According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a common illness worldwide. Approximately 4% of the population, or 280 million people, are affected by depression.
It leads to poor health and can even inspire suicide. Therapists can propose natural remedies, such as medical treatment or encouragement to talk with others.
As noted by Frank Moncher, a licensed clinical psychologist for the Diocese of Arlington and Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington in Virginia, "depression is a broad term and has a variety of causes and manifestations," he said. "The key distinction is between a person who has a severe level of depression and cannot function in their vocation, compared to other forms of depression that are less severe… and do not necessarily require a professional remedy to heal, but can be confronted and overcome through natural support systems."
Mr. Moncher adds that natural and spiritual remedies for depression go hand in hand, as people were created as a unified whole with a body, soul, and spirit, and therapists must attend to each of these areas when addressing healing. "From my perspective, it is important to help the patient develop a sense of curiosity and compassion toward their emotional experiences," he said. "When they can do that, they can bring these emotions to prayer and bring them into their relationship with God… With a Catholic counselor, we align the remedy with the Church."
Instead of avoiding our emotions, he said, people can approach them with curiosity and compassion. With this approach, examining where their impulses and needs come from and paying attention to these emotions can help a client begin to heal from some of the wounds causing these emotions. "For those who have faith," he adds, "doing this helps them in their spiritual life, because if a person's psyche is wounded, it affects their relationship with God."
Healing truly depends on the experiences a person has had up to that point, he added. For example, if that person has had an experience in their life and feels shame for some of their behaviors or is embarrassed by their emotions, it may take them some time to feel compassion for that behavior. "Often, we cut off our emotions," he said, "and we avoid them because they can be painful—like a feeling of sadness or underlying depression—and we feel we cannot achieve our goals… and we don't know what we are doing."
According to Ian Masson, MS, LPC, Director of the IPS Center for Psychological Service at Divine Mercy University in Sterling, Virginia, "It is important to use an approach that is consistent from a Catholic perspective," he said. "An interpersonal approach reflects the truth of reality that we are made in the image of God. No remedy would be complete or thorough if it does not integrate the best antidepressant, namely healthy relationships that manifest love and care, giving and receiving."
Besides the typical natural remedies used to heal depression, spiritual remedies can incorporate prayer, confession, and spiritual counseling. "When we speak of the spiritual aspect," said Masson, "what we begin to consider are the different ways one can be spiritually afflicted by feelings that can have both a natural component and a certain spiritual aspect. This has importance when we think about the spiritual approach. If depressive feelings can fall within the spiritual realm, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are always present," he said.
"Thus, if people are clinically depressed, they are simply naturally depressed and the benefits of a faith-filled life remain considerable," he added. Mr. Masson added that depressed people should "practice their faith in a parish surrounded by loving and caring people and that helps people heal… the tomb is empty, and Jesus wants me to be joyful, but I can hope that life can be a source of joy." He advised that to truly heal, depressed people—and probably all of us—should follow a life of prayer and focus on the goodness of God.
Focusing on God also means leading a life of virtue. "When people are depressed," he said, "they fall into bad habits: they eat too much, or get angry, so building a life of virtue is another way to spiritually combat feelings of sadness. Even depressed, people can love their neighbor and give through acts of charity."
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"Another spiritual key to healing is forgiveness, because people can hold onto resentment. But forgiveness can lift people out of depression even if it is a pure act of will to forgive someone (when they don't yet truly feel like forgiving)… and if reconciling with that person can bring great benefit, it is not always possible or desirable (in case of risk of permanent harm, for example), but forgiveness can nonetheless lead to healing."
Ultimately, all people, whether facing depression or not, should remember and recite this prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola:
O Christ Jesus
When all is darkness
And we feel our weakness and helplessness,
Give us the sense of Your Presence,
of Your Love and Your Strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and Your power of strengthening,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
For, living close to You,
We shall see Your Hand,
Your purpose, Your will, through all things.
This article was originally published in English by Catholic Exchange (Article Link).