SoulPancake / Conversations / Is depression an illness or a mindset? And does faith help?

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My son suffers terribly with depression and we've tried just about every approach imaginable to help. Everyone is different, so there is no one "fix" that applies to all. The stigma connected with depression and mental illness can be wicked, but I believe that listening, caring, understanding and generally sticking close to that person is a huge help. Maybe we are channeling some higher force when we recognize we're all in it together. We're trying supplements right now, along with allergy shots ... not a cure, but we are seeing some small improvements over time. Hang in there everyone!

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Depression is an illness that needs more than just spirituality/religion to cure it. They help, certainly, but you need therapy, too, and perhaps medication to help control/conquer it. I have been clinically depressed with suicidal thoughts, and I finally sought treatment several years ago. I was determined to help myself, because everyone needs to love herself before she can love anyone else. Depending on the severity of your depression, I would disagree that you can't cure it. Start from here: love and know yourself. That is where healing begins.

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I think it's a combination of factors - I believe that positive thinking and attitudes can create long term changes, but I also think that in some cases it's like telling someone with low blood sugar that thinking sweet thoughts will work as well as eating a cookie. I've known people who've survived because of their faith, I've seen others who believed that the powers-that-be hated them and it added to their depression.

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I think that it could be a chemical imbalance, but I also believe we have the power to heal ourselves. Read "The Biology of Belief". I also think most people are just too wrapped up in themselves. Get up, get out & do something for another human being. Sometimes action alone can get you out of your own self. If you don't feel like crawling out of bed, do it anyway! Fake it till you make it.I must admit that on occasion I will give myself an itty bitty pity party, but I give myself a limit on how long I will feel sorry for myself. Find joy in something small. A beautiful flower, a warm bed and a soft pillow. Practice gratitude. You'll get there-just take a step........

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Please read Eckhart Tolle's books if you have not done so. He himself was severely depressed and suicidal at the very moment of his own spiritual awakening. I've since read other books that lead me to believe that those of us who struggle with depression, whether it is chronic or episodic, are often closer to having a spiritual awakening than one might think. I am not advocating that you turn to religion per se, only that you make an attempt to find that stillness inside of yourself that we all have access to. I am a novice at mediation, but have already experienced it's benefits and I sincerely hope that you will consider this option for yourself. Another book that really brought these ideas home to me was Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. She describes her own devastating depression and admits to taking anti-depressants for awhile to treat it. Eventually through meditation--among other spiritual adventures--she doesn't need the meds any more and doesn't struggle with the depression either. I'm sure the answers are different for everyone. I hope that you are able to find respite from the depression one day.

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as a second year pysc student i can tell you without a doubt that the majority of major depression cases are cause my chemical imbalances in the brain. Which can be treated by drugs, other cases are genetic meaning your predisposed to depression, this can also be helped with medication and treatment, and it usually triggered by a stressful life event. If its a common bout of depression that almost every person faces at there life in sometime, then its more of a mind set, or a minor chemical imbalance. As far as i know as an agnostic, there is no religious help for any physiological abnormality. and to look for one to me is foolishness

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Having struggled with depression myself, I would lean more towards the "mindset that unbalances your system". And I also found that I had to willingly set aside/forget certain aspects of my faith in Jesus to engage in that mindset, which then fed on itself. Again, that is just my personal perspective. I refuse to discount that our mucking about with the environment might cause the chemical imbalances from birth, or that dysfunctional family life might provide the environment to bring about the imbalances at a point so early that a child has no choice but to fall into this illness. Could I ask if anyone knows of proven cases of clinical depression in infants/toddlers -- or is this mainly an illness that manifests with self-awareness?

