Is it Right for Christians to take Anti-Depressants?

[The Infamous Din]

I agree, but I'm almost rabid on the subject of the over-medication going on in our society. I'm not exactly unbiased because all I can seem to handle is the occasional aspirin.

One of the best counter-arguments is that when we have a cavity, we numb the area in order to alleviate the pain so that the tooth can be healed. Similarly, the argument for anti-depressants is that it numbs the pain so that healing can be achieved.

I'm considering the analogy, but I'm not sure I agree with it.

It's the pain that tells us where to work, in the case of the tooth as in the case of the mind.

In the case of the mind, we don't extract the bad parts. The work requires the patient's participation.

Dentists usually numb the tooth for an hour or two. Psychiatrists numb the whole mind for months or years at a time, preventing any real work from getting done, as the patient is in no condition to be objective.

[beaker]

What about being activists? Should Christians rise up and denounce the use of anti-depressants?

No.

My wife has anxiety problems. She takes medication for it. Without the medication, she could not function.

There is a place for drugs and doctors. God has given man the ability to heal thru medicine. This is a good thing.

[Meriweather]

No.

My wife has anxiety problems. She takes medication for it. Without the medication, she could not function.

There is a place for drugs and doctors. God has given man the ability to heal thru medicine. This is a good thing.

Anxiety problems sound more like a case of chemical imbalance, which is not what we're discussing here. We're talking about times when circumstances, not chemicals, is causing the depression. Chemical problems, as you rightly point out, is an entirely different ball of wax. That's organic, not inorganic.

[IndyBec]

For me, absolutely. I cannot take anything stronger than the occasional aspirin. I'll also note that pain meds a doctor prescribed for my sister once put my life in danger.

But personal experiences aside, pain medication addresses an organic problem, and anti-depressants are an organic solution to an inorganic problem. Is this really the best solution?

I always recommended natural child birth to my friends, but most thought I was nuts.

I have given birth without pain meds 3 times. In those instances I did well channelling my anxiety so that it did not amplify the pain. Two times I had one-hour medicine that really helped with the anxiety, and spinal block for the twins' C-section. However, I can say that enough of the time, the afterpains can be just as bad as labor.

I am recovering from my second sprained shoulder muscle in as many months. I took Tylenol for about 3 days to get through. It hurt even when I didn't move, and made sleep impossible.

I cannot imagine what life is like for those experiencing chronic pain.

I have had several family members who have experienced depression at some point. None that I know use use meds for it on a long-term basis.

I imagine, though, that there can be an organic reason for depression, aside from a chemical imbalance. Chronic pain can be depressing. Other medical conditions can be depressing, some can be treated without medicine, some cannot.

[Andrew_980]

one should never medicate for something that is not medical. I am severly depressed not because of chemicals but because life sucks, pills won't fix that.

[smyrna]

Lucky for me...you have to have feelings before you can become depressed.

[gpd®]

For this topic, I am not speaking of people who must and should take anti-depressants because of a chemical imbalance. I am speaking of people who suffer not from a depression caused by chemical imbalance, but from a circumstantial depression based on something that happened, or something that is ongoing in their lives.

The Way of the Cross not only brings us times of grace and joy, but there will also be times of suffering and sadness. Shouldn't we be aligning our sufferings with those of Christ and trust ultimately there will be a resurrection in store for us?

Hi Meri,

I have a confession to make. I am clinically classified as a schitozphrenic delusional with suicidal tendencies: i.e. truly "5150," a danger to myself and society.

I don't hate Catholocism nor Catholic people. I guess I have a resentment that my parish hierarchy suggested a Catholic "mental facility (hospital)."

I went and all they did was give us meds 3 times a day and played checkers....and I even took up smoking cigarettes there because there with nothing to do when we are doped up.

I was against the drugs because they gave you one, and one for the side effects of the first and a third for the side effects of the second...not to mention that they didn't have any Bible studies, only chapel on Sunday.

I walked out against medical advice and was ushered by my family to a rehabilitation Bible home. Inotherwords, a "Radical Christian" or "Men's Bible Home. (aka Pentecostal)."

