The Bible says
that people should
00:00:00.96\00:00:03.23
rejoice evermore. So
what if you're somebody
00:00:03.23\00:00:07.84
who suffers from depression,
as do one in ten American
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adults? Depression can seriously
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impact a person's Christian
experience, and depression
00:00:13.84\00:00:17.48
has been implicated in the
deaths of very many people.
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I've come to Weimar,
California to speak with Dr.
00:00:19.88\00:00:23.75
Neil Nedley, the president
of Nedley Health Solutions.
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Today, part one of a two-part
series on depression, its
00:00:27.16\00:00:30.46
causes and its cures.
Thanks for joining me today.
00:00:30.46\00:00:36.16
[driving theme music]
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Dr. Nedley, thank you
very much for joining me today.
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I'm just so thankful you've
been able to make this time.
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NN: Thanks for
inviting me, John.
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I'm glad to be
here. JB: Depression.
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Let's start
right at the beginning.
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What is it? NN: It
is an epidemic in our
00:01:06.13\00:01:09.16
society today. It's
dramatically increasing
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and it causes a
lot of deep sadness.
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That's what most
people equate with depression,
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feelings of deep sadness.
But, you know, that's not the
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only symptom that you
get. You can actually not have
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that symptom, you can just
have a feeling of emptiness
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and have depression.
JB: Now when you talk about
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depression, you know, people,
PEOPLE have a bad day and
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they're not depressed.
People can be sad and not be
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depressed, they can just be sad.
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So there's a difference
between being in a funk and
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experiencing what
is technically known as
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depression. NN: Yes.
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JB: So how do we
really describe this technical
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depression? If
someone's depressed,
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they're going to exhibit what?
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NN: They're going to exhibit
five, at least five of nine
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symptoms for the majority
of the time for the last two
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weeks or more. JB:
Okay, so there are nine
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symptoms that qualify in
this basket known as depression.
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NN: Correct. JB:
If you've got five of
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them, you're depressed.
NN: You have depression,
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yeah, as long as you have
those five the majority of
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the time. So if
you're sad for just one
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day out of 14, it doesn't count.
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But if you're sad the
majority of the last 14 days,
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then that would be
symptom number one right there.
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JB: Okay. We're
going to talk about
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those symptoms in just a moment.
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But first let's point
out a couple of things.
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One in 10 Americans
suffer depression, correct?
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NN: Correct. Yes,
right now as we're
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speaking. JB: Okay.
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And how does that
break down by gender?
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NN: Well, one of four women
will suffer from it at some
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point in their life.
One out of eight men.
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So it's twice as common
in women as it is in men.
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And it's actually increasing.
Those are kind of old
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statistics. It
may be, this newer
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generation, it looks like
it's going to be a one out of
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two lifetime risk for
girls that are growing up today,
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suffering from major depression.
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JB: One out of two?
NN: One out of two is what
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it's looking like.
JB: That is an epidemic.
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NN: It is an epidemic, yeah.
It's dramatically increasing.
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Each successive generation
when we look at it from
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a epidemiological standpoint,
each successive generation
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has had significantly more
depression than the previous
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generation. JB:
And my understanding is
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that, I don't want to
overstate this, but I'll tell
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you what I think and you
can correct me if you need to.
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The majority of people
who suffer depression aren't
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aware that what
they have is depression.
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NN: That's true.
Actually, it's been well
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documented that about half
of people with major depression
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in the United States
alone are not diagnosed with it.
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In other words, they haven't
sought help, they haven't
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gone to a caregiver to
find out why they're having the
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symptoms that they're having,
and they just think it's a
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normal part of their
existence for where they're
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at in life. But
depression is not normal.
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It shouldn't be considered
a normal part of existence.
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JB: So there will be a lot
of people watching us today who
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might be completely
unaware that they suffer from
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depression. NN:
Yeah, they might learn
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something as a result of
this and might realize that
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they're actually
suffering from it.
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JB: Okay. Today
we're talking about
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depression and its causes,
and a moment ago we talked
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about these nine points, if
you have five of them for the
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majority of the time over
two weeks, you're depressed.
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NN: Yes. JB: What are those?
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Do you have time to talk
about what those five points
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are? NN: Sure.
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Yes. The first
one would be either
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a deep sadness or
emptiness. Men tend to feel the
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emptiness, women more of the
sadness, although the men can
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get sad too.
Women will tend to have
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crying spells where something
they preferred not happen,
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happened and they start to
cry and they say, well, that
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wasn't that
bad, why am I crying?
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And so they'll tend to seek
help a little more than men.
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Men just tend to feel empty
and think that that's normal.
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But either one
qualifies as symptom number one.
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The second is apathy.
This is where you wake up in
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the morning and you're
not really interested in the
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day's activities. You
get up out of a sense of
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responsibility but you're not
really interested in the day.
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And that is not a normal
symptom to have the majority
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of the time, and so
apathy is distinctly abnormal.
