Feeling depressed?

[sculleywr]

Depression is a disease... The mind can't turn off sadness chemical in the brain... Nothing but sad memories and all...

Need Prozac, the antidepressant drugs to make the brain turn on
happy chemical in the brain.... make you feel a little high.

I wasn't talking about clinical depression. In case you hadn't noticed, every condition can be found in one's spiritual life.

Cyber, Teresh is right about Christians who are clinically depressed. It really doesn't matter, getting your spiritual life straightened out doesn't mean you get your physical body straightened out as well. Depression strikes everyone from teenagers to senile adults (Lewis, et al, 2004). It doesn't play games with spiritual matters, although, God can, of course, heal depression. I have met Jew, Gentile, Christian Atheist, all of which have people who are clinically depressed. Depression is a hormone/neurotransmitter disorder, not a spiritual one (Myers, 2005)

Sources: Roger Myers, An Introduction to Psychology, 2005.
Life 5th ed., by Ricki Lewis et al McGraw Hill, 2004.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

This is a really a hard topic for me, and it's one of several reasons I don't adhere to traditional Christian beliefs and left the church a long time ago.

I suffer from depression, anxiety, and I have an eating disorder. In my mind, these things aren't my fault. I have not "sinned", simply because I have these disorders. I also don't believe I'm filled with the devil, either. I suffer from illnesses that are biological in nature and are triggered by environmental factors. It's NOT my fault, nor is it the other person's fault for suffering from a similiar ailment such as bipolar disorder, OCD, or something else.

I've been exposed to Christians in my daily walk of life who would try to tell me that by acting on my eating disorder, I wasn't honoring God's temple , and therefore I've sinned. Well, gee! Thank you for making me feel even more guilty for something I already feel bad about in the first place!

This negative notwithstanding, I've also been to churches at times in my life when I was borderline suicidal, and it has helped give me hope. But, that was probably due to the fellowship I found amongst the people i was with. Whatever the reason, it helped.

I don't knock church completely. I think a person should do whatever works for them, but I don't believe Christianity is the THE ANSWER for everything or everyone. Don't knock a person for choosing a secular approach to their problem.

Mental illness is not a sin.

 

[FreedummyRing]

People cause me stress and make me feel depress. That is why
I most of the time stay away from people because they
worried the hell out of me, especially men, ugh.

 

[guido]

I feel significantly dumber after reading this thread.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

I wasn't talking about clinical depression. In case you hadn't noticed, every condition can be found in one's spiritual life.

Cyber, Teresh is right about Christians who are clinically depressed. It really doesn't matter, getting your spiritual life straightened out doesn't mean you get your physical body straightened out as well. Depression strikes everyone from teenagers to senile adults (Lewis, et al, 2004). It doesn't play games with spiritual matters, although, God can, of course, heal depression. I have met Jew, Gentile, Christian Atheist, all of which have people who are clinically depressed. Depression is a hormone/neurotransmitter disorder, not a spiritual one (Myers, 2005)

Sources: Roger Myers, An Introduction to Psychology, 2005.
Life 5th ed., by Ricki Lewis et al McGraw Hill, 2004.

So, that being said, why is it that Christians try to blame it on a sinful nature? And, don't me they don't. I've had Christians try to shame me for my disorders. They will either directly say or imply that my disorders are a sin against God.

WTF?

It's more than upsetting to hear.

 

[FreedummyRing]

I feel significantly dumber after reading this thread.

I feel the same way too, ugh.

People!!!! This stupid war and everything... why people can't
just get along... and stop blaming God for everything....

 

[Teresh]

Everythin' you say is your contribute via opinions. You can not change what I believe in. You were wrong about me not bein' a compassionate Christian. In fact, you don't know me personally in real life. Attack me anytime, if you feel like, but I don't attempt to attack you in every thread you post for your different beliefs.

No, you only attack me in the ones where I say Jesus isn't God.

Mental illness and epilepsy were usually associated with demonic powers.

