[Hopefull]

I have lots of questions about anti-depressants.
Religion: Christianity. If the word of God is sufficient, how does God feel about me seeking help from a T? What is His views on anti-depressants? I suspect He wants me to go on an anti-depressant. But, it seems weird to me. Some people try to say that one should trust God and not fear. One should have hope in God and not get depressed. I think there is a kernal of truth in this. But, I think that it is an oversimplification of trust vs. fear, hope vs. depression. But, I am still unclear on how to make my religion and belief in therapy into a reasonable world view.
If my moods can be changed with a drug, then am I nothing more than the sum of the functions of my brain? Does this leave room for a soul? Would anti-depressants interfere with my relationship with Jesus Christ? My relationship with HIm means a lot to me. I don't want to hurt my ability to be sensitive to His leading with a drug.
What are the long-term effects of taking an anti-depressant? I will probably try to talk to T about this. However, I tend to not even feel able to bring up the subject of anti-depressants. So, she has brought it up twice. She quite clearly wants me to do something more than just talk to her and keep having trouble sleeping.

[LMo]

Hi Hopeful. I hope you don't mind me replying to this, even though we do not share the same religious beliefs.

Having taken anti-depressants on and off for a year and a half now, I would like to assure you that they do NOT interfere with your beliefs or spirituality. They don't change you as a person. They just make things less of a struggle, so that your sessions with your T are helpful in the long-term instead of just getting you through each day.

I encourage you to do some more research and keep an open mind. Anti-depressants aren't the answer for everybody, and they aren't always necessary for the long term.

Hang in there,
LMo

Hey Hopeful...I struggled for a time with some of these very issues..we are made up of spirit, soul(mind and emotions, and body..If our teeth are hurting us we go to a dentist, our bodies ill, we go to a doctor..I believe the same thing with emotional/mental health issues, we go to a psychiatrist, therapist, whomever in the mental health field that helps us..If I had a medical condition that required meds, let's say insulin for diabetes, that would'nt be consided bad...it's the same with anti-depressants..taking medication cannot separate you from Christ..also, being on medicine does not mean forever..

[(JD)]

IMO through study, I believe that God has given us doctors, and has given the doctors the ability to learn and study to help with maladies such as depression. While a strong faith can be an asset in getting through life, per se, sometimes we are asked to have faith in the ppl God puts into our lives to help us (i.e. doctors) rather than rely upon ourselves and our relationship directly with Him.

Depression is a medical illness. Do you have the same beliefs regarding taking medicine for a headache, or diabetes?

We are an imperfect human being. God created us perfect, but you know the story..things went differently due to man's free will. What we have is imperfect bodies that become sick, unbalanced and difficult. Allowing God to use others and medicines to help us is a good thing, imo. TC!

[eskielover]

Hopefull,

Your question is a good normal question to ask when our minds are involved. It looks like my answer is similar to that of the others. When we have an illness or other problems in our lives, I have always felt that God puts people & things into our life to help us get through our problems. It is our choice to use them or not, but they have been put there for us to use if we choose. I know I had problems with how to deal with suicidal thoughts/feelings. That was a real tough one & don't know why it even happened. Looking back, it was a feeling that I never would have guessed would have ever been part of my thinking.....but after getting through it, I have been able to talk to others who have felt similar to me & try to help them put their thoughts together.....where I had no one to talk to about my feelings. I think that sometimes we are given situations to experience ourselves possibly to be a help to someone else down life's path.

We also have to be responsible to realize whether the help really works or not. I know that I have horrible side effects & allergies to things that have been put into my life to help me, & I have to sort through what helps & what doesn't. It is a tough job. Our beliefs are the same no matter what we take or do. We may have times where we experience something that is completely off our normal path, but that too can make us more knowedgable in the long run.

Life is tough, but it seems to me that in the long run, it will all come together. I am still waiting....but that doesn't mean that it won't happen.

Debbie

[Maven]

I'm not Christian, but two things the Bible says: God created everything (including the medications, good and bad), and, "God helps those who help themselves." And LMo is right...the drugs do not change your beliefs.

[(JD)]

("And God saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good." Genesis 1:31. He didn't create the bad.) The other quote isn't in the Bible.

But the spirit of your point is a good one Maven.

