Cathlic / Protestant View of Depression...

[Singinbeauty]

Ok, this has been a heated discussion in the past but due to a recent diagnosis I would like to hear both sides and the views of depression and Bi-Polar Disorder.

 

[ApostateRLDS]

I’m not sure what you mean by ‘both sides’.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Clinical depression and especially bi-polar disorder are not spiritual or theological issues, but are MEDICAL ones. They are chemical imbalances and are by no means character flaws.

I have clinical depression. I suffered from it for years before it was diagnosed and I began talking Wellbutrin SR, and it has turned my life around.

Trust me, I thank God for His provision for me every time I take it.

It may take a while before you and your doctor find the right medicine, or combination of medicines, that work for you, but don’t let ANYBODY try to “preach you under condemnation” for taking it!

 

[BeProf]

What he said. I was on Paxil for several years to control panic attacks and depression and I thanked God for those pills every time I took them.

I was blessed later on down the road with an unexpected and unasked for healing that enabled me to be off of those pills for a few years now and I thank God every day for that healing.

Here’s the thing: which of those was from God? I believe both of them were. The later was God’s miraculous care. The former was God’s providential care. Both of them were examples of God’s loving-kindess being shown to me for the sake of His glory.

 

[Yerusalyim]

Clinical depression and especially bi-polar disorder are not spiritual or theological issues, but are MEDICAL ones. They are chemical imbalances and are by no means character flaws.

I have clinical depression. I suffered from it for years before it was diagnosed and I began talking Wellbutrin SR, and it has turned my life around.

Trust me, I thank God for His provision for me every time I take it.

It may take a while before you and your doctor find the right medicine, or combination of medicines, that work for you, but don’t let ANYBODY try to “preach you under condemnation” for taking it!

WHAT HESHE SAID…this is a medical issue…

 

[dessert]

Ok, this has been a heated discussion in the past but due to a recent diagnosis I would like to hear both sides and the views of depression and Bi-Polar Disorder.

I am Catholic and I also see it as ruling out the clinical part by docs they can check thyroid for diabetis etc. Stress plays a part to in this. Go with the doc and try to make contact with the Church for friend support and prayer, sorry to hear you are seperaated, but you are not alone and don’t have to be. In Christ
Dessert

 

[Dancelittleewok]

Ok, this has been a heated discussion in the past but due to a recent diagnosis I would like to hear both sides and the views of depression and Bi-Polar Disorder.

For the spiritual side, I’d say to pray to St. Dymphna. She is the patron saint of mental afflictions. If you are interested, I can find some prayers for you.

If you are not Catholic, then I suggest offering up your sufferings and placing them in the pierced hands of Jesus Christ.

 

[Singinbeauty]

Thank you everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ut…

By ‘both sides’ I guess this could mean a few things. There are those for or against medication. Those who think it is either partially or fully spiritual and those who don’t… etc.

I know that it is a mental thing but I do believe that Satan takes advantage of it to his fullest. It is definitely a hard thing to deal with when he starts whispering in my ear…

 

[JoyfulOne]

I have little patience with those who claim that people who are sick (and depression is an illness) should not take medication because it shows a lack of faith in God.

That is absurd.

And those same people would not dream of telling a diabetic to stop taking their insuin and have more faith.

God gave certain humans the ability to help others with medications. He made some to be scientists and doctors. Be glad

 

[bpbasilphx]

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Actually, some have, with dire results. There was one such program about a man who did this with his own son, who died because of this.

<<By ‘both sides’ I guess this could mean a few things. There are those for or against medication. Those who think it is either partially or fully spiritual and those who don’t… etc.>>

I’m not saying there may not be a spiritual component in some cases of clinical depression.

However, as one man said on this very matter, “Depression is not a sin, but what you do about it may be.”

Among other sinful ways of dealing with depression, he said, is refusal to follow sound medical and professional advice, or to seek it when available (and it usually is, even at reduced rates or for free).

 

[kage_ar]

I have little patience with those who claim that people who are sick (and depression is an illness) should not take medication because it shows a lack of faith in God.

