my friend (mormon) has depression, what gospel can i show/talk to him to make him feel better?

[MissSpider]

hi guy ^^

i just received a letter from one of my friend who currently on the mission field. he told me that he wants to come home because his depression is getting worse in everyday (he had diagnosis with clinical depression,, probably between mild and moderate..) but in the other hand, he wants to complete 2 years mission because it is his dream to serve the Lord.
he prays and prays a lot for help ,but seem like every thing is getting more worse in everyday (he get door-slam when knock on the door, few people can speak English in his area, rainy almost everyday...that aren't help with his depression). he feels trapped and worthless.
he never doubt in the Lord and Jesus Christ. he loves the mission. but his emotional and physical health are worsen. he get stress up easily

if you guy can provide me any scripture or advice that would be great. i pray for him too , but i feel that it would be nice if i can share some good scriptures that can lift up his spirit.

i do not know why God gives him depression,but there must be some good reason behind it

[skippy740]

Depression is a medical condition... that can have other root causes.

He needs to see a doctor. In my understanding, most mission president's wives take care of the medical care part for missionaries. On my mission we had "Mission medical". We had to get my "Mission Mother" to authorize a doctor visit before going.

He should call the Mission President's office ASAP and get this taken care of - PARTICULARLY because he has had a previous diagnosis that's currently going untreated.

[changed]

Christmas is coming! Hopefully that can cheer him up, and cheer a lot of others up too.

(Topical Guide | J Joy:Entry)

Joy (see also Cheerfulness; Delight; Gladness; Happiness; Pleasure)
Deut. 28:47 thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness
Ezra 3:12 many shouted aloud for j.
Job 20:5 j. of the hypocrite but for a moment
Job 38:7 all the sons of God shouted for j.
Ps. 16:11 in thy presence is fulness of j.
Ps. 30:5 j. cometh in the morning
Ps. 35:9 my soul shall be joyful in the Lord
Ps. 37:11 meek ... delight themselves in the abundance of peace
Ps. 48:2 j. of the whole earth, is mount Zion
Ps. 118:24 we will rejoice and be glad
Ps. 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in j.
Prov. 15:21 Folly is j. to him that is destitute of wisdom
Prov. 21:15 It is j. to the just to do judgment
Eccl. 9:9 live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest
Isa. 12:3 with j. shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation
Isa. 29:19 meek also shall increase their j. in the Lord
Isa. 51:11 everlasting j. shall be upon their head
Isa. 55:12 ye shall go out with j.
Matt. 5:12 (3 Ne. 12:12) Rejoice ... for so persecuted they the prophets
Matt. 13:20 (Luke 8:13) word, and anon with j. receiveth it
Matt. 25:21 faithful servant ... enter thou into the j. of thy Lord
Matt. 28:8 departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great j.
Luke 2:10 I bring you good tidings of great j.
Luke 6:23 leap for j. ... your reward is great in heaven
Luke 10:20 rejoice, because your names are written in heaven
Luke 15:7 j. ... in heaven over one sinner that repenteth
Luke 24:41 they yet believed not for j.
John 3:29 this my j. therefore is fulfilled
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day
John 15:11 things have I spoken ... that your j. might be full
John 16:20 your sorrow shall be turned into j.
John 16:22 your j. no man taketh from you
John 17:13 that they might have my j. fulfilled in themselves
Rom. 14:17 kingdom of God is ... j. in the Holy Ghost
2 Cor. 7:4 I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation
Gal. 5:22 fruit of the Spirit is love, j., peace
Col. 1:11 Strengthened ... unto ... longsuffering with joyfulness
1 Thes. 5:16 Rejoice evermore
Heb. 10:34 took joyfully the spoiling of your goods
James 1:2 count it all j. when ye fall into divers temptations
1 Pet. 1:8 (Hel. 5:44) ye rejoice with j. unspeakable
1 Pet. 4:13 revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding j.
3 Jn. 1:4 no greater j. than to hear that my children walk in truth
Jude 1:24 present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding j.
1 Ne. 8:12 fruit ... filled my soul with ... j.
1 Ne. 11:23 most joyous to the soul
2 Ne. 2:23 having no j., for they knew no misery
2 Ne. 2:25 men are, that they might have j.
2 Ne. 9:18 their j. shall be full forever
Mosiah 2:4 taught ... commandments of God, that they might rejoice
Mosiah 2:41 consider ... happy state of those that keep the commandments
Mosiah 3:3 I ... declare unto you the glad tidings of great j.
Mosiah 4:20 caused that your hearts should be filled with j.
Alma 4:14 filled with great j. because of the resurrection
Alma 19:6 light had infused such j. into his soul
Alma 19:14 overpowered with j.
Alma 22:15 receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with j.
Alma 26:11 my heart is brim with j.
Alma 26:35 my j. is carried away, even unto boasting in my God
Alma 27:17 j. of Ammon was so great ... he fell again to the earth
Alma 29:9 bring some soul to repentance ... is my j.
Alma 29:16 my soul is carried away ... so great is my j.
Alma 30:34 we may have rejoicings in the j. of our brethren
Alma 36:20 soul was filled with j. as exceeding as was my pain
3 Ne. 17:18 so great was the j. of the multitude
3 Ne. 17:20 my j. is full
3 Ne. 27:11 they have j. in their works for a season ... and they are hewn down
3 Ne. 27:31 in them I have fulness of j.
3 Ne. 28:10 your j. shall be full ... even as I am
D&C 11:13 my Spirit ... shall fill your soul with j.
D&C 18:16 how great will be your j. if you should bring many
D&C 19:39 canst thou read this without rejoicing
D&C 25:13 (27:15) lift up thy heart and rejoice
D&C 35:24 Zion shall rejoice upon the hills and flourish
D&C 42:61 knowledge ... which bringeth j.
D&C 45:71 (Moses 7:53) come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting j.
D&C 50:22 both are edified and rejoice together
D&C 51:19 wise steward shall enter into the j. of his Lord
D&C 52:43 crown the faithful with j.
D&C 59:13 fasting may be perfect, or ... that thy j. may be full
D&C 93:33 spirit and element ... receive a fulness of j.
D&C 101:36 in this world your j. is not full, but in me your j. is full
D&C 128:19 what do we hear in the gospel ... A voice of gladness
D&C 136:29 call on the Lord ... that your souls may be joyful
D&C 138:17 that they might receive a fulness of j.; Moses 5:10 because of my transgression ... I shall have j.
Moses 7:67 Enoch ... received a fulness of j.
JS-H 1:73 filled with the Holy Ghost, and rejoiced.

