The New Bible Cure for Depression & Anxiety (3 page)

Is Age a Factor?

Depression often begins in the early middle-age years (the average age of onset of the three mood disorders listed previously is between twenty-five and thirty-two).
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But depression has increased dramatically in the last fifty years among children and adolescents. Children are becoming depressed at an earlier age. During adolescence, almost twice as many boys as girls are diagnosed. And over half of teens diagnosed with depression have a recurrence within seven years.
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In fact, since I first published this book in 1999, an alarming new trend has come to light. Research now shows that teens who engage in casual sex are three times more likely to be depressed than their friends who are still virgins; sexually active teen girls are three times as likely to attempt suicide and sexually active teen boys are
seven times
as likely to attempt suicide.
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A
Bible Cure
Health Tip

Recommended Reading for Parents

I encourage you to read a fascinating book called
Hooked
, written by Joe McIlhaney, MD, and Freda Bush, MD, for more information on the harmful, lifelong effects that casual sex has on children and teens. I think you will find it amazing to learn the chemical reactions in the body that are triggered by physical contact—even hugging—and affect our ability to properly trust and bond with others. When these triggers are activated outside of a stable, monogamous marital relationship, they can lead to damaged bonding mechanisms in the brain and a greater tendency toward depression, suicide, and more.

Long before scientists could identify what takes place chemically in the body, God warned us in His Word to abstain from sexual sin and avoid its consequences. Scriptures to read include: Romans 6:23, Ephesians 5:3–8, and Colossians 3:5–14.

Depression is also fairly common among the elderly. However, primary care doctors misdiagnose almost half of the cases of depression among the elderly. Often they are told that their loss of memory or sadness is a normal part of growing old, or that it is simply early senile dementia, which may develop into Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by loss of brain function, including impairment of memory, judgment, reasoning, speech, and socialization. Rarely striking before the age of fifty, the progression of this disease may take from a few months to as many as five years before complete loss of cognitive function.

Depression in the elderly is reversible. However, senile dementia is not. It is vitally important to make the correct diagnosis in order to give such individuals the appropriate care.

Physical Factors

Depression can also occur because of physical rather than psychological factors. Anyone experiencing depression should be tested to have organic factors ruled out. These include:

Serotonin: Your Body’s “Feel Good” Chemical

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, and neurotransmitters are chemicals in your brain cells that function as messengers between the nerve endings. Serotonin is absolutely critical for optimal brain functioning. Serotonin helps us to feel both calm and relaxed; it also helps us stay alert, energetic, happy, and well rested.

When serotonin levels are low (which can occur under chronic pain, long-term stress, insomnia, low-carbohydrate diets, excessive exercise, hormone imbalance), you will typically experience numerous symptoms, including problems sleeping, fatigue, craving for sugar and processed carbohydrates, loss of pleasure, irritability, and so forth. This will also cause your body not to function at its best.

Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.

—Psalm 119:165

Serotonin levels in our brains affect our mood, our sleep, whether we develop pain, migraine headaches, and even our appetites. Therefore, not having enough serotonin can lead to depression, anxiety, cravings for certain foods (especially sugars and starches), insomnia, and possibly even fibromyalgia and migraine headaches. It also can lead to chronic fatigue syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, and even bulimia.

By using brain-imaging techniques, for the first time researchers have seen inadequate serotonin in people who are experiencing depression. Researchers had suspected such a link between depression and serotonin activity for more than a quarter century, but there was no direct visual evidence until now.

In a study reported in the
American Journal of Psychiatry,
doctors from the New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, and the University of Pittsburgh compared six healthy people to six people with major depression who had not been medicated for at least two weeks. Using a serotonin-releasing drug, doctors observed significant increases, as well as decreases, in metabolic activity in the left and right regions of the brain in the healthy patients but not in the patients with depression.
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I will discuss nutritional supplements that I recommend to enable your body to make enough serotonin in
chapter 4
. But before I close this chapter, I want to explain to you the spiritual factors of depression.

Spiritual Factors of Depression

All types of depression have a common spiritual thread—the lack of God’s joy in our lives. Without joy in our hearts, we run out of the energy needed to accomplish God’s purpose for our lives. But when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, our thinking becomes more and more like God’s thinking, and we are filled with the belief that anything is possible through faith.

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

—John 14:1

God promises to make our joy full. “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:11). I believe that the best antidepressant in your life is God’s Word. Trust His promises and seek His overflowing joy through:

• Reading the Bible on a daily basis and meditating on His Word
  
• Being filled daily with God’s Holy Spirit
  
• Memorizing scriptures
  
• Practicing thinking according to God’s Word (Phil. 4:8), speaking faith-filled words, casting down thoughts that are contrary to God’s Word, and practicing gratitude
  

Don’t be discouraged. You are already making giant strides in being filled with His joy and freed from the spirit of depression and sadness.

