Why Does God Permit Suffering?
"WHY GOD WHY?" That large headline appeared on the front page of a widely circulated newspaper after a devastating earthquake in Asia Minor. An accompanying picture showed a distraught father carrying his injured daughter out of their collapsed home.
Wars, famines, epidemics, and natural disasters have caused immeasurable pain, innumerable tears, and countless deaths. Add to this the suffering of victims of rape, child abuse, and other crimes. Consider the huge number of injuries and deaths resulting from accidents. And there is the anguish experienced by billions of people because of sickness, old age, and the death of loved ones.
The 20th century saw the worst suffering ever. From 1914 to 1918, World War I killed nearly ten million soldiers. Some historians say that it brought death to just as many civilians. In World War II, about 50 million combatants and civilians were killed, including millions of defenseless women, children, and elderly men. Throughout the last century, millions more were the victims of genocide, revolution, ethnic violence, hunger, and poverty. The Historical Atlas of the Twentieth Century estimates that over 180 million people died because of such "mass unpleasantness."
The Spanish influenza of 1918/19 killed 20 million people. In the last two decades, about 19 million died from AIDS, and some 35 million now have the virus that causes it. Millions of children are left without parents—they died from AIDS. And untold numbers of babies are dying from AIDS, passed on to them when they were still in the womb.
More suffering is being inflicted on children in other ways. Citing information provided by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), at the end of 1995, England's Manchester Guardian Weekly stated: "In the wars of the past decade, 2 million children have been killed, 4-5 million disabled, 12 million made homeless, more than 1 million orphaned or separated from their parents and 10 million psychologically traumatised." Add to this an estimated 40 to 50 million abortions worldwide—every year!
What of the Future?
Many view the future with foreboding. A group of scientists stated: "Human activities . . . may so alter the living world that it will be unable to sustain life in the manner that we know." They added: "Even at this moment, one person in five lives in absolute poverty without enough to eat, and one in ten suffers serious malnutrition." The scientists took the occasion to "warn all humanity of what lies ahead" and said: "A great change in our stewardship of the earth and the life on it is required, if vast human misery is to be avoided and our global home on this planet is not to be irretrievably mutilated."
Why has God allowed so much suffering and wickedness? How does he purpose to remedy the situation? When?
Appeared in The Watchtower May 15, 2001
Copyright © 2006 Watch Tower Bible and
Friday, May 1, 2009
COMFORT for Those Who Suffer
OVER the centuries, the question of why God allows suffering has challenged many philosophers and theologians. Some have asserted that since God is all-powerful, he must ultimately be responsible for suffering. The writer of The Clementine Homilies, an apocryphal second-century work, claimed that God rules the world with both hands. With his "left hand," the Devil, he causes suffering and affliction, and with his "right hand," Jesus, he saves and blesses.
Others, unable to accept that God could permit suffering even if he does not cause it, have chosen to deny that suffering exists. "Evil is but an illusion, and it has no real basis," wrote Mary Baker Eddy. "If sin, sickness, and death were understood as nothingness, they would disappear."—Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures.
In the wake of the tragic events of history, especially from the first world war until our day, many have reached the conclusion that God is simply unable to prevent suffering. "The Holocaust has, I think, dismissed any easy use of omnipotence as an attribute appropriate to God," wrote Jewish scholar David Wolf Silverman. "If God is to be intelligible in some manner," he added, "then His goodness must be compatible with the existence of evil, and this is only if He is not all-powerful."
However, claims that God is somehow an accomplice to suffering, that he is unable to prevent it, or that suffering is a mere figment of our imagination offer scant comfort to those who suffer. And more important, such beliefs are utterly at odds with the just, dynamic, and caring God who is revealed in the pages of the Bible. (Job 34:10, 12; Jeremiah 32:17; 1 John 4:8) What, then, does the Bible say about the reason why suffering has been permitted?
How Did Suffering Begin?
God did not create humans to suffer. On the contrary, he endowed the first human couple, Adam and Eve, with perfect minds and bodies, prepared a delightful garden to serve as their home, and assigned them meaningful, satisfying work. (Genesis 1:27, 28, 31; 2:8) However, their continued happiness depended on their recognizing God's rulership and his right to decide what was good and what was bad. That divine prerogative was represented by a tree called "the tree of the knowledge of good and bad." (Genesis 2:17) Adam and Eve would demonstrate their subjection to God if they obeyed his command not to eat from that tree. *
Tragically, Adam and Eve failed to obey God. A rebellious spirit creature, later identified as Satan the Devil, convinced Eve that it was not in her best interests to obey God. In fact, God was supposedly depriving her of something highly desirable: independence, the right to choose for herself what was good and what was bad. Satan claimed that if she ate of the tree, 'her eyes were bound to be opened and she was bound to be like God, knowing good and bad.' (Genesis 3:1-6; Revelation 12:9) Seduced by the prospect of independence, Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, and Adam soon did the same.
Adam and Eve rejected divine rulership
That same day, Adam and Eve began to experience the results of their rebellion. By rejecting divine rulership, they lost out on the protection and blessings that subjection to God had afforded them. God evicted them from Paradise and told Adam: "Cursed is the ground on your account. In pain you will eat its produce all the days of your life. In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground." (Genesis 3:17, 19) Adam and Eve became subject to sickness, pain, aging, and death. Suffering had become a part of human experience.—Genesis 5:29.
Settling the Issue
Someone may ask, 'Could God not have simply overlooked Adam and Eve's sin?' No, because that would have further undermined respect for his authority, perhaps encouraging future rebellions and resulting in even greater suffering. (Ecclesiastes 8:11) In addition, condoning such disobedience would have made God a party to wrongdoing. The Bible writer Moses reminds us: "God's works are perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness, with whom there is no injustice; righteous and upright is he." (Deuteronomy 32:4, footnote) To be true to himself, God had to allow Adam and Eve to suffer the consequences of their disobedience.
Why did God not immediately destroy the first human couple along with Satan, the invisible instigator of their rebellion? He had the power to do so. Adam and Eve would not have produced offspring subject to a legacy of suffering and death. However, such a demonstration of divine power would not have proved the rightfulness of God's authority over his intelligent creatures. Furthermore, had Adam and Eve died childless, that would have signaled the failure of God's purpose to fill the earth with their perfect descendants. (Genesis 1:28) And "God is not like men . . . Whatever he promises, he does; he speaks, and it is done."—Numbers 23:19, Today's English Version.
In his perfect wisdom, Jehovah God decided to allow the rebellion to proceed for a limited time. The rebels would have ample opportunity to experience the effects of independence from God. History would demonstrate beyond doubt mankind's need for divine guidance and the superiority of God's rule over man's or Satan's. At the same time, God took steps to ensure that his original purpose for the earth would be fulfilled. He promised that a "seed," or "offspring," would come who would 'bruise Satan in the head,' eliminating once and for all his rebellion and its damaging effects.—Genesis 3:15, footnote.
Jesus Christ was that promised Seed. At 1 John 3:8, we read that "the Son of God was made manifest . . . to break up the works of the Devil." This he did by laying down his perfect human life and paying the ransom price to redeem Adam's children from inherited sin and death. (John 1:29; 1 Timothy 2:5, 6) Those who truly exercise faith in Jesus' sacrifice are promised permanent relief from suffering. (John 3:16; Revelation 7:17) When will this happen?
An End to Suffering
The rejection of God's authority has caused untold suffering. It is fitting, then, that God should use a special expression of his authority to end human suffering and accomplish his original purpose for the earth. Jesus mentioned this divine provision when he taught his followers to pray: "Our Father in the heavens, . . . let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth."—Matthew 6:9, 10.
The time that God has allowed for humans to experiment with self-government is about to end. In fulfillment of Bible prophecy, his Kingdom was established in the heavens in 1914 with Jesus Christ as its King. # Shortly, it will crush and put an end to all human governments.—Daniel 2:44.
During his brief earthly ministry, Jesus provided a foregleam of the blessings that the restoration of divine rule will bring to humanity. The Gospels provide evidence that Jesus showed compassion for members of human society who were poor and discriminated against. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and resurrected the dead. Even the forces of nature obeyed his voice. (Matthew 11:5; Mark 4:37-39; Luke 9:11-16) Imagine what Jesus will accomplish when he uses the cleansing effect of his ransom sacrifice to benefit all obedient mankind! The Bible promises that by means of Christ's rule, God "will wipe out every tear from [mankind's] eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore."—Revelation 21:4.
Comfort for Those Who Suffer
How heartening it is to know that our loving and all-powerful God, Jehovah, cares for us and that he will shortly bring relief to mankind! Usually, a seriously sick patient willingly accepts treatment that will cure him even if it is very painful. In the same way, if we know that God's way of handling matters will bring eternal blessings, that knowledge can sustain us no matter what temporary difficulties we face.
Ricardo, mentioned in the preceding article, is one who has learned to draw comfort from the Bible's promises. "After my wife's death, I felt a strong desire to isolate myself," he recalls, "but I soon realized that this would not bring my wife back and would only worsen my emotional state." Instead, Ricardo stuck to his routine of attending Christian meetings and sharing the Bible's message with others. "As I felt Jehovah's loving support and noticed how he answered my prayers in seemingly small matters, I drew closer to him," says Ricardo. "It was this awareness of God's love that enabled me to endure what certainly was the worst trial I had ever faced." He admits: "I still miss my wife very much, but I now firmly believe that nothing Jehovah allows to happen can cause us lasting harm."
God promisesa world freeof suffering
Do you, like Ricardo and millions of others, yearn for the time when mankind's present sufferings "will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart"? (Isaiah 65:17) Be assured that the blessings of God's Kingdom are within your grasp if you follow the Bible's advice: "Search for Jehovah . . . while he may be found. Call to him while he proves to be near."—Isaiah 55:6.
To help you do this, make the reading and careful study of God's Word a priority in your life. Get to know God and the one whom he sent forth, Jesus Christ. Strive to live in harmony with God's standards and thus show that you are willing to submit to his sovereignty. Such a course will bring you greater happiness now despite the tests that you may have to face. And in the future, it will result in your enjoying life in a world free of suffering.—John 17:3.
* In its footnote to Genesis 2:17, The Jerusalem Bible explains "the knowledge of good and evil" as "the power of deciding . . . what is good and what is evil and of acting accordingly, a claim to complete moral independence by which man refuses to recognise his status as a created being." It adds: "The first sin was an attack on God's sovereignty."