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The third one is agitation.
This is where you're more
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irritable than you used to
be or you would also qualify for
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symptom number three if
you've had a slowing of your
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muscle movement.
You've just kind of slowed
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down. A lot of people don't
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recognize this until they
see themselves on a video that
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they've slowed down,
but the irritability and the
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slowness, that's the one
the individual may not recognize
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themselves, and they'll
have to ask their spouse, am I
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more irritable
than I used to be?
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The spouse will definitely
tell you, or your friends
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might tell you that as
well. The fourth is a lack of
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concentration.
This is where you don't
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really have the ability to
sort things through to make
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complex decisions and you
recognize that you're just
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not able to do that
mental task like you used to.
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Another symptom is
sleep disturbances.
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The most common sleep
disturbance in someone with
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depression is
early-morning awakening.
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This is where they go to bed,
they can sleep okay, but then
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they wake up too early
and can't get back to sleep.
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But you would also qualify
for this symptom if you had
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insomnia. In
other words, you're not
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able to go to sleep well.
Or if you have hypersomnia.
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Many people with depression
suffer from just being sleepy
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all the time. We
have people who come to
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our program who have been
sleeping 20 hours a day for
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weeks. Severe depression.
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And so that's another symptom.
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Another symptom is
weight or appetite changes.
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The most common is weight gain.
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People tend to self-medicate
themselves with chocolate
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and soda pop and food,
and as a result of this
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self-medicating they tend
to gain weight, but rather
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severe sudden onset
depression often has anorexia
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or weight loss. JB:
So it can go either way.
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NN: It can go either way, yeah.
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Another symptom is fatigue.
Now fatigue is different than
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apathy. Apathy
means that you don't
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have the interest in the
day's activities, fatigue
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means you just are tired
and you don't know why you're
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tired. You run out of energy
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and you'd like to have more.
And that's a very prominent
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symptom in the people that
see me as a physician in an
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internal medicine
office. And then the more severe
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symptoms tend to be
associated with morbid
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thoughts. This is
where the individual
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has a preoccupation with
death or symbols of death.
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And so it's not just thinking
about taking your own life,
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although that
would definitely qualify.
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It might be fantasizing
about someone else being dead.
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Or just preoccupation
with death in general.
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And we are seeing that a
lot more commonly today with
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people tattooing
skeletons and symbols of death.
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There's even a new bathing
suit line that my wife showed
00:07:57.24\00:07:59.54
me in a fashion magazine
that just came out where the
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ladies' bathing suits are
all skeletons, and people are
00:08:02.91\00:08:07.48
resonating with this.
If you resonate with that,
00:08:07.48\00:08:09.95
it's a sign that
it's a morbid thought.
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Not really normal, and if
you have the other symptoms that
00:08:11.99\00:08:16.06
go along with it, it could
be a clear sign that you're
00:08:16.06\00:08:18.86
experiencing
depression. And companies are
00:08:18.86\00:08:22.40
capitalizing on people's
morbid thoughts by changing
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their fashion statements
to resonate with them.
00:08:26.43\00:08:29.74
JB: Right. And if
a person has five of
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those pretty consistently
over a two-week period, that
00:08:31.51\00:08:34.38
person really might
well could be clinically
00:08:34.38\00:08:36.81
depressed. NN: Exactly.
00:08:36.81\00:08:39.51
JB: But there is a
way out. NN: There is.
00:08:39.51\00:08:41.88
JB: Thank God for that. NN: Yes.
00:08:41.88\00:08:43.52
JB: And we're going to
talk a little bit more about the
00:08:43.52\00:08:45.45
causes of depression, what
causes this stuff to actually
00:08:45.45\00:08:49.02
take place in just
a couple of moments.
00:08:49.02\00:08:52.43
Depression, serious business.
The Bible says that we ought
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to be full of joy
as believers in Jesus.
00:08:55.43\00:08:58.80
That's not always
the case for everybody.
00:08:58.80\00:09:01.27
Don't go away, we'll be
back in a moment with more.
00:09:01.27\00:09:03.91
[MUSIC] Every
Word is a one-minute,
00:09:04.44\00:09:06.34
Bible-based, daily devotional
presented by Pastor John
00:09:06.34\00:09:09.28
Bradshaw and
designed especially for busy
00:09:09.28\00:09:11.78
people like you. Look
for Every Word on selected
00:09:11.78\00:09:15.12
networks, or watch it
online every day on our website,
00:09:15.12\00:09:18.09
ItIsWritten.com.
00:09:18.09\00:09:20.66
[upbeat music]
00:09:21.96\00:09:26.23
The book of Revelation contains
a lot of wonderful promises.
00:09:29.26\00:09:32.53
Here's one of them.
Revelation 21:4 starts by saying
00:09:32.53\00:09:35.70
that "God shall wipe away
all tears from their eyes."
00:09:35.70\00:09:39.34
That is, the eyes of His people
as we enter into eternity.
