3 reasons depression is complicated

Beware of simplistic explanations

You’ll often hear people conclude, “Depression is a sin problem,” or, “It’s a physical illness.” Others will say it’s an “emotional response to a stressful event or trauma,” such as with reactive or situational depression. Counselor Leslie Vernick explains why defining depression with these simple statements doesn’t work, can be harmful, and can limit the type of help you offer.

Since depression is complex by nature, what might start out as a response to an event can turn into something more. That’s why in addition to avoiding simplistic assessments about the cause of depression, we also need to avoid simplistic assessments of its nature. Dr. Robert W. Kellemen, a Christian counselor featured in our GriefShare series, explains how reactive depression is not always a bad thing and the importance of differentiating when the process is moving off its God-intended path.

Conclusion

Since there are so many dimensions to depression, we shouldn’t try to define it through a single explanation such as a sin problem, a physical disorder, or an emotional response. Unfortunately, people are still drawn to these common, yet simplistic, answers to the question, “Why is he depressed?” And this in turn limits the type of help offered.

As you care for or counsel a depressed believer, you’ll want to understand and work through the many aspects of depression biblically. This week, CareLeader.org features two articles to aid you in caring for a person in depression. See Sam Hodges’s article 3 Plausible Depression Myths and Jeff Forrey’s post How Pastors Can Help the Depressed.

Kathy Leonard

Editorial Director

As editorial director, Kathy upholds the editorial standards of the CareLeader.org text. Kathy is also a regular contributor to CareLeader.org. Over the past fifteen years, she has written a variety of care ministry and care ministry training materials for Church Initiative. Kathy’s writing and editorial work can be found in the leader’s guides and workbooks for GriefShare, DivorceCare, Single & Parenting, and Surviving the Holidays.

Through research and personal experience, she deeply understands the mind-set and concerns of hurting people. She is coauthor of Grieving with Hope: Finding Comfort as You Journey Through Loss, Through a Season of Grief: Devotions for Your Journey from Mourning to Joy, and DivorceCare 365 Daily Devotions.

Kathy graduated from the University of Maryland Asian Division with a bachelor’s degree in English. She and her husband, Tim, live in Palmyra, VA, and have three children: Jacob, Alanna, and Luke. She enjoys reading, dancing, cooking, and leading a ladies’ Bible study at her church.