[godrulz]

I believe my son is struggling with significant depression. There is no end to proposed causes/cures, so Job's 'comforters' be warned/scorned (we don't need sozo's personal rants against 'mental illness').

Any wisdom from other's experiences in relation to medication, alternative medicine, spiritual/sin issues, demonic/deliverance, work, etc.?

How does one cope as a loved one (I already have a heavy weight with my work, wife's illness, finances, etc.)? How does the victim retain hope until a lifting occurs?

Theological issues as to why we suffer and God does not zap the problem away all the time (healing, deliverance, passive approach with God vs active/prayerful one, etc.)?

In 1978, I had a 'nervous breakdown' that led me to Christ. My father also had mental health issues for years.

[Paulos]

Originally Posted by godrulz

I believe my son is struggling with significant depression...Any wisdom from other's experiences in relation to medication, alternative medicine, spiritual/sin issues, demonic/deliverance, work, etc.?

What are the symptoms? What seems to be the cause?

[godrulz]

Originally Posted by Paulos

What are the symptoms? What seems to be the cause?

I think he has classic depression symptoms. Used to have some obsessive-compulsive issues, but they are now minimal. He went through a time away from God into sin, drinking, etc. that may have opened the doors to depression/oppression. When he returned to the faith, he did so with zeal, and may have picked up misconceptions about God, himself, etc. He also possibly 'burned out' in his new zeal to help others who had problems, etc.

Indecisiveness, inability to think, sadness/lack of joy, eating too much (now is more self-controlled and healthy vs sugar), mind darkness/pain, etc. are part of it.

[tudorturtl]

Originally Posted by godrulz

I believe my son is struggling with significant depression. There is no end to proposed causes/cures, so Job's 'comforters' be warned/scorned (we don't need sozo's personal rants against 'mental illness').

Any wisdom from other's experiences in relation to medication, alternative medicine, spiritual/sin issues, demonic/deliverance, work, etc.?

How does one cope as a loved one (I already have a heavy weight with my work, wife's illness, finances, etc.)? How does the victim retain hope until a lifting occurs?

Theological issues as to why we suffer and God does not zap the problem away all the time (healing, deliverance, passive approach with God vs active/prayerful one, etc.)?

In 1978, I had a 'nervous breakdown' that led me to Christ. My father also had mental health issues for years.

I'm sorry! I wish I had good advice but truly am seeking myself for similar family issues. I will pray for you though.
walk by faith and not by sight is all I can really offer otherwise.
wish I had more to offer. God bless

[godrulz]

Originally Posted by tudorturtl

I'm sorry! I wish I had good advice but truly am seeking myself for similar family issues. I will pray for you though.
walk by faith and not by sight is all I can really offer otherwise.
wish I had more to offer. God bless

Tincture of time? We are trying to do wise things, but God alone can do a miracle.

[elohiym]

Originally Posted by godrulz

Tincture of time? We are trying to do wise things, but God alone can do a miracle.

When awaiting God's miracles, always remember the old joke:

There once was a flood and everyone had reached safety except for one man.

He climbed to the top of his house with the water lapping at his feet.

A helicopter flew over his head and hung down a rope for him to climb, but the man was deeply religious and said, "It's alright! The Lord will save me!"

So the helicopter flew away. The water continued to rise and a boat came to him but, once again, the man shouted, "No! Go AWAY! the Lord will come and save me!" and, once again, the boat sped off.

The water was getting dangerously deep by now so the helicopter came back and, on cue, the man repeated, "I don't need saving! My Lord will come"

Reluctantly, the helicopter left.

The rain continued to pour, the water continued to rise and the man drowned.

At the gates of heaven, the man met St. Peter. Confused, he asked, "Peter, I have lived the life of a faithful man - why did my Lord not rescue me?"

St. Peter replied, "For pity sake! He sent you two helicopters and a boat!"

God works in mysterious, and often simple ways, to help us. Sometimes we overlook the simplest solutions he places right under our noses.

[Son of Jack]

Originally Posted by elohiym

God works in mysterious, and often simple ways, to help us. Sometimes we overlook the simplest solutions he places right under our noses.

I was about to add to my earlier comment that God more often than not uses the person or people right in front of you to do His work.

[elohiym]

Originally Posted by Son of Jack

I was about to add to my earlier comment that God more often than not uses the person or people right in front of you to do His work.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

[chrysostom]

I remember my mother saying that she knows how it feels
and
you can't even decide whether or not to go to the bathroom
and
then there is this

"Never despair; but if you do, work on in despair." Edmund Burke

please no medicine
and
just let them be

time and circumstances will cure most everything

[Glenda]

Originally Posted by chrysostom

I remember my mother saying that she knows how it feels
and
you can't even decide whether or not to go to the bathroom
and
then there is this

"Never despair; but if you do, work on in despair." Edmund Burke

please no medicine
and
just let them be

time and circumstances will cure most everything

time and circumstances and lack of meds may not cure cancer, or diabetes, or glaucoma, or rabies ( a vaccination can save a nasty death) etc. Many health problems require intervention ... some address the outside of the body and some address specific internal organs eg heart or pancreas .... or even brain ie mental health.

