Depression and/or anxiety

[carolynamom]

I realize this may have been posted before, in fact I'm sure it has, but I have a specific question. It may seem silly but it's bothered me for a long time.

I was first diagnosed with depression at 19 years old (I'm 34 now). I've tried almost every antidepressent on the market, and have been on and off them for years. I'm currently on Zoloft and it's working for now.

Here's my problem. My pastor has given sermons in the past on depression, and although he hasn't directly stated it, it's implied that a strong Christian shouldn't necessarily depend on medication to "cure" the problem. I end up questioning myself and my faith because I'm relying on the medicine and not the Lord to help with the problem.

I've prayed about this situation and I've even stopped the medicine and tried walking in faith, but I always end up back on it.

Is it wrong of me to stay on the zoloft? Can I not battle this condition with both the Lord's help and medicine?

[Vhayes]

Hi Carolynamom -

First off - welcome to the boards!! It's good to have you here.

Please know that what I am about to say is my opinion and I am in no way a medical professional. So, please, take my words as they are intended - and opinion only.

Our bodies and our minds are very complex. They are tied together in so many ways - what we eat effects our thoughts as does exercise and how we spend our professional and our leisure time. There are chemicals in our brains that keep us "evened out". Sometimes, due to any number of reasons, those chemicals can get out of whack and they needed "jolted" to become balanced again. Medication is a way to do that.

Years ago, people thought epileptics were demon possessed. Today, we know that isn't true - they have a brain malfunction that can be somewhat controlled with medication.

Depression is a very real illness. While I think some doctors are too quick to pass out the meds, I also think there are many times meds are the correct treatment.

Perhaps you can make an appointment to talk to your pastor and tell him your concerns. he might not have any idea how what he is saying is effecting you. Would he tell someone suffering from cancer to not have chemotherapy? Would he tell someone with kidney failure to not have dialysis?

Most importantly, talk to your heavenly Father. He knows you inside and out and will give you the assurance you need in your decision to either stay on the meds (and by the way, PLEASE DO NOT just stop taking them. Most antidepressants must be gradually decreased or the mind will really be thrown out of whack) or to talk to your doctor about not taking them any longer.

I hope this helps you a bit - I will be praying that the decision is crystal clear for you.
:hug: V

[carolynamom]

Thank you VHayes.

Perhaps there is a small part of me that holds on to the stigma of being on medicine to feel "normal" as well. After taking antidepressants for the last 16 years I'm beginning to think this might be an ongoing issue :hmm:.

Being a member of an Assembly of God church, there is a lot of emphasis healing. I'm just trying to balance out my need for the medication along with my faith in God.

[livingwaters]

V gave you sound advice...speak to your pastor....however; I'm here to tell you that the Lord can deliver us from any disease! So, you stengthen your faith everyday, just as we all must do to grow in God's Word and what it speaks to each of us...HE is an awesome God...nothing is impossible for HIM...HE IS THE ULTIMATE PHYSICIAN...HE also gives the doctors wisdom in how they treat illnesses...pray that HIS mighty Hand and wisdom will fall on those that hold your healthcare in their hands.

God's Word does say to ask the elders to annoint us with oil when we are sick...I was in the Assemblies of God church when I lived in Texas and annointing with oil is done very faithfully. Don't hesitate to allow others to pray for you and lay hands on you....the outcome is in the hands of the Lord....Read HIS Word as much as you can...that alone, should minimize your depression!

God bless you and may the Lord strengthen you and your faith, each and everyday. Faith the size of a mustard seed can accomplish much...that's what God's Word says....now the enemy will plant any and all doubt that he can in your mind, if, only if, you let him.....Stay in your BIBLE!!!!:hug:

[RollTide21]

I realize this may have been posted before, in fact I'm sure it has, but I have a specific question. It may seem silly but it's bothered me for a long time.

I was first diagnosed with depression at 19 years old (I'm 34 now). I've tried almost every antidepressent on the market, and have been on and off them for years. I'm currently on Zoloft and it's working for now.

Here's my problem. My pastor has given sermons in the past on depression, and although he hasn't directly stated it, it's implied that a strong Christian shouldn't necessarily depend on medication to "cure" the problem. I end up questioning myself and my faith because I'm relying on the medicine and not the Lord to help with the problem.

I've prayed about this situation and I've even stopped the medicine and tried walking in faith, but I always end up back on it.

Is it wrong of me to stay on the zoloft? Can I not battle this condition with both the Lord's help and medicine?I most certainly believe that it's OK for you to take medicine for depression. I am currently taking Celexa for anxiety/depression and it has helped.

As others have said, things like depression are a chemical imbalance...a PHYSICAL thing. I don't believe that God intends for us to not address mental disorders through medicine. Our mind and emotions are separate from our Spirit. They both react to the Spirit with feelings of Joy or longing, but the Spirit is separate from both.

What I'm struggling with a little bit is worrying about my emotions being dulled by the anti-depressant and my not being able to experience the joy and fullness of an interaction with the Holy Spirit. I've always been sensitive and thrived off of the emotional reaction to the Spirit touching my life, so I have to learn to have Faith in the guidance of the Spirit even though my emotional sensitivity to it's presence might be dulled.

[cheech]

First, I want to tell you that every Christian struggles with something and those who say they don't...well they are fortunate but they are not the majority. The bible states the following:

Psalm 34:17-20
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

These verse show that even the righteous has many troubles but the Lord will deliver him from them all. So if you come across a Christian or anyone who implies that if you are a strong Christian you shouldn't be struggling...toss them these verses.