# For a detailed discussion of Bible prophecy relating to 1914, see chapters 10 and 11 of the book Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life, published by Jehovah's Witnesses.
HOW CAN WE COPE WITH SUFFERING?
"Throw all your anxiety upon [God]." (1 Peter 5:7) Feelings of confusion, anger, and abandonment are only natural when we endure suffering or see someone we love suffer. Still, be assured that Jehovah understands our feelings. (Exodus 3:7; Isaiah 63:9) Like faithful men of old, we can open our heart to him and express our doubts and anxieties. (Exodus 5:22; Job 10:1-3; Jeremiah 14:19; Habakkuk 1:13) He may not miraculously remove our trials, but in response to our heartfelt prayers, he can grant us the wisdom and strength to deal with them.—James 1:5, 6.
"Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." (1 Peter 4:12, New International Version) Here Peter is speaking of persecution, but his words apply equally well to any suffering a believer may endure. Humans suffer privation, sickness, and loss. The Bible says that "time and unforeseen occurrence" befall everyone. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Such things are part of the human condition at present. Realizing this will help us to deal with suffering and misfortune when it occurs. (1 Peter 5:9) Most of all, recalling the assurance that "the eyes of Jehovah are toward the righteous ones, and his ears are toward their cry for help" will especially be a source of comfort.—Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:3; 1 Peter 3:12.
"Rejoice in the hope." (Romans 12:12) Instead of dwelling on lost happiness, we can meditate on God's promise to end all suffering. (Ecclesiastes 7:10) This well-founded hope will protect us as a helmet protects the head. Hope cushions the blows in life and helps to ensure that they do not prove fatal to our mental, emotional, or spiritual health.—1 Thessalonians 5:8.
Appeared in The Watchtower January 1, 2003
OVER the centuries, the question of why God allows suffering has challenged many philosophers and theologians. Some have asserted that since God is all-powerful, he must ultimately be responsible for suffering. The writer of The Clementine Homilies, an apocryphal second-century work, claimed that God rules the world with both hands. With his "left hand," the Devil, he causes suffering and affliction, and with his "right hand," Jesus, he saves and blesses.
Others, unable to accept that God could permit suffering even if he does not cause it, have chosen to deny that suffering exists. "Evil is but an illusion, and it has no real basis," wrote Mary Baker Eddy. "If sin, sickness, and death were understood as nothingness, they would disappear."—Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures.
In the wake of the tragic events of history, especially from the first world war until our day, many have reached the conclusion that God is simply unable to prevent suffering. "The Holocaust has, I think, dismissed any easy use of omnipotence as an attribute appropriate to God," wrote Jewish scholar David Wolf Silverman. "If God is to be intelligible in some manner," he added, "then His goodness must be compatible with the existence of evil, and this is only if He is not all-powerful."
However, claims that God is somehow an accomplice to suffering, that he is unable to prevent it, or that suffering is a mere figment of our imagination offer scant comfort to those who suffer. And more important, such beliefs are utterly at odds with the just, dynamic, and caring God who is revealed in the pages of the Bible. (Job 34:10, 12; Jeremiah 32:17; 1 John 4:8) What, then, does the Bible say about the reason why suffering has been permitted?
How Did Suffering Begin?
God did not create humans to suffer. On the contrary, he endowed the first human couple, Adam and Eve, with perfect minds and bodies, prepared a delightful garden to serve as their home, and assigned them meaningful, satisfying work. (Genesis 1:27, 28, 31; 2:8) However, their continued happiness depended on their recognizing God's rulership and his right to decide what was good and what was bad. That divine prerogative was represented by a tree called "the tree of the knowledge of good and bad." (Genesis 2:17) Adam and Eve would demonstrate their subjection to God if they obeyed his command not to eat from that tree. *
Tragically, Adam and Eve failed to obey God. A rebellious spirit creature, later identified as Satan the Devil, convinced Eve that it was not in her best interests to obey God. In fact, God was supposedly depriving her of something highly desirable: independence, the right to choose for herself what was good and what was bad. Satan claimed that if she ate of the tree, 'her eyes were bound to be opened and she was bound to be like God, knowing good and bad.' (Genesis 3:1-6; Revelation 12:9) Seduced by the prospect of independence, Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, and Adam soon did the same.
Adam and Eve rejected divine rulership
That same day, Adam and Eve began to experience the results of their rebellion. By rejecting divine rulership, they lost out on the protection and blessings that subjection to God had afforded them. God evicted them from Paradise and told Adam: "Cursed is the ground on your account. In pain you will eat its produce all the days of your life. In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground." (Genesis 3:17, 19) Adam and Eve became subject to sickness, pain, aging, and death. Suffering had become a part of human experience.—Genesis 5:29.
Settling the Issue
Someone may ask, 'Could God not have simply overlooked Adam and Eve's sin?' No, because that would have further undermined respect for his authority, perhaps encouraging future rebellions and resulting in even greater suffering. (Ecclesiastes 8:11) In addition, condoning such disobedience would have made God a party to wrongdoing. The Bible writer Moses reminds us: "God's works are perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness, with whom there is no injustice; righteous and upright is he." (Deuteronomy 32:4, footnote) To be true to himself, God had to allow Adam and Eve to suffer the consequences of their disobedience.
Why did God not immediately destroy the first human couple along with Satan, the invisible instigator of their rebellion? He had the power to do so. Adam and Eve would not have produced offspring subject to a legacy of suffering and death. However, such a demonstration of divine power would not have proved the rightfulness of God's authority over his intelligent creatures. Furthermore, had Adam and Eve died childless, that would have signaled the failure of God's purpose to fill the earth with their perfect descendants. (Genesis 1:28) And "God is not like men . . . Whatever he promises, he does; he speaks, and it is done."—Numbers 23:19, Today's English Version.
In his perfect wisdom, Jehovah God decided to allow the rebellion to proceed for a limited time. The rebels would have ample opportunity to experience the effects of independence from God. History would demonstrate beyond doubt mankind's need for divine guidance and the superiority of God's rule over man's or Satan's. At the same time, God took steps to ensure that his original purpose for the earth would be fulfilled. He promised that a "seed," or "offspring," would come who would 'bruise Satan in the head,' eliminating once and for all his rebellion and its damaging effects.—Genesis 3:15, footnote.
Jesus Christ was that promised Seed. At 1 John 3:8, we read that "the Son of God was made manifest . . . to break up the works of the Devil." This he did by laying down his perfect human life and paying the ransom price to redeem Adam's children from inherited sin and death. (John 1:29; 1 Timothy 2:5, 6) Those who truly exercise faith in Jesus' sacrifice are promised permanent relief from suffering. (John 3:16; Revelation 7:17) When will this happen?
An End to Suffering
The rejection of God's authority has caused untold suffering. It is fitting, then, that God should use a special expression of his authority to end human suffering and accomplish his original purpose for the earth. Jesus mentioned this divine provision when he taught his followers to pray: "Our Father in the heavens, . . . let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth."—Matthew 6:9, 10.
The time that God has allowed for humans to experiment with self-government is about to end. In fulfillment of Bible prophecy, his Kingdom was established in the heavens in 1914 with Jesus Christ as its King. # Shortly, it will crush and put an end to all human governments.—Daniel 2:44.
During his brief earthly ministry, Jesus provided a foregleam of the blessings that the restoration of divine rule will bring to humanity. The Gospels provide evidence that Jesus showed compassion for members of human society who were poor and discriminated against. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and resurrected the dead. Even the forces of nature obeyed his voice. (Matthew 11:5; Mark 4:37-39; Luke 9:11-16) Imagine what Jesus will accomplish when he uses the cleansing effect of his ransom sacrifice to benefit all obedient mankind! The Bible promises that by means of Christ's rule, God "will wipe out every tear from [mankind's] eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore."—Revelation 21:4.
Comfort for Those Who Suffer
How heartening it is to know that our loving and all-powerful God, Jehovah, cares for us and that he will shortly bring relief to mankind! Usually, a seriously sick patient willingly accepts treatment that will cure him even if it is very painful. In the same way, if we know that God's way of handling matters will bring eternal blessings, that knowledge can sustain us no matter what temporary difficulties we face.
Ricardo, mentioned in the preceding article, is one who has learned to draw comfort from the Bible's promises. "After my wife's death, I felt a strong desire to isolate myself," he recalls, "but I soon realized that this would not bring my wife back and would only worsen my emotional state." Instead, Ricardo stuck to his routine of attending Christian meetings and sharing the Bible's message with others. "As I felt Jehovah's loving support and noticed how he answered my prayers in seemingly small matters, I drew closer to him," says Ricardo. "It was this awareness of God's love that enabled me to endure what certainly was the worst trial I had ever faced." He admits: "I still miss my wife very much, but I now firmly believe that nothing Jehovah allows to happen can cause us lasting harm."
God promisesa world freeof suffering
Do you, like Ricardo and millions of others, yearn for the time when mankind's present sufferings "will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart"? (Isaiah 65:17) Be assured that the blessings of God's Kingdom are within your grasp if you follow the Bible's advice: "Search for Jehovah . . . while he may be found. Call to him while he proves to be near."—Isaiah 55:6.
To help you do this, make the reading and careful study of God's Word a priority in your life. Get to know God and the one whom he sent forth, Jesus Christ. Strive to live in harmony with God's standards and thus show that you are willing to submit to his sovereignty. Such a course will bring you greater happiness now despite the tests that you may have to face. And in the future, it will result in your enjoying life in a world free of suffering.—John 17:3.
* In its footnote to Genesis 2:17, The Jerusalem Bible explains "the knowledge of good and evil" as "the power of deciding . . . what is good and what is evil and of acting accordingly, a claim to complete moral independence by which man refuses to recognise his status as a created being." It adds: "The first sin was an attack on God's sovereignty."
# For a detailed discussion of Bible prophecy relating to 1914, see chapters 10 and 11 of the book Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life, published by Jehovah's Witnesses.
HOW CAN WE COPE WITH SUFFERING?
"Throw all your anxiety upon [God]." (1 Peter 5:7) Feelings of confusion, anger, and abandonment are only natural when we endure suffering or see someone we love suffer. Still, be assured that Jehovah understands our feelings. (Exodus 3:7; Isaiah 63:9) Like faithful men of old, we can open our heart to him and express our doubts and anxieties. (Exodus 5:22; Job 10:1-3; Jeremiah 14:19; Habakkuk 1:13) He may not miraculously remove our trials, but in response to our heartfelt prayers, he can grant us the wisdom and strength to deal with them.—James 1:5, 6.
"Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." (1 Peter 4:12, New International Version) Here Peter is speaking of persecution, but his words apply equally well to any suffering a believer may endure. Humans suffer privation, sickness, and loss. The Bible says that "time and unforeseen occurrence" befall everyone. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Such things are part of the human condition at present. Realizing this will help us to deal with suffering and misfortune when it occurs. (1 Peter 5:9) Most of all, recalling the assurance that "the eyes of Jehovah are toward the righteous ones, and his ears are toward their cry for help" will especially be a source of comfort.—Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:3; 1 Peter 3:12.
"Rejoice in the hope." (Romans 12:12) Instead of dwelling on lost happiness, we can meditate on God's promise to end all suffering. (Ecclesiastes 7:10) This well-founded hope will protect us as a helmet protects the head. Hope cushions the blows in life and helps to ensure that they do not prove fatal to our mental, emotional, or spiritual health.—1 Thessalonians 5:8.
Appeared in The Watchtower January 1, 2003
Why?
'GOD, Why DidYou Allow This?'
RICARDO still remembers sitting with his wife, Maria, in the doctor's waiting room. * Neither of them had the courage to read the results of Maria's latest medical examinations. Then, Ricardo opened the envelope, and they hastily glanced over the medical language of the report. They spotted the word "cancer," and both began to cry as they realized the full import of that word.
"The doctor was very kind," recalls Ricardo, "but he obviously realized the gravity of the situation because he kept telling us that we had to trust in God."
The doctor kept telling us that we had totrust in God
Before radiation treatment had begun, Maria's doctor noticed involuntary movements in her right foot. Further tests revealed that the cancer had spread to her brain. After just one week of treatment, the radiation was suspended. Maria slipped into a coma and died two months later. "I was glad that her suffering had ended," explains Ricardo, "but I missed her so much that I found myself wishing that my life would come to an end too. Often, I would cry out to God: 'Why did you allow this to happen?'"
When Tragedy Strikes, Questions Abound
Like Ricardo, countless people throughout the world are forced to face up to the reality of suffering. Many times, it is the innocent who suffer. Think of the heartrending grief caused by the relentless armed conflicts that plague mankind. Or consider the pain felt by the numerous victims of rape, child abuse, domestic violence, and other evils committed by man. Throughout history there seems to have been no limit to the injustice and pain that men and women have been willing to inflict on one another. (Ecclesiastes 4:1-3) Then there is the anguish of victims of natural disasters or of emotional, mental, and physical illnesses. It is little wonder that many ask, "Why does God allow such suffering?"
Even for those with religious convictions, suffering is never easy to deal with. You too may wonder what reason a loving, all-powerful God could possibly have for permitting human suffering. Finding a satisfying and truthful answer to this puzzling question is vital for our peace of mind and our relationship with God. The Bible provides such an answer. Please consider what it has to say as presented in the following article.
* Names have been changed.
Appeared in The Watchtower January 1, 2003
Copyright © 2008 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved.
'GOD, Why DidYou Allow This?'
RICARDO still remembers sitting with his wife, Maria, in the doctor's waiting room. * Neither of them had the courage to read the results of Maria's latest medical examinations. Then, Ricardo opened the envelope, and they hastily glanced over the medical language of the report. They spotted the word "cancer," and both began to cry as they realized the full import of that word.
"The doctor was very kind," recalls Ricardo, "but he obviously realized the gravity of the situation because he kept telling us that we had to trust in God."
The doctor kept telling us that we had totrust in God
Before radiation treatment had begun, Maria's doctor noticed involuntary movements in her right foot. Further tests revealed that the cancer had spread to her brain. After just one week of treatment, the radiation was suspended. Maria slipped into a coma and died two months later. "I was glad that her suffering had ended," explains Ricardo, "but I missed her so much that I found myself wishing that my life would come to an end too. Often, I would cry out to God: 'Why did you allow this to happen?'"
When Tragedy Strikes, Questions Abound
Like Ricardo, countless people throughout the world are forced to face up to the reality of suffering. Many times, it is the innocent who suffer. Think of the heartrending grief caused by the relentless armed conflicts that plague mankind. Or consider the pain felt by the numerous victims of rape, child abuse, domestic violence, and other evils committed by man. Throughout history there seems to have been no limit to the injustice and pain that men and women have been willing to inflict on one another. (Ecclesiastes 4:1-3) Then there is the anguish of victims of natural disasters or of emotional, mental, and physical illnesses. It is little wonder that many ask, "Why does God allow such suffering?"
Even for those with religious convictions, suffering is never easy to deal with. You too may wonder what reason a loving, all-powerful God could possibly have for permitting human suffering. Finding a satisfying and truthful answer to this puzzling question is vital for our peace of mind and our relationship with God. The Bible provides such an answer. Please consider what it has to say as presented in the following article.
* Names have been changed.
Appeared in The Watchtower January 1, 2003
Copyright © 2008 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved.
UNDERSTANDINGMOOD DISORDERS
TORMENTEDMINDS
NICOLE has had bouts of dark moods since she was 14 years old. At age 16, however, she began to experience something new—a curious state of euphoria and unusually high energy. Racing thoughts, fragmented speech, and a lack of sleep were accompanied by an unfounded suspicion that her friends were taking advantage of her. Next, Nicole claimed that she could change the color of objects at will. At this point Nicole's mother realized that medical help was needed, so she took Nicole to the hospital. After closely monitoring Nicole's shifting moods, doctors finally reached a diagnosis: Nicole was suffering from bipolar disorder.*
Like Nicole, millions of people worldwide are afflicted with a mood disorder—either bipolar disorder or some form of clinical depression. The effects of these ailments can be devastating. "For many years I was in pain," says a bipolar patient named Steven. "I experienced terrible lows and then euphoric highs. Therapy and medication helped, but it was still a struggle."
What causes mood disorders? What is it like to be afflicted with depression or bipolar disorder? How can sufferers—and their caregivers—be provided with the support that they need?
* Also called manic-depressive disorder. Please note that some of these symptoms could indicate schizophrenia, drug abuse, or even normal adolescent adjustment. A diagnosis should be reached only after a thorough examination by a qualified professional.
Appeared in Awake! January 8, 2004
TORMENTEDMINDS
NICOLE has had bouts of dark moods since she was 14 years old. At age 16, however, she began to experience something new—a curious state of euphoria and unusually high energy. Racing thoughts, fragmented speech, and a lack of sleep were accompanied by an unfounded suspicion that her friends were taking advantage of her. Next, Nicole claimed that she could change the color of objects at will. At this point Nicole's mother realized that medical help was needed, so she took Nicole to the hospital. After closely monitoring Nicole's shifting moods, doctors finally reached a diagnosis: Nicole was suffering from bipolar disorder.*
Like Nicole, millions of people worldwide are afflicted with a mood disorder—either bipolar disorder or some form of clinical depression. The effects of these ailments can be devastating. "For many years I was in pain," says a bipolar patient named Steven. "I experienced terrible lows and then euphoric highs. Therapy and medication helped, but it was still a struggle."
What causes mood disorders? What is it like to be afflicted with depression or bipolar disorder? How can sufferers—and their caregivers—be provided with the support that they need?
* Also called manic-depressive disorder. Please note that some of these symptoms could indicate schizophrenia, drug abuse, or even normal adolescent adjustment. A diagnosis should be reached only after a thorough examination by a qualified professional.
Appeared in Awake! January 8, 2004
Can you Help someone who is Suicidal?
Life Is Worth Living
How Can You HelpSomeone Who Seems Suicidal?
What should you do if someone confides in you that he wants to commit suicide? "Be a good listener," advises the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Let him express how he feels. In many cases, though, a suicidal person is withdrawn and not communicative. Acknowledge the reality of the pain or hopelessness that he is undergoing. If you gently mention some particular changes that you have noticed in his behavior, you may move him to open up and confide in you.
While listening, show empathy. "It is important to stress that the person's life is important to you and to others," says the CDC. Let him know how his death would devastate you as well as others. Help the person to see that his Creator cares about him.—1 Peter 5:7.
Experts also recommend removing anything that the person might use to commit suicide—firearms in particular. If the situation seems serious, you may want to encourage the person to seek medical attention. In extreme cases you may have little choice but to summon some kind of emergency medical service yourself.
Return to You Can Find Help
Appeared in Awake! October 22, 2001
Copyright © 2009 Watch Tower Bible and
How Can You HelpSomeone Who Seems Suicidal?
What should you do if someone confides in you that he wants to commit suicide? "Be a good listener," advises the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Let him express how he feels. In many cases, though, a suicidal person is withdrawn and not communicative. Acknowledge the reality of the pain or hopelessness that he is undergoing. If you gently mention some particular changes that you have noticed in his behavior, you may move him to open up and confide in you.
While listening, show empathy. "It is important to stress that the person's life is important to you and to others," says the CDC. Let him know how his death would devastate you as well as others. Help the person to see that his Creator cares about him.—1 Peter 5:7.
Experts also recommend removing anything that the person might use to commit suicide—firearms in particular. If the situation seems serious, you may want to encourage the person to seek medical attention. In extreme cases you may have little choice but to summon some kind of emergency medical service yourself.
Return to You Can Find Help
Appeared in Awake! October 22, 2001
Copyright © 2009 Watch Tower Bible and
Why People Give up on Life
Why People Give Up on Life
"Each way to suicide is its own: intensely private, unknowable, and terrible. Kay Redfield Jamison. Psychiatrist
"IT IS suffering to live." That is what Ryunosuke Akutagawa, a popular writer in early 20th-century Japan, wrote shortly before committing suicide. However, he prefaced that statement with the words: "Of course, I do not want to die, but . . ."
Like Akutagawa, many of those who take their life do not want to die as much as they want "to end whatever is going on," stated one psychology professor. The wording so commonly found in suicide notes suggests as much. Such phrases as 'I could not take it any longer' or 'Why go on living?' show a deep desire to escape life's harsh realities. But as one expert described it, committing suicide is "like treating a cold with a nuclear bomb."
Although the reasons why people commit suicide vary, certain events in life commonly trigger suicide.
