The Dangers of Despondency and How to Avoid Them

The Shepherd and the Shrink Podcast

Despondency is hard to identify, but it’s everywhere. Between the values pushed in our society and the pressures caused by things like Covid 19, it’s not easy to find joy, even if you have faith.

Today, we talk about how to combat despondency. We define it, noting that we can think of it as the reverse of joy. We talk about how it manifests and impacts the different parts of our lives. We explain the problem with self-centeredness, noting that it combats love--even when disguised with terms such as “self-love”. We share David Seamands’ 6-step Biblical approach to defeating despondency, noting the power of forgiveness. We talk about how to get to the root of a perceived problem with the help of the Holy Spirit, and we note the power of playing.

“Our society’s response to all of these problems is to look within yourself. ‘Just follow your heart,’ which means you’re completely staring at yourself. You’re constantly are taking your own pulse of, ‘How do I feel about this? How do I feel about that? What’s my identity in this? What’s my identity in that? How do I relate to this?’ And it’s all me, me, my, my, mine, mine. And we get sick of ourselves. And if we don’t know that there’s something greater out there for us to be a part of, we completely miss out.”

- Dr. Matt Hook

This week on Shepherd & the Shrink:

● Defining and defeating despondency

● The impact of despondency

● The 6-step Biblical approach to defeating despondency

● The importance of facing your responsibility

● Why not everyone wants to be healed

● Facing fears and the power of forgiveness

● Why God is proud of you when you’re working to defeat despondency

● The importance of playing

Resources mentioned

● Healing for Damaged Emotions by David Seamands

● Healing for Damaged Emotions - Workbook

● The Shepherd and the Shrink - Episode 32: World Methodist Evangelism with Kim Reisman

● Overcome Anxiety and Defeat Your Loneliness

● Shepherd and the Shrink Patreon

Bringing Mental Health and Spirituality Together

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Shepherd & the Shrink Podcast with your hosts Dr. Matt Hook and Dr. Martin Fletcher, the show where theology meets psychology. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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