That was because we did not undertand them or seriously study them at the time. There was once a time where we thought if we attached leeches to a person's skin they would get better. We now know that that doesn't work. We have moved past the time of our ignorance of mental illness and into the time of knowledge of it. It is counter-intuitive, indeed, morally WRONG to attempt to backslide into the time of ignorance where we use superstition to treat understandable, observable psychological phenomena that we otherwise know how to treat. We know what the problem is and how it actually needs to be treated rather than the superstitious ways of the past that usually did not work anyway.

You're suggesting that we should rely on superstition rather than logic and reason to treat depression. That is not compassionate, it is detestable.

Soo, please ACCEPT what I believe in.

There is a such thing as a belief which is incorrect. Your assertion that Christianity heals mental illness is such a belief because it contradicts logic and reason.

Can God heal such things? Absolutely. But science and medicine have taught us that we are also capable of it and that it is reprehensible for us to squander and refuse to use that knowledge.

 

[FreedummyRing]

I like Teresh's theory.

 

[deafdyke]

I don't think you can solve or cure depression with Christianity.

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!! It's as messed up as saying that Scinencetology can solve or cure depression and or other mental illnesses.

 

[FreedummyRing]

cyberred, people lose faith, and so let them rely on medication and all.
Just like Jesus tried to get someone to walk on water, but lose faith
and kept sinking.

 

[sculleywr]

This is a really a hard topic for me, and it's one of several reasons I don't adhere to traditional Christian beliefs and left the church a long time ago.

I suffer from depression, anxiety, and I have an eating disorder. In my mind, these things aren't my fault. I have not "sinned", simply because I have these disorders. I also don't believe I'm filled with the devil, either. I suffer from illnesses that are biological in nature and are triggered by environmental factors. It's NOT my fault, nor is it the other person's fault for suffering from a similiar ailment such as bipolar disorder, OCD, or something else.

I've been exposed to Christians in my daily walk of life who would try to tell me that by acting on my eating disorder, I wasn't honoring God's temple , and therefore I've sinned. Well, gee! Thank you for making me feel even more guilty for something I already feel bad about in the first place!

This negative notwithstanding, I've also been to churches at times in my life when I was borderline suicidal, and it has helped give me hope. But, that was probably due to the fellowship I found amongst the people i was with. Whatever the reason, it helped.

I don't knock church completely. I think a person should do whatever works for them, but I don't believe Christianity is the THE ANSWER for everything or everyone. Don't knock a person for choosing a secular approach to their problem.

Mental illness is not a sin.

I agree whole-heartedly with your POV. There is a huge difference between mental illnesses and demonic possession. God didn't bless people with great ideas to help mankind and force them to not act on those ideas. These researchers who discover new drugs that can aid or cure diseases are absolutely marvelous at what they do. The psychologists who help people who have mental illnesses are extremely blessed. If I went to a church who told me that I was sinning by having migraines (my number one issue right now, feeling like my head got run over by a freight train), I would never return. You could email Tennessee Temple and ask for the psychology head, Mr Elliot. Actually, the mental illness that would be closest to possession would be paranoid schizophrenia. However, there are major differences betweenthat and possession. Tell those Christians who think you are possessed that they need to check their scriptures.

 

[sculleywr]

So, that being said, why is it that Christians try to blame it on a sinful nature? And, don't me they don't. I've had Christians try to shame me for my disorders. They will either directly say or imply that my disorders are a sin against God.

WTF?

It's more than upsetting to hear.

All disease, not just mental illness, ties into the original sin. It is a result of Adam's sin, as is the sin nature of man. It is not a result of the sin nature, it is in the same package as the sin nature. saying that would be like saying that the motherboard's functioning is a result of the monitor turning on. Now, the people who say that mental illness is a punishment for your own sin, or a sin in itself, are, sadly, a dangerous minority of Christians.

 

[sculleywr]

There was once a time where we thought if we attached leeches to a person's skin they would get better.

