a counselor on call whenever I need her and I currently take a low dose of medicine to help with my current level of depression. We can’t beat an enemy we haven’t identified. I couldn’t fight my depression adequately until I finally named it and recognized the damage it had done and was doing in my life. Once I stopped letting pride lie to me and I admitted I needed help, I was finally able to become a finisher, overcomer, and feel hopeful in areas I’d given up on.

Depression is real. It’s real with educators and it’s real with our students. And no one is exempt. Even Christians.

If any of this resonated, please do whatever is needed to get help.

Do the Heart Work

1.      What has depression looked like in your life or the life of your family?

2.      What are the signs of depression?

3.      Why is it important to identify the signs of depression?

Digging Deeper

Read 1 Kings 19:3-6 (NIV)

               Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

Elijah had just performed a huge miracle and God used him to slaughter hundreds of false prophets, but here we see him scared and exhausted. He’s so low he asked God to take his life. But it’s interesting how God ministers to him. He sent an angel, not to speak encouraging words or prophesy over him, but to give him food and drink. He needed his basic needs cared for and then he laid down to rest.

Just like Elijah, sometimes the best thing we can do is take care of ourselves. Eat right. Make ourselves exercise. Create a sleep schedule. These basic things don’t happen when we feed our depression.

If You Get Spare Time

              Finish reading the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. Pay attention to the way that Elijah pulled away from everything. Left his servant, went to a cave, and was alone. Isolation is one of the biggest signs of depression. Even if you’ve never dealt with depression, I hope that your eyes are opened to some of the signs. Do some research and be the friend one of your struggling friends might need. Or confide in someone who can be the friend that you need if you are battling with depression. Don’t do it alone.