How does your religion view depression?

[illykitty]

First of all, obviously, someone depressed needs professional help...

So I'm hoping there's going to be people of various faiths that will discuss how each religion views this illness, how do they deal with it and what does it advice the followers to do?

 

[Tarheeler]

It's simple:get help.

Judaism isn't a religion that eschews science or medicine. Many of us pray for help and healing, but we also are encouraged to seek the proper professional help to make us well.

 

[Amechania]

We advocate the distribution of puppies.

 

[Pegg]

From a recent Awake article on depression:

patients who suffer from clinical depression need all the support they can get, including whatever medical approach might be advisable. It can be risky to ignore depression because in some cases when left untreated it can be life-threatening. About two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ acknowledged that those with medical experience could provide needed help, when he said that ‘those who are ill need a physician.’ (Mark 2:17) The fact is that physicians can do much to alleviate the suffering of many depressed patients. (Awake! does not endorse any particular treatment. Each individual should carefully evaluate his options before making a personal decision.)

Some Helpful Options
There are a number of treatments for depression, varying according to the symptoms and the severity of the illness. (See the box on page*5, “What Kind of Depression?”) Many people may be helped by their family physician, but some need more specialized treatment. The doctor might prescribe antidepressant medication or recommend some other form of assistance. Some people have experienced good results with herbal medications, dietary adjustments, or a controlled exercise program.

 

[Awoon]

delete

 

[Quintessence]

There's really no standard Neopagan view on things that applies to all who claim affiliation with that demographic. Depending on the specific flavor of their practice, there are a number of things that might go on.

If a strong focus is put on the gods and that person has a good relationship with particular gods, they may be petitioned for aid. Alternatively, spellcraft might be performed for the same purpose using all variety of charms and methods. That could incorporate anything from herbal medicine to aromatherapy, energy healing to wearing a protective amulet. Some might take advantage of the insights offered by divination for guidance.

As for how the mental illness itself is viewed? I don't know. In my experience, contemporary Pagans generally follow whatever is the prevailing understanding of the general public as communicated from scientific research. Some might view the condition in relation to westernized karma, others won't. Some might attribute the issue to a curse, others won't. It just depends, and is sometimes assessed on a case by case basis.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Depending on how severe the depression, most would need professional help, others would just need a better understanding.

 

[Sha'irullah]

Hormonal imbalance?

 

[1137]

I think it is unfair to say someone with depression needs professional help. That's like saying you need a community to get sober, it's simply false. Depression is a natural part of many lives, it's neither good nor bad. I've found it actually makes one stronger. I have theories on how to managed depression, but medication and constant therapy don't fit in. We are not talking about an amputated limb but of the mind. The mind can heal itself, if you take the time to work at it. You should only really need help when you cannot manage on your own or to help learn about how your mind can heal itself. Constant medication and / or crying on someone's shoulder once a week won't actually help anything.

 

[Sunstone]

Depending on how severe the depression, most would need professional help, others would just need a better understanding.

So far as I know, a mild depression can be effectively treated with exercise and other procedures that do not include medication. But more severe depressions do not respond well to those procedures alone. The general rule I've heard is that, if a depression lasts more than two weeks, it's time to seek professional help.

 

[ZooGirl02]

Well, I personally don't think Catholicism takes a position as regards depression. In my own opinion sometimes people can feel depression due to guilt and guilt can arise because of what the person feeling the depression perceives to be as sins. So I think that guilt as regards violations of religious beliefs can cause a depressed mood. The mental illness known as depression, though, is generally believed to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. At least that's the way I personally understand the consensus of the medical community.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Depression are just feelings that crop up. Nothing more.

It's a matter of looking at it directly and not embellishing of which makes the feelings more than what it is in actuality.

I was taught that all things come and go including emotion. It's normal and not something that needs addressing of and in itself unless you choose to dwell there.

 

[ZooGirl02]

Depression are just feelings that crop up. Nothing more.

It's a matter of looking at it directly and not embellishing of which makes the feelings more than what it is in actuality.

I was taught that all things come and go including emotion. It's normal and not something that needs addressing of and in itself unless you choose to dwell there.

Personally I think that depression is a mental illness which can last for a very long time. I think that in some instances depression can last an entire person's life. I personally think that I have suffered with depression for the vast majority of my life time. But anyway, that's my opinion.

Again, this is my opinion, but I agree with you that depression is feelings. I think that feelings of sadness are probably the main and defining symptom of depression. Of course, I have read that other symptoms such as hopelessness and suicidal thoughts can manifest when it comes to depression.

