Concordia TheoBLOGical Seminary

Rev. Stiegemeyer asked me to come in as a guest writer and write a bit about depression, mental illness and the pastoral office. Welcome to my world.

Clinical depression is one of the fastest growing and most common illnesses in our country. It affects over 19 million Americans, and yet often goes undiagnosed and untreated, despite the fact that depression is treatable, with an 80% success rate of those treated.

But like most mental illnesses, depression carries with it a stigma that makes it difficult or even impossible for some people to seek treatment. People who suffer from mental illnesses are viewed as weak, frail, tainted, unable to fully function, and therefore unfit for the rough and tumble world of modern America. This is certainly not a “PC” view, and yet the patronization which is common in our culture toward those with mental illnesses perpetuate the stereotype.

Now if this is true in general, how much more so is this for the pastor, or those aspiring toward the pastoral office? We often give lip service to the theology of the cross, and then blithely go on believing that pastors must always be strong, capable, able to leap tall congregations in a single bound, weather any storm, and handle any crisis which may come their way. The thought of a pastor in need is a hard one for us to visualize.

St. Paul reminds us that God uses the weak and the foolish in this world to bring about His glory, and the salvation of many (I Corinthians 1:27 [show]1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; (ESV)
). This was true for St. Paul, and it is true for us. The reality of depression and its cousin, anxiety, can come crashing down upon the pastor. There may be many causes: stress, family, work, genetics, diet, exercise, sunlight, situations, and a dozen more. It is usually a combination of these causes. Here are a few observations for the pastor who is suffering from depression and/or anxiety:

• Depression is real, and you are not making it up. It is not simply a matter of “put on a happy face” or pull yourself up by your bootstraps. If you had a broken leg, no one would expect you to function as if you didn’t. The same is true with any kind of mental illness.
• There are many different cures to depression, with varying degrees of success. Medication, therapy, situational changes, a sabbatical, herbal remedies, homeopathy, they may all have their place. I would be on guard against anyone who would categorically reject one remedy to the exclusion of all others. As Lutherans, we have a healthy understanding of the distinction between the two kingdoms. It is not a sign of failure to seek help where help is needed. This actually gives others the opportunity to serve you, who serve others in their spiritual needs.
• Having said that, don’t be afraid to go to a doctor, psychiatrist, and/or counselor. Good ones will help you to make decisions that may be muddy, and help to put you on the right course to recovery.
• Tell your pastor what’s going on. A father confessor can be a huge service to you in your time of need. I know that for myself, I would probably be dead today if it weren’t for my wife and my pastor. They love you and they want to help you. Let them in. It’s scary, I know, but less so because you are not alone.
• In the same vein, tell your wife and/or family what is going on. It does you no good to act as if nothing is wrong. They know, probably better than you. If you open up, then they can help you, but if you simply keep it to yourself, eventually you will crash, and it will be a much longer fall.
• Think about talking to key leaders in your parish. This is a tough one. You don’t want to change their perception of you, but if this is affecting your work, they need to know why, at least to some degree. How much and who you tell will vary from place to place, but at some point you will probably need to let them in.
• Realize that if you can’t pray, the Spirit prays for you (Romans 8:26 [show]Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (ESV)
  ). One of the hardest things for me when I was at my lowest was that I couldn’t pray. But our heavenly father, who loves us in all things, send His Spirit to pray for me when I could not. IF you can’t pray, don’t be afraid. Our Lord will speak for you.
• Know that you are not alone. I can’t tell you how many people have come up to me over the last 2 years and spoken with me about this topic. They are out there. Seek them out, and they can help you bear your burdens.
• Contact me. I’m not the clearinghouse for all knowledge on depression, but I have been there. Email me at “darkmyroad at gmail dot com”. I will be happy to try and help in any way that I can.

The God of hope does not abandon us when our minds are ill. He will not abandon you. You are baptized. Don’t be afraid.

-DMR

PS Please come and see me regularly at I Trust When Dark My Road