Well, maybe they should have checked the Bible on theat one. It says that "the life is in the blood."

 

[sculleywr]

I don't think you can solve or cure depression with Christianity.

not except for some rare cases. Just like you can't cure alcoholism every time with Christianity. It is kind of amazing where this thread went. TO think a joke would turn into a possession/mental illness debate.

 

[sculleywr]

Right now, I don't feel severely depress myself...
I did ask God to help me feel better mentally.
And I didn't take any medication.
Right now I just feel so relax now.

Some things do bother me is the gas price ugh, this war ugh,
fear of some people holding grudges and trying to sabotage me....

But soon I hope to overcome all through Jesus.

Well, I have a similar story, with a smaller disability.

 

[christlovedeaf]

I am dissappointed in someway what some christians teaches, like after the "healing" and still has problem meant you have no faith or lack of it, to me, that's NOT scriptural and also using as demon possess, its not always so. Those who are severely depressed and judging them or look down on them whatever you look at them, its a very dangerous thing and you will be accountable for discouraging them deeper. I have met several christians going thru all kinds of depression and I have some too, but not severely like some has. I should be minister, tho Jesus healed each peron at His time, but as for us, we suppose to minster and edify and feel apart of and some way they do want to be alone, but must be watch for if a person do much more harm in themselves. Yes, God can heal each fo them and God also provide and lead each what ever He leads them to go. Joyce Meyers been thru that and took her a while and other, one of the gospel artist going thru that also. Each of them took days and years. Each has differences. There is no reason to use time frame for you think others should have the same. No, they don't. Those who have gone thru that is a hard work and should pray for those who suffer and make them feel apart with you. Many going thru bitterness and anger bec what many has done to that person lead the person more deeper pain. Like I said, it is very serious. Do have chrsitian rehab, Joyce Meyers has a place for them and many has been going thru healing process. Its in St Louis, I think.

 

[darkangel8603]

My mother side of the family is a strong believer in god. Catholic family. But many of my mom's side have depression. it is passed on. Unfortunally I am one of those because of bipolar. Those who claim that i am sinning because of my bipolar, should go to hell!!

 

[deafdyke]

Just like you can't cure alcoholism every time with Christianity.

You can cure alcoholism and drug addiction......it's simple....just don't drink or do drugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, and Joyce Meyer is just another big name....just like Joel Osteen or Benny Hinn.....the only diffy is that she's more about the happy self help sort of deal, rather then miraculous PRAISE JEESUS cures.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

I agree whole-heartedly with your POV. There is a huge difference between mental illnesses and demonic possession. God didn't bless people with great ideas to help mankind and force them to not act on those ideas. These researchers who discover new drugs that can aid or cure diseases are absolutely marvelous at what they do. The psychologists who help people who have mental illnesses are extremely blessed. If I went to a church who told me that I was sinning by having migraines (my number one issue right now, feeling like my head got run over by a freight train), I would never return. You could email Tennessee Temple and ask for the psychology head, Mr Elliot. Actually, the mental illness that would be closest to possession would be paranoid schizophrenia. However, there are major differences betweenthat and possession. Tell those Christians who think you are possessed that they need to check their scriptures.

I wasn't talking solely of possession, but that's one view. I was referring to sin in general. I've been told by someone that because I was a practicing compulsive overeater/bulimic ( and still am from time to time), I was/am a sinner. The reasoning being that I wasn't taking care of the body God gave me, so therefore, I sinned against God.

Whatever. I haven't had contact with these people in years, and I don't plan on having contact with like minded people ever again.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

All disease, not just mental illness, ties into the original sin. It is a result of Adam's sin, as is the sin nature of man. It is not a result of the sin nature, it is in the same package as the sin nature. saying that would be like saying that the motherboard's functioning is a result of the monitor turning on. Now, the people who say that mental illness is a punishment for your own sin, or a sin in itself, are, sadly, a dangerous minority of Christians.

You lost me, but whatever. I disagree with your first statement, anyway. I don't believe sin causes diseases.