Triggering Events
For adults, financial or work-related problems are common triggering eventsIt is not uncommon for young ones who give in to despair and commit suicide to do so even over matters that may seem trivial to others. When they feel hurt and cannot do anything about it, youths may view their own death as a means of getting back at those who have hurt them. Hiroshi Inamura, a specialist in handling suicidal people in Japan, wrote: "Through their own death, children cherish an inner urge to punish the person who has tormented them."
A recent survey in Britain indicated that when children are subjected to severe bullying, they are nearly seven times as likely to attempt suicide. The emotional pain that these children suffer is real. A 13-year-old boy who hanged himself left behind a note naming five people who had tormented him and had even extorted money from him. "Please save other children," he wrote.
Others may try to take their life when they get into trouble at school or with the law, suffer the end of a romance, get a bad report card, experience stress over exams, or become weighed down by worries about the future. Among high-achieving adolescents who may tend to be perfectionists, a setback or a failure—be it actual or imaginary—may bring on a suicide attempt.
For adults, financial or work-related problems are common triggering events. In Japan after years of economic downturn, suicides recently topped 30,000 a year. According to the Mainichi Daily News, almost three quarters of the middle-aged men who killed themselves did so "because of problems stemming from debts, business failures, poverty and unemployment." Family problems too may lead to suicide. A Finnish newspaper reported: "Recently divorced middle-aged men" make up one of the high-risk groups. A study in Hungary found that the majority of girls who contemplate suicide were reared in broken homes.
Retirement and physical illness are also major triggering factors, especially among the elderly. Often suicide is chosen as a way out, not necessarily when an illness is terminal, but when the patient views the suffering as intolerable.
However, not everybody reacts to these triggering events by committing suicide. On the contrary, when faced with such stressful situations, the majority do not take their life. Why, then, do some view suicide as the answer, while most do not?
Gender and Suicide
According to a study in the United States, while women are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than men, men are four times more likely to succeed. Women are at least twice as likely as men to suffer from depression, which may account for the greater number of suicide attempts. However, their depressive illnesses may be less violent, and thus they may turn to less violent means. Men, on the other hand, may tend to use more aggressive and decisive means to make sure they succeed.
In China, however, more women than men succeed. In fact, a study reveals that some 56 percent of the world's female suicides occur in China, especially in rural areas. It is said that one of the reasons for impulsive female suicide attempts leading to completed suicides there is the easy access to lethal pesticides.
Underlying Factors
"Much of the decision to die is in the construing of events," says Kay Redfield Jamison, professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She adds: "Most minds, when healthy, do not construe any event as devastating enough to warrant suicide." Eve K. Moscicki, of the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, notes that many factors—some of them underlying—work together to lead to suicidal behavior. Such underlying factors include mental and addictive disorders, genetic makeup, and brain chemistry. Let us consider some of them.
Foremost among these factors are mental and addictive disorders, such as depression, bipolar mood disorders, schizophrenia, and alcohol or drug abuse. Research in both Europe and the United States indicates that more than 90 percent of completed suicides are associated with such disorders. In fact, Swedish researchers found that among men who were not diagnosed with any disorders of that kind, the suicide rate was 8.3 per 100,000, but among the depressed it jumped to 650 per 100,000! And experts say that the factors leading to suicide are similar in Eastern lands. Still, even the combination of depression with triggering events does not make suicide inevitable.
Professor Jamison, who once attempted suicide herself, says: "People seem to be able to bear or tolerate depression as long as there is the belief that things will improve." However, she has found that as the cumulative despair becomes unbearable, the ability of the mental system to restrain suicidal impulses gradually weakens. She likens the situation to the way that the brakes on a car are worn thin by constant stress.
It is vital to recognize such a trend because depression can be treated. Feelings of helplessness can be reversed. When the underlying factors are dealt with, people may react differently to the heartaches and stresses that often trigger suicide.
Some think that one's genetic makeup may constitute an underlying factor in many suicides. True, genes play a role in determining one's temperament, and studies reveal that some family lines have more incidents of suicide than others. Yet, "a genetic predisposition to suicide by no means implies that suicide is inevitable," says Jamison.
Brain chemistry too can be an underlying factor. In the brain billions of neurons communicate electrochemically. At the branched-out ends of the nerve fibers, there are small gaps called synapses across which neurotransmitters carry information chemically. The level of one neurotransmitter, serotonin, may be involved in a person's biological vulnerability to suicide. The book Inside the Brain explains: "A low serotonin level . . . can dry up the wellsprings of life's happiness, withering a person's interest in his existence and increasing the risk of depression and suicide."
The fact is, however, that nobody is destined to commit suicide. Millions of people cope with heartaches and stresses. It is the way the mind and the heart react to pressures that leads some to kill themselves. Not just the immediate triggering causes but the underlying factors must also be dealt with.
Suicide and Loneliness
Loneliness is one of the factors that lead people to depression and suicide. Jouko Lönnqvist, who headed a study of suicides in Finland, said: "For a great number [of those who had committed suicide], everyday life was lonely. They had lots of spare time but few social contacts." Kenshiro Ohara, a psychiatrist at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine in Japan, commented that "isolation" was behind the recent surge in suicides by middle-aged men in that country.
So, then, what can be done to create a more positive outlook that will regenerate a measure of zest for life?
Appeared in Awake! October 22, 2001
Copyright © 2009 Watch Tower Bible
"Each way to suicide is its own: intensely private, unknowable, and terrible. Kay Redfield Jamison. Psychiatrist
"IT IS suffering to live." That is what Ryunosuke Akutagawa, a popular writer in early 20th-century Japan, wrote shortly before committing suicide. However, he prefaced that statement with the words: "Of course, I do not want to die, but . . ."
Like Akutagawa, many of those who take their life do not want to die as much as they want "to end whatever is going on," stated one psychology professor. The wording so commonly found in suicide notes suggests as much. Such phrases as 'I could not take it any longer' or 'Why go on living?' show a deep desire to escape life's harsh realities. But as one expert described it, committing suicide is "like treating a cold with a nuclear bomb."
Although the reasons why people commit suicide vary, certain events in life commonly trigger suicide.
Triggering Events
For adults, financial or work-related problems are common triggering eventsIt is not uncommon for young ones who give in to despair and commit suicide to do so even over matters that may seem trivial to others. When they feel hurt and cannot do anything about it, youths may view their own death as a means of getting back at those who have hurt them. Hiroshi Inamura, a specialist in handling suicidal people in Japan, wrote: "Through their own death, children cherish an inner urge to punish the person who has tormented them."
A recent survey in Britain indicated that when children are subjected to severe bullying, they are nearly seven times as likely to attempt suicide. The emotional pain that these children suffer is real. A 13-year-old boy who hanged himself left behind a note naming five people who had tormented him and had even extorted money from him. "Please save other children," he wrote.
Others may try to take their life when they get into trouble at school or with the law, suffer the end of a romance, get a bad report card, experience stress over exams, or become weighed down by worries about the future. Among high-achieving adolescents who may tend to be perfectionists, a setback or a failure—be it actual or imaginary—may bring on a suicide attempt.
For adults, financial or work-related problems are common triggering events. In Japan after years of economic downturn, suicides recently topped 30,000 a year. According to the Mainichi Daily News, almost three quarters of the middle-aged men who killed themselves did so "because of problems stemming from debts, business failures, poverty and unemployment." Family problems too may lead to suicide. A Finnish newspaper reported: "Recently divorced middle-aged men" make up one of the high-risk groups. A study in Hungary found that the majority of girls who contemplate suicide were reared in broken homes.
Retirement and physical illness are also major triggering factors, especially among the elderly. Often suicide is chosen as a way out, not necessarily when an illness is terminal, but when the patient views the suffering as intolerable.
However, not everybody reacts to these triggering events by committing suicide. On the contrary, when faced with such stressful situations, the majority do not take their life. Why, then, do some view suicide as the answer, while most do not?
Gender and Suicide
According to a study in the United States, while women are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than men, men are four times more likely to succeed. Women are at least twice as likely as men to suffer from depression, which may account for the greater number of suicide attempts. However, their depressive illnesses may be less violent, and thus they may turn to less violent means. Men, on the other hand, may tend to use more aggressive and decisive means to make sure they succeed.
In China, however, more women than men succeed. In fact, a study reveals that some 56 percent of the world's female suicides occur in China, especially in rural areas. It is said that one of the reasons for impulsive female suicide attempts leading to completed suicides there is the easy access to lethal pesticides.
Underlying Factors
"Much of the decision to die is in the construing of events," says Kay Redfield Jamison, professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She adds: "Most minds, when healthy, do not construe any event as devastating enough to warrant suicide." Eve K. Moscicki, of the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, notes that many factors—some of them underlying—work together to lead to suicidal behavior. Such underlying factors include mental and addictive disorders, genetic makeup, and brain chemistry. Let us consider some of them.
Foremost among these factors are mental and addictive disorders, such as depression, bipolar mood disorders, schizophrenia, and alcohol or drug abuse. Research in both Europe and the United States indicates that more than 90 percent of completed suicides are associated with such disorders. In fact, Swedish researchers found that among men who were not diagnosed with any disorders of that kind, the suicide rate was 8.3 per 100,000, but among the depressed it jumped to 650 per 100,000! And experts say that the factors leading to suicide are similar in Eastern lands. Still, even the combination of depression with triggering events does not make suicide inevitable.
Professor Jamison, who once attempted suicide herself, says: "People seem to be able to bear or tolerate depression as long as there is the belief that things will improve." However, she has found that as the cumulative despair becomes unbearable, the ability of the mental system to restrain suicidal impulses gradually weakens. She likens the situation to the way that the brakes on a car are worn thin by constant stress.
It is vital to recognize such a trend because depression can be treated. Feelings of helplessness can be reversed. When the underlying factors are dealt with, people may react differently to the heartaches and stresses that often trigger suicide.
Some think that one's genetic makeup may constitute an underlying factor in many suicides. True, genes play a role in determining one's temperament, and studies reveal that some family lines have more incidents of suicide than others. Yet, "a genetic predisposition to suicide by no means implies that suicide is inevitable," says Jamison.