00:09:39.34\00:09:43.38
This is a sad world. I've
attended more funerals than
00:09:43.38\00:09:46.35
I ever thought I would.
Every new day brings stories of
00:09:46.35\00:09:49.82
heartbreak and sadness, and
in a world on the brink of ruin
00:09:49.82\00:09:53.09
there is desperation
and misery everywhere you
00:09:53.09\00:09:55.46
turn. How is it with you?
00:09:55.46\00:09:57.53
Are you anguished,
depressed, discouraged?
00:09:57.53\00:10:00.20
If not, I'm sure
you know someone who is.
00:10:00.20\00:10:02.50
But what a great thought.
"God shall wipe away all tears
00:10:02.50\00:10:05.90
from their eyes."
Isn't that encouraging?
00:10:05.90\00:10:08.40
We might have to go through some
trials and disappointments on
00:10:08.40\00:10:11.04
this earth, but there's coming
a time when the last tear will
00:10:11.04\00:10:14.01
have been shed.
That's good to know.
00:10:14.01\00:10:16.71
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:10:16.71\00:10:18.68
Let's live today by every word.
00:10:18.68\00:10:21.15
JB: Thanks for joining me today.
00:10:22.55\00:10:24.02
I've come to Weimar,
California to speak with Dr.
00:10:24.02\00:10:26.52
Neil Nedley, the president
of Nedley Health Solutions and
00:10:26.52\00:10:29.96
the founder of
the Nedley Clinic.
00:10:29.96\00:10:34.10
Dr. Nedley, you are, in
fact, an internal medicine
00:10:34.10\00:10:36.67
physician. NN: Correct.
00:10:36.67\00:10:38.67
JB: But you've become
very interested in and very
00:10:38.67\00:10:41.10
effective at
treating depression.
00:10:41.10\00:10:44.07
NN: Yes. JB: So
how did you get from A
00:10:44.07\00:10:45.97
to B? How did that happen?
00:10:45.97\00:10:47.58
NN: Well, it's
kind of interesting.
00:10:47.58\00:10:49.08
When I was a faculty member
at Kettering Medical Center,
00:10:49.08\00:10:52.75
Wright State University,
I used to teach residents.
00:10:52.75\00:10:56.02
And I used to teach
my residents in internal
00:10:56.02\00:10:57.89
medicine that they needed
to learn the common diseases
00:10:57.89\00:11:00.66
well. I wanted them to learn
00:11:00.66\00:11:03.46
pneumonia as good
as a pulmonologist.
00:11:03.46\00:11:05.66
I wanted them to learn
congestive heart failure as
00:11:05.66\00:11:07.86
good as a cardiologist,
or gastroesophageal reflux
00:11:07.86\00:11:10.43
disease as good as
a gastroenterologist.
00:11:10.43\00:11:13.30
Why? Because
they were going to be
00:11:13.30\00:11:15.14
seeing these diseases
almost every day of their life
00:11:15.14\00:11:19.24
and they really needed to know
as much as the expert does in
00:11:19.24\00:11:22.54
the common diseases.
After I finished my teaching
00:11:22.54\00:11:26.01
career I set up a practice,
the Nedley Clinic, you just
00:11:26.01\00:11:30.22
mentioned it, in Ardmore,
Oklahoma, and there was an
00:11:30.22\00:11:33.52
article that crossed my desk
from the Archives of Internal
00:11:33.52\00:11:36.29
Medicine showing that up
to one in three people that an
00:11:36.29\00:11:40.16
internist sees is
suffering from major depression.
00:11:40.16\00:11:44.47
And I thought, well,
that's not true in my patient
00:11:44.47\00:11:46.43
population in Oklahoma.
But I thought, you know, I
00:11:46.43\00:11:49.04
can't just assume
that, we'll test them.
00:11:49.04\00:11:51.24
So I had them go through
the little screening test,
00:11:51.24\00:11:54.58
the nine-point screening
test that we discussed earlier,
00:11:54.58\00:11:57.38
when they came in and I found
out that it wasn't quite that
00:11:57.38\00:12:00.42
high, it was about one in
four, but then it struck me,
00:12:00.42\00:12:03.59
common disease. Do
I know this as good
00:12:03.59\00:12:06.69
as a psychiatrist?
And I had to admit that I
00:12:06.69\00:12:09.29
didn't and so I
started to learn at the feet of
00:12:09.29\00:12:12.73
preeminent psychiatrists,
and then I recognized my need
00:12:12.73\00:12:16.80
of more study because there
hadn't been enough research
00:12:16.80\00:12:19.80
done on the
actual underlying causes.