That is absurd.

And those same people would not dream of telling a diabetic to stop taking their insuin and have more faith.

God gave certain humans the ability to help others with medications. He made some to be scientists and doctors. Be glad

AMEN!

Why do some Christians want to give Satan credit for illness? Of course, there are some of the name-it-and-claim-it folks who WOULD tell a diabetic to have more faith

 

[Nevarlander]

AMEN!

Why do some Christians want to give Satan credit for illness? Of course, there are some of the name-it-and-claim-it folks who WOULD tell a diabetic to have more faith

I suppose they think that since illness is one of the effects of the Fall, that people who are holy should be beyond it. However, holy people still die and death was another effect of the Fall. Weird.

 

[kage_ar]

I suppose they think that since illness is one of the effects of the Fall, that people who are holy should be beyond it. However, holy people still die and death was another effect of the Fall. Weird.

Holiness does not count as immunity from disease or illness. Again, that is part of the false “prosperity gospel” teaching. Read the lives of the Saints - don’t get any holier than the Church Triumphant and many of the most holy in this life suffered the greatest pain and illnesses.

 

[puzzleannie]

I know that it is a mental thing but I do believe that Satan takes advantage of it to his fullest. It is definitely a hard thing to deal with when he starts whispering in my ear…

it is a medical issue so part of the solution will be reliance on medical therapies and treatments. However you are correct in observing that Satan can take advantage of any ailment, mental, physical or emotional and use it as a means of attack. The good news is that God who is infinitely more powerful than that evil bug on the windshield can and ALWAYS does use that disorder as an occasion for grace, to work good in our lives, spiritual and in every other way, if we cooperate with that grace.

we have discussed this and other mental health issues on the forums but I have never seen a so-called Protestant view allied against a so-called Catholic view. Can’t speak for Protestants but the Catholic view is basically what has been said. Any means that respect the dignity of the human person may be used to treat illness, and what I said above about grace.

 

[gardenswithkids]

World Net Daily had an article related to this topic on their website yesterday. I can’t find it now, but one Protestant woman in the article made the comment that her anti-depressant medication dulled her conscience. She said she went on it after her pastor recommended it when she went for spiritual counselling, and she said numerous “happy”, “Stepford-wife”-like women at her old congregation took anti-depressants.

…Why do some Christians want to give Satan credit for illness? …

I agree that some give Satan more credit than he deserves, blaming him for things that should be treated medically. But on the other extreme, there are many atheists in the psychiatric comunity who dismiss the supernatural.

Certainly mental illness and depression are *not *always demonic activity, but neither should we dismiss the possibililty of spiritual issues. Someone who is demonically possessed won’t be “cured” by psychiatric medication. Those who commit serious sins and dull their consciences with mind altering medication may correct the symptoms without ever discovering the real source of depression.

We are humans-- a human has a body and a soul. If depression is caused by a chemical problem in the body, medicine fixes the chemical aspects of it. If the depression is brought on by a spiritual problem, medication may only mask the symptoms. The problem may also be a combination of both physical and spiritual. When remembering both our body and our soul, we are more likely to find the proper treatment.

 

[pumpkinbeast]

I think sometimes people are suffering from a spiritual depression, and are put on drugs they don’t need. Then, sometimes people with clinical depression think they have spiritual depression, and don’t go to get diagnosed and treated. It can go either way. My take would be try everything you can without taking drugs, and if that doesn’t work, there’s no shame in taking medication if you need it.

 

[TOP]

I’m basically forced to take medications. In my heart , I know alot of it is spiritual. I still take the meds because the Lord has made it availible and it puts the minds of those who love me at ease. Do they help, not really. I’ve been off them for more then a month without any change at times. I’ve heard every medical diagnosis that could be possibly related to a spiritual process. I have even been told the medical reason why I’m religous and I should be leary of religous connections. That was the last straw. So I started studying his theories and found them greatly lacking. When I challenged him on it , he responded with “just don’t do that, it’s dissassociation and you can will it to stop”. Sound familiar? I can will it! Small ball in tall grass. Tim