A
Bible Cure
Prayer for You

Heavenly Father, I ask You to fill me with Your joy as I meditate on Your Word and Your great love for me. As I read this book, show me the things I need to apply to my life so that I can overcome depression and live the abundant, healthy life You desire for me. I also ask to be filled with Your Holy Spirit, so that I will think positive, creative thoughts that bring healing to my body, mind, and spirit. Amen.

A
Bible Cure
Prescription

Identifying Depression

• List any symptoms of depression you may be suffering from.
  
• Now list any scriptures or positive affirmations you can think of to help you overcome depression in your life.
  

Chapter 2: Peace Instead of Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are often companions. If you are depressed, you may also experience symptoms associated with anxiety. Because of their prevalence, anxiety disorders have been called “the common cold of mental illness.” Approximately 40 million American adults age eighteen and older—about 18.1 percent of people in the United States—have an anxiety disorder.
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Here are a few more statistics you may not be aware of:

• About 80 percent of depressed individuals suffer psychological anxiety symptoms: unrealistic apprehension, fears, worry, agitation, irritability, or panic attacks.
  
• Some 60 percent of people with depression experience anxiety-related physical symptoms: headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, and chronic pain.
  
• Approximately 65 percent of depression sufferers experience sleep disturbances.
  
• About 20 percent feel agitated.
  
• Some 25 percent experience phobia.
  
• Approximately 17 percent report generalized anxiety symptoms.
  
• About 10 percent suffer panic attacks.
  2
  

Now I will explain the five categories of anxiety disorders.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Approximately 6.8 million American adults—that’s about 3.1 percent of people age eighteen and older—have generalized anxiety disorder, a condition associated with a constant state of worry and tension.
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Your mind is preoccupied with worries and stresses, and your muscles are usually tensed up, especially muscles in the neck, shoulders, and back. You might be prone to clench your teeth, tighten your fists, tighten your buttocks, and fidget by shaking your legs. Similar to a car that is idling too high, your muscles are tense, ready to fight or flee, but you are stewing in your own stress juices.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

—Isaiah 43:2

Anxiety is associated with many diseases, including tension headaches, migraine headaches, chronic neck pain, chronic back pain, TMJ, tendinitis (especially in the forearms), irritable bowel syndrome, palpitations, hives, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia, to mention only a few. If you are suffering from generalized anxiety disorder, it’s likely that you have difficulty concentrating; tire easily; are restless, irritable, and fidgety; and have problems falling asleep and staying asleep.

Phobias

A phobia is an extreme, exaggerated fear, and there are many different kinds of phobias. Allow me to briefly share some information about the phobias that occur most commonly in the United States.

• Approximately 15 million adults age eighteen and older—or about 6.8 percent of people—have
  social phobia
  .
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  Social phobia is a fear of social interaction or social performance, such as going to parties, meeting new people, and public speaking.
  
• Approximately 1.8 million American adults age eighteen and older, or 0.8 percent of the people, have
  agoraphobia
  .
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  Agoraphobia is a fear of being in public places, such as a shopping mall. These people typically worry about having a panic attack, having diarrhea, or vomiting in a public place. They usually fear leaving home, traveling, or being around a lot of people.
  
• Approximately 19.2 million American adults age eighteen and older—or about 8.7 percent of people—have some type of
  specific phobia
  .
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  Women are twice as likely as men to have them. Specific phobias are an extreme (and often unreasonable) fear of a specific object or situation. They avoid the feared object as much as possible.
  

As you can see from these statistics, specific phobias are the most common kind of phobia. They are also the most common form of anxiety disorder in America. According to the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
fourth edition (DSM-IV), published by the American Psychiatric Association, specific phobias are grouped into five categories:

1. Animal phobias
   include fear of spiders, snakes, bugs, mice, dogs, for example. These are some of the most common specific phobias.
   
2. Natural environment phobias
   include fear of heights, storms, water, and so on.
   
3. Blood-injection-injury phobias
   include fear of being injured, seeing blood, receiving an injection, viewing or discussing medical procedures, and so forth.
   
4. Situational phobias
   include fear of driving over bridges or through tunnels, flying, riding in elevators, riding on public transportation, and other similar situations.
   
5. Other phobias
   include fear of choking, vomiting, falling down, loud sounds, balloons, clowns or other costumed characters, and so forth.
   7
   

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Approximately 2.2 million American adults age eighteen and older—that’s about 1 percent of the population—have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
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People suffering from OCD have compelling, disturbing thoughts that they are unable to get rid of. They use mental strategies or repetitive actions to decrease the anxiety brought on by these unhealthy thoughts. A common example is a person who is obsessive about germs and then compulsively washes his hands or cleans the house too frequently.