00:12:19.80\00:12:23.30
And as an internist, when
I see swollen feet, I don't
00:12:23.30\00:12:27.34
diagnose swollen-foot
syndrome and send them out
00:12:27.34\00:12:30.85
the door with a diuretic, I
try to find the cause of the
00:12:30.85\00:12:33.35
swollen feet, of which
there can be about 100 different
00:12:33.35\00:12:35.85
causes. And so I
thought let's try to
00:12:35.85\00:12:39.09
find out what are the real
causes of depression, and I
00:12:39.09\00:12:42.92
did some extra research
and that's how I started to get
00:12:42.92\00:12:46.56
very involved in this and
then started treating my own
00:12:46.56\00:12:49.06
patients with results that
were far better than what I
00:12:49.06\00:12:51.37
had ever anticipated.
JB: I've seen the results of
00:12:51.37\00:12:55.00
what you've done.
Your depression recovery
00:12:55.00\00:12:57.87
seminars have been held
from sea to shining sea in many,
00:12:57.87\00:13:00.34
many places. I
recall seeing the results
00:13:00.34\00:13:03.14
of depression recovery
seminars, no names were
00:13:03.14\00:13:06.65
shown, I must point that out,
and my friend said, this red
00:13:06.65\00:13:09.38
line is how depressed people
were, this green line is how
00:13:09.38\00:13:12.55
undepressed they were,
or how they were at the end.
00:13:12.55\00:13:15.16
And I said to my friend,
who had conducted this Neil
00:13:15.16\00:13:18.33
Nedley Depression Recovery
Seminar, are you fudging the
00:13:18.33\00:13:20.83
results.. NN: (LAUGHTER) JB:...
00:13:20.83\00:13:23.03
because they were so dramatic.
00:13:23.03\00:13:25.10
Depression is something a
person can come back from.
00:13:25.10\00:13:27.60
NN: Absolutely,
absolutely. JB: Okay, well,
00:13:27.60\00:13:30.34
what causes it?
What are these underlying
00:13:30.34\00:13:32.24
causes? NN: Well, there are 10
00:13:32.24\00:13:34.61
categories of causes that
we uncovered in our research.
00:13:34.61\00:13:39.28
And there's actually over
100 separate identifiable causes
00:13:39.28\00:13:41.82
for depression, but
they can be categorized in 10
00:13:41.82\00:13:45.59
different ways. And
you have to have four of
00:13:45.59\00:13:48.42
those categories of
causes before you end up with
00:13:48.42\00:13:51.19
depression or anxiety disorder.
00:13:51.19\00:13:54.56
But one of them is
frontal lobe causes.
00:13:54.56\00:13:57.20
That's the one
that we deal with first.
00:13:57.20\00:13:59.50
The frontal lobe of the brain
is the front portion of the
00:13:59.50\00:14:02.74
brain. It's the
analytical portion
00:14:02.74\00:14:05.07
of the brain.
Scientific studies show it's
00:14:05.07\00:14:08.48
the seat of spirituality,
morality and the will.
00:14:08.48\00:14:12.38
It's the reason why we
are spiritual beings and human
00:14:12.38\00:14:15.75
beings worship because our
frontal lobe size is so much
00:14:15.75\00:14:19.22
greater than cats and dogs
that you don't see in worship
00:14:19.22\00:14:22.62
services, because they
can't identify with it.
00:14:22.62\00:14:25.79
But the frontal lobe
circulation when it goes
00:14:25.79\00:14:29.06
down, it is a major
setup for depression or anxiety
00:14:29.06\00:14:33.84
disorders and there's a lot
of different things that can
00:14:33.84\00:14:36.54
fit under the categories of
what can suppress or enhance
00:14:36.54\00:14:39.24
frontal-lobe function.
JB: I've got to jump in with
00:14:39.24\00:14:41.74
"such as" ... give
me three, four or five
00:14:41.74\00:14:43.68
pretty quickly.
Things that suppress
00:14:43.68\00:14:45.78
frontal-lobe functions.
NN: Well, for instance, rapid
00:14:45.78\00:14:48.18
scene of reference,
entertainment television ...
00:14:48.18\00:14:52.05
JB: Oh, okay. NN: ...
00:14:52.05\00:14:53.76
suppresses the
frontal lobe of the brain.
00:14:53.76\00:14:55.96
It can actually set
yourself up for an addiction.
00:14:55.96\00:14:59.16
JB: And most people are
just feasting on that every day.
00:14:59.16\00:15:01.60
NN: Right.
Certain types of music.
00:15:01.60\00:15:04.57
The syncopated, boom-cha,
rock-and-roll music can
00:15:04.57\00:15:08.77
actually suppress the
frontal lobe of the brain.
00:15:08.77\00:15:12.37
JB: Something else that
masses of population are
00:15:12.37\00:15:15.04
into. NN: You
know, the interesting
00:15:15.04\00:15:16.85
thing about this, John,
is a lot of the things that I
00:15:16.85\00:15:19.11
mention that detract from
frontal-lobe function people
00:15:19.11\00:15:22.98
do to try to get happiness.
