OT - religion as a cure for depression

I don't mean to put down anyone's religious beliefs.  I understand that religion is very important to many people and I support their right to their faith, whatever their religion is.

However, it really bugs me when people try to tell me that their religion will cure my depression.

When I was in the hospital, I asked to see a patient rights advocate.  Instead, they sent a chaplain to see me.  The nurse actually introduced him to me as a patient rights advocate but he corrected her and said no, he was a chaplain.  I said that I hadn't asked to see a chaplain but he said he would like to talk to me anyway.  So I talked to him and he told me how he used to be very depressed but then he found God and he prayed and he forgave the people that had hurt him in the past, and his depression was cured.  He said he knew that would work for me, too.  I just had to have enough faith in God.  Needless to say, I did not find that to be very helpful.

Today I got an email from the sister-in-law of a good friend.  I had emailed her because her husband is a minister and I was asking if their church would be able to donate something for my service dog.  Even though Isaac is with me now, I still owe a little over $3,000 to his program.  Several local churches have donated money for him.  So anyway, she emailed me back and said they were mailing a check, which I really appreciate.  It's very kind and generous of them.  But then she went on to tell me how God could take away all my depression if I just asked him for forgiveness for all my sins.

Right.  I'm depressed because I haven't prayed enough and I haven't forgiven people that have hurt me and I haven't been forgiven for all my terrible sins.  Why is it that people seem to think saying these kinds of things is actually helpful?

I couldn't agree with you more. Is a diabetic told to pray away their disease? Are obese people told to pray away the pounds? Depression for many people is part of our chemical make up! Yes, depression can be exacerbated by things that happen in your life but (in my opinion) faith in God is helpful, but in no way a cure for the chemical makeup of your body.

Believe it or not, one of the local churches had a "Pray Away the Pounds" group a few years back. No notable successes, however. (*grin*)

You should report this to the hospital. He's telling you it's 'all in your head'.

I don't see it any differently then him suggesting you try 'this elixir' and you will be cured!

Ask for a patient advocate and send a chaplain? - unacceptable.

I reported it to the nurse manager of the unit.  She didn't really seem to care.  I finally did get to see a patient advocate the following day, and told him, too.  He didn't really seem to care, either.

You have to put it in writing. Someone has to deal with it if it's on paper.

I can see your point from your viewpoint as I find it crazy to believe that everything can just be prayed away.  I agree with you that the hospital should have sent a patient advocate rather than a minister. 

What I don't agree with is if you are so against religion, why would you be asking a church for donations?  I would think that one would know it would come with spiritual references.  There is not a church that I know of that is not in the business of "winning souls for Christ"  Their way of helping the needy is giving them money and services.  In return the needy have to listen to their message of hope. 

I'm not against religion.  I am against people telling me that religion will cure depression.

Well in response to what was said above about "praying away" various conditions...

I did. And it worked.

Prayer/Religion/God is NOT a delivery service. I don't pray to God to make me thin or healthy. I pray to God to help me be mindful of my habits and to be able to focus on my health. To help me prioritize so that I can realize that as a vessel of His being I am responsible for my own upkeep. As a good steward of the body I was given to travel about this earth. 

So...I just hadda point that out. Spirituality isn't a one trick pony. It isn't the same for everyone and some of us DO pray our ailments away in the sense that we become open to God's will for us and the help we feel HE provides. For me that would include my bariatric surgeon, a great therapist and the forums here on OH. (/end sermon)

Having said all that, your SIL's words made me chuckle and thank GOD that I am Lutheran (Lutheran = we believe God has already forgiven us for our sins. We don't have to ask. We don't have to earn. It's a gift so just shut up, take it and do good in the world OKAY??? lol) But even beyond that I don't think that was a very receptive way to respond to what you said. People are notorious for not LISTENING to one another. If she had listened to you, as one human to another, TRULY listened she could have found a way to speak to you that didn't offend you. I'm sorry that happened.

Like I said, I am very religious so I do believe prayer can be a cure for EVERYTHING however I don't believe proseletyzing is the cure for anything. If you are a person of God, it comes through in who you are and what you do not what you say or who you try to convert. And I think that IF a person chooses to be spiritual, in whatever way they choose to be spiritual, that there is still a place for therapy and medication and any other tools that person deems necessary to treat their conditions. I once used meds for depression. That didn't mean I didn't have faith in God to heal me. It just meant that I was open to whatever gifts He had to make that possible.

My two cents. Sorry if it offends anyone. (Actually no...I'm not...it's who I am and what I believe and saying anything else would be a disservice to you all)

AMEN Sister!!!

Julie