“Praise be to the Lord; to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burden” (Psalm 68:19).

Depression is a serious mental health issue that affects people of all ages, both male and female.
Sadly, concurrent medical conditions can actually compromise the recognition of depression in older adults.

Some of the illnesses related to late-life depression are-
– not only many forms of cancer,
– but Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s dementia.

Do you or someone you know experience these types of symptoms?

Here are some things to look for:
– recent significant weight change,
– change in sleeping patterns,
– loss of energy, isolation,
– overwhelming feelings of sadness,
– unexplained physical symptoms,
– inappropriate feelings of guilt, and
– feelings of helplessness or hopelessness.

Beware that these problems are not just part of the normal aging process for older adults.

Medical help is needed if you or your loved one is experiencing four or more of the symptoms above.

But, whether you are experiencing clinical or chronic depression, or just the occasional bout of depression-
– there is hope in God’s Word.

Every person experiences depression at one point or another in his or her life.
In Psalm 107:10-11, the Bible records the prisoners “sat in darkness and deepest gloom, miserable prisoners in chains.”

Have you ever felt this way?
To relieve their pain, they cried out to the Lord and “He saved them from their distress. He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains.” Psalm 107:13-14.

There is hope in the Lord to break free from the bondage of depression!

In the Bible, Satan is compared to a thief who is seeking to steal, kill, and destroy you (John 10:10).
But, Christ came to give you everlasting and abundant life (John 5:24; 10:10).

Thank God for the promises of freedom from the bonds of depression.
Ask him to take away the feelings of depression and fill you with joy and hope.