id you know that men actually suffer from depression more than women? It is also true that women are more likely to talk to their doctor or go to a therapist regarding the depression. Depression’s symptoms are not only sadness and melancholy, but also headaches, stomachaches and social withdrawal.  Overall, depression is not something to be ignored, but to be understood and cared for.  If you need help, call a friends, family, pastor, doctor or therapist – someone to talk to.

Three types of Depression

     There are three types of depression: sadness (normal depression), grief (sadness from loss) and clinical depression (mood disorder).  Depression is a symptom, not a disease and not a sin. It is the cause of the depression that needs to be understood, so that the symptoms of the depression can be handled.

David said - Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him. For the help of His countenance. Psalms 42:5

Everyone has times of sadness. I believe sadness even to the point of despair is a normal reaction to our earthly lives. This is what I would call normal depression.
It may begin in response to a sin we have committed (Gen.4:6-7, Ps. 32:3-4). This type of depression is relieved when we confess our sin to God and seek His forgiveness (Prov. 28:13, Ps. 32:1-2, 11)
Or it may be in response to being weak, burned out, tired. (2 Cor. 4:8-9)  Here the Word tells us to not lose heart (2 Cor.4:16) and have hope (Ps. 21:34, Roms.12:12) renew ourselves in God (Is.40:31, Roms. 12:2, 2 Cor. 4:16).

 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. Genesis 37:34

Grief, also a type of depression, is the loss of someone or something. First, grief as mourning can present many of the same symptoms as clinical depression, the difference will be in the lengthen of time. If a person in mourning does not begin to adjust after two months, it is possible that they are experience clinical depression and should seek medical help.

But he (the rich young ruler) was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Mark 10:22

When a person endures the loss of something other than a person, the symptoms of grief are often presented. However, though the idea of grieving may fit, the reasons behind the persistent sadness may need to be explored. For instance, if a person was laid off from a long time employment, this is considered a loss. The person may go through many of the same processes as grief (sadness, anger etc) but the reason is not because the ‘job’ is gone, but those things that the ‘job’ created for the person, i.e. self-esteem, security, satisfaction are now missing. Therefore, I believe, it is when we attach these types of attributes to inanimate items; one may fall into depression over the loss of such items. A person who finds strength and purpose in Christ, who we know never disappears, is more likely to see those types of loss, as disappointments, and therefore will move on from it relying on God’s promises and provisions. (See Gen. 16, Mark 10:11)

 And he (Elijah) prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” I Kings 19:4