Why not give the medicines a try? You can, after really trying them, always change your mind later. TC

there is a good book by Sheila Walsh who talks about this issue i believe, but basically...they took medication from the days of Christ to relive pain. For me, its not any different.

[Maven]

Sky, I won't get into a religious debate with you here, since it's off-topic, but I wasn't quoting in that first thing I said. The Bible does say that God created all things in another part of the Bible, and it says He (using the Bible's gender for God) created evil: "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." (Isaiah 45:7) As for your quote, I don't interpret that as meaning those things were created in goodness, but that they were created well. You can't have good without evil. If you don't know what evil is, you can't know what good is, and vice versa.

[jennie]

It sounds like you desire and need Christian counseling. Have you talked with a trusted clergy?

If you can, I recommend you find a psychologist (masters or doctorate degree) who does Christian counseling. Look in the yellow pages of the phone book or call local churches asking for a referral. Usually these types of therapists will pray with you in the counseling session. Some pray alone before and/or after the session. Usually Christian counselors are licensed family therapists too.

you wrote:
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Some people try to say that one should trust God and not fear. One should have hope in God and not get depressed.

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These ideals originate from Jesus' parables of "Do not worry . . ." (Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 12:22-34)
Those passages are meant to inspire and give hope to the weary or depressed. These aren't rules. These ideals are learned and practiced.

(note: Jesus didn't worry because he didn't own anything. He gave up having: bills, a house, kids, a wife, and stuff. He walked all over the place just preaching. Not everyone is called to that lifestyle.)

Clinical depression is a severe form of depression or feelings of sadness. Clinical depression affects all major areas of functioning. It will cause you not to have enough energy to pray or attend church or read bible. It doesn't mean you are not a Christian because you can't do so. It means you have an illness. Fortunately, you don't need a miracle for clinical depression. You can find help by talking to a trained professional.

Do you needs meds to help your depression? Maybe and maybe not . . . only you can know the answer to that question.

If you are feeling like you want to hurt yourself or someone else, then maybe meds is a good option.

(((((Huggs)))))) You'll figure this stuff out in due time. I hope you find a trusted Christian counselor to help you along the way.

[Rhapsody]

As a Christian for 21 years and a person with emotional issues that has required medication for the last 10 years...... I can honestly say that GOD is ok with you using Rx and seeing a T - - - they had great counselor’s back then and they had medicine (more natural) that many used when Jesus walked the earth.
Please be good to yourself and seek the help you need right now to enable you to get better and not weaker..... for Satan seek to devour the weak.

BTW - - - while God did not create the medicine per say...... He did give man the knowledge to be able to develop the medicine. For all God did make was good...... he stated what he created - the rest has come about by mankind, some good some bad.


LoVe,
Rhapsody -

P.S.
On a personal level..... have you prayed about all of this and then sit quietly for His answer?

[SeptemberMorn]

I have a few of questions for YOU; if you had diabetes, would you take insuling? If you had cancer, would you get chemo/radiation? If you were in an accident and bleeding with broken bones, would you seek medical help?

In Jesus' day, depression, bi-polar, etc. were considered "evil spirits". We know differently now! Jesus isn't here to lay hands on us. The age of true miracles is over. We now have science. Use it!

I am a Christian. I am on anti-depressants. Believe me, it DOES NOT interfere with my relations with Jesus. The anti-depressants help me to see things as they really are and how Jesus loves me, takes care of me and answers my prayers DAILY.

[(JD)]

God made the plants. Do you think He didn't know the medicinal values of the plants, or do you believe He made them that way? Medicines have their base in plants.

To ignore what science has given us though the use of what God gave us, is a choice. One needs huge faith to counter evil through faith alone (faith that God doesn't want you to use anything else, faith that God's answer for you does not involve others.)

That faith doesn't exist here for you...as you needed to inquire, and needed our input to assist you. My medicine for you is my words based upon my God-given knowledge and wisdom. Is accepting someone's developed pill any different?

TC!

[Rapunzel]

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Fortunately, you don't need a miracle for clinical depression. You can find help by talking to a trained professional.

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Yup, and who says that having access to a trained professional who has the ability to help and provide you with treatment isn't a miracle?


Rap

i'd take a miracle any day over taking a pill too.

