Before embracing my faith in the Lord, I had believed that I would be reliant on depression medication indefinitely.
The recent passing of celebrity CoCo Lee has once again shed light on the perils of depression. I recently came across some articles in the media discussing depression, which prompted recollections of the time when I received a diagnosis of depression.
The origins of my depression can be traced back to my final year of high school, during which I felt lost and plagued by existential questions such as, "Why is attending college necessary? What is the purpose of my life?"
During my freshman year, I encountered a description of depression that resonated with my own experiences. Seeking professional help, I registered at a reputable hospital's psychological clinic in the provincial capital where I resided. After completing several questionnaires, the doctor diagnosed me with depression. From then on, I commenced sporadic psychological counseling and a continuous course of medication.
In my second year of university, my situation took a turn for the better, and my academic performance notably improved. I even received a scholarship that year. For a period of time, I ceased taking medication and discontinued visits to the psychological clinic, convinced that I had overcome my condition.
However, in my third year of university, I encountered significant challenges in some of my specialized courses. Unable to overcome these difficulties independently, I found myself descending back into the grip of depression. Consequently, I resumed taking antidepressants. Although I felt disillusioned with the effectiveness of psychological counseling, I persisted with the medication. The instructions accompanying my prescription explicitly stated that psychiatric medication should not be discontinued without due caution. A second relapse essentially implied a lifelong dependency on medication. During that period, I felt as though my life had come to an end, questioning whether I would be forever bound to the necessity of medication.
Fortunately, during my senior year of university, I found solace in my encounter with the Lord. Through my unwavering faith, I made the decision to cease taking antidepressants. Subsequently, when faced with insurmountable difficulties, I turned to prayer and found that many individuals offered their assistance after my supplications.
As my understanding of the Lord deepened, I gradually found answers to the perplexing issues that had troubled me during my final year of high school. Upon embracing the Lord, I came to comprehend the existence of an eternal realm and an ever-loving heavenly Father.
As my faith in the Lord grew, I devoted myself to serving Him wholeheartedly. Fueled by the unwavering assurance of God's love, I developed the fortitude to confront challenges and ceased to fear seeking aid from others.
The book Inside Out expounds upon the significant factors contributing to depression. The author categorizes human needs into three levels: basic needs, psychological needs, and core needs. Basic needs encompass essentials such as sustenance, clothing, shelter, transportation, and occupation. Psychological needs revolve around human relationships, while core needs pertain to one's relationship with God. When the core need remains unfulfilled, an indelible sense of emptiness and meaninglessness perpetually lingers within the human heart.
Once the core need is satisfied, even in the absence of fulfillment in basic and psychological needs, an individual can overcome any adversity with the aid of God.
(The writer is a Christian in Jiangsu Province.)
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
CoCo（李玟）的离世再次让人们看到了抑郁症的危害。近日看到一些媒体发布了关于抑郁症的文章，勾起了我那段被诊断为抑郁症的记忆。
那段抑郁的状态要追溯到我就读高三的时候。那时我迷茫了：我为什么要读大学？我人生的意义是什么？
大一时，偶然的一次机会，我看到了关于抑郁症的介绍，一对照，跟我的情况蛮像。我到所在的省会城市的一所较有名的医院挂了心理门诊，医生让我填写了几张问卷，就诊断我为抑郁症了。此后，就开始了不定期的心理咨询，药物一直不敢间断。
大二时，不我的状态来到了翻转，学习成绩明显提高，还得了奖学金。这一年，我都没有吃药，也没有去心理门诊，自以为已经得到了医治。
大三时，几门专业课比较难，当我靠着自己得胜不了时，又陷入了之前的抑郁状态。此时，我又开始服用抑郁症类的药物；因为感觉心理咨询没有什么效果，后期就只是服药。说明书说精神类的药物不能随便停用，如果是第二次复发，几乎就是要终生服药了。当时心想：完了，难道一辈子都要吃这药？
