Depression and Anxiety

Counselor Brad Hambrick outlines a 9-step process for finding hope and relief amid the struggles associated with depression and anxiety.

The persistent presence of depression or anxiety can make us want to give up. We begin to wonder, “What’s the use?” The slow fade of hope and heavy weight of dark emotions make our suffering more intense. In a broken world, it’s impossible to completely eradicate depression and anxiety, but we can have hope and find meaning amid our struggle. This hope becomes more tangible with a concrete plan and support from friends.

Depression and Anxiety is a step-by-step, biblically rooted plan that can be used as a personal study, with a counselor, or in a group. Participants will learn to bring their hardships to God, steward their body well, and pursuing a meaningful life even when they feel depressed or anxious. Hambrick emphasizes the importance of understanding the interplay between suffering and sin and provides practical tools to address emotional struggles while encouraging spiritual growth.

9-step model helps participants understand the struggles that accompany depression and anxiety and gives actionable strategies for overcoming with the hope of the gospel. In-depth resource for churches and individuals to use for support groups to address depression and anxiety in a faith-filled and healing way. A resource in the Church-Based Counseling series, built on the G4 model of subject-specific, lay-led counseling groups, designed to help churches create sustainable lay counseling ministries.

1. Opening Credits
2. STEP 1: Starting a Hard Journey on Empty | Part 1: Beginning Well
3. Part 2: Labeling Depression-Anxiety: Sin or Suffering?
4. STEP 2: Facing the Pain Without Running Away | Part 1: Naming Our Struggle
5. Part 2: Seeing Our Struggle in Real Time
6. Part 3: Considering Suffering, Motives, and Depression-Anxiety
7. STEP 3: Why Does Depression-Anxiety Hurt So Badly? | Part 1: Factors That Add to the Impact of Depression-Anxiety
8. Part 2: Changes in Lifestyle That Add to the Impact of Depression-Anxiety
9. Part 3: The Impact of Depression-Anxiety on Your Family and Friends
10. STEP 4: Is My Depression-Anxiety Becoming Who I Am? | Part 1: How We Narrate Our Lives
11. Part 2: Five Things My Depression-Anxiety Might Be Saying
12. Part 3: Five More Things My Depression-Anxiety Might Be Saying
13. Part 4: How to Articulate Your Suffering Story
14. STEP 5: God, Can We Rest on This Journey? | Part 1: What Are You Mourning?
15. Part 2: Differentiating Mourning from Wallowing
16. Part 3: Learning How to Mourn
17. STEP 6: Confronting Hard Emotions in a Redemptive Story | Part 1: Who Am I Now? Who and Where Is God?
18. Part 2: What Should I Expect from My Friends? If This Is Suffering, What Is Sin?
19. Part 3: Is Hope Worth Disappointment? What Am I Living For?
20. STEP 7: Reclaiming My Life from Depression-Anxiety | Part 1: Preparing a Short-Term Response Plan
21. Part 2: Preparing a Long-Term Response Plan
22. Part 3: Managing a Balanced Life
23. Part 4: Planning to Pursue Joy
24. Part 5: Strengthening Your Soul
25. STEP 8: Climbing When the Road Becomes Long, More Than Steep | Part 1: Spotting Marks of a New, Healthier Normal
26. Part 2: Preparing for Your Transition from G4
27. STEP 9: What Comes After Depression-Anxiety? | Part 1: Nine Questions to Steward Your Life for God’s Glory
28. Appendix A: A Word to G4 Group Leaders
29. Appendix B: Six Steps to Wise Decision-Making About Psychotropic Medications
30. Appendix C: Response Plan for Suicidal Ideations
31. Closing Credits