Depression: The Way Up When You Are Down

CCEF Minibooks

by Edward T. Welch

Lost ambition. Emotional numbness. Fear and withdrawal. Fatigue. Marks of what is commonly called depression. If you are one of the many people suffering from depression, there is hope and there is help-a way up when you are down. Even if you don't feel like doing anything, this booklet provides manageable steps for getting started on the path that leads out of depression. Edward T. Welch helps us understand the spiritual issues involved, whether one's depression is caused by physical problems or results in them. Getting to the heart of what depression says and means, Welch guides us through a process of dealing with depression biblically and effectively.

Genres: Counselling, Christian, Psychology, Nonfiction, Devotional

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

Edward T. Welch, M.Div., Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He has counseled for thirty years and is the best-selling author of many books including When People Are Big and God Is Small; Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave; Blame It on the Brain?; Depression: A Stubborn Darkness; Crossroads: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Addiction; Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest; and When I Am Afraid: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety. He and his wife Sheri have two daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren.

Reviews

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief and clear book! I am going to be using it with a man I am counseling who is depressed a lot. I am praying God can use it and me to help him.

[Roberto Roquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

muy útil

Creo que es un libro con muchas ideas prácticas para luchas contra la depresión. Y lo mejor es que en todo momento apunta al Evangelio.

[Amy Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little book starts with truth—an encouragement to focus on what is true, particularly about God. Knowing truth is an essential part of working through and coming out of depression, and I appreciate that emphasis. The booklet then moves to examining your emotions, encouraging the reader to ask what your emotions are saying to you—also a pivotal step in working through depression.

Welch gives a nod to physical causes of depression at the beginning of the book and to physically-oriented and practical treatment steps at the end, but this booklet is primarily concerned with the spiritual-cognitive side of depression. Unfortunately, I find that people experiencing deep depression are not able to engage is cognitive processing until they have begun to do things on the physical side that help them get a little brain space. I would probably not recommend this booklet to someone in the midst of a profound depression, as it could come off as “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” advice, which ultimately could be more shaming than helpful.

It is a good book for people who are ready to do the cognitive work needed for battling depression.

[Michael Philliber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading Ed Welch! Though this pamphlet was not as good as his book, "Depression: a Stubborn Darkness - Light for the Path" (Newly retitled "Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness"), yet it was still useful. I had our elders read it it and we discussed it at our last elders meeting. I recommend it as a good resource for your congregations as well as for your own benefit.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent resource on depression. Mercifully short, it gets right to the heart of depression and gives an accessible method for doing the hard spiritual work of battling depression.

[Christian Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book is a fantastic read that provides a biblical understanding of depression. Here, Welch provides an outline for multiple causes of depressions and the multiple avenues for a better mental health. What is helpful about this resource is that it does not ignore the realities of mental health, and sees them as challenges that believers face as a apart of living in the fallen world.

[Kerstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The short format, perhaps considered a booklet, is what made this easy to read, especially if the reader finds themselves in a "down" season. Written in a thoughtful & gentle style, I appreciated the Christian world view of the author. Highly recommend this book for anyone who has suffered a loss.

[Melonie Koenig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical and Spiritual Go-to

I continue to go back to this resource; it never disappoints. It is practical and spiritual, pointing you to Christ and his word with things to think, ask, do and remember. So thankful I found this electronic copy in addition to my hardcopy.

[Irza Fidah]

Hati yang mengalami depresi lebih akrab dengan "segala sesuatu adalah sia-sia" daripada memahami "101 langkah melawan depresi". [pp. 4]

Apa yang menyiksa banyak orang adalah kenyataan bahwa mereka tidak mati. [pp. 12]

Anda mungkin berpikir jika keadaan Anda menjadi lebih baik, Anda juga akan menjadi lebih baik. Tetapi depresi memiliki logikanya sendiri. Ketika depresi terjadi, kita tidak dapat membedakan antara dekapan yang penuh kasih, kematian seorang teman dekat, dan berita bahwa rumput tetangga sedang tumbuh. [pp. 13]

Tidak ada batasan terhadap pengaruh-pengaruh yang menyebabkan terjadinya depresi. [pp. 99]

Setiap orang berbeda. Sebuah kisah yang berhasil bagi seseorang mungkin tidak dapat dimengerti orang lain. [pp. 217]

[David Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful primer on depression, stressing the heart and its idol-making propensities as the root cause. Welch admits there may be physical and/or chemical issues involved as well, and these are worth investigating, but the major problem with depression is a vertical one -- the individual sufferer's relationship to God (or lack thereof). Some very helpful, concrete, actions that can be taken to combat this insidious issue, as well as suggestions that have assisted other sufferers, conclude this short booklet. Great resource!

[Reyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es pequeño pero no simplista. Contiene un extremadamente pequeño resumen de ideas de qué hacer o cómo comenzar a salir de la depresión. Es pequeño así que in deprimido no se abrumará en leerlo. No creo que pueda solo (a) pero es un inicio de que pueda ver la importancia de buscar a alguien más para salir de donde está.

[Yolanda A · Rating 5 out of 5]

God is the way out, focus on Jesus and He will lead you.

If you think you've tried everything to get of of your depression, try God. Just reading this booklet lifted me higher. Now I have a plan.

[Rainer Erani · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent introductory pamphlet to the topic of depression. I love Ed Welch’s stuff, but probably not something I’d recommend to anyone struggling with depression. Maybe, something I’d recommend to someone who is walking with someone who is struggling with depression.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent pamphlet dealing with the struggles of depression.

[Joshua VanCleave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great insight into the spiritual and psychological state of depression. It really changed the way I viewed both my own depression and other's for the better.

[Daniel Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise with all vital parts!

This book was amazingly concise with all the right information! I am very thankful for this book. It was helpful for me!

[Ashley Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book, but I would still leave a little more room for the physical aspect.

[Andrew S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard pills to swallow at times, but truthful and very good.

[Juan Fajardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Práctico

Un librito muy sencillo, pero tremendamente claro y útil para poner en práctica consejos que se, serviran a aquellos que estén pasando por las tinieblas de la depresión.

[Franklyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are helpful things here, but almost verges on spiritual bypassing. There feels like there’s a step missing between the state of depression and focusing on Jesus

[Regency_Fan_ Michelle RegencyFanMichelleAndMore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening and very helpful!

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though Welch's approach may work for some, I feel like this little book could come across as 'pull your socks up' or 'think your way out of the problem'. Neither of which I think is helpful if you're in the pits of despair or in the daily battle of ongoing depression. If you are, you probably already feel like a let-down and like you're a rubbish Christian, so the challenges and rebukes may well make you feel even worse. I do understand the need to hold on to truth and to talk to yourself rather than listen to yourself or trust your feelings. But I think the delivery lacked a touch of compassion.

What this little book needs is more of Jesus. More comfort and kindness from the Gospel. More gentleness in its challenges and more hope when we're confronted with our own failings and weakness.

I know it's a small book, so can't tackle everything, but it's not a resource I think will be helpful for every sufferer of depression.

[Steve Hemmeke · Rating 4 out of 5]

When depressed your thoughts and feelings are off track. It takes a fight of fith to listen to proper thoughts in the Word and from other people, instead of your own. You will only engage in that fight if you really want to change. Many depressed people would rather stay as they are than fight that battle. But there is hope for far more, if you do fight! Practical, comforting, and truth-speaking, this booklet will lead you out of depression, to the Lord Jesus and His Word. There's a great last paragraph on the cause being spiritual or chemical, and how that is actually irrelevant...

[Jeanine Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good and concise

Excellent small book and very helpful for anyone seeking to understand the dark night of the soul without compromising truth with mercy abundant for many and their needs. Also useful for family members seeking to understand before fixing

[Dave Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://theothercriminal.wordpress.com...

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource for those struggling with depression. It takes a biblical approach to steps that can be taken to overcome depression.

[Ryan Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful little pamphlet. Mostly focuses on the spiritual causes and reasons for depression.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would not hesitate to use this as reference/homework in counseling.

[Bledar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief and concise. You need some of these short materials :)

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a counseling booklet that’s part of the series published by Presbyterian and Reformed called “Resources for Changing Lives.” In this series of 26 booklets biblical counselor Edward Welch wrote this one on the issue of depression. After reading this booklet myself I thought this was a helpful resource for Pastors to assign as a reading assignment for someone whom they are counseling concerning depression. And Pastors definitely need resources on depression if they are going to be prepared to minister to people and their problems.
Why do I find this a helpful work for pastoral counseling? I love the brevity of this booklet which means it is readable for the individual the pastor is ministering to. Plus there are times I have found those who are depressed are probably not going to be able to read as thick of a work as the pastor may like in light of the individual’s lack of motivation which is a symptom of their depression. I also appreciated that the author packed a lot of gold within the 28 pages of this book. It is clear, simple and practical while evaluating depression theologically and spiritually.
The section of this booklet include “How can I do anything when I don’t feel anything?,” “What is your depression saying? What does it mean?,” “Follow the path that God leads,” and “Don’t give up.” In addition the end of the booklet also addresses some common questions and I found here the answer to “What has helped other people?” to be very encouraging. Welch had other people who have passed through depression complete the statement, “I saw changes in my experiences of depression when…” I found it quite encouraging to see thirteen answers people gave and I’m sure others can identify with.
I don’t want to give the rest of the book away but I hope this review would encourage people who are depressed to get this booklet and also for those who minister to others to be equipped.