Brain chemistry too can be an underlying factor. In the brain billions of neurons communicate electrochemically. At the branched-out ends of the nerve fibers, there are small gaps called synapses across which neurotransmitters carry information chemically. The level of one neurotransmitter, serotonin, may be involved in a person's biological vulnerability to suicide. The book Inside the Brain explains: "A low serotonin level . . . can dry up the wellsprings of life's happiness, withering a person's interest in his existence and increasing the risk of depression and suicide."
The fact is, however, that nobody is destined to commit suicide. Millions of people cope with heartaches and stresses. It is the way the mind and the heart react to pressures that leads some to kill themselves. Not just the immediate triggering causes but the underlying factors must also be dealt with.
Suicide and Loneliness
Loneliness is one of the factors that lead people to depression and suicide. Jouko Lönnqvist, who headed a study of suicides in Finland, said: "For a great number [of those who had committed suicide], everyday life was lonely. They had lots of spare time but few social contacts." Kenshiro Ohara, a psychiatrist at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine in Japan, commented that "isolation" was behind the recent surge in suicides by middle-aged men in that country.
So, then, what can be done to create a more positive outlook that will regenerate a measure of zest for life?
Appeared in Awake! October 22, 2001
Copyright © 2009 Watch Tower Bible
Life is Worth Living
Life Is Worth Living
THAT statement marked the first time in history that a surgeon general of the United States had made suicide a public issue. More people in that country are now killing themselves than are being killed by others. Little wonder that the U.S. Senate declared suicide prevention to be a national priority.
Yet, the suicide rate in the United States, which was 11.4 per 100,000 in 1997, is below the global rate published by the World Health Organization in 2000—16 per 100,000. The suicide rates worldwide have increased 60 percent in the last 45 years. Now, in a single year, about a million people worldwide take their own lives. That amounts to approximately one death every 40 seconds!
Statistics, however, cannot tell the whole story. In many cases family members deny that a death was a suicide. Moreover, it is estimated that for every completed suicide, between 10 and 25 are attempted. One survey found that 27 percent of high school students in the United States admitted that during the previous year, they had seriously considered suicide; 8 percent of the group surveyed said that they had made suicide attempts. Other studies have found that from 5 to 15 percent of the adult population have had suicidal thoughts at one time or another.
Cultural Differences
The way people view suicide varies greatly. Some view it as a crime, others as a coward's escape, and still others as an honorable way of apologizing for a blunder. Some even consider it a noble way to further a cause. Why such different viewpoints? Culture plays a major role. In fact, The Harvard Mental Health Letter suggests that culture may even "influence the likelihood of suicide."
Consider a country in central Europe—Hungary. Dr. Zoltán Rihmer refers to the high suicide rate there as Hungary's "sad 'tradition.'" Béla Buda, the director of Hungary's National Institute for Health, noted that Hungarians commit suicide all too readily, for virtually any reason. "He has cancer—he knows how to end that state" is, according to Buda, a common reaction.
In India there was once a religious custom known as suttee. Although this practice, in which a widow throws herself on the funeral pyre of her husband, has long been prohibited, it still is not quite extinct. When one woman reportedly committed suicide in this way, many of the local people glorified the tragedy. According to India Today, that region of India "has seen nearly 25 women burn themselves on their husbands' pyres in as many years."
Remarkably, in Japan suicide claims three times as many lives as do traffic accidents! "Japan's traditional culture, which has never condemned suicide, is known for a highly ritualized and institutionalized form of self—disembowelment (seppuku or hara—kiri)," says Japan—An Illustrated Encyclopedia.
In his book Bushido—The Soul of Japan, Inazo Nitobe, who later became the under-secretary-general of the League of Nations, explained this cultural fascination with death. He wrote: "An invention of the middle ages, [seppuku] was a process by which warriors could expiate their crimes, apologise for errors, escape from disgrace, redeem their friends, or prove their sincerity." Although this ritualistic form of suicide is generally a thing of the past, a few still resort to it for the sake of social impact.
In a single year, about a million people worldwide take their own lives. That amounts to one death almost every 40 seconds!
In Christendom, on the other hand, suicide was long viewed as a crime. By the sixth and seventh centuries, the Roman Catholic Church excommunicated those who had committed suicide and denied them funeral rites. In some places, religious fervor has bred strange customs regarding suicides—including hanging the dead body and even driving a stake through the heart.
Paradoxically, those who attempted suicide could incur the death penalty. For trying to kill himself by cutting his throat, a 19th-century Englishman was hanged. Thus the authorities accomplished what the man himself had failed to do. Though the punishment for attempted suicide changed over the years, it was not until 1961 that the British Parliament declared that suicide and attempted suicide were no longer crimes. In Ireland it remained a crime until 1993.
Today some authors encourage suicide as an option. A 1991 book about assisted suicide for the terminally ill suggested ways to end one's life. Later, an increased number of people who were not terminally ill used one of the recommended methods.
Is suicide really the answer to one's problems? Or are there good reasons to keep living? Before considering these questions, let us first examine what leads to suicide.
Appeared in Awake! October 22, 2001
Copyright © 2009 Watch Tower Bible
THAT statement marked the first time in history that a surgeon general of the United States had made suicide a public issue. More people in that country are now killing themselves than are being killed by others. Little wonder that the U.S. Senate declared suicide prevention to be a national priority.
Yet, the suicide rate in the United States, which was 11.4 per 100,000 in 1997, is below the global rate published by the World Health Organization in 2000—16 per 100,000. The suicide rates worldwide have increased 60 percent in the last 45 years. Now, in a single year, about a million people worldwide take their own lives. That amounts to approximately one death every 40 seconds!
Statistics, however, cannot tell the whole story. In many cases family members deny that a death was a suicide. Moreover, it is estimated that for every completed suicide, between 10 and 25 are attempted. One survey found that 27 percent of high school students in the United States admitted that during the previous year, they had seriously considered suicide; 8 percent of the group surveyed said that they had made suicide attempts. Other studies have found that from 5 to 15 percent of the adult population have had suicidal thoughts at one time or another.
Cultural Differences
The way people view suicide varies greatly. Some view it as a crime, others as a coward's escape, and still others as an honorable way of apologizing for a blunder. Some even consider it a noble way to further a cause. Why such different viewpoints? Culture plays a major role. In fact, The Harvard Mental Health Letter suggests that culture may even "influence the likelihood of suicide."
Consider a country in central Europe—Hungary. Dr. Zoltán Rihmer refers to the high suicide rate there as Hungary's "sad 'tradition.'" Béla Buda, the director of Hungary's National Institute for Health, noted that Hungarians commit suicide all too readily, for virtually any reason. "He has cancer—he knows how to end that state" is, according to Buda, a common reaction.
In India there was once a religious custom known as suttee. Although this practice, in which a widow throws herself on the funeral pyre of her husband, has long been prohibited, it still is not quite extinct. When one woman reportedly committed suicide in this way, many of the local people glorified the tragedy. According to India Today, that region of India "has seen nearly 25 women burn themselves on their husbands' pyres in as many years."
Remarkably, in Japan suicide claims three times as many lives as do traffic accidents! "Japan's traditional culture, which has never condemned suicide, is known for a highly ritualized and institutionalized form of self—disembowelment (seppuku or hara—kiri)," says Japan—An Illustrated Encyclopedia.
In his book Bushido—The Soul of Japan, Inazo Nitobe, who later became the under-secretary-general of the League of Nations, explained this cultural fascination with death. He wrote: "An invention of the middle ages, [seppuku] was a process by which warriors could expiate their crimes, apologise for errors, escape from disgrace, redeem their friends, or prove their sincerity." Although this ritualistic form of suicide is generally a thing of the past, a few still resort to it for the sake of social impact.
In a single year, about a million people worldwide take their own lives. That amounts to one death almost every 40 seconds!
In Christendom, on the other hand, suicide was long viewed as a crime. By the sixth and seventh centuries, the Roman Catholic Church excommunicated those who had committed suicide and denied them funeral rites. In some places, religious fervor has bred strange customs regarding suicides—including hanging the dead body and even driving a stake through the heart.
Paradoxically, those who attempted suicide could incur the death penalty. For trying to kill himself by cutting his throat, a 19th-century Englishman was hanged. Thus the authorities accomplished what the man himself had failed to do. Though the punishment for attempted suicide changed over the years, it was not until 1961 that the British Parliament declared that suicide and attempted suicide were no longer crimes. In Ireland it remained a crime until 1993.
Today some authors encourage suicide as an option. A 1991 book about assisted suicide for the terminally ill suggested ways to end one's life. Later, an increased number of people who were not terminally ill used one of the recommended methods.
Is suicide really the answer to one's problems? Or are there good reasons to keep living? Before considering these questions, let us first examine what leads to suicide.
Appeared in Awake! October 22, 2001
Copyright © 2009 Watch Tower Bible
Postpartum Depression
UnderstandingPostpartum Depression
What's wrong with me? I just gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby. I should be happy and proud, but I feel so down and anxious, even angry. Am I a bad mother? Why am I so depressed?
AS A new mother, you may have experienced feelings like the above. If so, you are not alone. It is estimated that 70 to 80 percent of new mothers have such feelings at times. But what is postpartum depression (PPD), and what causes it? How can PPD be coped with? What support can family members and others give?
Disorders
The term "postpartum depression" refers to depressive episodes following childbirth. These can occur after the birth of any child, not just the first. Depressive episodes can even follow a miscarriage or termination of a pregnancy. According to the Office on Women's Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there is a wide range in the severity of the symptoms.
Many women experience postpartum blues, or baby blues, characterized by mild sadness, anxiety, irritability, fluctuating moods, and fatigue. These blues are considered normal and are short-lived, resolving themselves without medical help within about ten days after childbirth.
However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates that in 1 out of 10 new mothers, these feelings escalate and go beyond the first few days. They can even appear several months after the birth. This may be full-fledged postpartum depression, in which the feelings of sadness, anxiety, or despair are so intense that the new mother has trouble coping with her daily tasks.
Additionally, between 1 and 3 new mothers in every 1,000 suffer from an even more severe form of depression called postpartum psychosis, in which the mother has delusions or hallucinations that often focus on hurting herself or her baby. This latter condition requires immediate medical attention.*
Causes
There is no single clearly defined cause of postpartum depression. Both physical and emotional factors seem to be involved. One physical factor may be that in the first 24 to 48 hours after delivery, estrogen and progesterone levels drop sharply, to a point lower than before conception, creating an abrupt change in the physiological state of the body. This may trigger depression in much the same way as mood swings and tension are triggered before menstrual periods. The level of hormones produced by the thyroid may also drop after childbirth. This could result in symptoms that mimic depression. For these reasons researchers are calling PPD a "biochemical and hormonal disorder."
