Overcoming Depression with Christ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Adam_Cook
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Adam_Cook

Guest
Hey guys, I’ve been depressed for a while, not suicidal, just depressed. About 5 months ago my mother passed away suddenly, she was really the only parental figure I had, a large portion of my life and almost the anchor that held my life down. If I needed something, she would be there.

Now I’ve lost her and I just feel empty all the time, I try to fill it will so much stuff that doesn’t satisfy me anymore. I use to be extremely prayerful and studious in theology, I wanted to be a Priest! Now I just dont have the drive to do any of it, I’m quietly in pain, constantly suffering. I feel alone, even though I have friends, I live celibate, I don’t have that companion help and it feels as if God is so far distant. I’ve missed Mass both Sundays, haven’t been to confession in weeks, haven’t sat in front of the tabernacle in forever.

I use to spend hours with Jesus, I would go from 1 in the afternoon to 10 at night just sitting in front of the tabernacle. Now…now I’ve got nothing, there is so much pain and I’ve tried offering it to Christ, but nothing is working. I don’t want to live like this, I need purpose to life not “live, breath and praise God” I’m sorry that doesn’t work for me and I’m going crazy from living a hermit style life already. I have to do something, or I’m literally going to lose my mind. My heart is restless though, decisions are tough and I just don’t know what to do.

I guess what I’m asking is “If anyone knows some good ways to get through this, or advice or anything?!” I would appreciate it, I know God has an amazing plan for me, that he’s got something extra special for me to do, just right now, I can’t see it. Prayers would also be extremely helpful =)

God bless.
 
The best advice that I can give is to seek professional help for your depression. I am sorry for your loss. I’m glad to know that you haven’t given up hope. Try to fulfill your Mass obligation. The Eucharist is a wonderful gift from our Lord and who knows how much Christ is able to work through us when we recieve him?

Also I highly recommend praying the rosary. I was depressed late in highschool up to my early college years. Not bad enough for me to need medication but I felt like there was a cloak of misery at times. It was impossible to sleep at one point. It took time to find the discipline to pray the rosary but I felt more collected afterwards.

As for seeking a purpose, I usually turn to a few books or films. There are some great priests and even laymen who impress me with their devotion.

God bless. I will keep you in my prayers.
 
you have to get outside yourself my friend.

you need to spend time with people which will let you focus more outside yourself.
 
When I lost my daughter I was very depressed for a time. I found chocolate, and daily exercise helped. It also helped me to talk to people about my thoughts. Although not many people wanted to be around me at the time. One friend suggested I get a dog. I thought it was a stupid idea. I found myself looking online to see what was out there. Looked at a couple of puppy litters. One puppy kept following me around. He was nice & calm. He climbed into my lap & fell asleep. The other puppies didn’t seem to notice I was even in the room. I found myself stroking him, and my heart felt lighter. He has been a wonderful addition to my life. While grieving it is important to stay engaged in life even if you don’t feel anything. I felt like I was faking it for a while, but eventually I felt short joyful momments. Then they became more frequent. I spoke with a counselor which helped too. Trust me, my friend, you will not always feel this way. You can take steps to make things better. I know EVERYTHING feels so hard to do right now, but it is worth the effort.

May God comfort, and bless you!
 
It’s natural to feel pain after you’ve lost a loved one. Time heals all wounds, but after awhile, (at least by now), you should be getting your life back on track.

You may be suffering from depression still and probably need to get some kind of help, perhaps from your church, for starters. Most depression starts in the mind and has a lot to do with the way we think. It sounds like you were very close to your mother and maybe she played a large part in your life. Now that she’s gone you’re going to have to adjust to life without her and start standing on your own, as we all have to. Do you have friends or family that you can talk to? They are usually the best people to go to for advice and will usually steer you in the right direction. Having a regular routine (like going to work or going about your business) also helps to establish a pattern of normalcy, that starts to move things along.

As to the question, can you overcome depression with Christ, the answer is–absolutely yes. The thing though is that you have to do your part by asking for help. “Ask and you shall receive”. Ask until you know that He has answered you. Start to take the steps towards going back to church and then to mass. For God works through people (family, friends, friends at church, your pastor, your friends at work), through books (the bible, spiritual books), through music (preferably catholic, christian music), through dreams, etc. God will use all the above ways (and more) to try and reach you, so keep the eyes of your heart open for the help that He sends your way.

God Bless you on your journey. There is a light at the end and His name is Jesus.
 
Adam you are grieving the loss of a pivotal person in your life.
Grief sometimes leaves us feeling drained.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Your loss is great.'The only thing I mind about when I die is that my sons would lose the person they always confided in and who has always been there for them.
Your mother is not now there.
My Mum died many years ago.
My Dad more recently.
I framed a life-sized photo of my Dad. It’s a photo where all his love is in his face, and that wonderful twinkle in his eyes. Every time I glance at that face I feel uplifted.
Do you have a photo of your mother where she is looking at you with love?
Maybe it can help sometimes, because your mother isn’t gone, she still loves and prays for you.
Grief takes time to overcome. After my Mum died it was over a year before I really cried my heart out. Before that many of my emotions seemed shut down. It scared me. I only felt for my Dad and my siblings

Have you laid everything you think and feel before God?
Have you set aside time to just go through it all, all the pain, all the numbness, the sense of betrayal, the loneliness, the loss of hopes and ambitions?