So to wind it up, here is the drug that God recommended:

Mat 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

Mat 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Mat 6:27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life

Mat 6:28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

Mat 6:29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

Mat 6:30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Mat 6:31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

Mat 6:32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Mat 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Mat 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

These verses have pretty much kept me worry-free for many years. In fact, I truly believe they helped me skip over a middle-aged crisis.

They definitely help me sleep through the night an avoid any king of panic-attack.

Sorry about the unusally long read from me.

[DRS]

For this topic, I am not speaking of people who must and should take anti-depressants because of a chemical imbalance. I am speaking of people who suffer not from a depression caused by chemical imbalance, but from a circumstantial depression based on something that happened, or something that is ongoing in their lives.

The Way of the Cross not only brings us times of grace and joy, but there will also be times of suffering and sadness. Shouldn't we be aligning our sufferings with those of Christ and trust ultimately there will be a resurrection in store for us?

So are you saying a person suffering a great deal of grief from an experience should not be given medicinal help?

Even in conjectiion with say mental or emotional help?

[jkm]

The name of some meds can be deceptive as they may serve multiple purposes. For example, some anti depressants also have a purpose as migraine preventive. Migraines, from my direct experience, can be an extremely painful, incapacitating problem.

I would say to a Christian or non Christian examine your motives before going the pharmaceutical route. I learned the concept of "examining one's motives" from a friend 20 years ago.

Is the person--in this thread, the Christian--going this route hoping for a quick fix? A total elimination of grief in an event where it is natural, and what should be felt naturally now may come back later? Nix the idea of anti depressants.

If, however, they are at a point of grief where they are having trouble regularly eating or sleeping, or their habits in either have changed to the point where they are destructive, and they are going this route in addition to counseling with a minister, priest, or therapist with whom they feel comfortable, and they are looking at it as temporary, it may be worth the effort.

They should understand that life is never without difficulties of some sort, and should not use these therapies to substitute for prayer or to avoid God in their lives.

[The Infamous Din]

Anxiety problems sound more like a case of chemical imbalance, which is not what we're discussing here. We're talking about times when circumstances, not chemicals, is causing the depression. Chemical problems, as you rightly point out, is an entirely different ball of wax. That's organic, not inorganic.

Nope. Anxiety was one of my biggest issues. The answer is cognitive. One must practice being healthy.

[biggles53]

"Right"...? For some it should be compulsory..........

[Meriweather]

one should never medicate for something that is not medical. I am severly depressed not because of chemicals but because life sucks, pills won't fix that.

I'm sorry to hear this, Andrew. Are there things about life that aren't so bad?

[Meriweather]

Hi Meri,

I have a confession to make. I am clinically classified as a schitozphrenic delusional with suicidal tendencies: i.e. truly "5150," a danger to myself and society.

I don't hate Catholocism nor Catholic people. I guess I have a resentment that my parish hierarchy suggested a Catholic "mental facility (hospital)."

I went and all they did was give us meds 3 times a day and played checkers....and I even took up smoking cigarettes there because there with nothing to do when we are doped up.

I was against the drugs because they gave you one, and one for the side effects of the first and a third for the side effects of the second...not to mention that they didn't have any Bible studies, only chapel on Sunday.

I walked out against medical advice and was ushered by my family to a rehabilitation Bible home. Inotherwords, a "Radical Christian" or "Men's Bible Home. (aka Pentecostal)."

So to wind it up, here is the drug that God recommended:



These verses have pretty much kept me worry-free for many years. In fact, I truly believe they helped me skip over a middle-aged crisis.

They definitely help me sleep through the night an avoid any king of panic-attack.

Sorry about the unusally long read from me.

I do not mind long reads, and I'm sorry for the troubles and tough times you have had. I agree with you about medicines; I hope medical facilities Catholic and otherwise have improved since the days of your stay.

I'm also happy to hear that these have been worry-free years for you. Scripture is such a blessing.

[Meriweather]

Today, I read another article on a similar subject. While we may be more knowledgeable, is it true we are also more fragile--that we are afraid to suffer. The article was saying churches need to teach more about suffering.

[gpd®]

I do not mind long reads, and I'm sorry for the troubles and tough times you have had. I agree with you about medicines; I hope medical facilities Catholic and otherwise have improved since the days of your stay.

I'm also happy to hear that these have been worry-free years for you. Scripture is such a blessing.

Thanks for the sentiments.