[Hopefull]

Cool responses. I hope I can get the guts to bring up the subject and actually explain some of my reservations rather than sit there and say one word responses like the last time. But, the thought of anti-depressants makes me want to sit and stare at the wall. I'm sick of starring at the wall or ceiling everytime sometime stressful happens. (I'm in a bad mood because of a book about the subject of guilt that I found. I am curious to see what they say for guilt that is caused by overly high expectations for one's self.)

[razeljenny]

Hopeful, for certain times in my history I took more medicine than other times. You would be amazed at the growing that has taken place in my life. I am also a believer. I want to let you know that to grow, you can trust the meds, (especially a script that is taylored for your mental condition) I mean no harm, but please stop moralizing so much about medicines that will improve you existance. I no longer take the lithium or the Depakote but for a long time I was on them and they were very very helpful. I also took Thorizine for 4 years and it was a life saver for me. I had some past experiences that needed talk therapy, time and growth. The medicane was able to bridge me to the sucessfulness I have now. I have less than a year to graduate from a community college and a teenage son that is now very proud of me. I learned Journalism, and never believed that God would free me from MY STIGMA of bad mental illness. Right now I could care less about any stigma. I love me and yes love me even though YES, I AM DiFFEReNT. I am proud of myself and Faith Bible Fellowship is VERY PROUD of me for trying to rise about my mental illness, (which I told them about with no fear, because I believed Jesus would protect my feelings from some STIGMATIZATION) and he really did because I just don't care anymore what people think about me and if they think something not good about me, it comes from the devil Anyway, so why let it get me down!

[Hopefull]

Way to go!

[(JD)]

IMO dump the guilt (regardless of the book) and get the meds

[Danialla]

I have dealt with my mental illness (severe depression w/psychotic features) off and on for 30+ years. I was 13 when I fell into my first major depression and my first suicidal depression and subsequent hospitalization was when I was only 16 yrs old .

My second doctor (My 1st was a real goof......had him my first 3 months in the hospital) .

Anyway, my 2nd doctor was a born again Christian...........and a more wonderful man I will never meet. He cared for me like a daughter and quite literally saved my life. He gave, and managed, the medication I so desperately needed.

When he moved away I tried to live a Christian life, and for some reason........definitely not from him, began to believe that being "really" Christian meant trusting God enough and living without medication.

How sad.........I lost so many good years by stopping my medication when I felt better and waiting (and praying) before starting it again. But you know what.......I still didn't believe I had a real "illness" until my youngest child (of 4) developed the same illness, at the same age, that I have....

Well actually.....I still didn't REALLY, REALLY BELIEVE until in a Christmas card to my old doctor I finally admitted that I still struggled with my depression and that now my youngest seemed to have the same thing.

He wrote back that what I and my daughter had was a "biological brain disorder".........That our illness was no different than any other illness that strikes the body and requires help (medication, surgery, etc.) to manage. He pointed out too, that God's hand is in all the new medications out there to treat this illness.

He is right!!!! The medications have improved dramatically since I was first diagnosed. Back then the only class of meds were "Major Tranquilizers" and the treatment of choice for "suicidal depression" was ECT...........yes I had that too at 16 (with that dreaded 1st doctor.)

I am sorry this is so long.........but please believe that God has his hand in everything that helps us.

Take care.

[desirae]

I really wish there was something useful I could add, but to be honest religion and I aren't a couple. But I do want to say that believing and accepting your own beliefs and you knowing what God prefers for personally is what matters.

[Rhapsody]

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desirae said:
I really wish there was something useful I could add, but to be honest religion and I aren't a couple. But I do want to say that believing and accepting your own beliefs and you knowing what God prefers for personally is what matters.

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I understand..... but I personally feel that people go wrong when they place their faith in a RELIGION (a mere building) and not that of CHRIST.
He cannot be contained with in the walls of a building or with in the personal beliefs of people.

..................... does that make sense to YOU?


LoVe,
Rhapsody -

[Maven]

Religion isn't a building. Religion means, "a belief in a deity or deities."

[Rhapsody]

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Maven said:
Religion isn't a building. Religion means, "a belief in a deity or deities."

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I understand that Maven (smiles) – but what I was trying to say is that people some times put their own belief into what is being taught to others with in the walls of a building....The RELIGION to me (and) they often fail to see what CHRIST is really all about… the FAITH part to me, that which lies with in my heart and not stones.


LoVe,
Rhapsody - ((( hugs )))

[(JD)]

imo