These are huge subjects and this lesson is only a glimpse.*
As best I can tell, at their core, anxiety and depression are emotional symptoms of selfitis (inflammation of the self). Those suffering from selfitis often get so inflamed with emotion that they can no longer see God or the people around them clearly.
Anxiety feels like:
– What am I going to do?
– What’s going to happen to me?
Depression feels like:
– Why me?
– I’m hopeless.
Ultimately, what’s needed is a self transplant (removal of the old self, reception of a new self):**
We know that our old self was crucified with [Jesus] in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing… – Romans 6:6
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God… – Galatians 2:20
…and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. – Ephesians 4:24
…seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed… – Colossians 3:9-10
Stress and darkness react badly with the old self, causing it to shrivel and draw inward. But the new self grows ever stronger in its ability to look up to God with trust and out to others with love.
So, first and foremost, we need Jesus to take away our old selves and give us a new self. Second, we need to feed and nurture the new self with the truth of God’s word so we can grow stronger in our ability to love God and other people, even when surrounded by stress and darkness.
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*I mean this post to be concise – not simplistic. I know these complex issues call for more than what I can offer here. This is to get the ball rolling. Here’s a good place to go for more info and help: www.ccef.org.
**Positive thinking, exercise, proper nutrition, and medication can relieve symptoms; but often the root of anxiety and depression remains beneath the surface to bloom again. Trimming the limbs is fine; but we need to yank up the roots.