[Loudmouth_Mormon]

One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves, is that you can think or reason or pray or otherwise just willpower yourself out of the impacts of a chemical imbalance of the brain.

Consider the following:

i just received a letter from one of my friend who currently on the mission field. he told me that he wants to come home because his broken leg getting worse in everyday (it's in a cast but not really healing well) but in the other hand, he wants to complete 2 years mission because it is his dream to serve the Lord.
he prays and prays a lot for help ,but seem like his leg is getting more worse in everyday (it hurts to walk on it, it hurts to ride bike or drive in cars, the rain makes it itchy). he's in so much pain he can't think straight.
he never doubt in the Lord and Jesus Christ. he loves the mission. but his emotional and physical health are worsen. he get stress up easily

if you guy can provide me any scripture or advice that would be great. i pray for him too , but i feel that it would be nice if i can share some good scriptures that can fix his leg.

i do not know why God gives him this broken leg, but there must be some good reason behind it

[MissSpider]

Originally Posted by skippy740

Depression is a medical condition... that can have other root causes.

He needs to see a doctor. In my understanding, most mission president's wives take care of the medical care part for missionaries. On my mission we had "Mission medical". We had to get my "Mission Mother" to authorize a doctor visit before going.

He should call the Mission President's office ASAP and get this taken care of - PARTICULARLY because he has had a previous diagnosis that's currently going untreated.

he alrady see the doctor and have been given like 4 differents medicine in this last few months already but he said it make him more sleeply and un energenice (he couldnot get out of bed in the morning and feel like sleeping forever) so he stop using them. he almost get send home several time becaue of this.

i think only thing he continue doing this because his love toward the Load.