Interestingly, one medical newsletter suggests that postpartum depression may be caused by a nutritional imbalance, perhaps a B-complex deficiency.
Fatigue and lack of sleep can also play a role. Says Dr. Steven I. Altchuler, a psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, U.S.A.: "In the period shortly after childbirth, lack of energy and an inability to sleep may make minor problems seem much more major. Some women might be frustrated to find that they have difficulty coping with things that they had handled well before delivery, without the baby blues, and with a full night's sleep." Emotional factors such as an unplanned pregnancy, a premature birth, loss of freedom, concern about attractiveness, and lack of support can also add to depression.
Additionally, there are several common myths about being a mother that can contribute to a woman's feeling depressed and feeling that she is a failure. These include the idea that motherhood skills are instinctive, that bonding should be immediate, that the baby will be perfect and never fussy, and that the new mother should be perfect. In real life this is not the case. Mothering skills need to be learned, bonding often takes time, some babies are easier to care for than others, and no mother is perfect or a supermom.
Gaining Recognition
Until recently, postpartum depression was often not taken seriously. Dr. Laurence Kruckman points out: "Women's mental health issues have been overlooked and labeled in the past as hysteria, not worthy of concern. The American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual (DSM IV) has never fully acknowledged the presence of postpartum illness, and as a result, doctors have not been educated about it nor has reliable data been obtained. . . . And unlike 30 years ago, mothers often go home from the hospital within 24 hours. Most postpartum psychoses, blues and some depression occur within three to 14 days following birth. So the mothers are already at home and not screened by professionals who know the symptoms."
However, according to Dr. Carol E. Watkins of the Northern County Psychiatric Associates in Baltimore, Maryland, if left undiagnosed or untreated, postpartum depression can lead to long-term depression and difficulty in bonding with the baby. Depressed mothers may passively ignore their baby's needs or, conversely, lose control and use physical punishment to discipline their infants. This can negatively affect the cognitive and emotional development of the child.
For example, an article in the journal American Family Physician suggests that young children of depressed mothers perform more poorly on cognitive tests than those of mothers who were not depressed. Additionally, postpartum depression can adversely affect the other children and the husband.
Treatment
What can be done? Do you just have to tough it out? It is comforting to know that postpartum depression has been found to be both temporary and treatable.# While rest and family support may be all that is needed for mild symptoms, the key sign that medical attention is necessary is if the depression disrupts your ability to function, says the Office on Women's Health.
Common treatments are antidepressant medication,% talking with a mental-health expert, hormone treatment, or a combination of these, depending upon the severity of the case. Kangaroo, or skin-to-skin, care of the baby may also lessen maternal depression.^ There are also such alternative treatments as herbs, acupuncture, and homeopathic remedies.
However, there are some things that you can do personally to cope. These include eating a nutritious diet (including fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain cereals); avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and sugar; exercising in moderation; and taking a nap when your baby is asleep. Zoraya, a Christian mother who cried morning, noon, and night for days after the birth of a healthy baby girl, says that what helped her to get over the depression was to get involved as soon as possible in her normal ministerial activities as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.—See the accompanying box for additional tips.
How Can Others Help?
Since a major factor in postpartum depression is lack of proper rest, other people can help by assuming some of the household chores and sharing in child care. Studies show that far less postpartum depression occurs where the extended family rallies around to provide support and instruction. Many times a person can be of great assistance by just being a sympathetic listener, giving the new mother reassurance, and avoiding criticizing or judging. Remember, PPD is a physical disorder and is not self-induced. As the organization Postpartum Education for Parents points out, "a woman cannot 'pull herself together' any more than she could if she had the flu, diabetes, or heart disease."
From the foregoing, it can be seen that although the postpartum period can be a wonderful time for new mothers, it can also be stressful. Understanding it can help us to give the support new mothers need.
* Postpartum depression is not to be confused with post-traumatic stress disorder, which some mothers experience after a stressful delivery, although both can be experienced at the same time.# See the article "I Won My Battle With Postpartum Depression," in the July 22, 2002, issue of Awake!% Some drugs can contaminate breast milk, so if you wish to breast-feed, consult your doctor for the most suitable option.^ See the article "'Kangaroo Mother Care'—Solution to a Life-Threatening Problem?" in the June 8, 2002, issue of Awake!
Tips for Coping With Postpartum Depression
Talk to someone about your feelings, particularly other mothers.
Ask others to help you with child care, household chores, and errands. Ask your husband to share in nighttime feeding duties and household chores.
Find time to do something positive for yourself, even if it is for only 15 minutes a day. Try reading, taking a walk, taking a relaxing bath.
Even if you can get only one thing done in any given day, this is a step in the right direction. There may be days when you cannot get anything done. Try not to be angry with yourself when this happens.
Isolation often perpetuates depression. Get dressed, and leave the house for at least a short while each day. Fresh air and a change of scenery will do you and your baby a lot of good.
Adapted from the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Office on Women's Health.
Appeared in Awake! June 8, 2003
Copyright © 2006 Watch Tower Bible and Tract
What's wrong with me? I just gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby. I should be happy and proud, but I feel so down and anxious, even angry. Am I a bad mother? Why am I so depressed?
AS A new mother, you may have experienced feelings like the above. If so, you are not alone. It is estimated that 70 to 80 percent of new mothers have such feelings at times. But what is postpartum depression (PPD), and what causes it? How can PPD be coped with? What support can family members and others give?
Disorders
The term "postpartum depression" refers to depressive episodes following childbirth. These can occur after the birth of any child, not just the first. Depressive episodes can even follow a miscarriage or termination of a pregnancy. According to the Office on Women's Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there is a wide range in the severity of the symptoms.
Many women experience postpartum blues, or baby blues, characterized by mild sadness, anxiety, irritability, fluctuating moods, and fatigue. These blues are considered normal and are short-lived, resolving themselves without medical help within about ten days after childbirth.
However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates that in 1 out of 10 new mothers, these feelings escalate and go beyond the first few days. They can even appear several months after the birth. This may be full-fledged postpartum depression, in which the feelings of sadness, anxiety, or despair are so intense that the new mother has trouble coping with her daily tasks.
Additionally, between 1 and 3 new mothers in every 1,000 suffer from an even more severe form of depression called postpartum psychosis, in which the mother has delusions or hallucinations that often focus on hurting herself or her baby. This latter condition requires immediate medical attention.*
Causes
There is no single clearly defined cause of postpartum depression. Both physical and emotional factors seem to be involved. One physical factor may be that in the first 24 to 48 hours after delivery, estrogen and progesterone levels drop sharply, to a point lower than before conception, creating an abrupt change in the physiological state of the body. This may trigger depression in much the same way as mood swings and tension are triggered before menstrual periods. The level of hormones produced by the thyroid may also drop after childbirth. This could result in symptoms that mimic depression. For these reasons researchers are calling PPD a "biochemical and hormonal disorder."
Interestingly, one medical newsletter suggests that postpartum depression may be caused by a nutritional imbalance, perhaps a B-complex deficiency.
Fatigue and lack of sleep can also play a role. Says Dr. Steven I. Altchuler, a psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, U.S.A.: "In the period shortly after childbirth, lack of energy and an inability to sleep may make minor problems seem much more major. Some women might be frustrated to find that they have difficulty coping with things that they had handled well before delivery, without the baby blues, and with a full night's sleep." Emotional factors such as an unplanned pregnancy, a premature birth, loss of freedom, concern about attractiveness, and lack of support can also add to depression.
Additionally, there are several common myths about being a mother that can contribute to a woman's feeling depressed and feeling that she is a failure. These include the idea that motherhood skills are instinctive, that bonding should be immediate, that the baby will be perfect and never fussy, and that the new mother should be perfect. In real life this is not the case. Mothering skills need to be learned, bonding often takes time, some babies are easier to care for than others, and no mother is perfect or a supermom.
Gaining Recognition
Until recently, postpartum depression was often not taken seriously. Dr. Laurence Kruckman points out: "Women's mental health issues have been overlooked and labeled in the past as hysteria, not worthy of concern. The American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual (DSM IV) has never fully acknowledged the presence of postpartum illness, and as a result, doctors have not been educated about it nor has reliable data been obtained. . . . And unlike 30 years ago, mothers often go home from the hospital within 24 hours. Most postpartum psychoses, blues and some depression occur within three to 14 days following birth. So the mothers are already at home and not screened by professionals who know the symptoms."
However, according to Dr. Carol E. Watkins of the Northern County Psychiatric Associates in Baltimore, Maryland, if left undiagnosed or untreated, postpartum depression can lead to long-term depression and difficulty in bonding with the baby. Depressed mothers may passively ignore their baby's needs or, conversely, lose control and use physical punishment to discipline their infants. This can negatively affect the cognitive and emotional development of the child.
For example, an article in the journal American Family Physician suggests that young children of depressed mothers perform more poorly on cognitive tests than those of mothers who were not depressed. Additionally, postpartum depression can adversely affect the other children and the husband.
Treatment
What can be done? Do you just have to tough it out? It is comforting to know that postpartum depression has been found to be both temporary and treatable.# While rest and family support may be all that is needed for mild symptoms, the key sign that medical attention is necessary is if the depression disrupts your ability to function, says the Office on Women's Health.
Common treatments are antidepressant medication,% talking with a mental-health expert, hormone treatment, or a combination of these, depending upon the severity of the case. Kangaroo, or skin-to-skin, care of the baby may also lessen maternal depression.^ There are also such alternative treatments as herbs, acupuncture, and homeopathic remedies.
However, there are some things that you can do personally to cope. These include eating a nutritious diet (including fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain cereals); avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and sugar; exercising in moderation; and taking a nap when your baby is asleep. Zoraya, a Christian mother who cried morning, noon, and night for days after the birth of a healthy baby girl, says that what helped her to get over the depression was to get involved as soon as possible in her normal ministerial activities as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.—See the accompanying box for additional tips.
How Can Others Help?
