Here’s a link I just ran across to an article on the relationship between hunger and depression. Comments?
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So what could you use spiritually?
My recent post about reading has prompted a further question for me. The comments, as well as the experience that I have had, tells me that people who are going through depression rarely have the mental energy (or whatever you want to call it) to sit down and read. Even if it’s short. Even if it’s great. If you don’t have the energy to look at the comics, a book on the theology of the cross and depression just isn’t going to help you.
So what will?
I’m not talking about medical or psychological help. I mean spiritual help. What will help heal your soul? Audio, video, something else?
I’m just thinking out loud here. I’d like to hear your thoughts.
-DMR
Six Days
Well I’ve been drug free for six days. I had one meltdown day, but that may have been other factors involved. For the most part, it’s book good. I really REALLY like being off drugs. I feel like I need to detox for like six months. As most of my readers here know, I am a proponent of using anti-depressants, etc. They are good and often necessary. Having said that, I’m also really happy NOT to use them if it is possible.
Now if I can just get my act together enough to exercise and eat well, we’ll be in great shape.
One thing at a time though!
-DMR
What do you read when you're depressed?
The question itself may be wrong headed. Maybe the question should be, can you read when you’re depressed?
But let’s go with the first question. What do you read when you’re depressed?
I’ve reviewed a few books here along the way, some good, some not so good. As most of you know, I’ve submitted a book to a publisher, and I’m continuing to pray for some success in that venture. Even if you don’t have specific books, what types of books do you read? Fiction, devotional? other stuff.
Looking forward to hearing from you. I’ll share my thoughts on this subject shortly.
-DMR
Forced to Pray: God's Chosen Under Pressure
This is one of about a dozen books I’m reading right now. It is a series of devotional meditations based on the prayers of: Jonah, Job, Mary, Jesus and Paul. I’m just starting on it, but thus far I like it very much. He has a good grip on the theology of the cross. I’m not sure how Christological yet, but I think it’s coming. I’ll do a more complete review as we get through it.
Check it out!
-DMR
The Tried Soul
Rev. Esget over at Esgetology just made a wonderful post on depression. I would urge you to go read it. His comment about not viewing depression as a moral failure is right on. So often depression is seen as fundamentally a faith issue. I just don’t buy it. There are biological factors, physiological factors, and yes, spiritual factors. But we do a great disservice to those in need by making this all about the Law and unbelief.
-DMR
Spiritual Poverty
It is amazing how often in the Scriptures poverty is extolled. This doesn’t mean a lack of wealth, but rather the poverty of Spirit of which our Lord speaks of in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 6). This coming Sunday we have the story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31), and the contrast between riches and poverty is once again held up. In the words of Luther, we are all beggars, this is true.
So what does this have to do with mental illness? A number of things come to mind:
- Being poor in spirit is not the same as a pity party. Those of us who suffer from depression are experts at pity parties. When our Lord speaks of being poor in spirit, he talks about knowing where and whom to trust. Trust not in princes, they are but mortal. My heart and my flesh fail me (Ps. 73:26). Commit your way to the Lord and do not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Being poor in spirt, like our Lord, like Lazarus, like the saints of old, means recognizing that all of our gifts come from our heavenly Father’s divine merciful hand.
- A lack of riches does not equal richness in faith. One can be both monetarily poor and spiritually poor at the same time. Greed and avarice afflict the rich and the poor alike.
- Mental illness lends itself to believing that God has abandoned you. Think of poor Lazarus. How could he not believe God had abandoned him? One could also think of Job, Elijah, and many others. Appearances, however, are deceiving. God does not abandon you because things stink. Our Lord Jesus Christ becomes poor with you, so that you may be rich in Him.
Just a few thoughts for the day. Now it’s time to go try and pay some bills. Now THAT’S depressing….
Is There Anybody out There?
Well, we just hit 61 readers who are subscribed to Dark My Road. Yeah for us! This blog has been tremendously helpful to me over the last year and a half, almost two years. I’m always amazed at finding people who read this site and relate. It just doesn’t seem that profound to me, but there is so little talk about mental illness in Lutheranism, that I guess it shouldn’t surprise me.
So who are you, gentle readers? If you’re up to it, tell us a little about yourself in the comments here, what else you would like to see, and where you go for comfort in the midst of the dark road.
Thanks for speaking up!
-DMR
Fathers, Children and Depression
I ran across THIS LINK in my morning reads. The study concludes that depression in fathers has an adverse affect on a child’s language development, because they spend less time with newborn children.
i haven’t found that to be the case (yet) in our family. I suppose time will tell.
And for those who monitor my posting, I haven’t posted for a month. I’m doing okay. Just crazy busy right now. I’ll get in the swing of things here soon.
-DMR
Longing for the fleshpots of Egypt
Ex. 16:1   They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.â€
I find myself longing to go on disability again, from time to time. When things get crazy, when the pressure is on, when I feel like I can’t handle all of the stress, I long for the fleshpots of Egypt. “Would that I could go back to lying around sleeping all day! Would that I could go back to no responsibilities, free to do whatever I want or feel! Would that I could ignore my family, my wife, my children, my church, my friends, my everything! Oh things would be so much better then!”
Have you felt that way? I have. I get that way when the going gets tough. I get that way when I just plain don’t want to deal with the stuff of life. I want to run. I want to hide. I want people to LEAVE ME ALONE and not bother me. Oh how I long for the good ole’ days of being sick.
Of course, what I forget is the despair which was my constant companion. I forget not being able to move, feeling like I lived in molasses, and that I couldn’t string two thoughts together. I forget that I couldn’t be in a “crowd” of more than about one person. I forget the suicidal thoughts, the darkness that covered me, and the utter impotence of life under the weight of depression. I forget these things only too easily.
God has blessed me with healing and hope. He has given my a family who loves me, a church who loves me, and many friends who have been there through everything. He has given me all of this, and more. He has given me His Son, who has gone down into the depths of despair and abandonment for me. He has given me His Holy Spirit, who comforts me when I am faint, and who prays with me and for me, even if I have not the words. All this and more He gives me.
What He gives to me, He gives to you. Do not be afraid of the darkness.
-DMR