Dr. Crowe was correct (“Your Views,” Feb. 18). Depression itself is not a sin, nor is it always the result of sin. Its primary cause is an imbalance or lack of certain neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain.
I learned this from experience. In 2005 I was working at a job I loved. I was the clown in a group, making jokes and keeping everyone going. Eventually I began to feel strange, like I had a hole in my life, the kind of feeling grieving persons have when someone they love dies. I finally sought medical help and went on medication.
This can happen to anybody. I am a born-again Christian, an ordained college- and seminary-trained minister who has always been called to bivocational positions of ministry. I knew I was in trouble because I had suicidal thoughts. Thankfully, my faith and the medication and counseling have gotten me somewhat better.
People need to be educated about this disease. It is a lot like Alzheimer’s in that it affects perception. A person’s brain can tell them something is wrong when nothing is wrong. When I tell friends I retired because I have depression, they usually ask, “What do you have to be depressed about?” I reply, “Nothing.” I explain that my circumstances are fine and nothing has gone wrong to cause me to feel this way, but they do not understand what I mean.
It is not a sin for a person to get depression; the sin would be not to seek treatment. There are 24-hour telephone help lines, and there is 911. Depression can be treated in a local hospital, usually with a stay of a few days. There are non-medical ways to fight this disease too, like regular exercise and eating correctly. Being in sunshine helps because of the body’s need for vitamin D. Watching comedians on TV can help.
I urge pastors to notice when their members begin to drop out of sight, because often depression leads them to want to be alone – the worst thing that can happen to someone with this condition.
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