I've been depressed lately. I've been praying about it, but lately it's getting bad. I'm starting to wonder if I should see a doctor and get medication. However, as a Christian I feel guilty. Like I'm not putting enough faith in God? Any thoughts?
2006-12-09 14:34:21 · 23 answers · asked by sadakima 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
jesus helps those who help themselves.
2006-12-09 14:37:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
There are many, many reasons for depression. It can be anything from your basic brain chemistry to a side result of another illness going on in your body yet to be discovered. If you had pneumonia, would you refuse antiboitics and try to put more faith in God? If you needed a blood transfusion, would you try to grow more blood cells by faith alone? No, you would pray to God and thank Him that a cure was available for either of those solutions to help you heal.
We do a lot of things in faith believing . . . for example, if you were to plant a garden, you would prepare the soil and add fertilizer along with the seeds. You wouldn't just look at a patch of ground and ask God to prepare the soil, fertilize and plant the seeds--now would you? You take the steps necessary for the garden with faith that your prayers to God will help the garden be the best possible garden.
If you are depressed, only you know if you if this may strictly be chemical or some situation in your life that is totally out of your control and depression is a natural reaction (death of loved one, divorce, etc.) You should feel free to take the antidepressants for as long as it takes for you to heal rather than suffer when a solution is available. The antidepressant may well be the fertilizer that you need to grow & heal.
2006-12-09 14:56:19 · answer #2 · answered by whozethere 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No it is not wrong. Just as if a person broke their leg and got a cast on it to heal. God gave the doctors the wisdom and technology to create medication to help people with chemical imbalances in their brains. Not using this information would be stupid. Keep taking your medications and keep praying to God. After all God gave you the medicine and doctors for a reason, to help you. You could also try go tanning, the sun adds happy chemicals to the brain. Don't forget sunscreen. Try eating more B6, Niacin, B1, Vitamin C and Magnesium. Eat more strawberries and Chocolate they are afadiviacts. Eat more whole grains, potatoes, nuts, milk, eggs, peas, cheese, mushrooms, leafy greens, figs, prunes, bananas, cruciferous (green/leafy) vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower), apricots, melons, tomatoes, bell peppers, citrus fruits.and pulses. Basically try to eat more well balanced meals. See if eating better fixes it or if tanning fixes it and if not go see a doctor. Try to think about and do positive things that you like.
2006-12-09 14:55:19 · answer #3 · answered by Angelica 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There is a strong link between depression and family history, which makes it genetic. This is not something you can pray your way out of. I have depressives on both sides of my family. There was no escaping it for me. I thank God that we have so many ways to treat depression that were not available even fifty years ago. I have a condition that requires medication and I will likely take it for the rest of my life. Please do not feel guilty for taking care of your mind and body.
Feel free to email me if you want to discuss it further. I am well read in both psychology and theology, in addition to my own experience.
2006-12-09 14:57:37 · answer #4 · answered by Aspurtaime Dog Sneeze 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian and I am on Zoloft. I was diagnosed with Bi-Polar.It is good to pray to God to heal but God gave the doctors the skill to heal.Go see if there is anything wrong . Merry Christmas
2006-12-09 14:41:03 · answer #5 · answered by Piper 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Don't feel guilty. If God did not see fit for us to have doctors we would not have them. Have you spoken to your Pastor? If you feel that it is out of control go see a doctor. My son became ill last January and we prayed over him and I prayed for God to heal him, He didn't do it. I had to take my son to the doctor, none of the doctors could tell me what was wrong, and we ended up in a Children's Hospital. Through all of the tests, and blood draws, still no one knew what was wrong. Scared and sad I prayed everyday. I was told he could die, I prayed for strength. They gave my son many medications, I prayed for relief and comfort. My son rapidly recovered, know one could say why he was sick, or understand how he recovered so quickly, but I knew. We were only there for 4 days, in that time I saw children celebrate their birthdays in the hospital, parents crying in quiet places when they thought no one was looking, children so sick that they could not leave their rooms, I cried. God taught me not to take for granted life, health, love and most of all Him. I barely survived 4 days in that hospital, with God. I do not know how some people go through a life time without him. He may want to show you something in this, God gave us knowlege, why wouldn't He want us to use it? They may not have had answers for why my son was ill, but I was shown how much we all need God.
