Is there any correlation between theism/atheism and depression.?

Question

It always surprises me when people say that atheists tend to be more depressed than theists. I have suffered from depression, but I know theists who have as well. I think that illnesses, including depression, are non-discriminatory. What do you think, and/or, what are your personal experiences? This question is asked respectfully. Please don't read anything into it that is not intended.

Answer 1

This has actually been studied many times over the years...just do a google search for "depression and religious belief" Overall the studies have shown there seems to be less depression in those who have religious belief.

Now I'm a fellow atheist and a physician, and I'm not going to start telling people to go to church and stop taking their Prozac. I'm sure the group support, and the (delusional) hope of something better is what sustains them. It just becomes their form of supportive psychotherapy, which is an intrinsic part of the treatment of depression.

Anecdotally I know devout Christians who have suffered with profound depression....so it's not like belief is a "cure".

Answer 2

I also suffer from depression, to the point that I was on medication. I went off it because it actually made me feel worse, but that's another story. Because of ithe depths of it, I began my search for God as an agnostic. I found nothing. So I became an atheist. I'm not saying that it cured me of depression; I still have extremely bad days. But it helped me to realize that I can't count on anyone but myself to get through the bad days. That's why I get angry at people who throw "depression" around like it means nothing, because they don't really understand what it entails. You can be a christian and be depressed - my boyfriend's mom is an Evangelical, and she also suffers from it. So, like AIDS, depression is no respector of religion in my opinion. Depression is more than just "Oh I don't feel very happy today."

Answer 3

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Answer 4

I agree completely. I have three sisters and a brother. We were all raised Mormon. Two are are still Mormon, two are Christian, and I am atheist. All of us have had periods of depression, including some extreme depression (mine was when my 1st marriage of 15 years fell apart). I think I probably have had less depression over all than my siblings, but I don't think that is necessarily due to my becoming atheist. I think a better indicator of our level of depression is just how much exercise and outdoor activity we get.

Answer 5

Actually, one of the reasons I left Christianity was that it was causing me to be somewhat depressed, because if the guilt it made me feel. Depression, I think, can be caused caused from trying to be something you are not. I don't think everyone who is a Christian, or indeed any religion, is depressed, but I know that's how it was for me. I did not fit well into being a Christian, so trying to force myself to be one made me unhappy. Now, as an Agnostic, I have figured out who I really am, and I am very happy.

Answer 6

I've gone through long bouts of depression my entire life but they had nothing to do with the fact that I don't believe in God. I get depressed when I get overloaded with work, or when someone close to me dies, or when I feel a lot of stress... but I've never sat there and said, "Oh man, I don't believe in God, my life is pointless..."

I'm not saying that Christians get more depressed, but I honestly doubt atheists ever get depressed for that reason, even though many religious people would like you to think otherwise.

Answer 7

i think of melancholy crosses all obstacles of the psychological spectrum. yet a accessible rationalization for depressed intellectuals is. . .. not having sufficient women and adult men people who real delight in you. usually intellectuals think of the have have been given to 'dumb down' their conversations to in good condition in with the gang. The friendly answer for this good melancholy is to discover others who're like your self . a minimum of then you definately will have some moderation between psychological conversations and the standard norm. thank you and that i'm hoping this enables.

Answer 8

Hi - I suspect that you will find very little correlation between depression and any form of religious belief. Some people become religious because they are unhappy with their lives. Some people leave religion because it is not helping them.

Answer 9

Yes, the illness has no classification. I've been brought out of my depression by God's help but it still raises its ugly head despite it.

Answer 10

I have always seen studies that say that frequent church-goers are generally more content. So in a general sense, I suppose that's true.

Although it has always surprised me that some xians think that is a reason in and of itself to start believing in god. "Hey god, I don't believe in you, but I'll act like I do for the health benefits! Cool?"