And this is the ironic thing;
00:15:22.98\00:15:29.72
there are more fun things
to do than ever before in human
00:15:29.72\00:15:32.86
history, but yet we have
more depression than ever before
00:15:32.86\00:15:36.20
in human history. If
these fun things actually
00:15:36.20\00:15:40.07
prevented or cured depression
we should see the lowest
00:15:40.07\00:15:43.57
rates of
depression on the planet.
00:15:43.57\00:15:45.84
These rapid-moving video
games can actually suppress
00:15:45.84\00:15:47.94
the frontal lobe of the brain.
00:15:47.94\00:15:50.45
A lot of this screen
time, this entertainment screen
00:15:50.45\00:15:56.25
time that America is
fascinated with, a lot of it
00:15:56.25\00:15:59.25
does suppress
frontal-lobe function.
00:15:59.25\00:16:01.46
And then just when we're
not really exercising the
00:16:01.46\00:16:06.70
spiritual part of our brain,
when we're not involved in
00:16:06.70\00:16:10.23
worship, when we're
not involved in spiritual
00:16:10.23\00:16:14.04
analysis or reading,
like the Bible, and analyzing
00:16:14.04\00:16:19.44
scripture with scripture,
that's going to be a hit as
00:16:19.44\00:16:21.31
well. And it's
not that necessarily
00:16:21.31\00:16:25.58
we have to have the Bible,
but we need to have some sort
00:16:25.58\00:16:29.18
of analysis, some sort of
abstract analysis that can
00:16:29.18\00:16:31.55
help frontal-lobe
function. JB: Okay.
00:16:31.55\00:16:36.09
NN: So the second area is
exercise, actually, lifestyle
00:16:36.09\00:16:41.43
causes. Physical
exercise actually
00:16:41.43\00:16:45.17
helps the brain.
Under the lifestyle causes,
00:16:45.17\00:16:47.97
sunlight. The
light and the blue sky
00:16:47.97\00:16:50.31
that we're under here
at Weimar actually helps
00:16:50.31\00:16:52.81
depression. It
improves serotonin levels
00:16:52.81\00:16:55.54
in the brain. So
when we're indoors, not
00:16:55.54\00:16:58.41
experiencing outdoor
light, we're getting a hit with
00:16:58.41\00:17:01.12
that. And then not regularly
00:17:01.12\00:17:03.75
breathing fresh air.
Here at Weimar we've got
00:17:03.75\00:17:07.16
these beautiful pine trees
exuding negative ions, just
00:17:07.16\00:17:09.96
breathing that in can
help in regards to depression.
00:17:09.96\00:17:14.20
The third category
is circadian rhythm.
00:17:14.20\00:17:17.17
This has to do with our
sleep-wake cycle and our
00:17:17.17\00:17:20.14
regularity. The
more irregular we are in
00:17:20.14\00:17:22.67
schedule, the more
that is a blow to the brain.
00:17:22.67\00:17:25.54
The brain likes a regular
regimented schedule and the
00:17:25.54\00:17:30.88
best circadian rhythm as
far as optimal performance for
00:17:30.88\00:17:34.52
the brain is early
to bed, early to rise.
00:17:34.52\00:17:37.32
You make more melatonin
and it's one of the reasons why
00:17:37.32\00:17:41.32
almost across the board
successful business people
00:17:41.32\00:17:44.89
tend to be early-to-bed,
early-to-rise people.
00:17:44.89\00:17:48.30
Highly successful. The
only exception to that is
00:17:48.30\00:17:50.60
the entertainment industry
and those individuals, of
00:17:50.60\00:17:53.67
course, have much
higher rates of depression, but
00:17:53.67\00:17:56.44
they're late-nighters just
because of their occupation.
00:17:56.44\00:17:59.11
The fourth category
after circadian rhythm is
00:17:59.11\00:18:05.01
nutrition. What we
are putting into our
00:18:05.01\00:18:07.38
body actually gets
turned into neurotransmitters.
00:18:07.38\00:18:10.99
And so there's a lot to
nutrition and the brain and a
00:18:10.99\00:18:15.19
lot to the
typical American diet.
00:18:15.19\00:18:18.09
It's short in omega-3,
not high in tryptophan and
00:18:18.09\00:18:21.90
carbohydrates to the degree
to make enough dopamine and
00:18:21.90\00:18:24.80
norepinephrine and serotonin.
And so we really do a good
00:18:24.80\00:18:28.20
nutritional analysis on
our patients and change that
00:18:28.20\00:18:31.17
factor. Fifth has to do with
00:18:31.17\00:18:34.74
addiction hits. If
you're addicted to any
00:18:34.74\00:18:37.31
substance or non-substance,
be it gambling, pornography,
00:18:37.31\00:18:42.18
alcohol, any addiction
can actually be a setup for
00:18:42.18\00:18:46.02
depression. Not in
and of itself causing
00:18:46.02\00:18:50.03
it, but if you have three
other causes and that, it's
00:18:50.03\00:18:53.50
going to tide you over
into rather severe depression.
