Even if he is “a” Bishop, unless he is “your” Bishop,
please disregard what he has said and do not converse any more with him about
your struggles. If he wants to talk to you about it, tell him you have
decided that is not in your best interest to converse with him and stick to
that decision. Please find someone else to talk to — preferably someone
with training.

Depression is best treated when you hit from every angle that you can.
Diet, exercise, medication and maybe some talk therapy can all help you.
But what you don’t need is advice from anyone who is not trained or lacks
empathy.

Sin can cause despair, but not all despair comes from sin. Please try to
remember that our Savior is always there and willing to carry our burdens with
us. The trouble with a depressed person, the ability to “feel”
the Savior’s love often grows faint.

I now recognize that I had my first bout of depression when I was about
nine. There were life events that triggered that episode. And every
bout since then has also had a trigger. There are things I can do to make
it better, but I sometimes need more than remembering to “read my scriptures,
say my prayers and attend my meetings.”

If you broke your leg, nobody would expect you to walk on it. But when your serotonin levels are messed up
or other physical conditions mess with how your brain works, many expect you to
pretend all is well.

I will pray for you as I pray daily for myself and others who carry this heavy
burden.