Since a major factor in postpartum depression is lack of proper rest, other people can help by assuming some of the household chores and sharing in child care. Studies show that far less postpartum depression occurs where the extended family rallies around to provide support and instruction. Many times a person can be of great assistance by just being a sympathetic listener, giving the new mother reassurance, and avoiding criticizing or judging. Remember, PPD is a physical disorder and is not self-induced. As the organization Postpartum Education for Parents points out, "a woman cannot 'pull herself together' any more than she could if she had the flu, diabetes, or heart disease."
From the foregoing, it can be seen that although the postpartum period can be a wonderful time for new mothers, it can also be stressful. Understanding it can help us to give the support new mothers need.
* Postpartum depression is not to be confused with post-traumatic stress disorder, which some mothers experience after a stressful delivery, although both can be experienced at the same time.# See the article "I Won My Battle With Postpartum Depression," in the July 22, 2002, issue of Awake!% Some drugs can contaminate breast milk, so if you wish to breast-feed, consult your doctor for the most suitable option.^ See the article "'Kangaroo Mother Care'—Solution to a Life-Threatening Problem?" in the June 8, 2002, issue of Awake!
Tips for Coping With Postpartum Depression
Talk to someone about your feelings, particularly other mothers.
Ask others to help you with child care, household chores, and errands. Ask your husband to share in nighttime feeding duties and household chores.
Find time to do something positive for yourself, even if it is for only 15 minutes a day. Try reading, taking a walk, taking a relaxing bath.
Even if you can get only one thing done in any given day, this is a step in the right direction. There may be days when you cannot get anything done. Try not to be angry with yourself when this happens.
Isolation often perpetuates depression. Get dressed, and leave the house for at least a short while each day. Fresh air and a change of scenery will do you and your baby a lot of good.
Adapted from the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Office on Women's Health.
Appeared in Awake! June 8, 2003
Copyright © 2006 Watch Tower Bible and Tract
I Won My Battle with Postpartum Depression
I remember watching my husband playing happily with our new baby girl and thinking that they would be better off without me. I felt I had become a burden to them. I wanted to get in the car, drive away, and never return. I had no idea that I was a victim of postpartum depression. *
I Won My Battle WithPOSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
MY FIRST ten years of marriage were happy years. Jason and I were enjoying raising Liana, our first daughter. So when I became pregnant again, all of us were delighted with the news.
But this pregnancy was very difficult. In fact, I nearly died from complications after the birth. But prior to that, late in the pregnancy, a fog seemed to settle over my mind. It became worse after we brought our little baby girl, Carly, home from the hospital. I was constantly tired and felt incapable of making even simple decisions. I found myself phoning Jason at work many times a day just to ask what household job I should do next or to seek his reassurance that something I had just said or done was correct.
I became afraid of being in the company of people, even old friends. If someone came to the door unexpectedly, I hid in the bedroom. I let the house become a mess, and I became easily distracted and confused. I love to read, but reading became almost impossible because I could not concentrate. I found it hard to pray, so my spiritual health suffered. I felt emotionally numb, unable to feel love for anyone. I was afraid that my children would be harmed because I was not thinking properly. My self-esteem plummeted. I thought I was going mad.
During that time, Jason would come home from work and help me by cleaning up the house or by preparing a meal for the family—and I would be angry with him for helping! I felt that his actions showed me up as being an incompetent mother. On the other hand, if he failed to offer help, I would accuse him of not caring. Had Jason not handled things as maturely and lovingly as he did, my postpartum depression might have spelled disaster for our marriage. Perhaps Jason can best describe how my condition affected him.
Factors That May Contribute to Postpartum Depression
A number of things besides hormonal changes may sometimes be a factor in postpartum depression. These include:
A woman's personal ideas about motherhood, which may result from an unhappy childhood and poor parental relationships.
Unrealistic expectations imposed on mothers by society.
A family history of depression.
Marital dissatisfaction and a lack of support from one's immediate or extended family.
Poor self-image.
Feeling overburdened or overwhelmed by caring for young children full-time.
This list is by no means comprehensive. Other factors may also contribute to postpartum depression. Indeed, its causes are still not completely understood.
My Husband Tells How He Was Affected
"At first, I could not believe what was happening to Janelle. She changed completely from being her usual happy, outgoing self and started behaving like a different person. She began taking everything I said as personal criticism, and she even became resentful when I tried to ease her work load. Initially, I felt like telling her to pull herself together, but I realized that such a response would only make things worse.
"Our relationship was under constant strain. Janelle seemed to think that the whole world had turned against her. I had heard about other women who suffered from similar symptoms as a result of postpartum depression. So when I began to suspect that she was suffering from the same thing, I started reading all the information I could about the subject. What I read confirmed my suspicions. I also learned that Janelle's illness was not her fault—that it was not the result of any neglect on her part.
"I admit that the extra care she and the children needed left me emotionally and physically exhausted. For two years I had to juggle my secular work and my responsibilities as a congregation elder and as a husband and father. Happily, I was able to adjust my secular work so that I could be home earlier, especially on the nights we attended Christian meetings. Janelle needed me at home in time to help prepare dinner and to dress the children. As a result, we were all able to attend the meetings."
How to Help Yourself #
If depression persists, seek professional help. The sooner you do so, the sooner you can be on the road to recovery. Seek out an understanding doctor who is familiar with the condition. Try not to feel ashamed of your postpartum depression or to feel embarrassed if you need to take medication.
Exercise regularly. Studies have shown that regular exercise can be an effective therapy for depression.
Tell those who are closest to you how you feel. Do not isolate yourself or bottle up your feelings.
Remember that you do not have to have a perfect house. Try to keep your life simple by focusing on things that are essential.
Pray for courage and patience. If you find it difficult to pray, ask someone to pray with you. Recovery may only be delayed if you hold on to feelings of guilt or worthlessness.
My Road to Recovery
Without my husband's loving support, my recovery would no doubt have been much slower. Jason listened patiently as I unburdened myself of my fears. I found it very important not to bottle up my feelings. At times, I would even sound angry. But Jason constantly reassured me that he loved me and that we were in this together. He always tried to help me see the positive side of things. Later I would apologize for words spoken in anger. He reassured me by saying that it was my illness that was talking. As I look back now, I realize how much his thoughtful comments meant to me.
Together, we finally found a very kind doctor who took the time to listen to how I felt. He diagnosed my condition as postpartum depression and suggested that my treatment include medication to help control my frequent anxiety attacks. He also encouraged me to seek the help of a mental-health professional. In addition, he recommended regular exercise, a therapy that has helped many to combat depression.
One of the biggest obstacles on my road to recovery was coping with the stigma associated with postpartum depression. People often find it hard to show empathy for someone with an illness that they do not understand. Postpartum depression is not like, say, a broken leg, which others can see and thus make allowances for. Still, my family and close friends proved to be truly supportive and understanding.
Loving Help From Family and Friends
Jason and I greatly appreciated the help my mother provided during this difficult period. At times, he needed a respite from the emotional turmoil at home. Mom was always positive and did not try to take over my work. Rather, she supported me and encouraged me to do what I could.
Friends in the congregation also proved to be a wonderful support. Many sent brief notes telling us that they were thinking of me. How I cherished those kind expressions! This was especially so because I found it hard to talk to people, whether on the phone or face-to-face. I even found it difficult to associate with fellow Christians before and after meetings. Thus, by writing to us, not only did our friends show that they were aware of the limitations my depression imposed on me but they also confirmed their love and concern for me and my family.
Tips for Men
Recognize that postpartum depression is not your wife's fault. If her condition persists, cooperate with her in seeking the help of a doctor who understands the problem and is sympathetic.
Listen patiently to your wife. Acknowledge her feelings. Do not get upset at her negativity. Kindly help her to see the positive side of things, and reassure her that she will get better. Do not assume that you must fix all the problems she mentions. She may simply want comfort, not logical answers. (1 Thessalonians 5:14) Remember, postpartum depression makes it difficult for sufferers to think logically and clearly.
Cut back on nonessential activities so that you have more time to support your wife. Your doing so may speed up her recovery.
Make sure that you have some time for yourself. Good physical, mental, and spiritual health on your part will enable you to be a better support to your wife.
Find someone to talk to who will encourage you, perhaps another spiritually mature man whose wife has suffered from postpartum depression.
This Is Not a Life Sentence!
The Marshall family
I am now much improved—thanks to my doctor's advice, a very supportive family, and understanding friends. I still exercise regularly, even when I feel tired, as this has helped me in my recovery. I also try to respond positively to the encouragement others provide. During difficult times, I listen to audiocassettes of the Bible and to Kingdom Melodies—spiritually and emotionally uplifting music prepared by Jehovah's Witnesses. These fine provisions help to strengthen me spiritually and to keep my thoughts positive. Recently, I even started giving Bible-based student talks again at congregation meetings.
It has taken me more than two and a half years to reach the stage where I can more fully feel and express love for my husband, children, and others. Although this has been a difficult time for my family, we feel that our bonds are now stronger than ever before. I especially appreciate Jason, who more than confirmed his love for me by enduring the depths of my depression and by always being there to support me when I needed it. Above all, both of us now have a much closer relationship with Jehovah, who truly strengthened us during our trials.
I still have my down days, but with the help of my family, my doctor, the congregation, and Jehovah's holy spirit, the light at the end of the tunnel continues to get brighter. Yes, postpartum depression is not a life sentence. It is an enemy we can defeat.—As told by Janelle Marshall.
More Than Just the "Baby Blues"
Postpartum depression should not be confused with common postnatal mood swings. Dr. Laura J. Miller says: "The most common type of postnatal mood change is what has come to be known as the 'baby blues.' . . . About 50% of women who give birth experience this tearful, emotionally labile (i.e., changeable) state. It usually reaches a peak between the third and fifth days after birth and then gradually fades away on its own within weeks." Researchers suggest that these moods may result from changes in a woman's hormone levels after she gives birth.
Unlike the "baby blues," postpartum depression involves prolonged feelings of depression that might begin at the birth of a child or even weeks or months later. A new mother with this condition may find herself elated one minute and depressed—even suicidal—the next. In addition, she may be irritable, resentful, and angry. She may experience a persistent feeling of inadequacy as a mother and a lack of love for her baby. Dr. Miller states: "Some clinically depressed mothers know intellectually that they love their babies, yet they have trouble feeling anything but apathy, irritation, or disgust. Others have thoughts of harming or even killing their babies."