00:18:53.50\00:18:57.17
JB: Let's touch on these
remaining two or three or
00:18:57.17\00:18:59.03
four just quickly. NN:
In regards to our social
00:18:59.03\00:19:02.24
situation, it can
have a role to play.
00:19:02.24\00:19:05.24
In regards to medical
conditions, like thyroid,
00:19:05.24\00:19:08.74
that can have a role to play.
In regards to genetics, that
00:19:08.74\00:19:13.28
can also have a role to play.
JB: Dr. Nedley, who fits the
00:19:13.28\00:19:17.19
profile of the
typical depression sufferer?
00:19:17.19\00:19:22.56
NN: Well, you know,
that profile is so broad.
00:19:22.56\00:19:25.59
It really is. Very
likely your next door
00:19:25.59\00:19:27.93
neighbor. It's
probably someone you're
00:19:27.93\00:19:29.70
working with. In
fact, chances are, not
00:19:29.70\00:19:33.27
just chances, it's actually
basically a 100% chance that
00:19:33.27\00:19:37.94
you know someone
that has depression.
00:19:37.94\00:19:40.61
Any viewer knows someone
that has depression or they have
00:19:40.61\00:19:43.41
depression themselves.
That's how common it is.
00:19:43.41\00:19:45.38
JB: Speaking stereotypically,
I admit I'm doing this, you
00:19:45.38\00:19:49.05
know, I'm thinking
depression, a kid with black
00:19:49.05\00:19:51.72
clothing and long stringy
hair who mopes around sitting
00:19:51.72\00:19:54.86
in a corner and whatever,
but it could just as well be the
00:19:54.86\00:19:57.96
lady next door in the
business suit who's taking
00:19:57.96\00:20:00.36
the bus to work. NN: Exactly.
00:20:00.36\00:20:02.30
Yeah, both of them
could have depression.
00:20:02.30\00:20:04.43
I mean, antidepressants
are the number one selling
00:20:04.43\00:20:05.97
category of drugs today and
they're flying off shelves in
00:20:05.97\00:20:11.64
pharmacies.
Anyone who works at a
00:20:11.64\00:20:13.31
pharmacy sees all sorts
of people, even professional
00:20:13.31\00:20:16.64
people, people with suits and
ties that appear to have some
00:20:16.64\00:20:20.12
level of success taking
these in order to feel like they
00:20:20.12\00:20:25.12
can function. JB:
Depression even goes so
00:20:25.12\00:20:27.72
far as to wreak havoc with
a person's relationship with
00:20:27.72\00:20:29.86
God, doesn't it?
NN: Oh, absolutely.
00:20:29.86\00:20:32.29
Yeah, I mean, because of what
it does to the frontal lobe,
00:20:32.29\00:20:34.86
the area of spirituality and
morality and the will, it's a
00:20:34.86\00:20:37.37
major threat to
the spiritual part.
00:20:37.37\00:20:40.54
Now that's not saying that
you can't run into depression
00:20:40.54\00:20:42.54
if you're a spiritual person.
We know from Elijah, Elijah
00:20:42.54\00:20:49.91
was a very spiritual person
and very connected with God
00:20:49.91\00:20:53.85
and believed his Word,
but slipped into very severe
00:20:53.85\00:20:57.12
depression for good reasons.
JB: That's interesting, isn't
00:20:57.12\00:21:00.09
it. Fervent, committed, faithful
00:21:00.09\00:21:02.46
believers in Jesus can
suffer serious depression.
00:21:02.46\00:21:06.03
NN: Yes, they can. JB:
And can we say through no
00:21:06.03\00:21:09.23
fault of their own?
What I mean is they're not
00:21:09.23\00:21:11.87
bad people, they didn't
give up on God, they just fell
00:21:11.87\00:21:13.77
into some of these situations
that lead to depression.
00:21:13.77\00:21:16.47
NN: Yeah. And
they did it ignorantly,
00:21:16.47\00:21:18.91
you know. In
Elijah's situation, he
00:21:18.91\00:21:21.38
didn't realize what
he was doing to lead
00:21:21.38\00:21:24.48
himself into it. JB:
We've got other people in
00:21:24.48\00:21:27.15
the Bible, too,
suffering from depression?
00:21:27.15\00:21:28.48
NN: Yeah. Saul
suffered from depression
00:21:28.48\00:21:30.29
and Saul had definite reasons.
00:21:30.29\00:21:32.55
Unfortunately he went through
a therapeutic program but he
00:21:32.55\00:21:34.96
never took care of
the underlying distorted
00:21:34.96\00:21:38.46
thoughts. That's
another characteristic
00:21:38.46\00:21:40.36
of virtually every
depressed individual.
00:21:40.36\00:21:41.83
They have thoughts on the
surface that appear valid,
00:21:41.83\00:21:44.73
but when we actually
delve into them, they are
00:21:44.73\00:21:49.14
irrational, just plain
wrong, and twisted thinking is a
00:21:49.14\00:21:52.74
major cause of suffering.
