Religion and Depression, Anxiety, &c.

[Damien]

Hello.

I have noticed on a few of beyondblue's Facebook posts in particular that there are occasional Bible verses posted as if the answer to mental illness is found in religion.  In other places I have noticed that people who have a religious faith have had their "reason not to feel hopelessness" abused by people who don't like religion at all.

I am interested in this stream and wonder what people's experiences of this sort of thing is.  Does Christianity (and other religions) offer anything positive to the way we feel as Anxious and Depressed people, (and I experience GAD, Depression, and Social Phobia), or is religion just another reason for people to bully us when we're down because we "don't have enough faith" or we're "sick because we're superstitious"?

Please don't Bible-bash or bully me with your atheism.  If however you have been Bible-bashed or put down for being religious I'd love to know how this has affected you as a person with Depression or Anxiety.

Thanks,

Damien.

[Lillybell]

Thanks for the response Damien and Geoff. I'm still not able to label myself an atheist just yet. I can't. I guess it means there is still a thread left. Again, a bit like not wanting to let go of the ex! I'm actually envious of those, who like you Damien, have strong faith. I've never been able to manage it. Interestingly I've never shared my doubts with my Christian friends. I think because I've kept up the façade of normalcy for my children.  What I've realised though, more clearly, through writing about it here, is that the children pick up on it anyway. I'm wondering now if this is the cause of GAD in some people. They've grown up in homes where there is unspoken or unresolved conflict or stress so all they pick up are the emotions. I'm seeing signs of anxiety in a couple of my children which only increases my own anxiety!  Re: Mental health centuries ago. It is probably a good thing that we live in 2013. I don't think having a mental illness was something you'd want in the past. Societies back then didn't tend to treat the mentally ill very well because of the lack of understanding

[Vegetarian Marshmallow]

If you're interested in atheism, Julia Sweeney's monologue of her own experience, "Letting Go of God" (available on Youtube, with suspicious copyright standing) is a good listen.

[Ponder]

Do you mean Bible Vs's like this: Ephesians 6:5 - I'm not going to bash you either, but I don't mind saying that my experience with Christianity and all that it had to offer,  has contributed largely  to the challenges and predispositions I now struggle with.  

Indeed "Letting Go of God" and finding faith in myself has been far more fruitful than otherwise submitting to Ephesians 6:5