Season 01 Episode 01 : The Depressed Christian

The Depressed Christian is the intro episode for this project. The first half of the episode is a retelling of my journey through: depression as a Christian, leaning on my faith as my main form of encouragement, developing an understanding of depression and its characteristics. The second half is a navigation of the life of Elijah the prophet and his journey through depression. The American Psychological Association describes depression as a “negative affective state, ranging from unhappiness and discontent to an extreme feeling of sadness, pessimism, and despondency, that interferes with daily life. Various physical, cognitive, and social changes also tend to co-occur, including altered eating or sleeping habits, lack of energy or motivation, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, and withdrawal from social activities”( APA, 2023). Clinical treatment for depression (ex. CBT) has been shown to be more effective when a client’s faith perception is included in the treatment. “In other words, therapists help clients to harness their religious resources and worldview to challenge and change dysfunctional beliefs and behaviors in order to reduce depressive symptoms” (Pearce et al., 2014). This theme will be the catalyst for further exploration for Christians with mental health disorders and struggles.