Understanding Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Missionary’s Autobiographical Case Report

Authors

  • Hunter York

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15566/cjgh.v6i1.275

Keywords:

treatment resistant depression, suffering, missionary retention, empathy, transcendence

Abstract

As a career cross-cultural missionary in Southeast Asia, the author has seen first-hand and has personally experienced the devastating effects of colleagues, families, leaders, clinicians, and the sufferers themselves misunderstanding the symptoms and the reality of major depressive disorder, an increasing global health problem.  This autobiographical case report reflects on twenty years of treatment-resistant depression and a journey through pharmacological approaches, psychotherapy treatment, Christian prayer counselling, and electro convulsive therapy without improvement in this condition.  The primary concern is how to remain faithful and effective with this condition in a service-oriented occupation that requires regular emotional expenditure.  In lieu of effective conventional and non-conventional therapies, the remaining option is to find a way to manage chronic depression; identify personal trends, weaknesses, and triggers; and find a personalized way to live that minimizes the effects of the condition.  In any chronic, incurable disorder, the sufferer must inevitably come to terms with his or her reality and find peace in the acceptance of that reality.  By expressing the journey through treatment-resistant depression, the author encourages readers to persevere in ministry and to respond more appropriately to the afflicted with clearer understanding and empathy.  A companion article on mitigating depression symptoms through the spiritual discipline of identifying with Christ and His experience of human emotional pain during His passion is available.

 

Author Biography

Hunter York

The author has been a cross-cultural missionary in SE Asia for 33 years.  He runs a small rural mission and teaches church planting, contextualization and world religions at a local seminary in the country where he works.  He has been actively involved in missionary care and has pioneered research and an initiative to encourage the development of a non-western model for missionary care.  He has been married for 30 years and has four grown daughters who grew up in Philippines.

Because of the autobiographical natrure of the case report, the author is using the psuedonym, Hunter York, to protect privacy and for security in his field of work.  

References

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Published

2019-05-31

How to Cite

York, H. (2019). Understanding Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Missionary’s Autobiographical Case Report. Christian Journal for Global Health, 6(1), 43–50. https://doi.org/10.15566/cjgh.v6i1.275