2006-12-09 15:13:36 · answer #6 · answered by Kenya H 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, see a doctor and follow through. Also pray for yourself and have others pray for you, a little divine help comes in handy always. The right way is to do both and leave your worries to God.
2006-12-09 14:38:32 · answer #7 · answered by defOf 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Don't be foolish. Depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance. The medicine doctors give you is to correct that chemical imbalance. Go as soon as you can and see your doctor. Don't play around with this problem. God will love you for going. He wants what's best for you.
2006-12-09 14:45:11 · answer #8 · answered by Fish <>< 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
no, it is not wrong, God is still in the healing business, and just keep praying that he will help you, he will not leave nor forsake you even though sometimes we feel he has left us, but it is us that has left him., but, he expects us to take care of ourselves,so don't feel bad about it and go to the doctor, life isn't easy, but with God we can make it through anything, just read Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which stregthens me. God Bless
2006-12-09 14:45:06 · answer #9 · answered by mntchegirl98 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
St. Luke was a physician. He did not give up practicing medicine to write a gospel.
You might consider light deprivation as a cause for depression, it's common and often overlooked this time of year.
This is from one of the deterocanonical books.
Sirach 38
[1] Honor the physician with the honor due him,
according to your need of
him, for the Lord created him;
[2] for healing comes from the Most High,
and he will receive a gift from the king.
[3] The skill of the physician lifts up his head,
and in the presence of great men he is admired.
[4] The Lord created medicines from the earth,
and a sensible man will not despise them.
[5] Was not water made sweet with a tree
in order that his power might be known?
[6] And he gave skill to men
that he might be glorified in his marvelous works.
[7] By them he heals and takes away pain;
[8] the pharmacist makes of them a compound.
His works will never be finished;
and from him health is upon the face of the earth.
[9] My son, when you are sick do not be negligent,
but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you.
[10] Give up your faults and direct your hands aright,
and cleanse your heart from all sin.
[11] Offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice, and a memorial
portion of fine flour,
and pour oil on your offering, as much as you can afford.
[12] And give the physician his place, for the Lord created him;
let him not leave you, for there is need of him.
[13] There is a time when success lies in the hands of physicians,
[14] for they too will pray to the Lord
that he should grant them success in diagnosis
and in healing, for the sake of preserving life.
[15] He who sins before his Maker,
may he fall into the care of a physician.
I know some Christians don't think the deterocanonical books are not inspired, but they are still important. Consider this about the book of Sirach:
Matt. 6:19-20 - Jesus' statement about laying up for yourselves treasure in heaven follows Sirach 29:11 - lay up your treasure.
Matt. 7:16,20 - Jesus' statement "you will know them by their fruits" follows Sirach 27:6 - the fruit discloses the cultivation.
Mark 4:5,16-17 - Jesus' description of seeds falling on rocky ground and having no root follows Sirach 40:15.
Luke 1:52 - Mary's magnificat addressing the mighty falling from their thrones and replaced by lowly follows Sirach 10:14.
Luke 21:24 - Jesus' usage of "fall by the edge of the sword" follows Sirach 28:18.
John 6:35-59 - Jesus' Eucharistic discourse is foreshadowed in Sirach 24:21.
Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; Gal. 2:6 - Peter's and Paul's statement that God shows no partiality references Sirach 35:12.
Rom. 4:17 - Abraham is a father of many nations follows Sirach 44:19.
Heb. 12:12 - the description "drooping hands" and "weak knees" comes from Sirach 25:23.
James 1:19 - let every man be quick to hear and slow to respond follows Sirach 5:11.
many more.
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/deuterocanon.html
2006-12-09 14:53:15 · answer #10 · answered by Br. Dymphna S.F.O 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If your faith is not strong enough to defeat depression then see a professional for there might be a medical condition.
2006-12-09 14:38:00 · answer #11 · answered by TROLL BOY 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