does anyone else feel this way? I can't feel the presence of God. I'd like to!

I think that my mental illnesses and the medications for them have made it impossible for me to feel the presence of God. I sure would like to, and I miss it, but I haven't been able to for as long as I've been seriously and persistently mentally ill. I was an agnostic for a while, but I started going to church again, because I want what I used to have. Nothing happening. Frustrating. Anybody else feel this way?

Yes. Depression and other mental illnesses make it hard or impossible to feel anything good. Meds can dull feelings too. You're not alone.

Rapunzel, Thank you. I guess I hadn't thought about comparing my lack of being able to feel the presence of God with my not being able to feel any human caring about me, either. I think that my inability to feel that people care about me is from the PTSD but it could be from the other mental illnesses... It's funny - when I am told that someone cares about me (therapist, friend from church, etc.), I have to take their word for it because there's something wrong with me, that I can't feel cared for.

I absolutely agree, in fact, I am on a personal study and supposition that the area of "faith" in the mind/brainis located in the same areas that are affected by trauma, depression and of course the medications that act on that part of the brain.

Please don't be frustrated. We do have to live by faith, because some of that closeness just isn't felt with mental unwellness. Don't doubt in the dark what you knew to be true in the light.

Winny,

I believe is that sometimes we are so involved in our lives and wrapped up in every aspect of it that we do not take the time that is really needed to feel God

God sometimes has that soft suttle voice hard to hear sometimes because we have so much turmoil and confusion that we take the suttle voice and disregard it also.

As for feeling God the Lord says I will never forsake you ... meaning that he will always be there lying in wait ...

I do not post much anymore but I agree with Sky when it is all about FAITH -- believing in things we can not see or percieve in the real world but in the spiritual world everyhting is possible thru God

Take Care

Tymber

i understand completely im in the same shape i was once lead everything was going well then my family had issues about angels i had nervous breakdowns now i cant go to church or in christian book stores i have felt gods pressance i was healed from alcholoism somewhere i lost it i was doing wonderful after my breakdowns i was diagnosed with manic depressive bipolor ive lost friends and at the bottem my therapist told me to watch the secret i did i would recomend that

I feel that way too, winnetka.

Somebody brought up that "Footprints" poem on another site the other day and I felt comforted by that.

meta