That said, speaking as a person who deals with having depression: it can be very difficult. For me, it mostly doesn't bother me. I do occasionally have bad moods which aren't really serious. I personally think they could be compared to someone who doesn't have depression and a bad mood that they experience. Sometimes these feelings are more than just a bad mood though. Sometimes it gets to where you feel like you are on the verge of crying but you're not quite sad enough to cry. And then of course there are times when it does cause you to cry. And even worse it can cause feelings of wanting to commit suicide. Thankfully I do not have suicidal thoughts very often at all and often times when I do, they pop in to my mind and less than a minute later they are gone. However, I have also experienced suicidal thoughts so bad where I had to have myself hospitalized for my own safety.

 

[Pegg]

I think it is unfair to say someone with depression needs professional help. That's like saying you need a community to get sober, it's simply false. Depression is a natural part of many lives, it's neither good nor bad. I've found it actually makes one stronger. I have theories on how to managed depression, but medication and constant therapy don't fit in. We are not talking about an amputated limb but of the mind. The mind can heal itself, if you take the time to work at it. You should only really need help when you cannot manage on your own or to help learn about how your mind can heal itself. Constant medication and / or crying on someone's shoulder once a week won't actually help anything.

its not really the 'mind' which causes depression, its the functionality of the brain.

the feelings we experience are the result of chemicals/hormones in the brain...when these get out of balance, they can cause the mind to experience highs and lows. If the lows continue for a long period of time, its likely that these chemicals have not readjusted themselves to correct quantities needed and the different components of the brain are either not receiving the chemical needed to function, or receives too much of the chemical needed to function properly.

If this happened to your liver or kidneys, you would go to the doctor to get it fixed... why do you think your brain is any different?

If your blood pressure rises too high or low, it causes problems so we go to the doctor to get medication to readjust our blood pressure to keep it at the right levels. Its exactly the same with the chemicals in our brains...if they get too high or too low we need to manually readjust them to correct them.

 

[1137]

The effects of depression mainly effect the mind. Comparing it to kidney failed is amusing yet fallacious.

 

[Pegg]

The effects of depression mainly effect the mind. Comparing it to kidney failed is amusing yet fallacious.

how depression affects the mind is irrelevant because the effect is not the cause. The most important thing we need to know is what 'causes' depression in the first place.

Doctors know its an imbalance of chemicals....and just as you would treat any other organ in the body, so you can treat the brain when its not functioning properly.

 

[Sunstone]

Doctors know its an imbalance of chemicals....and just as you would treat any other organ in the body, so you can treat the brain when its not functioning properly.

This is my understanding of it, too.

 

[1137]

how depression affects the mind is irrelevant because the effect is not the cause. The most important thing we need to know is what 'causes' depression in the first place.

Doctors know its an imbalance of chemicals....and just as you would treat any other organ in the body, so you can treat the brain when its not functioning properly.

Oh it is, but you can mess with your brain. Meditation, symbolism, belief, etc can all come in and increase happiness, peace, etc. You just need to get off your *** and work at it. Works much better than drugs. Might not be as effective with other things but there are very interesting cases of things like "prayer" helping people get better in extreme cases, experience less pain, change body temperature, etc. Lazy western culture, we just take drugs and go zombie like through our pathetic lives. Nauseating.

 

[Pegg]

Oh it is, but you can mess with your brain. Meditation, symbolism, belief, etc can all come in and increase happiness, peace, etc. You just need to get off your *** and work at it. Works much better than drugs. Might not be as effective with other things but there are very interesting cases of things like "prayer" helping people get better in extreme cases, experience less pain, change body temperature, etc. Lazy western culture, we just take drugs and go zombie like through our pathetic lives. Nauseating.

its more nausiating that people take drugs for recreational purposes because their lives are empty and meaningless.

When people take them to cure an ailment, that is the only sensible way to take them.

 

[illykitty]

Well I'm not subscribing to any religion as of now, so I don't have any answers. All I can say is that mental illness is so hard to deal with sometimes religion or non-religious belief in God can add some extra strength.

I've had many kinds of treatments, but my latest medication was causing me to become more suicidal so I came off them and more often than not, I feel better. I still have ups and downs that change, like fine in the morning and down in the afternoon... Which makes me wonder if depression is really what I have.

But anyway I'm glad to see that almost all recognise medical treatment but also religion can sometimes help, it adds to the professional help.