[MissSpider]

Originally Posted by Loudmouth_Mormon

One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves, is that you can think or reason or pray or otherwise just willpower yourself out of the impacts of a chemical imbalance of the brain.

Consider the following:

actually, i advice him a lot to see the doctor. i'm studing in Psychology area (i want to become mental disorder therapist) and i have read several books on depression and also VDO. so i pretty have basic knowledge about what is going on inside his brain.

i advice him to eat food that rich in Tryptophan and talk about nice thing and try to encourage him that he has doing a good work. but that doesnot really helpful way to help with his depression. i told him that the medicine will take time to see the result (about 2-3 weeks) but the side effect of the medicine is quite strong also.

it would not effect him a lot if he isnot no the missionnary. he said that because the side effect of drung he couldnot get up at 6.30 in the morning (or it very hard to get up) because the side effect of the drug make him tired all the time.he stop using them so he can at least get up from bed and continue the work ,but his emotion is quite go up and down.

we write letter to each other once a week to see the update on my progress on scripture and his depression update.

i read from a lot of book and article that as a friend (cause i am not yet clinical psychologist) i can help make him happy by take him to movie, walking in the park, do something fun etc. but he is missionary and he cannot do anything fun to balance his mood out and he is also far away too. so it kinda stay burden inside him.

only way i can help is to give some advice for him (that not about seeing doctor) to keep him stay on this mission. and i think sharing gospel is the best i can do at this moment since i can contact him only by letter once a week.

[garryw]

there must be some time for physical exercise, if he's not getting that. I know I walked 4-10 miles a day on my mission, but I imagine there are some places where you are in cars or whatever.

[Traveler]

Originally Posted by MissSpider

hi guy ^^

i just received a letter from one of my friend who currently on the mission field. he told me that he wants to come home because his depression is getting worse in everyday (he had diagnosis with clinical depression,, probably between mild and moderate..) but in the other hand, he wants to complete 2 years mission because it is his dream to serve the Lord.
he prays and prays a lot for help ,but seem like every thing is getting more worse in everyday (he get door-slam when knock on the door, few people can speak English in his area, rainy almost everyday...that aren't help with his depression). he feels trapped and worthless.
he never doubt in the Lord and Jesus Christ. he loves the mission. but his emotional and physical health are worsen. he get stress up easily

if you guy can provide me any scripture or advice that would be great. i pray for him too , but i feel that it would be nice if i can share some good scriptures that can lift up his spirit.

i do not know why God gives him depression,but there must be some good reason behind it

You may consider contacting his mission president - include asking him how you can best assist and support.

The Traveler

[HopeinLDS]

I have spent the last 15+ years of the 28 I have been alive dealing with depression. I have chemical imbalance form of depression and it is effect by seasonal too. I spent the last 10 years being inactive and coming back to church my depression has been mild compared to where I was at 10 years ago. We have to remember are all given trials and we were counseled with God before come to Earth. We knew our battles and struggles we would have. I know that the Lord will not give us any trials we can’t handle. I know that through faith and trust we can find hope. In Jeremiah 17:7 says “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” This has given me hope. I know that we do needs the proper medicines to help if the case applies. I know many members that have gone through something similar. When it is chemical imbalance it is harder to control. Remind him to receive weekly blessing from his companion and to remember the promises the Lord has given in the walls of temple.

Things he can by is a UV light to wear. It is a common practice in places like Alaska where it dark from almost 3 months. This is something to think about due to the weather. Writing has always helped me.

If you have more questions I can try to help. Nothing is worse than this struggle and feeling alone.

IDB

[Wingnut]

(I know this thread is a few months old by now, but I still think it's important...)

If he just "quit" his meds on his own without appropriately tapering off of them under medical supervision, he could be exacerbating his condition. He still needs to visit a doctor to discuss medication. He may just not have the right combination -- it's often trial-and-error with anti-depressants.