And that was true with Saul,
00:21:52.74\00:21:55.84
it was true with
Elijah, he had twisted thinking.
00:21:55.84\00:21:58.25
It was true with Solomon.
JB: Tell me about Solomon.
00:21:58.25\00:22:01.02
NN: Well, Solomon tried
to do everything that would
00:22:01.02\00:22:04.42
experience
pleasure and make him happy.
00:22:04.42\00:22:07.12
So he tried alcohol, he tried
opium, he tried pornography,
00:22:07.12\00:22:11.63
had live pornography.
In fact, he said, anything
00:22:11.63\00:22:14.30
that anyone else was
doing where it looked like they
00:22:14.30\00:22:17.20
were having fun
he wanted to do it.
00:22:17.20\00:22:19.30
And he said, therefore he
hated life and it brought him
00:22:19.30\00:22:21.64
to despair. And
so he got into the
00:22:21.64\00:22:24.71
culture of today.
One of the reasons why we
00:22:24.71\00:22:27.44
have so much depression and
that's why he wrote the book
00:22:27.44\00:22:29.74
Ecclesiastes was to warn
young people to not go where
00:22:29.74\00:22:32.11
he went, because it's
going to lead to problems.
00:22:32.11\00:22:35.28
JB: Strange isn't it?
You mentioned this before.
00:22:35.28\00:22:37.49
So much in the world that
offers us fun and a thrill
00:22:37.49\00:22:40.86
and a good time and
distractions, and yet we're
00:22:40.86\00:22:43.63
more depressed
than we've ever been.
00:22:43.63\00:22:45.53
What? Is it true?
00:22:45.53\00:22:46.73
Are we more
depressed than we've ever been?
00:22:46.73\00:22:48.30
NN: Absolutely.
More depressed than we've
00:22:48.30\00:22:49.80
ever been. JB: God
has a way out, yes?
00:22:49.80\00:22:51.70
NN: Absolutely. JB: Okay.
00:22:51.70\00:22:53.87
Tell me a little bit
about what the Bible says God's
00:22:53.87\00:22:57.37
willing to do in a person's
life to bring him back to
00:22:57.37\00:22:59.61
where he wants him to be?
NN: Well, he is willing to
00:22:59.61\00:23:02.64
change
disappointment into appointment.
00:23:02.64\00:23:05.25
And there are
steps to get there.
00:23:05.25\00:23:07.28
JB: Okay, now ...
sorry, I'm jumping in here.
00:23:07.28\00:23:09.22
In your Depression Recovery
Seminar you use that very
00:23:09.22\00:23:11.65
phrase. NN: Absolutely.
00:23:11.65\00:23:14.26
JB: Tell me about that.
NN: From disappointment to
00:23:14.26\00:23:15.76
appointment. And
we actually study, in
00:23:15.76\00:23:17.86
order to get the frontal
lobe going, we study the book of
00:23:17.86\00:23:20.16
Daniel. Daniel's
revered by the Jews,
00:23:20.16\00:23:23.73
revered by the
Muslims, revered by Christians.
00:23:23.73\00:23:26.27
Even secular individuals.
Isaac Newton was very
00:23:26.27\00:23:29.54
interested in Daniel, and
every story, every chapter in
00:23:29.54\00:23:33.07
Daniel starts out with a
disappointment, ends with an
00:23:33.07\00:23:35.94
appointment. And
there's a spiritual key
00:23:35.94\00:23:38.28
that transforms it
from one to the other.
00:23:38.28\00:23:41.75
And that's part of the
therapeutic program that we
00:23:41.75\00:23:43.35
put people on. JB:
How important do you
00:23:43.35\00:23:45.32
think the Bible itself plays,
how important a role does it
00:23:45.32\00:23:49.59
play bringing people out of
depression into the place God
00:23:49.59\00:23:53.36
wants them to be? NN:
Well I think it plays a
00:23:53.36\00:23:56.43
very important role, because
of that spiritual nature that
00:23:56.43\00:23:59.37
we have in the
frontal lobe of the brain.
00:23:59.37\00:24:02.24
And so it plays a crucial role.
00:24:02.24\00:24:04.87
Yes, you can get rid of
depression without it, but
00:24:04.87\00:24:07.34
you can also get rid of
depression far faster and
00:24:07.34\00:24:10.55
also far more comprehensively
when we have that spiritual
00:24:10.55\00:24:13.95
part intact, because that
also gives us the ability,
00:24:13.95\00:24:17.79
the power to be able to do
things that we don't want to
00:24:17.79\00:24:22.96
do now. We may
not want to go out and
00:24:22.96\00:24:24.99
exercise. We may
not want to eat foods
00:24:24.99\00:24:27.20
that are high in omega-3.
We may not want to get the
00:24:27.20\00:24:29.66
light therapy.
Depressed people tend to not
00:24:29.66\00:24:31.73
be very motivated people.
But when that spiritual part
00:24:31.73\00:24:34.27
is there, the motivation
can come and they can start
00:24:34.27\00:24:38.21
making significant changes
in their life for the better.
