Sadness … Depression

Sadness
All of us experience sadness at some point in our lives.  President Boyd K. Packer was talking about these normal experiences in an April 1978 conference address when he said,

“It was meant to be that life would be a challenge.  To suffer some anxiety, some depression, some disappointment, even some failure is normal.  Teach our members that if they have a good miserable day once in a while, or several in a row, to stand steady and face them.  Things will straighten out. There is great purpose in our struggles in life” (Solving Emotional Problems in the Lord’s Own Way, Ensign, May 1978, page 91).

There is a difference between clinical depression and the temporary emotional struggles everyone experiences as part of normal living – emotions such as transient depression associated with the death of a loved one or anxiety associated with taking a final examination or giving a talk in church.  Mental illness is not feelings of guilt and remorse that are associated with breaking commandments.

More than an Unhappy Mood
Clinical depression is much more than an unhappy mood.  It is often difficult for a lay person to tell the difference between normal human struggles, behavior problems and clinical depression.  The persistence of symptoms that impair performance in the home and at work despite personal and family efforts are warning signs of clinical depression.

Recently I drove by a billboard next to a road near our home.  Its message about clinical depression was clear, “You wouldn’t tell someone with cancer to just get over it.”  A person with clinical depression can no more “just get over it” than the diabetic can will his pancreas to begin producing more insulin.  Exhortations from well-meaning family and friends to “snap out of it” result only in frustration for all.

Mental Illness is Different
Mental illness results in abnormal thought patterns, feelings and perceptions that threaten a person’s ability to lead a normal and productive life.  The symptoms of mental illness almost always improve with appropriate professional care.  However, if not treated the symptoms of mental illness can lead the sufferer to withdraw from home and society and even consider suicide.  Mental illnesses are not caused by misbehavior or sin anymore than are diabetes or heart disease.  A person taking a prescribed medicine for his or her mental disease is no more likely to be off “the straight and narrow path” than the diabetic taking insulin is.

Mental illnesses are brain diseases caused by altered biological factors such as abnormal brain chemistry, physiology or microanatomy.  They are similar to other chronic diseases including diabetes and heart disease.   Major psychiatric disorders have physiological underpinnings,  (“Easing the Burdens of Mental Illness,” Ensign, Oct 2001).  The approach to treatment is identical.  Trained medical professionals determine whether the sufferer has a mental illness or some other brain disorder.  Only then, as with diabetes or hypertension, can the professional caregiver determine the proper combination of medicine, counseling and lifestyle change to treat the illness.

Role of Professionals and Repentance
Clinical depression may create profound, but unwarranted feelings of unworthiness and guilt.  Clergy should quickly determine whether these are feelings associated with real sin or possible manifestations of mental illness.  Only a trained professional should make the diagnosis.  Those who may suffer with mental illness should be referred, with encouragement and blessing, to appropriate professional care.  Repentance, if needed, can be more effectively approached after treatment is initiated and abnormal brain chemistry is under better control.

It is difficult to win a war when we don’t know the enemy.  Clinical depression is a strong enemy indeed – an enemy that has defeated many men, women and children.  When recognized and treated with proper professional care, this enemy can be beaten.

James O. Mason

GOSPEL PRINCIPLE: Clinical depression is a disease like cancer or diabetes. Sadness is a temporary emotional struggle which everyone experiences as part of normal living.

Additional Information:

Dr. Eredlyi discusses the different kinds of depression, and how to recognize them.

• Depression – National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
• Depression – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Dr. James O. Mason was the United States Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH) from 1989 to 1993 and the Acting Surgeon General of the United States from 1989 to 1990. As the ASH he was also a former four-star admiral in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. He was also a director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).