Postpartum depression is a phenomenon with a long history. As far back as the fourth century B.C.E., Greek physician Hippocrates noted the dramatic psychological changes suffered by some women after childbirth. A study published in the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research explained: "Postnatal depression is a significant problem affecting 10-15% of mothers in many countries." Regrettably, though, "most cases of such depression do not receive a correct diagnosis and are not properly medicated," said the Journal.
A less common but more serious disorder occurring after childbirth is postpartum psychosis. A sufferer might experience hallucinations, hear voices in her head, and lose touch with reality, although she may be rational for intermittent periods lasting for hours or days. The causes of this psychosis remain unclear, but Dr. Miller notes that "genetic vulnerability, perhaps triggered by hormonal changes, seems to be the most influential factor." A skilled medical professional may provide effective treatment for postpartum psychosis.
* Postpartum depression is also called postnatal depression.
# Awake! does not recommend any particular kind of treatment. The suggestions for both women and men outlined in this article do not cover every situation, and some points may not even apply in certain cases.
Appeared in Awake! July 22, 2002
Copyright © 2006 Watch Tower Bible
I Won My Battle WithPOSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
MY FIRST ten years of marriage were happy years. Jason and I were enjoying raising Liana, our first daughter. So when I became pregnant again, all of us were delighted with the news.
But this pregnancy was very difficult. In fact, I nearly died from complications after the birth. But prior to that, late in the pregnancy, a fog seemed to settle over my mind. It became worse after we brought our little baby girl, Carly, home from the hospital. I was constantly tired and felt incapable of making even simple decisions. I found myself phoning Jason at work many times a day just to ask what household job I should do next or to seek his reassurance that something I had just said or done was correct.
I became afraid of being in the company of people, even old friends. If someone came to the door unexpectedly, I hid in the bedroom. I let the house become a mess, and I became easily distracted and confused. I love to read, but reading became almost impossible because I could not concentrate. I found it hard to pray, so my spiritual health suffered. I felt emotionally numb, unable to feel love for anyone. I was afraid that my children would be harmed because I was not thinking properly. My self-esteem plummeted. I thought I was going mad.
During that time, Jason would come home from work and help me by cleaning up the house or by preparing a meal for the family—and I would be angry with him for helping! I felt that his actions showed me up as being an incompetent mother. On the other hand, if he failed to offer help, I would accuse him of not caring. Had Jason not handled things as maturely and lovingly as he did, my postpartum depression might have spelled disaster for our marriage. Perhaps Jason can best describe how my condition affected him.
Factors That May Contribute to Postpartum Depression
A number of things besides hormonal changes may sometimes be a factor in postpartum depression. These include:
A woman's personal ideas about motherhood, which may result from an unhappy childhood and poor parental relationships.
Unrealistic expectations imposed on mothers by society.
A family history of depression.
Marital dissatisfaction and a lack of support from one's immediate or extended family.
Poor self-image.
Feeling overburdened or overwhelmed by caring for young children full-time.
This list is by no means comprehensive. Other factors may also contribute to postpartum depression. Indeed, its causes are still not completely understood.
My Husband Tells How He Was Affected
"At first, I could not believe what was happening to Janelle. She changed completely from being her usual happy, outgoing self and started behaving like a different person. She began taking everything I said as personal criticism, and she even became resentful when I tried to ease her work load. Initially, I felt like telling her to pull herself together, but I realized that such a response would only make things worse.
"Our relationship was under constant strain. Janelle seemed to think that the whole world had turned against her. I had heard about other women who suffered from similar symptoms as a result of postpartum depression. So when I began to suspect that she was suffering from the same thing, I started reading all the information I could about the subject. What I read confirmed my suspicions. I also learned that Janelle's illness was not her fault—that it was not the result of any neglect on her part.
"I admit that the extra care she and the children needed left me emotionally and physically exhausted. For two years I had to juggle my secular work and my responsibilities as a congregation elder and as a husband and father. Happily, I was able to adjust my secular work so that I could be home earlier, especially on the nights we attended Christian meetings. Janelle needed me at home in time to help prepare dinner and to dress the children. As a result, we were all able to attend the meetings."
How to Help Yourself #
If depression persists, seek professional help. The sooner you do so, the sooner you can be on the road to recovery. Seek out an understanding doctor who is familiar with the condition. Try not to feel ashamed of your postpartum depression or to feel embarrassed if you need to take medication.
Exercise regularly. Studies have shown that regular exercise can be an effective therapy for depression.
Tell those who are closest to you how you feel. Do not isolate yourself or bottle up your feelings.
Remember that you do not have to have a perfect house. Try to keep your life simple by focusing on things that are essential.
Pray for courage and patience. If you find it difficult to pray, ask someone to pray with you. Recovery may only be delayed if you hold on to feelings of guilt or worthlessness.
My Road to Recovery
Without my husband's loving support, my recovery would no doubt have been much slower. Jason listened patiently as I unburdened myself of my fears. I found it very important not to bottle up my feelings. At times, I would even sound angry. But Jason constantly reassured me that he loved me and that we were in this together. He always tried to help me see the positive side of things. Later I would apologize for words spoken in anger. He reassured me by saying that it was my illness that was talking. As I look back now, I realize how much his thoughtful comments meant to me.
Together, we finally found a very kind doctor who took the time to listen to how I felt. He diagnosed my condition as postpartum depression and suggested that my treatment include medication to help control my frequent anxiety attacks. He also encouraged me to seek the help of a mental-health professional. In addition, he recommended regular exercise, a therapy that has helped many to combat depression.
One of the biggest obstacles on my road to recovery was coping with the stigma associated with postpartum depression. People often find it hard to show empathy for someone with an illness that they do not understand. Postpartum depression is not like, say, a broken leg, which others can see and thus make allowances for. Still, my family and close friends proved to be truly supportive and understanding.
Loving Help From Family and Friends
Jason and I greatly appreciated the help my mother provided during this difficult period. At times, he needed a respite from the emotional turmoil at home. Mom was always positive and did not try to take over my work. Rather, she supported me and encouraged me to do what I could.
Friends in the congregation also proved to be a wonderful support. Many sent brief notes telling us that they were thinking of me. How I cherished those kind expressions! This was especially so because I found it hard to talk to people, whether on the phone or face-to-face. I even found it difficult to associate with fellow Christians before and after meetings. Thus, by writing to us, not only did our friends show that they were aware of the limitations my depression imposed on me but they also confirmed their love and concern for me and my family.
Tips for Men
Recognize that postpartum depression is not your wife's fault. If her condition persists, cooperate with her in seeking the help of a doctor who understands the problem and is sympathetic.
Listen patiently to your wife. Acknowledge her feelings. Do not get upset at her negativity. Kindly help her to see the positive side of things, and reassure her that she will get better. Do not assume that you must fix all the problems she mentions. She may simply want comfort, not logical answers. (1 Thessalonians 5:14) Remember, postpartum depression makes it difficult for sufferers to think logically and clearly.
Cut back on nonessential activities so that you have more time to support your wife. Your doing so may speed up her recovery.
Make sure that you have some time for yourself. Good physical, mental, and spiritual health on your part will enable you to be a better support to your wife.
Find someone to talk to who will encourage you, perhaps another spiritually mature man whose wife has suffered from postpartum depression.
This Is Not a Life Sentence!
The Marshall family
I am now much improved—thanks to my doctor's advice, a very supportive family, and understanding friends. I still exercise regularly, even when I feel tired, as this has helped me in my recovery. I also try to respond positively to the encouragement others provide. During difficult times, I listen to audiocassettes of the Bible and to Kingdom Melodies—spiritually and emotionally uplifting music prepared by Jehovah's Witnesses. These fine provisions help to strengthen me spiritually and to keep my thoughts positive. Recently, I even started giving Bible-based student talks again at congregation meetings.
It has taken me more than two and a half years to reach the stage where I can more fully feel and express love for my husband, children, and others. Although this has been a difficult time for my family, we feel that our bonds are now stronger than ever before. I especially appreciate Jason, who more than confirmed his love for me by enduring the depths of my depression and by always being there to support me when I needed it. Above all, both of us now have a much closer relationship with Jehovah, who truly strengthened us during our trials.
I still have my down days, but with the help of my family, my doctor, the congregation, and Jehovah's holy spirit, the light at the end of the tunnel continues to get brighter. Yes, postpartum depression is not a life sentence. It is an enemy we can defeat.—As told by Janelle Marshall.
More Than Just the "Baby Blues"
Postpartum depression should not be confused with common postnatal mood swings. Dr. Laura J. Miller says: "The most common type of postnatal mood change is what has come to be known as the 'baby blues.' . . . About 50% of women who give birth experience this tearful, emotionally labile (i.e., changeable) state. It usually reaches a peak between the third and fifth days after birth and then gradually fades away on its own within weeks." Researchers suggest that these moods may result from changes in a woman's hormone levels after she gives birth.
Unlike the "baby blues," postpartum depression involves prolonged feelings of depression that might begin at the birth of a child or even weeks or months later. A new mother with this condition may find herself elated one minute and depressed—even suicidal—the next. In addition, she may be irritable, resentful, and angry. She may experience a persistent feeling of inadequacy as a mother and a lack of love for her baby. Dr. Miller states: "Some clinically depressed mothers know intellectually that they love their babies, yet they have trouble feeling anything but apathy, irritation, or disgust. Others have thoughts of harming or even killing their babies."
Postpartum depression is a phenomenon with a long history. As far back as the fourth century B.C.E., Greek physician Hippocrates noted the dramatic psychological changes suffered by some women after childbirth. A study published in the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research explained: "Postnatal depression is a significant problem affecting 10-15% of mothers in many countries." Regrettably, though, "most cases of such depression do not receive a correct diagnosis and are not properly medicated," said the Journal.
A less common but more serious disorder occurring after childbirth is postpartum psychosis. A sufferer might experience hallucinations, hear voices in her head, and lose touch with reality, although she may be rational for intermittent periods lasting for hours or days. The causes of this psychosis remain unclear, but Dr. Miller notes that "genetic vulnerability, perhaps triggered by hormonal changes, seems to be the most influential factor." A skilled medical professional may provide effective treatment for postpartum psychosis.
* Postpartum depression is also called postnatal depression.
# Awake! does not recommend any particular kind of treatment. The suggestions for both women and men outlined in this article do not cover every situation, and some points may not even apply in certain cases.
Appeared in Awake! July 22, 2002
Copyright © 2006 Watch Tower Bible
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