{"id":14748,"date":"2021-04-06T06:00:35","date_gmt":"2021-04-06T10:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/doinglifetogether\/?p=14748"},"modified":"2021-03-28T13:02:23","modified_gmt":"2021-03-28T17:02:23","slug":"10-ways-to-respond-to-someone-who-is-depressed-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/doinglifetogether\/2021\/04\/10-ways-to-respond-to-someone-who-is-depressed-2.html","title":{"rendered":"10 Ways to Respond to Someone Who is Depressed"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Depression is often described like being in a dark tunnel. It is a complicated disease affecting more women than men. While you may have heard that depression results from chemical imbalance, it’s not quite that simple. It involves faulty brain regulation that impacts mood, genetic vulnerability, stress and life events, medications and medical problems. In other words, a combination of many factors can lead to depression.<\/p>\n

In my experience, people often fail to understand this complexity. For example, one of my patients was told by fellow believers that she was depressed because she lacked faith. Actually, her depression stemmed from cancer treatments and the side effects of the drugs. Another was questioned about demonic oppression. When in fact, this patient had a terrible and rare reaction to a new medication prescribed for a medical condition. Her reaction to the medication looked like someone with psychosis. Avoid a quick move to judgment when you have no full understanding of the person’s life.<\/p>\n

That said, not all depression can be traced to biochemical causes either. I have treated depressed Christians whose spiritual and relational lives were not in order.\u00a0 They opposed good counsel.\u00a0 They had unrepentant hearts and character problems that needed repair. I think of the Biblical story of Naomi, a woman who suffered personal loss, felt God turned away from her and so turned away from Him. She asked to be called \u201cMara\u201d (bitter).\u00a0 Change came when she was reminded of the personal covenant God had with her.<\/p>\n

For some, medication is not the answer. New choices, renewed thinking and coping can help. But for others, medication clearly makes a difference. Certain medications can be life saving or lift the darkness enough to work through other issues.<\/p>\n

So how should we respond to those who suffer from clinical depression? \u00a0Here are 10 things you can do to help someone who might be depressed:<\/p>\n