A "Worry" List??

Recently I have had the opportunity to hear some presentations on clinical depression. There was a lot of helpful information given, and some not so helpful. The presentations were from a purely clinical perspective, with no "Christian" influence.

One aspect of depression that was discussed was the anxiety that often accompanies it. For some people, their levels of anxiety can keep them from sleeping at night, and make their daytime hours miserable. I can be a worrier, and I know what it is like to lay awake mulling over problems and "what if's". Silly waste of time. But we all do it, at one time or another.

Anyway, the solution that was presented to this distracting "worrying" that we can all succumb to was to make a "Worry List." You were to keep a list of all the things that were causing you distress or apprehension. Then once a day, for a time that you had set aside for that purpose, you were to worry over the items on the list. Kind of like getting it out of your system. Supposedly this would somehow take care of the problem, and you could carry on, worry free, with your day and your night.

I had to smile to myself as the presenter explained the details of this strategy against angst. "How bizarre," I said to myself. "Instead of a prayer list, I am to make a list of things to worry about." Of course the scripture that came to mind right away was Philippians 4:6:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

In hindsight, I should have stood up and offered that verse as an alternate method to combat anxiety. I did, however, question why prayer hadn't been mentioned. The presentor quickly agreed that prayer was indeed another way to relieve one's anxiety. "Especially," I interjected, " if the one praying knows that there actually is Someone listening that can take care of the problem for them." (I hate it when I read all those stats about how "prayer" is good for stress. Apparantly it doesn't matter who or what you pray to. Could be a tree or your long dead granny. Just so long as you "put out there" what is on your mind. Sad, really, when there is a God Who will hear our prayers if we would but acknowledge Him for Who He really is.)

I tried to imagine how effective it would be for me to make a Worry List, and then ruminate over all the potential catastrophes that I might list there. Most likely I would drive myself to further anxiety. Or perhaps I would realize how silly it was to worry about those things and just tear the list up. Either way, I am glad that we know a God Who invites us to cast all of our cares upon Him, because He cares for us.

I don't know what it is like to have the type of anxiety that some people suffer with, even to the point of having panic attacks. For that I am thankful. Those conditions can be very debilitating and difficult. When those nasty "what ifs" creep up on me (I call them the 'nay saying gnats'), I sometimes start to dwell on them. The best thing to do in that case is to bring it to my Father. And not just in a perfunctionary way. When I am truly burdened, I pray back to God Who He says He is in His Word. Not that I need to remind Him, but I do need to remind myself. Those things that I worry about tend to shrink in size as I list all of His attributes, and the promises He has made to be our high tower, rock of refuge, defender and shepherd. I think this little verse makes a beautiful promise, and one that we need to remember in those times of anxiety:

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." (Isaiah 26:3)

Sometimes we are faced with real dilemmas, and life or death situations. It is not sinful to be afraid. That is a natural response. It's at those times especially that we realize our weakness, our inability to control many of life's outcomes. And it is at those times that our Father in Heaven proves His love and faithfulness, in bringing us peace in the midst of fear, because we know and trust Him.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

I have a dear friend whose mother has in the past few months come out of a major depression of several years. Interestingly, her symptoms all began immediately after emergency surgery on her bowel. She is a dear lady, and it was heartbreaking for her family and friends to see her joy and vitality slip away. Thankfully, she has “come back to life”. Many were praying for her during this time. My friend and I prayed continually that God would direct the doctors and therapists to find the proper treatment for her. We most of all beseeched Him to restore to her the joy of her salvation in Christ. I praise Him for how He has answered those prayers, and for how He has most likely used that whole situation in ways that we will not realize until we are in heaven.

