David Wayne (the Jollyblogger) asks if depression can be a “good thing“? He then answers in the affirmative. Citing the fictional example of Adrian Monk (the defective detective) and the real life examples of Soren Kierkegaard and Charles Spurgeon, David believes there may be something gained in working through one’s depression.
David also writes, “I still can see a time and place for the relief of symptoms of depression through medication, but where do we draw the line in this?”.
I think at least part of the answer depends on what kind of “depression” one has.
There are at least 4 types of depression, each with an unique etiology and therefore a different approach to treatment.
Bi-polar disorder: Formerly called “manic-depression”, this is primarily a brain disorder.
Medication is vital to keeping one’s mood from swinging too widely. There are actually different types of bi-polar disorder. Some people swing from very high to very low. Other’s swing from very low to normal, without the wild manic moods.
The medication typically prescribed for bi-polar is often the same medication prescribed for seizures. One theory (there’s still a lot unknown about the problem) is that the brain misfires in a similar manner as seizures, only instead of a seizure one’s mood shifts. Since you can’t “therapize” neurons, counseling is focused on stress management and understanding the need to stay on one’s medication.
Major Depressive Disorder: I wrote about this in an earlier post. Major depressive episode has been called the “common cold of mental illness” because it is estimated that up to 25% of people have had at least one incidence of this kind of depression. The most accepted form of intervention is a combination of counseling and medication. Unfortunately, too many people are being placed on medication without any form of counseling. I think this is where the idea of working through one’s issues is important.
Dysthmia: If major depressive disorder is “depressed”, then dysthmia is “not happy”. I’m not really depressed, I just have no joy. Dysthmia is probably more of a learned behavior: I’ve never learned how to manage my thought life or how to experience contentment. Medication does little, if anything, for dysthmia: it doesn’t seem to be a brain chemistry problem. I think biblical, Christ-centered counseling has much to offer people suffering from this problem.
Adjustment Disorder with depressive features: This is exactly what it sounds like. Difficulty adjusting to changing life situations. Divorce, death in the family, loss of a job, etc. can bring about an adjustment disorder. As in dysthmia, I wouldn’t recommend seeing a physician for medication. My understanding of the Christian life is that God didn’t promise us we wouldn’t have problems. He does promise He will see us through those problems.
So… are there times when depression can be a “good thing”? I can’t see any circumstance when debilitating depression (the kind of depression that leaves one unable to function) is a good thing. I can, however, see the positive benefits in learning to “take every thought captive”. Encountering problems and the accompanying discomfort that goes along with them can definitely be a good thing if it leaves me better able to see God for who He is. And better able to see myself as God sees me.
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