Panic Disorder

Approximately 6 million American adults age eighteen and older—or 2.7 percent of the population—suffer from panic disorder.
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People with panic disorder have short bouts (usually lasting about ten minutes) of extremely intense fear or panic attacks in which they feel like they are going to die.

Other symptoms include pounding of the heart, hyperventilating, shortness of breath, chest pain, feeling like you are choking or smothering to death, trembling, light-headedness, tingling or numbness in the extremities, and feeling like you are “losing it” or going insane. I tell patients that it is similar to getting the accelerator of your car stuck to the floorboard while the car is in park.

A panic attack is a severe form of anxiety in which the heart races. Many times the person hyperventilates. He or she also has sweaty palms and extreme apprehension for no apparent reason. This is simply an adrenaline rush, which is a fight-or-flight reaction that simply occurs at the wrong time.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

—Colossians 3:12–15

One of the best ways to prevent a panic attack is to breathe deeply. Inhale slowly through your nose while counting to four. Hold your breath for approximately four seconds; then exhale slowly over a four-second period through your mouth. Continue to do this until the panic attack subsides.

You will learn about certain amino acids that are very beneficial for anxiety states. The fight-or-flight response involved with panic attacks commonly drains the adrenal glands. These important glands need to be supported by nutritional supplements. Certain herbs are also helpful for reducing anxiety. See
chapter 5
for a complete protocol of natural supplements I recommend for anxiety.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Approximately 7.7 million adults age eighteen and older—or about 3.5 percent of the population—have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Typically, someone with PTSD has been the victim of a major trauma, such as a rape, sexual abuse, armed robbery, or a very humiliating experience. PTSD is also associated with war trauma, torture, a traumatic accident or an injury, or surviving a natural disaster such as an earthquake or a hurricane.

PTSD may occur shortly after the trauma or years later. People suffering from PTSD usually relive their trauma in their minds, and it causes crippling anxiety. I find that thought field therapy is very useful for this form of anxiety, as well as phobias and other forms of anxiety.

Defeating Anxiety Disorders

I commonly treat patients with phobias, PTSD, and OCD with thought field therapy as well as forgiveness therapy. Psychologist Roger Callahan developed thought field therapy, and he states that 70 to 80 percent of individuals can expect to have their negative emotions completely resolved.
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(See
Appendix B
for information about this therapy.)

Forgiveness therapy is something I have developed in my own practice over the past twenty years, and many of my patients have seen amazing results after this therapy.

Both of these therapies require professional assistance, but throughout this book I will be leading you through steps you can take on your own to defeat anxiety and enter into God’s perfect peace.

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

—Isaiah 40:31

The Prescription of God’s Word

The Word of God is an effective antidote in daily life for both depression and anxiety. God has created natural ways as well as a spiritual prescription for battling and defeating depression and anxiety in your life. In this chapter, you have discovered several positive steps to overcome anxiety. Don’t turn back or become discouraged. Continue to move forward with God as you live in His joy and peace.

Pray often, quote scriptures in your prayers, and meditate on the promises of God. Daily read the Word of God, and confess aloud scriptures that come against fear and worry. You should practice casting down thoughts that are contrary to God’s Word. You can also purchase a relaxation CD at a bookstore.

Pracrtice gratitude, and help people less fortunate than you. Years ago I read a story about a man who complained because he had no shoes until he met a man who had no feet.

I recommend that all my patients with anxiety quote specific scriptures aloud three times a day before meals, meditate on them throughout the day, and again quote the scriptures before going to bed.

In
Appendix A
of this book are wonderful scriptures for overcoming anxiety. Write them down, memorize them, and meditate on them. Put them in places where you can see them—attach sticky notes to your computer or anchor scriptures with magnets on your refrigerator.

The Word of God is an effective antidote in daily life for both depression and anxiety. God has created natural ways as well as a spiritual prescription for battling and defeating depression and anxiety in your life.

A
Bible Cure
Prayer for You

Heavenly Father, I realize that fear does not come from You. I ask You to break the strongholds of fear, worry, and anxiety in my life. I receive the power, love, and sound mind you have promised to me in Your Word. I put my trust in You and rest in Your perfect peace, a peace that passes all human understanding. Amen.

A
Bible Cure
Prescription

Overcoming Anxiety

• List any symptoms of anxiety you have identified after reading this chapter.
  
• Now describe steps you can begin to take to overcome anxiety.
  

Review what you have listed. Have you included:

• Forgiving others
  
• Prayer
  
• Meditating on God’s Word
  
• Confessing scriptures
  
• Casting down thoughts contrary to God’s Word
  
• Daily reading the Bible
  
• Memorizing scriptures
  
• Being filled daily with God’s Holy Spirit
  
• Practicing gratitude