00:24:38.21\00:24:42.61
JB: Now, we talked about
some of the things that cause
00:24:42.61\00:24:45.08
depression and we talked
about some of those danger
00:24:45.08\00:24:48.92
areas that you
identified several of them.
00:24:48.92\00:24:52.49
What should a person do who
feels that he or she might be
00:24:52.49\00:24:55.09
dealing with depression?
NN: Well I would recommend
00:24:55.09\00:24:57.66
that they maybe go to
our website, take the test.
00:24:57.66\00:25:00.56
We have a little test online
that can tell them if they
00:25:00.56\00:25:03.06
have depression, anxiety,
and it can also tell them which
00:25:03.06\00:25:06.47
one of those 10 categories
of hits or multiple hits are
00:25:06.47\00:25:09.34
active in them, and then
get the resources and get on the
00:25:09.34\00:25:13.34
program that will reverse
it. JB:Dr. Nedley, thanks for
00:25:13.34\00:25:17.08
joining me today.
NN: Oh, it's been great.
00:25:17.08\00:25:18.75
JB: Friends, thank
you for joining me, too.
00:25:18.75\00:25:20.85
Depression is a serious,
serious issue and it's so
00:25:20.85\00:25:23.22
serious that it can even
get in between a person and God.
00:25:23.22\00:25:27.82
I don't want that going on
in your life and if you know
00:25:27.82\00:25:30.69
somebody else who is at risk
for that, then now you've got
00:25:30.69\00:25:33.66
tools to help that person
get to the place that God wants
00:25:33.66\00:25:36.36
them to be, depression
free and healthy and thriving in
00:25:36.36\00:25:40.14
the Lord. Dr. Nedley, let's pray
00:25:40.14\00:25:42.34
together and pray for
the many people, not only
00:25:42.34\00:25:44.97
suffering depression, but
who are able to go and be agents
00:25:44.97\00:25:48.28
of change in the
lives of other people.
00:25:48.28\00:25:50.05
Let's pray. Our
Father in heaven, I thank
00:25:50.05\00:25:53.25
you that in your presence
there is fullness of joy.
00:25:53.25\00:25:56.79
But owing to a variety of
factors there are many people
00:25:56.79\00:26:00.22
who are not there and
depression is holding them
00:26:00.22\00:26:03.26
down. Dear Lord, I pray that you
00:26:03.26\00:26:05.56
would break those
bonds and set people free.
00:26:05.56\00:26:10.03
Free to find joy and
hope and wholeness in Jesus.
00:26:10.03\00:26:14.44
We pray in Jesus'
name, Amen. NN: Amen.
00:26:14.44\00:26:19.81
Our free offer for you
this week is a DVD produced by
00:26:24.55\00:26:28.52
Dr. Nedley on the
topic of depression.
00:26:28.52\00:26:31.15
If you or someone you love
is struggling with depression
00:26:31.15\00:26:34.82
I encourage you to call us
today and order this free DVD.
00:26:34.82\00:26:39.03
Now please note that this
offer is limited to the supply
00:26:39.03\00:26:42.00
on hand. Our toll-free number is
00:26:42.00\00:26:44.67
1-800-253-3000. Ask for the
00:26:44.67\00:26:48.70
"free depression DVD".
Or write to It Is Written
00:26:48.70\00:26:53.27
PO Box 6,
Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37401
00:26:53.27\00:26:57.58
and we'll mail mail a copy to
your address in North America.
00:26:57.58\00:27:00.92
It Is Written is a faith-based
ministry and your support makes
00:27:00.92\00:27:04.49
it possible for us to share
God's Good News with the world.
00:27:04.49\00:27:08.26
Your tax-deductible gift can
be sent to the address on the
00:27:08.26\00:27:11.09
screen. Or
through our website at
00:27:11.09\00:27:13.36
ItIsWritten.com.
Thank you for your continued
00:27:13.36\00:27:16.10
prayerful support.
Again, our toll-free number is
00:27:16.10\00:27:19.37
800-253-3000, ask for
the "free depression DVD".
00:27:19.37\00:27:25.74
And our web
address is: itiswritten.com
00:27:25.74\00:27:30.05
David wrote that in God's
presence there is fullness
00:27:31.35\00:27:34.72
of joy and there is
no question God wants you
00:27:34.72\00:27:38.02
and me to
experience his joy today.
00:27:38.02\00:27:41.59
Thanks for joining me today.
Please do join me next time for
00:27:41.59\00:27:45.13
part 2 of my discussion with
Dr. Nedley on this important
00:27:45.13\00:27:48.90
subject of depression.
Until then, please remember,
00:27:48.90\00:27:53.84
It is written: "Man
shall not live by bread
00:27:53.84\00:27:56.94
alone but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God."
00:27:56.94\00:28:02.54
[sweeping orchestra music]
00:28:04.35\00:28:14.32