I, however, understand what your Pastor is implying and this depends on what your depression is from. True some depression does seem to come from certain activity or inactivity in the brain...but not all does. When I went through depression it was due to worrying and holding in much anger. This led to major anxiety attacks. A doctor finally did put me on meds just until I was better able to get a handle on things which seemed to help well but after 30 days I went off of them realizing the problem. Actually during those 30 days I called out to God for help and he did help me.

Many times our depression stems from things that happened in our past or things that are currently happening. If we don't tackle what is truly bothering us then it will continue to bother us for the rest of our lives. If you went through a difficult childhood with alot of rejection and hurt then rest assured you may go through very difficult periods as you get older if you were not able to let it go. Many people continue to hold onto things as they get older, suffer from depression and/or anxiety then have a hard time getting better because they don't get to the root of the problem.

Should you get off your meds? Not yet. Take the time to figure out why you are depressed. Think about why you are depressed and what you are feeling. Do you feel not good enough (unworthiness)? Do you feel ugly? Do you feel less than adequate in any way or do you compare yourself to others? Once you figure out what you are feeling now ask yourself why. What in your life could have caused you to feel this way? Were you made fun of when young? Did something happen that really made you feel badly? Do you have problems with anger and holding things in? By doing this you are trying to get to the root of the problem. Most of all, ask God to show you the root of the problem...why you are depressed then pray for healing...for Him to remove the depression. When you begin to feel depressed, surrender the feelings to Christ..."Jesus, I surrender this depression to you. Please take it from me and replace it with joy". It doesn't matter if you have to do this 20 times a day...do it! If you even have any doubts that it works I am a walking testimony that it works! Then in time when you begin to feel better, talk to your doctor about the meds...maybe lowering them. Continue surrendering any negative feelings to the Lord though...that must never stop.

We serve a mighty King who is the master healer. Sometimes we have to live with illness for a reason, but many times we don't. Go to God and pray for that healing.

Also see if you can find a biblical addictions recovery program. One I use to work for was called Celebrate Recovery. It's a good program. My husband and I also run one and the link is at the bottom of my post called Breaking The Chains. Just lots of good info regarding strongholds and depression and anxiety is a stronghold the enemy uses to keep us bound in anguish. Christ, however, can set you free if you just believe and go to Him. It didn't take you years to get this way and it's not going to take you years to get well. We know God can heal us in the blink of an eye but many times he doesn't because he wants to pick up each layer of junk within us, clean it out and show us how to get through it and deal with it...then he goes to the next layer.

Remember...one day at a time :hug:.

[RollTide21]

First, I want to tell you that every Christian struggles with something and those who say they don't...well they are fortunate but they are not the majority. The bible states the following:

Psalm 34:17-20
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

These verse show that even the righteous has many troubles but the Lord will deliver him from them all. So if you come across a Christian or anyone who implies that if you are a strong Christian you shouldn't be struggling...toss them these verses.

I, however, understand what your Pastor is implying and this depends on what your depression is from. True some depression does seem to come from certain activity or inactivity in the brain...but not all does. When I went through depression it was due to worrying and holding in much anger. This led to major anxiety attacks. A doctor finally did put me on meds just until I was better able to get a handle on things which seemed to help well but after 30 days I went off of them realizing the problem. Actually during those 30 days I called out to God for help and he did help me.

Many times our depression stems from things that happened in our past or things that are currently happening. If we don't tackle what is truly bothering us then it will continue to bother us for the rest of our lives. If you went through a difficult childhood with alot of rejection and hurt then rest assured you may go through very difficult periods as you get older if you were not able to let it go. Many people continue to hold onto things as they get older, suffer from depression and/or anxiety then have a hard time getting better because they don't get to the root of the problem.

Should you get off your meds? Not yet. Take the time to figure out why you are depressed. Think about why you are depressed and what you are feeling. Do you feel not good enough (unworthiness)? Do you feel ugly? Do you feel less than adequate in any way or do you compare yourself to others? Once you figure out what you are feeling now ask yourself why. What in your life could have caused you to feel this way? Were you made fun of when young? Did something happen that really made you feel badly? Do you have problems with anger and holding things in? By doing this you are trying to get to the root of the problem. Most of all, ask God to show you the root of the problem...why you are depressed then pray for healing...for Him to remove the depression. When you begin to feel depressed, surrender the feelings to Christ..."Jesus, I surrender this depression to you. Please take it from me and replace it with joy". It doesn't matter if you have to do this 20 times a day...do it! If you even have any doubts that it works I am a walking testimony that it works! Then in time when you begin to feel better, talk to your doctor about the meds...maybe lowering them. Continue surrendering any negative feelings to the Lord though...that must never stop.

We serve a mighty King who is the master healer. Sometimes we have to live with illness for a reason, but many times we don't. Go to God and pray for that healing.

Also see if you can find a biblical addictions recovery program. One I use to work for was called Celebrate Recovery. It's a good program. My husband and I also run one and the link is at the bottom of my post called Breaking The Chains. Just lots of good info regarding strongholds and depression and anxiety is a stronghold the enemy uses to keep us bound in anguish. Christ, however, can set you free if you just believe and go to Him. It didn't take you years to get this way and it's not going to take you years to get well. We know God can heal us in the blink of an eye but many times he doesn't because he wants to pick up each layer of junk within us, clean it out and show us how to get through it and deal with it...then he goes to the next layer.

Remember...one day at a time :hug:.A great, encouraging post.

It's difficult at times, but I am committed to trusting that God is going to bring me through my current time of struggle as a better husband, better father, and most importantly, a better Christian. It's an everyday thing and it's easy to despair, but I think it's key that we remain strong and faithful in our belief in the Master's Plan.