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According to the school pf psychoanalytic thought, depression stems from the time of approximately 6 months of age. At this age, the ego has developed far enough to recognize that there is a "me" and a "you". The "you" usually being the mother or primary caretaker. If this relationship is disappointing, then a lifelong depression may ensue. It is like having a broken heart which never heals- and what is complicating is that this knowledge has been banned to the subconscious so it is not realized. If one can get back to those memories and the emotional state one had as a 6 month old during psychotherapy (which means finding access to it in the subconscious: making what is subconscious conscious) - the depression heals. It happened to me. I can imagine that faith in Jesus or God feels good because it makes that "you" more predictable, reliable, and good. I think however that psychoanalysis is the way to go, for those who want to embark on this very long and tough journey. Most people don`t - popping a pill is so much easier and cheaper.

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I was pulled out of a three-year depression by two events: 1) I became a father, which gave me a purpose. 2) I discovered Buddhism, which started me on a quest for spiritual enlightenment. I'm going on 10 years since my last true depression. Whatever faith you subscribe to, I suggest you study it, get to know it, and make it your own. Come to terms with all of the questions that have been bugging you. Don't be afraid to voice your doubts and fears, and find a way to overcome them, even if it means bending the rules of your particular belief system. Religions don't occur in a vacuum--they evolve from earlier forms, just like everything else.

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I beleive that haveing religious faith, being involved in higher purpose type of work that is related to your faith, keeps you from getting depressed. I think depression comes from caring too much about self related minucia (did I spell it correctly?), in other words, EGO.

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My mom suffers from depression, and a lot of it stems from events that happened in her childhood. I think it can be overcome, but it takes a lot of hard work on the part of the individual. Counseling is a very effective tool, but you need to be sure that you find a Christian counselor, because someone who does not know the Bible might advise something that is not good for you.

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I was depressed, or something remarkably like it for seven years. I didn't have a reason for it. I just... I was compulsively suicidal (I literally was not in control of my actions and I didn't want to die but I couldn't control myself and I'd find myself doing things and wonder how the knife got in my hand or why all my meds were in front of me...). I tried all sorts of medications and anti-depressants and meditations and therapies... Support groups, one-on-one therapy, telling no one, telling everyone, self harm, risk taking and throughout it all I prayed for healing, knowing God could save me but not understanding why he didn't. I've been labelled Repressive Schizophrenic, clinically depressed, bipolar, mental epilepsy, BPD B-Cluster, attention-seeking, anxiety disorder and half a dozen other things. No one could figure out why I was the way I was and nothing was helping. Seven years down the track I was addicted to anti-depressents and my medication for "mental epilepsy". I had nothing going for me and I had no idea how to get better and I couldn't even remember what better felt like. I couldn't remember the last time I hadn't faked a smile. And I beat it. Because of my faith. And because I let people love me and work with me who were actually helpful. I couldn't have done it alone anymore and I couldn't have done it without them. They kept me safe while I went off all my meds and helped me find happy without them. I'm not saying it works for everyone but I'm saying that I do not believe in a God who wants you to take drugs everyday to be balanced. I believe God healed me when I realised it wasn't going to be an overnight thing and when I was really finally actually willing to commit to myself and my recovery. It was hard and horrible and not something I'd ever want to relive but... Next month is my 2 year hospital free anniversary. August is my 2 year drug free anniversary. And my last "attack" is 2 years ago this December - I beat it without meds!!! And yes I'm counting! Wouldn't you be? So there's hope, my friend. There is always hope. And it is, above faith and it is above love, to me. It is the most important thing. It is the light in the dark and if you have hope, you can find faith and through faith love and then slowly but surely and most definitely painfully, you can take a few steps on the long winding road to recovery.

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Clinical depression is an illness that can be treated with the right medication. However, your faith or whatever else is important to you on that level can help you get help, which is more important than any pill you can take.

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I was depressed too. Tried a bunch of different meds with little or no effect, until I got to Fluoxetin (closely related to Prozac). Now I finally understand why they call em happy pills. I know some people object to drugging yourself happy, but really I'm just happy to be happy and screw how I got here. Life is short and I'll be damned if I'm gonna suffer one second more through it than I have to.

