Depression is an Illness, Not a Sin

Depression is an illness. It is not a sin.

Some well-meaning Christians who have never experienced depression might tell us otherwise. They might tell us we’ll feel better if we just have more faith. They might even tell us that God has the power to heal our depression, so antidepressants aren’t necessary.

That is a dangerous and shallow view of mental illness.

Prayer Alone Won't Cure Depression

While I believe prayer can result in miracles, many times it doesn’t. Clinical depression often, if not always, needs to be treated by a medical professional.

To be sure, prayer can help relieve our symptoms. Sometimes prayer alone makes us feel better in the same way that talking to our therapist makes us feel better.

But it’s dangerous to tell a mentally ill person that prayer alone is the answer to depression. With the exception of fringe fundamentalists who believe all illness is the will of God and we should just suffer without treatment, most people would agree that it is neither wise nor reasonable to rely on prayer alone for other medical conditions; be it diabetes, heart disease or cancer. So why should depression or any other mental illness be any different?

Don’t misunderstand me. I am a spiritual person. My worst bout with major depression happened this summer—and that was the closest I have ever been to God. I was literally on my knees several times a day asking for strength to get through the day. And it helped. A little.

My wife, the most important person in my support group, even tapes scripture to my bathroom mirror to remind me that I am not alone when I suffer. She is a source of spiritual nourishment in the times I don’t feel like praying. She intervenes on my behalf. Faith for me doesn’t mean I won’t suffer, it just means I will never suffer alone.

One of the most troubling aspects of the stigma of mental illness is that some people don’t get that it really is all in our heads, only not in the way they mean. It’s in our brains. Depression is not a sign of weakness or spiritual shortcomings. It is a disease of the brain that often, or at least in my case, needs medical treatment.

There is no question that a healthy spiritual life can help in the battle against depression. It might even cure illnesses for some. I do not doubt that.

The rest of us should not feel ashamed if our prayers go unanswered, though.

Faith alone is not a good strategy for major depression.

You can also read Jack Smith's personal blog at www.onemanswar.blogspot.com