As a person who struggled with a spirit of heaviness, I’ve had the unfortunate opportunity to witness the triumphs and trials associated with battling depression. Since seasonal depression runs rampant around the holidays, it’s a good idea to be prepared with a thorough understanding of what causes it and how we can deal with it as believers.
About Seasonal Depression
Before we dive into how to respond to seasonal depression, we must take a quick look at it and how it manifests in our lives. Seasonal depression is a distinct type of oppression that only seems to surface during certain seasons.
For example, a person who doesn’t usually struggle with depression may experience feelings of emotional or spiritual heaviness during Fall or Winter but rarely in Spring or Summer. Likewise, a person who struggles with depression may find their battle with depression is much more difficult during a specific time of year.
The Symptoms of Seasonal Depression
Symptoms of seasonal depression are similar to those of normal depression, but they arise in heavy concentration during certain parts of the year. The most common symptoms of depression are:
- Unshakable sadness, hopelessness, and despair
- A loss or surge of appetite
- Weight gain or loss
- Fatigue and low energy
- Apathy
- Self-isolation or reclusiveness
- Oversleeping or insomnia
- Extra sensitivity to previous traumas
- Behavioral issues
- Moodswings
- Mental fog and confusion
What to Do About Seasonal Depression
A person may experience other symptoms as well. This includes certain physical pains or disturbing dreams. Interestingly, how seasonal depression appears in someone’s life, and how we should respond to it, depends heavily on the root cause.
For some, seasonal depression can be because of hormonal or nutritional imbalances. For others, it’s linked to trauma or spiritual issues. Thankfully, there are quick, healthy steps we can’t take to address seasonal depression, no matter the reason for its occurrence.
A Lack of Faith?
Before we delve into what you can do to alleviate seasonal depression, it’s worth pointing out that there’s no shame in looking outside of yourself for help and support. Finding a medical professional who can help you identify and treat the source of seasonal depression is always a wise choice.
Suffering from depression should never be equated to a lack of faith or willingness to get well. The assumption that a person has depression because they lack faith is a dangerous and uneducated approach to dealing with depression. Many faith-filled Bible heroes also struggled with depression. To learn more check out the stories of Elijah, King David, and Jeremiah. Shortly before his betrayal, Jesus dealt with anxiety to the point of perspiring drops of blood—yikes!
For some of our heroes of the Bible, depression was a spiritual attack that required a miracle to overcome. In other instances, depression was the result of facing severe trauma. In these cases, seasonal depression was a symptom that healed over time by walking through the circumstance, hand-in-hand with God, the shepherd of their soul. Neither circumstance meant one follower was more faith-filled than the other.
Lastly, if you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, don’t hesitate to seek help immediately. Find a pastor, counselor, or trusted friend and ask for support. If you’re unsure where to turn, you can always call 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline).
Why Do People Get Seasonal Depression?
Seasonal depression can be a spiritual battle, one that can be aided and overcome by deliverance ministry or inner healing. But it’s never safe to assume that this is always the case.
Sometimes, seasonal depression is a reflection of our physical health, rather than our spiritual health. To help clarify, when discussing seasonal depression, I like to divide this topic into three categories: physical, trauma-related, and spiritual.
Physical Seasonal Depression
As the times and seasons change, so does our physical environment. Suddenly, the days are shorter. The weather becomes less welcoming for outdoor adventures. Our exposure to the Sun, which is our primary source of essential things like vitamin D and melatonin, drastically decreases.
In response to these changes, our bodies inform us of this imbalance. Suddenly, we become fatigued and sleep-deprived. To make matters worse, these issues sprout into more issues. We become irritable, apathetic, pessimistic, sad, and downright depressed.
Thankfully, depression that worsens or only occurs as a result of our changing environment is fairly easy to respond to. This form of seasonal depression has a physical root, which can only be made better by a physical response. Intentional exposure to sunlight, nutritional supplements, and prescription medication can be of great help in treating the physical root of depression.
Trauma-Related Seasonal Depression
Seasonal depression can also be related to previous traumas. It’s not uncommon for complex emotions or mental and physical heaviness to occur around the anniversary of a traumatic event.
