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Told by christian friend that my lifelong depression is because I don’t “know Jesus”
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Anonymous
It was explained to me that all of the answers about human minds is found in the Bible, and that not being happy is a result of a lack of trust in god. Or something like that lol. But I guess that's only for MENTAL illness, as they seek treatment for all physical ailments. Unfortunately we still are not at a place where mental illness can be seen as a physical illness, too, except that the organ it impairs and hinders is the brain not the kidneys or liver or heart. Maybe some day |
Anonymous
| Honestly, I’d just ghost her. Typically evangelical “Christian”. |
Anonymous
| Whenever people claim that mental illness is caused by some personal failing of the patient that can be easily rectified, I know they are shilling a product. I’ve heard that depression is caused by eating animal products, by lack of daily orgasms, by wearing synthetic clothing, and so on. Anyone who claims depression is the result of not believing in Jesus is shilling their particular brand of Christianity —not all of the other branches. Why do major Catholic and mainline Protestant-based hospitals and charities offer psychiatric care if Christianity teaches depression is from lack of knowing Jesus? |
Anonymous
Sorry OP - that sounds really hard. This “friend” sounds unbelievable. Please do educate/ reprimand her before you ghost her for your mental health. It is outrageous that she receives medical treatment for diabetes and has the audacity to cite your lack of faith in getting help for your medical condition. If you are in DMV - there are many good therapists trained in DBT (by good I mean they have many verified positive reviews but it can take a while to find someone you click with). I hope you have a good doctor or psychiatrist for trying different types of medications and adjusting as needed. It can take a while to find the right medicine for you. I hope you find exercise that works for you. There is significant research that aerobic exercise several times a week can be just as effective, and sometimes more so, than anti depressants. Yoga can help too. Definitely not all Christians think like this, and hopefully not even most, hold these extreme views on mental health. Evangelicals have become increasingly politicized hot beds of misinformation over the past 6 years. Our mainstream church sure does not think like this and tries to support different types of vulnerable people, including those struggling with depression. We have lay ministers trained to just be present with people who are struggling and listen to their concerns. They are trained to know they can’t fix other peoples’ problems but they can validate their pain and experiences and show moral support as people get back on their feet. I hope you have people who support you. Just know that you are not alone. Best wishes for finding your inner peace and sense of balance again. Best wishes to you |
Anonymous
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I don’t agree with your friend and I do not think you are being punished.
I do think working on a meaningful spiritual life in order is very important, if not essential, for experiencing joy. This can be with or without religion. |
Anonymous
| what is your former friend’s religion? I live around all fundamentalist evangelicals and they all take medication for depression, anxiety, diabetes, etc. What kind of church does she attend? |
Anonymous
They do not attend a church. They are open brethren |
Anonymous
OP, that’s essentially the “church” of making sh!t up as you go along. Pay her no mind. Please attend to your mental health and I wish you strength as you move ahead. |
Anonymous
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Pastors, priests and ministers have depression and anxiety!
If only it were so simple! That not how any of this works! Devout, faithful born-again Christian who has taken antidepressants for decades. I believe I have a chemical imbalance and certainly a documented family history of alcoholism, depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia to name just a few. |
Anonymous
Isn’t the Bible chock full of stories about god punishing? |
Anonymous
God no longer punishes us for our sin because Jesus took that punishment. God doesn’t punish us with illness, mental or physical. |
Anonymous
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I grew up attending a real church with an ordained minister who had completed seminary. One time he was invited to a celebration at our house and our extended relatives were there. My uncle, a psychiatrist, didn’t say a word about recognizing our minister, but our minister disclosed that he had been a patient of my uncle’s years earlier when he was grieving his mother’s death, and that the experience had been very helpful. Nobody thought any less of our minister.
Your “friend” is going to a church run by lay people, who are doing their best to interpret Bible passages without the benefit of an education that provides the framework for understanding their meaning. I’m sure they are trying their best to be good Christians, but by no means are they experts on Christianity. I’m a parent, and I might be able to give some parenting advice about a specific issue, but I’m no parenting authority, and just because I tell you about something that worked for my children and me doesn’t mean that I’ve mastered parenting and that anybody who disagrees with me is wrong. |
Anonymous
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Why do you call her a friend? She isn't a friend. She doesn't seem very bright, either.
Good riddance. |
Anonymous
| open brethren usually don’t have friends who are non-Brethren. |
Anonymous
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I think op is a troll. Brethren don’t associate or have friendships with people who are not brethren. They can’t even eat a meal with someone who isn’t brethren.
They barely use cell phones and technology, too. |