Council of Counselors: Love & Depression / 5 Depression Myths / Perfectionism / 20 Cognitive Distortions

This is a weekly post that highlights resources from other counselors that I have found helpful. The counselors may be from the biblical counseling, Christian psychology, integration, or secular counseling traditions. By linking to a post, I am not giving it my full endorsement, I am merely indicating that I believe it made a unique contribution or raised an important subject for consideration.

Why Christian Love Matters in Depression by Kathryn Butler 

In my experience writing and teaching about depression, dialogue with other Christian sufferers has revealed an unsettling theme. As they strive to contextualize their illness within a biblical framework, they worry that depression reflects a deficit in faith. Some chastise themselves for being unable to overcome depression without medication. Others fear that depression reflects a puny faith, an imperfect acceptance of the gospel. The implicit fear is that depression and faith are incompatible. “Real” believers hope in the gospel, and so don’t get depressed.

• If you enjoyed this article, you might also benefit from “A Sample Letter to Help Cultivate Community While Struggling with Depression-Anxiety.”

5 Myths about Depression by Michael Lundy

One of the most dangerous attitudes I encounter is one which is almost intrinsic to depression: isolating self-pity. Now, most of us engage in this from time to time, and a little “licking of one’s own wounds,” so to speak, it not always a bad thing. But when it leads to the sort of isolation which defies the comfort extended by friends and family, it is a bad thing indeed.

• If you appreciated this article, you might also like “7 Areas of Life Affected by Depression-Anxiety“

The Imperfections of Perfectionism by Stephen Nichols

Warfield’s final contention concerns perfectionism’s tendency to divorce the Christian life from everyday living. His most stinging critique of perfectionism comes in these words: “They love the storm and the earthquake and the fire. They cannot see the divine in ‘a sound of gentle stillness,’ and adjust themselves with difficulty to the lengthening perspective of God’s gracious working” (Works, vol. 8, p. 561). The teaching of perfectionism lends itself well to the mountaintop experiences, to the excitement of the camp meeting, or to the heat of the revival fires. It does not fare so well in the ordinary experience, it does not readily tell one how to live in the valley.

• If you found yourself convicted by this article, you might also benefit from “The Bible for Over Achievers“

20 Cognitive Distortions and How They Affect Your Life

For those looking to improve their mental health by recognizing pesky cognitive distortions, we’ve compiled a list of 20 common ones that may already be distorting your perception of reality:

• If you were intrigued by this article, you might also be interested in “Brain Research, Biblical Counseling, and the Change Process: Habits“

What I’m Reading

Christians Get Depressed Too by David Murray. Many Christians mistakenly believe that true Christians don’t get depressed, and this misconception heaps additional pain and guilt onto Christians who are suffering from mental and emotional distress.

Author David P. Murray comes to the defense of depressed Christians, asserting that Christians do get depressed! He explains why and how Christians should study depression, what depression is, and the approaches caregivers, pastors, and churches can take to help those who are suffering from it. With clarity and wise biblical insight, Dr. Murray offers help and hope to those suffering from depression, the family members and friends who care for them, and pastors ministering to these wounded members of their flock.

Tweets of the Week

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On the Lighter Side

Because, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones,” Proverbs 17:22.