For example, a woman who miscarried a child in June may go into mourning every time the warmer months roll around. Similarly, a man who was abused by a family member on Christmas or Thanksgiving may experience mental and emotional darkness around the Holidays.
This form of seasonal depression is directly linked, not with the absence of physical sunlight, but with the darkness cast over that season of the person’s life.
Since trauma-related seasonal depression can be linked to body, mind, and spirit how we go about approaching it differs from person to person. Healing from such an event may involve several rounds of prayer, counseling, forgiving past hurt, healthy mourning, and deliverance.
Spiritual Seasonal Depression
Like consulting a doctor before taking prescription medication, we would be putting ourselves in harm’s way if we didn’t consult God about how to handle both spiritual and trauma-related seasonal depression. After all, it is He who knows the best way to go about healing our hearts and unburdening us when we are heavy-laden.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” — Matthew 11:28-30
Can You Be Healed of Seasonal Depression?
Yes! However, freedom from seasonal depression depends heavily on whether seasonal depression is physical, trauma-related, or spiritual.
If you’re not sure what form of seasonal oppression you’re dealing with there are a few key questions you can ask yourself. If you’re able to clearly and concisely answer these questions, they’ll give you a good idea of what you’re dealing with.
Am I Healthy?
Are you being a good steward of your body? We were intended to be caretakers and good stewards of the creation which God has given us. When we don’t take care of what’s been entrusted to us, those things tend to rot and fall into disrepair. That includes our physical bodies. If you’re not taking care of your health there’s a good chance your seasonal depression could be physically related. If you’re doing all you know to be healthy, the next question is, “Am I whole?”
Am I Whole?
Once our physical health is in balance, if seasonal depression persists, it’s time to ask God about the condition of our soul. Is there a wound that occurred around this season of your life? Does that break in your heart need healing? According to Psalm 147:3, God is the one who, “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Ask God to reveal any hurts that need healing or wrongdoings that need forgiveness. Let him, as your spiritual cardiologist, guide you through the process of healing your heart. Once that’s said and done, if symptoms persist, it’s time to ask the final question.
Is This Me?
We know from the Bible that healing and casting out evil spirits were separate yet complimentary practices of Jesus’ ministry. Anywhere in the Bible where Jesus healing the crowds is mentioned, deliverance follows suit. And for good reason! Trauma is the favorite foothold of the demonic. After all, a broken heart is easier to infiltrate than a whole one.
Going through deliverance is a unique experience. For some people, there’s a large amount of healing and forgiveness that God leads them through before they are healthy enough for deliverance (which is much like spiritual surgery).
Knowing this, we should always pray and seek God for His opinion on how He would lead us through it. In the words of Derek Prince, known as the father of modern deliverance ministry, “God has his way to heal you. But whatever way healing comes, the basis is what was done by Jesus on the cross.”
Derek Prince on How to Be Delivered
Below is one of the most helpful videos I watched while seeking deliverance. It’s worth a watch if you don’t know where to start.
Deliverance from Depression is Possible!
I remember living in a world where “No one really ever recovers” from mental illnesses like depression. That was the hope I was given by those who knew what I struggled with. All but a few fellow Christians who clung to what they knew of Jesus’ healing power, equated my reclusive nature and disordered behaviors to, “that’s just how she is.”
But eight years ago, I found myself asking the third question—
”Is this me?”
I had walked through physical healing, getting my body in proper order. Once that was under control, I let God bring up anyone I needed to forgive and anything He wanted to heal. Finally, the day came when I prayed for the next “mission”, but there was no reply. Then, one afternoon, after spiraling into another deep darkness, I was left with the thought that perhaps my struggles weren’t me.
I had heard of people getting delivered from depression. Secretly, I hoped my struggles were demonic too. Because if my problems were all me, I was at the end of my rope. But if all that was left was the demonic, I knew God could set me free.
I was relieved to find that it was. And happy to say that He did.
Recommended Resource
Lisa Piper and Amber have put a resource together that will help you walk through deliverance. the first chapter deals with identifying what may be at the root of depression, bondage, fear, or even addictions. The remaining chapters will help the reader break down lies, journal through the journey, and more! Get your Deliverance Companion here!