When stressed, the body can produce chemicals which can be temporarily beneficial, yet be toxic if produced long term eg fight-or-flight chemicals are great to help people run from danger, yet poison the body if stressed long-term. Antidotes are needed against poisons ... and some meds are antidotes to body poisons. Some meds give us beneficial chemicals which the body may have stopped producing eg insulin. Experts should be involved to inform sick people about their options, whether meds are involved or not.

[chrysostom]

Originally Posted by Glenda

time and circumstances and lack of meds may not cure cancer, or diabetes, or glaucoma, or rabies ( a vaccination can save a nasty death) etc. Many health problems require intervention ... some address the outside of the body and some address specific internal organs eg heart or pancreas .... or even brain ie mental health.

When stressed, the body can produce chemicals which can be temporarily beneficial, yet be toxic if produced long term eg fight-or-flight chemicals are great to help people run from danger, yet poison the body if stressed long-term. Antidotes are needed against poisons ... and some meds are antidotes to body poisons. Some meds give us beneficial chemicals which the body may have stopped producing eg insulin. Experts should be involved to inform sick people about their options, whether meds are involved or not.

if there is something wrong, just take a pill
and
when that no longer works, find another pill
or
another doctor who will find a stronger one

just take a look at our old people and all the drugs they are on

[Glenda]

Originally Posted by chrysostom

if there is something wrong, just take a pill
and
when that no longer works, find another pill
or
another doctor who will find a stronger one

just take a look at our old people and all the drugs they are on

I'm not promoting taking pills or promoting not taking pills
I'm promoting gaining expert intervention who will look at the individual case and professionally discuss options which may include pills or no pills
Making blanket statements promoting drugs or promoting no drugs is not beneficial
Some old people takes heaps of pills and some old people don't
You might tell a diabetic not to take insulin, but I won't tell them not to. I'd advise them to follow a beneficial specialist's advice.

[chrysostom]

Originally Posted by Glenda

I'm not promoting taking pills or promoting not taking pills
I'm promoting gaining expert intervention who will look at the individual case and professionally discuss options which may include pills or no pills
Making blanket statements promoting drugs or promoting no drugs is not beneficial
Some old people takes heaps of pills and some old people don't
You might tell a diabetic not to take insulin, but I won't tell them not to. I'd advise them to follow a beneficial specialist's advice.

how many times have you gone to the doctor
and
not given a prescription drug?

[godrulz]

Originally Posted by chrysostom

if there is something wrong, just take a pill
and
when that no longer works, find another pill
or
another doctor who will find a stronger one

just take a look at our old people and all the drugs they are on

Polypharmacy is not the answer and often part of the problem.

[Glenda]

Originally Posted by godrulz

I believe my son is struggling with significant depression. There is no end to proposed causes/cures, so Job's 'comforters' be warned/scorned (we don't need sozo's personal rants against 'mental illness').

Any wisdom from other's experiences in relation to medication, alternative medicine, spiritual/sin issues, demonic/deliverance, work, etc.?

How does one cope as a loved one (I already have a heavy weight with my work, wife's illness, finances, etc.)? How does the victim retain hope until a lifting occurs?

Theological issues as to why we suffer and God does not zap the problem away all the time (healing, deliverance, passive approach with God vs active/prayerful one, etc.)?

In 1978, I had a 'nervous breakdown' that led me to Christ. My father also had mental health issues for years.

I'm so sorry for the suffering of yourself and your family members.

If we suffer physical illnesses, it's best to see a relevant health professional.

If you or your son had diabetes, you would want a diabetes expert involved. If you or your son had epilepsy, you would want an epilepsy specialist involved (I hope, since that's how I dealt with one of my sons)

If you or your son had a mental health problem I would hope you would want a mental health expert involved (I've benefitted hugely from psychologists a few times for temporary 'mental health' conditions eg stress from being held hostage by a dangerous client ... if the client had damaged my physical welfare eg break bones, you would have rightly expected a physical health expert to intervene, but instead the client harmed my mental welfare, so a mental health expert intervened.)

Welfare does take time to fix ... damaged bones can take weeks to heal and so can damaged outlooks. Sometimes meds may be required and sometimes they won't ... depends whether the brain has produced any chemicals which may need to be modified ... like some diabetics need insulin and some don't.

Please ensure an excellent psychologist is involved, because depression is truly a health issue and you hopefully wouldn't use guess-work with diabetes or broken bones, and hopefully won't with mental health issues either.

May God bless and lead you and yours and bring relief and comfort