Loss of Interest

Psalm 40:2 - He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

​When walking down the road of emotional pain, often we stop caring about the things we used to. It just doesn’t matter anymore. We’ve tried and tried to get back on track, but we find ourselves stuck in a muddy pothole.
 
You stand there and watch the world go by. But, no one’s stopping. No one seems to care. And what’s worse, they don’t even see when we’re in trouble. It’s normal to care about the things going on in your life, but it’s important to stop having tunnel vision and notice the changes in someone else.
 
Perhaps it’s because we don’t see them as often. But do we stop and try to find out why? In our tunnel vision, with so much on our plate, we only see how circumstances are affecting us.
 
So let’s take a look at your friend that’s stuck, because losing interest in things we used to can be a sign of depression. Find some of the symptoms of depression on webmd.com in their article, “Symptoms of Depression,” such as difficulty concentrating and feelings of guilt. 
 
And as webmd.com says: “Depression carries a high risk of suicide. Anybody who expresses suicidal thoughts or intentions should be taken very, very seriously. Do not hesitate to call your local suicide hotline immediately. Call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) -- or the deaf hotline at 1-800-799-4TTY (1-800-799-4889).”
 
So what can we do to help our friend out of that muddy pothole?
 
Find some suggestions on how you can help a person who’s depressed on  helpguide.org in their article, “How to Help Someone with Depression.”
 
And as the Bible verse above says if we’re the one stuck remember that God can lift us up and place us back on our feet in a firm place. God cares about us and can use family and friends to give us that hand up that we need.
 
So, don’t be the person that simply walks by and does nothing for a friend. Be the person that stops, listens and helps.
 
For more information on depression and how to help, select the links below.

Detecting Depression

Helping