Depression/Anxiety
In many cases, anxiety and depression are closely linked. Periods of anxiety can be followed by a period of depression. Depression can be your body’s defense against mounting anxiety. The biblical instruction to not be anxious is concerned with taking on concern for that which we cannot control or is beyond our immediate control. The contemporary idea of anxiety can include a broader scope of causes, including traumatic experience, genetic disposition, and imposed emotional limitations. A significant can’t cause of anxiety can come from the avoidance of the primary emotions, particularly sadness, anger, and fear. Emotions obey physical laws, and they cannot be suppressed without physical consequences. If you are (or someone you know is) experiencing anxiety and/or depression, seek the counsel of a mental health professional. This may be a brief therapeutic relationship, or it may be a longer relationship. The length of the relationship will be determined by the uncovered source(s) for the anxiety and depression and your own willingness to press into those matters.
The American Psychological Association defines anxiety and depression as:
Anxiety: "an emotion characterized by feeling of tension, worried, thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure (para. 1, apa.org/topics/anxiety).
Depression: "extreme sadness or despair that lasts more than days. It interferes with the activities of daily life and can cause physical symptoms such as pain, weight loss or gain, sleeping patterns disruptions, or lack of energy" (para. 1, apa.org/topics/depression).
Resources for Suicide Awareness and Prevention