Psalm 40 - Depressioin

How do we deal with times of sadness, depression, and discouragement?

Game/Activity

· Zoom

· Point: How does this game relate to “depression”? 1) Sometime we feel inadequate. 2) Sometimes a situation can seem confusing. 3) Measuring our worth based on how others are doing. 4) Noise…things going on around us.

Worship in Song

Worship in the Word

1. You must know you are not the only one dealing with times of discouragement.

2. You must to understand your limited perspective.

3. You must understand the importance of spiritual health.

What is the difference between sadness, discouragement, and doubt?

The problem with Social Media

· Effects sleep

· Envy (Social media is a measuring tool for our lives)

· Emotional dangers (bullying, depression, perspective, faulty thinking.)

1. What we must do in dark times.

a. Wait – expectantly

b. Patiently – we are not going to interfere with God’s plan

2. What God will do in response

a. He will be near and he will hear

b. Bring us up, set our foot

c. Return joy to our lives

d. Use you to encourage others

Why the struggle:

· Biochemical causes – Not necessarily inherited, but changes in hormones, eating habits, diet, sleep, etc. can trigger depression.

· Life Experiences-

· Social Rewards- The special attention obtained can reinforce the depression and sustain systems

· Learned Helplessness- a belief that there is nothing they can do to will cause change that ultimately forces them to give up and be depressed.

· Faulty Logic- (Negative thinking) When a person focuses on a single mistakes and convinces themselves he or she is worthless. A feeling or inadequacy, a view life as a burden, or see a future that leads nowhere.

Discussion Questions

· Get to know you question:

o If you could be a kitchen appliance, what would you be?

o If you had the power to change one problem in the world today, what would that problem be?

· What do you believe causes teens to enter a time of darkness/discouragement?

· How can you help those who are in the midst of a dark time? (Community, not the social media type; encourage physical activity; evaluate the risk of suicide then ask the direct questions “Are you thinking about hurting yourself?”; See something, do something, say something.)