OT - religion as a cure for depression

Nik, what you're saying makes a lot of sense to me and I appreciate you sharing it.  I can believe that God answers all prayers, but it's not always the answer that we like.  What I have a problem with is people suggesting that if people just pray enough or have enough faith, they will get a certain answer.  When I used to work for hospice, I took care of a little girl that was dying of AIDS.  Her very religious parents had adopted her as an infant.  She was in surprisingly good health until she reached the age of nine, which was amazing.  But when she did get sick, which was inevitable, her family's church all kept telling her parents they had to pray harder, to have more faith, and their child wouldn't die.  Of course, she did die.  I was so horrified that people would actually tell these wonderful, loving parents (you cannot imagine what they sacrificed to take care of this child - because she had HIV when they adopted her, their insurance wouldn't cover her, and because it was  private adoption she didn't qualify for Medicaid, so they went bankrupt paying for her medical care, but beyond that, she was in such distress and so much pain for the last few months of her life that her parents scarcely ever slept, and they took such wonderful care of her and really devoted their entire lives to caring for her)... but people actually told these wonderful, loving parents that they could save her if they just have enough faith, as if it was their fault she was dying.  And I think they believed that.

And looking through your lens, I think these parents showed great faith in deciding to adopt a seriously ill child and to love her with their whole hearts, knowing they might lose her much sooner than any parent should lose a child.  And I think they did a wonderful job of showing how  God's love can manifest in us.

Wow. Thank you for sharing that story! 

Yes, I agree with you 100%. I think that it's wrong (and cruel) of people to perpetuate the belief that you can pray for specific outcomes. Someone on this board asked for prayers that her surgery approval would go through. I don't tend to pray like that. I told the poster I would pray that God's will be done in this situation and that I PERSONALLY hoped for her sake that it was the outcome she wants. 

But yeah. You can pray all you want and at the end of the day if you are coping with depression you are still coping with depression. I think the defining factor of faith, in my life, is that I am, in fact, coping.

LIKE

Kelly I totally agree when you asked for a Patient Advocate you should have been granted that wish right away. I don't think the Hospital has a right to ignore your request or in my honest opinion your sister in law to pass judgment of your situation. I know she could have handled it much better than the way she did.  

I am very Christian and totally believe in the powers of God. I also know that God works in mysterious ways. I have battled depression for years and I need to be on anti depressants, but thanks to God; the makers of those pills had the ability to manufacture a help for it. God will answer our prayers by putting us in the path of how we can get help.

God's not going to take away our free will but he will line things up so that when we trust him and take that step towards what's available we can find answers and be able to over come situations. He also gives us what we need, not necessarily what we want.

I don't think the people at your hospital treated you with respect by ignoring your wishes or your concerns when you voiced your dissatisfaction of how you were treated.   (((((Hugs)))))

 

Kelly, I'm sorry that happened. I think it is shameful. Religion doesn't take away any illness or condition, no matter the amount of faith applied to the situation.

I won't bore everyone with my opinions on religion and faith. I think the hospital and staff were ridiculous in their behavior, and it's too bad they responded in that way. I also think they are giving people of all faith a bad name.

If you have a belief in God (whatever persuasion that is) I think your faith can certainly help...but to cure an actual ailment? Ummm yeah so don't think so. Great if a person feels that their depression was helped out by their beliefs but to tell someone that is the ONLY thing they need is foolish.

If you asked for a patient rights advocate they should have gotten one for you not sent a chaplain...Im not entirely sure why everyone always jumps immediately onto the report bandwagon. There are certainly cir****tances where it is the right thing to do for patient safety but far too often I think its abused..not saying this is one of those cases just an observation from reading the report rants on here LOL.

Wow what a topic I don't even know how to begin.. All I can say I a believer in Christ and been a believer for 10 years.. I also have been abandoned by both of my presents and molested and rapped as a child not one or twice .. Too many to count .. I raised myself and learned to try to control everything I found that a relationship with Jesus is my best bet because noone cares or understands me.. For the longest time I believed if I don't pray enough my depression would go away now I just learn to trust in him and ya hard when bad things happen in my life the list can go on on all the bad things but my relationship with my Jesus is all I have he cares for me loves me unconditional and doesn't stare down on me or makes me fell bad when I screw up .. I am not trying to meet all these rules I just take one day at a time and if people are really honest we all have issues and we all handle our problems in our own way.. I have a group of ladies and church that accepts me for who I am knowing we are not perfect and we just trying to enjoy this life until jesus comes back .. We deal with issues head on like food addition, porn, etc .. No one has to agree with me believe me I have been through hell and back and with jesus and prayer and medication for depression I take 1 day at a time and thank full that god helps me each day.. That's my two sense

I have my struggles with God.  But in the boiled down, bare bones of it.... I believe pretty much the same as Nik.  I have major depression , PTSD and a couple of other major "labels".  I take anti-depressants because my therapist, who is a devout Christian and former pastor, recommended I talk to my doctor about them.  I believe in praying for being wise in decisions, strength to make good decisions / stick with them.  God isn't Santa Claus - I don't ask Him to fix things (usually, sometimes I do). I struggle with having to "earn" His love and grace because I grew up in a church that taught those things.

 

I don't know what I am trying to say... other than a strong Christian whom I trust with my very life believes God gave folks smarts enough to create anti-depressants and therapy methods.... A devout man who is kind and good and still doesn't think I have to do be "good enough" to be given God's grace.

As far as forgiving, I have learned that to withhold forgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. Those people didn't care one lick when they were hurting me, they sure as heck don't care how I feel now.

 

 

Just my rambling, headachy  less than 1 cent worth  :)