Depression is not always a straight forward illness. I learned, after this dear lady became ill, that it can sometimes occur after a physically traumatic event, such as the emergency surgery she had to have. Its symptoms can show up as part of a variety of conditions. Here are a few that I found on the ‘net:

Physical diseases leading to depressive symptoms:
Chronic illness - Various types of chronic illness can lead to general body slowdown, heart or lung problems, and overall down feelings.
Post-viral syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Fibromyalgia - The general down feelings combined with muscle and joint aches are similar to depression in some cases.
Diabetes
Heart disease
Heart failure
Respiratory insufficiency
Parkinson's disease - A drooping face and lack of smile from PD makes people look depressed leading to a misdiagnosis of depression.
Brucellosis - the acute phase may be misdiagnosed as depression.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) - PMDD was misdiagnosed as depression in the past but is better known now.
Thyroid disorders
Hashimoto's thyroiditis - a form of hypothyroidism.
Post-polio syndrome
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis - Also called "farmer's lung"; a chronic lung condition that is sometimes similar to depression.
Hyperparathyroidism
Adrenal disorders
Adrenal Insufficiency
Hypoadrenocorticism
Addison's disease
Celiac disease
Pancreatic cancer
Early Menopause (see Menopause) - misdiagnosed as depression in younger women when menopause is not expected.
Alcoholism - For example, late-onset alcoholism is a cause of depressive symptoms that is often overlooked in seniors and the elderly.


I am not a person to first go to medication for physical ailments. I believe in a more holistic approach, and will first investigate diet, nutritional supplements, and lifestyle changes as ways to treat whatever is going “awry” in my body before I run to a doctor for a prescription. Many times in the past I have seen a Doctor of Naturopathy, and I visit a Chiropractor for regular adjustments. When I found myself in depression again this fall, I bought a lamp that provides light to make up for the lack of sunlight during the winter months. I do not get a ‘flu shot, and I would not be a supporter of the widespread use of many of the new vaccinations that are popping up nowadays. You can have too much of a good thing; I believe that we are an over-immunized and prescriptioned society, and do ourselves more harm than good with the overuse of some of these preventative measures and cures.

It seems that there may be a trend in Health Care, at least here in Canada, towards an approach that integrates different models of therapy and treatment. My doctor is part of a “Family Health Team”, which includes a Social Worker, Nurse Practitioner, and Nutritionist. I am thankful for these other “Health Care Practitioners”, as they can often give information, and “prescribe” treatments that do not include the use of pharmaceuticals, where in the case of many doctors, their first impulse seems to be to reach for the prescription pad.

That’s not to say, however, that they don’t have their place in health care. I’m sure we can all think of times when we were grateful to have a good doctor to diagnose and treat ourselves or someone close to us. Doctors save lives, and help others to know a better quality of life than they would have had without proper medical care. Thank God for the many advances that have been made in medicine. Thank God that we don't use "blood letting" as a treatment for just about anything from a headache to pneumonia anymore. Thank God that surgeons started to sterilize their instruments, instead of simply wiping them off on their bloodied aprons before they started surgery on their next patient. We've come a long way, and no doubt we will go further in finding better treatment options as knowledge increases, and as God wills.

Today I talked to a pharmacist, at the suggestion of my Nurse Practitioner, about having a saliva test done to determine whether or not my depression symptoms were hormone-related. I am at that hormonally challenged time of life, and so it made sense to me to check out this type of test.

The pharmacist was a lovely young lady, very friendly and knowledgeable. She explained how the whole thing works. As I read the list of “symptoms” that a need for hormone therapy would indicate, I wasn’t surprised that most of them could be found on the many lists of “symptoms of depression” that I have read. We had a great discussion about thyroid function, adrenal function, and how progesterone and cortisol levels can affect both of these. It was very enlightening, and I am going to have the test done.

As I continue to investigate and learn more about what is going on in my body, mind and emotions, I am more and more impressed with what incredibly complex, and frighteningly fragile, systems we house in these mortal tents. I am amazed at the mind, body, spirit functions that are taking place every moment of our lives. Our hearts continue to beat, our lungs expand and contract, our brains are always active, either consciously or subconsciously, all of our organs carry on their duties, our digestive, cardiovascular, and lymphatic systems are always at work. It is amazing to think of the synchronizations and intricacies that are built into these systems, allowing us to function every day, barely giving a thought to what is going on inside us.

When we are “sick”, in any way, we do look to medicine, doctors, dentists, chiropractors, home remedies, etc. We want to be well. Our health is a great gift. It is more precious than all the wealth we could ever want. I am grateful for all the resources and helps that God has provided us, enabling us to take responsibility for our own health, and to seek out those more skilled and knowledgeable than ourselves when the need arises. We have a gracious God and Father. He is the One Who ultimately does the healing. Just as He ultimately gives life at conception, and takes life away at death. It is all in His hands.

"For you formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well."