Tell Him everything in complete honesty. And tell Him you don’t know how to help yourself, or how to regain anything of your spiritual life …please do that as many times as you need to, and ask Him to help you grow because you can’t alone.

And dear Adam, for you soul’s peace, go to Confession regarding the missed Masses. And even if you feel like anything but, get yourself along to Mass next Sunday even if it seems empty.

When you’re living in a dark and cold winter, it’s hard to imagine Spring will return.
It won’t all at once, but gradually, so when the first signs come, hints of buds on the bare trees in your heart, please welcome the hope with thankfulness.
 
Adam_Cook said:
Hey guys, I’ve been depressed for a while, not suicidal, just depressed. About 5 months ago my mother passed away suddenly, she was really the only parental figure I had, a large portion of my life and almost the anchor that held my life down. If I needed something, she would be there.

Now I’ve lost her and I just feel empty all the time, I try to fill it will so much stuff that doesn’t satisfy me anymore. I use to be extremely prayerful and studious in theology, I wanted to be a Priest! Now I just dont have the drive to do any of it, I’m quietly in pain, constantly suffering. I feel alone, even though I have friends, I live celibate, I don’t have that companion help and it feels as if God is so far distant. I’ve missed Mass both Sundays, haven’t been to confession in weeks, haven’t sat in front of the tabernacle in forever.

I use to spend hours with Jesus, I would go from 1 in the afternoon to 10 at night just sitting in front of the tabernacle. Now…now I’ve got nothing, there is so much pain and I’ve tried offering it to Christ, but nothing is working. I don’t want to live like this, I need purpose to life not “live, breath and praise God” I’m sorry that doesn’t work for me and I’m going crazy from living a hermit style life already. I have to do something, or I’m literally going to lose my mind. My heart is restless though, decisions are tough and I just don’t know what to do.

I guess what I’m asking is “If anyone knows some good ways to get through this, or advice or anything?!” I would appreciate it, I know God has an amazing plan for me, that he’s got something extra special for me to do, just right now, I can’t see it. Prayers would also be extremely helpful =)

God bless.
Click to expand...
I am so sorry for your loss.

I am a mental health counselor and I want to reassure you that what you are feeling is normal grief. It can be very overwhelming. Our society expects everyone to be “back to normal” (whatever that is) after the funeral. It can take a year or so to learn how to live without someone and find a “new” normal. Time really does help.

I highly recommend a grief support group. We have a couple in our Diocese, so maybe calling your Diocese and finding out about a grief support group would help you connect. Having a place to go to share our thoughts and feelings can help us feel less alone.

I will be praying for you.
 
Wonderful advice above…I certainly cannot add to that.

Some suggestions I would give are…
Talk to your pastor and tell him all that you have told us.
Does you parish, or a nearby parish, have a Bereavement committee or something similar? Someone there might be good to talk to.
Since you mention that you were considering the priesthood at one point, perhaps a retreat would be a good idea…

But please do talk with your pastor/confessor and get their (name removed by moderator)ut.

Oh - and one more thing…Try to remember that you are most definitely not alone. Your mother is still with you, along with the entire communion of saints.

Peace
James
 
Thanks for all the wonderful advice guys.

I do have friends, family is a little bit of a long stretch of a word for me, not something I really know and the only family I did really know was my mom. Parents were divorced, so I was constantly in the middle of the battlefield. I’ve talked to my Priest a couple of times, but he’s rather new to the Priesthood and I don’t really think he had to much experience beforehand, so he just doesn’t know what to say.

I myself am a convert, from the age of 15 years old God has put me through the test fires of preaching the Gospel and being a student chaplain here at my college. I did it for four years, been through countless hours of counseling classes for training and the works. Even now its difficult cause you know what’s going on, you are just still in shock, would be the best way I can describe it.

I will try to do these things that ya’ll have suggested.

Thanks,
God Bless.
 
I had depression for 10 months following the birth of my son. Unfortunately though it runs in my family. My sister is bi-polar and my mother has chronic depression, bless her soul.

It is so difficult because depression saps every ounce almost of energy, enthusiasm, motivation - it makes life a drudge. But the glimmer of hope that you do find in a short moment in a day - thank God for it. Tell him you want his help to get better and be close to him again.

I would also visit your doctor. My hcps were amazing at helping me to recover.
 
I recommend talking to your physician about your depression to see if medication is an option you want to try.

Also, exercize is a natural way to ge tthe brain chemicals operating like natural anti-depressants. I take anti-depressant medication and am not exercizing and have not bee for a while. My doctor, who is quite wise, always stresses to me that this is key for me to do, I have just not yet been able to do it…but from past experience know it is true and very helpful for depression.

God Bless,
Bill
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top