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Both. There are multiple kinds of depression. (And "mindsets" are just as physical as illnesses anyway.) Anyone doing diagnosis who tells you it's all one or the other should be avoided (if you can). Best practices in treating clinical depression / unipolar disorder indicates that a combination of therapy and medication is the best way to go. Either alone is slightly better than neither but tends to lead to long term dependence. Research also suggests that like meditation, both prayer and being a part of a religious community can help - so long as the religion doesn't demand you deny that depression is a real and serious thing with non faith causes (e.g., Christian Science and Scientology don't help).

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Depression is both in my opinion. Depression becomes an illness when it consumes you everyday. Things like relationships can leave you depressed for extended periods of time, but eventually that fades. Unfortunately, the illness never fades unless it is diagnosed and treated as such. I'm not saying go straight for the pills though. Sometimes admitting your depressed and acknowledging the battle you have ahead of you can be enough to cope with it until you find the help that best fits your needs. Faith will not cure your depression. I am a Christian, but I don't believe finding religion fixes everyone's problems. It will, however, allow you to find a comforting support network that can introduce you to people with the exact same problems as you. It really is comforting to know that you are in the company of others who struggle with the same burdens. Hang in there if you are depressed. It gets better.

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personally i think its a mindset..i have been depressed before. maybe not full blown depressed..i have been in therapy for it and given meds. i did become more positive and happier..thanks to faith and hope. i constantly think "always smile because you never know who will fall in love with it".

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Depression is a mental illness. Treatment depends on the mindset. Find the positives in your life and put your faith in them. Be thankful for them and consider the "bad" things that happen as a lesson to learn from. You must practice moving on after hitting bumpy roads. It gets easier. Medications can help your mindset change to look for and embrace the good things in life. Faith in a religion can also do this. It all depends on you. Everyone is important and here for a reason.

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It is an illness. Not all illnesses, physical or mental, require medication, but merely therapy or rest and taking care of oneself. Spirituality can help all kinds of illnesses, I think. Silly example maybe...but when I get my period, I really get physically sick. I have horrible cramps and migraine headaches. Many times they hit overnight, and what I like to do is say a healing prayer, so as to separate my myself from thinking solely on the physical pain, and in doing so, I allow myself to relax and get better. I also take Midol. : )

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I was diagnosed with Major depressive disorder. The only thing that helps me is far from the meds... its faith. Since I acquired faith my life has turned around and I'm way more calm cool and collected. Now that doesnt mean I'm using faith to blindly live, it means I'm using my faith to live life right. To live life like God would want me to...

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Is depression an illness or a mindset? And does faith help?

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I beleive that haveing religious faith, being involved in higher purpose type of work that is related to your faith, keeps you from getting depressed. I think depression comes from caring too much about self related minucia (did I spell it correctly?), in other words, EGO.

bkmiller

saraiwashere

permalost

Clinical depression is an illness that can be treated with the right medication. However, your faith or whatever else is important to you on that level can help you get help, which is more important than any pill you can take.

wirehangers

bjza

JDMEDFORD

smertzig

personally i think its a mindset..i have been depressed before. maybe not full blown depressed..i have been in therapy for it and given meds. i did become more positive and happier..thanks to faith and hope. i constantly think "always smile because you never know who will fall in love with it".

jetfrett

Sara

saralee09

Is depression an illness or a mindset? And does faith help?

I beleive that haveing religious faith, being involved in higher purpose type of work that is related to your faith, keeps you from getting depressed. I think depression comes from caring too much about self related minucia (did I spell it correctly?), in other words, EGO.

Clinical depression is an illness that can be treated with the right medication. However, your faith or whatever else is important to you on that level can help you get help, which is more important than any pill you can take.

personally i think its a mindset..i have been depressed before. maybe not full blown depressed..i have been in therapy for it and given meds. i did become more positive and happier..thanks to faith and hope. i constantly think "always smile because you never know who will fall in love with it".

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