感谢主，我在大四的时候听闻了福音。信仰一年后，我凭着信心停掉了抑郁症的药物。有了信仰后，当我再遇到自己难以胜过的困难时，我会向神祈祷。祷告后，很多人过来主动帮助我。
当更多地明白基督信仰，高三时一直困扰我的难题逐渐有了答案。信仰后，我认识到原来有永恒的世界，有一位永远爱我的天父。
随着信仰的成长，我走上了全职服侍神的道路。因为有对于神的爱的确信，我内心中有了面对困难的勇气，也不再惧怕向人寻求帮助。
《里外更新》这本书道出了人陷入抑郁的重要原因。作者将人的需求分为三个层面：表层需求、基本需求、核心需求。表层需求是指衣食住行、事业等；基本需要是指人际关系；核心需求就是跟神的关系。核心需求没有得到满足，人的内心就总有一份抹不掉的空虚、无意义感。
当一个人的核心需求得到满足后，即便表层需求和基本需求没有得到满足，他依然可以靠着神胜过。
（本文作者为江苏一基督徒。）
信主前，我以为要一辈子服用抑郁症药物
Before embracing my faith in the Lord, I had believed that I would be reliant on depression medication indefinitely.
The recent passing of celebrity CoCo Lee has once again shed light on the perils of depression. I recently came across some articles in the media discussing depression, which prompted recollections of the time when I received a diagnosis of depression.
The origins of my depression can be traced back to my final year of high school, during which I felt lost and plagued by existential questions such as, "Why is attending college necessary? What is the purpose of my life?"
During my freshman year, I encountered a description of depression that resonated with my own experiences. Seeking professional help, I registered at a reputable hospital's psychological clinic in the provincial capital where I resided. After completing several questionnaires, the doctor diagnosed me with depression. From then on, I commenced sporadic psychological counseling and a continuous course of medication.
In my second year of university, my situation took a turn for the better, and my academic performance notably improved. I even received a scholarship that year. For a period of time, I ceased taking medication and discontinued visits to the psychological clinic, convinced that I had overcome my condition.
However, in my third year of university, I encountered significant challenges in some of my specialized courses. Unable to overcome these difficulties independently, I found myself descending back into the grip of depression. Consequently, I resumed taking antidepressants. Although I felt disillusioned with the effectiveness of psychological counseling, I persisted with the medication. The instructions accompanying my prescription explicitly stated that psychiatric medication should not be discontinued without due caution. A second relapse essentially implied a lifelong dependency on medication. During that period, I felt as though my life had come to an end, questioning whether I would be forever bound to the necessity of medication.
Fortunately, during my senior year of university, I found solace in my encounter with the Lord. Through my unwavering faith, I made the decision to cease taking antidepressants. Subsequently, when faced with insurmountable difficulties, I turned to prayer and found that many individuals offered their assistance after my supplications.
As my understanding of the Lord deepened, I gradually found answers to the perplexing issues that had troubled me during my final year of high school. Upon embracing the Lord, I came to comprehend the existence of an eternal realm and an ever-loving heavenly Father.
As my faith in the Lord grew, I devoted myself to serving Him wholeheartedly. Fueled by the unwavering assurance of God's love, I developed the fortitude to confront challenges and ceased to fear seeking aid from others.
The book Inside Out expounds upon the significant factors contributing to depression. The author categorizes human needs into three levels: basic needs, psychological needs, and core needs. Basic needs encompass essentials such as sustenance, clothing, shelter, transportation, and occupation. Psychological needs revolve around human relationships, while core needs pertain to one's relationship with God. When the core need remains unfulfilled, an indelible sense of emptiness and meaninglessness perpetually lingers within the human heart.
Once the core need is satisfied, even in the absence of fulfillment in basic and psychological needs, an individual can overcome any adversity with the aid of God.
(The writer is a Christian in Jiangsu Province.)
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
Journey of Believer Who Used to Suffer From Depression
