Depression is so different for everyone

I was at my ladies' group this morning, and as we were discussing our study book (Olive Shoots Around Your Table by John Visser), we got to talking about depression, of all things. Well, it's been on my mind, so maybe I brought it up!

It was great, 'cause they helped solidify a couple things in my mind. I tend to forget that people who haven't had depression themselves don't really quite understand what's going on. They can try, and they can be compassionate, but it's not the same as having experienced it.

Plus, we're all so individual in our depressive episodes. Some of us face them head on, and some of us want to run and hide and self-medicate and forget that we're even depressed... which makes it worse, I find. So how to I address the topic of encouragement for christians with depression if we're all so different?

The only answer I have is: Start with what you know.

So I'll write about the things I've learned, I guess. And I'll do some research for the things I don't know, or the things I've forgotten. (For instance, I don't remember off-hand all the symptoms of clinical depression. I'll have to look that up.)

There's just so much. I guess I'll just have to start at the beginning! And I'll keep on adding, and adding, and adding...