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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by oeps7 on September 23, 2003, at 8:24:40
I am constantly struggling with faith. For those of you that are very spiritual - how do you know there is something else This is a constant struggle for me. I want to believe but find it difficult. This is sometimes the cause of my depression and anxiety.
Posted by oeps7 on September 23, 2003, at 8:26:08
In reply to strruggling with faith, posted by oeps7 on September 23, 2003, at 8:24:40
> I am constantly struggling with faith. For those of you that are very spiritual - how do you know there is something else This is a constant struggle for me. I want to believe but find it difficult. This is sometimes the cause of my depression and anxiety.
I am 3 weeks off effexor now and feel myself slipping into a depression again and constantly dwelling on if there is a God or not. help!
Posted by rayww on September 23, 2003, at 10:20:44
In reply to Re: strruggling with faith, posted by oeps7 on September 23, 2003, at 8:26:08
A mere stating "I believe" is not enough to sustain you. There is a procedure to follow that strengthens faith. It is outlined completely and articulately in the following article which I believe is true. How does one know? You will know when you know. Until you experience the fuits of faith in God, you may just have to have hope in belief, "or trust in the Lord, leaning not unto your own understanding, - - - in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths" (Proverbs)
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-353-26,00.html
We consider these words of modern prophets to be current scripture, and
look forward every six months to more. We believe God continues to
reveal his word to his prophets. I find it interesting that the words
of the prophets do not contradict each other, regardless of which
century they were written, or by whom. I have been studying them for
over 50 years, and have never found a contradiction between modern and
ancient scripture, unless in the interpretation because:"The New Testament is 'a better testament' because so much is left to
the intent of the heart and of the mind and the promptings of the Holy
Spirit. This refinement of the soul is part of the reinforcing steel of
a personal testimony of Jesus Christ." (quote from last month's)http://lds.org/conference/languages/0,6353,310-1,00.html
Posted by dillon on September 23, 2003, at 23:56:36
In reply to Re: strruggling with faith, posted by rayww on September 23, 2003, at 10:20:44
I am very interested in faith also, and I used to be very depressed and/or anxious about finding the "correct" faith. (In fact I was terrified.)
I don't know if I can help, but I'll share a little of my experience with you and you can take what you want from it... I'm not implying that my problems are yours, but I'm just offering my experience so you don't feel so alone... maybe it will help.
The fact that you are struggling with faith, is in itself, at least to me, is proof there must be something more. Somehow it would seem counterintuitive to be able to imagine something without any basis for such thought.
Now I used to worry about how to find the CORRECT faith, I used to worry that I was going to die and never find the correct faith, I even got to a point where I didn't feel like enjoying life because I was always worried about finding faith... even after I joined a very nice church (LDS a/k/a Mormons). I found that for me joining this church didn't help my problems (even thought they were wonderful people)... the worries and anxiety were always there because the worries were more a process of my chemistry being "off" than anything else.
I had to try A LOT of medicines (and a few doctors) before I found a series of meds that worked for me....
Now that I'm not driven by fear I have to find a religious group that is relevant for me, one that I fit into comfortably, but that is a different story.
Perhaps .... maybe the anxiety you are going through is caused by meds or by some brain chemistry being off and you are experiencing it in the way you are... by worrying about faith... I don't know.
However, I do know that the mere fact that you are worrying about faith says a lot of good things about you. Hang in there, you sound like a good person.
I recently found a book I really liked (it made me smile and it was about faith) and perhaps you'd like it, Its called "THE BOOK" by Alan Watts. I mentioned it in another thread and I don't want to take up any more space here... But it has a great story in it about how God got bored and started playing hide and seek with himself (by becoming you and me)... well... you have to read the book.
My thoughts go with you tonight. You are not alone in your struggle.
Posted by oeps7 on September 24, 2003, at 11:51:07
In reply to Re: strruggling with faith, posted by dillon on September 23, 2003, at 23:56:36
> I am very interested in faith also, and I used to be very depressed and/or anxious about finding the "correct" faith. (In fact I was terrified.)
> I don't know if I can help, but I'll share a little of my experience with you and you can take what you want from it... I'm not implying that my problems are yours, but I'm just offering my experience so you don't feel so alone... maybe it will help.
> The fact that you are struggling with faith, is in itself, at least to me, is proof there must be something more. Somehow it would seem counterintuitive to be able to imagine something without any basis for such thought.
> Now I used to worry about how to find the CORRECT faith, I used to worry that I was going to die and never find the correct faith, I even got to a point where I didn't feel like enjoying life because I was always worried about finding faith... even after I joined a very nice church (LDS a/k/a Mormons). I found that for me joining this church didn't help my problems (even thought they were wonderful people)... the worries and anxiety were always there because the worries were more a process of my chemistry being "off" than anything else.
> I had to try A LOT of medicines (and a few doctors) before I found a series of meds that worked for me....
> Now that I'm not driven by fear I have to find a religious group that is relevant for me, one that I fit into comfortably, but that is a different story.
> Perhaps .... maybe the anxiety you are going through is caused by meds or by some brain chemistry being off and you are experiencing it in the way you are... by worrying about faith... I don't know.
> However, I do know that the mere fact that you are worrying about faith says a lot of good things about you. Hang in there, you sound like a good person.
> I recently found a book I really liked (it made me smile and it was about faith) and perhaps you'd like it, Its called "THE BOOK" by Alan Watts. I mentioned it in another thread and I don't want to take up any more space here... But it has a great story in it about how God got bored and started playing hide and seek with himself (by becoming you and me)... well... you have to read the book.
> My thoughts go with you tonight. You are not alone in your struggle.Dillon,
Thank you, your words do make a lot of sense to me. Whenever I'm feeling my depression and anxiety returning this is one of the things I obsess over - I am so afraid of death. I am always looking for proof about the afterlife. I know it has to do with my brain chemistry - I have gone through it before.
I just came off effexor xr 300 mg and am on a small dose of zoloft. Reason I came off is that I would like to become pregnant in the next year and don't want to be on meds. Very frustrating because I am so scared of being depressed again - so far I am slightly hanging on and not too anxious but afraid of the obssesive feelings coming back because they are slightly there.Mary
Thanks you both for your responses. Anything that helps would be appreciated.
Posted by Dena on September 24, 2003, at 17:27:31
In reply to strruggling with faith, posted by oeps7 on September 23, 2003, at 8:24:40
> I am constantly struggling with faith. For those of you that are very spiritual - how do you know there is something else This is a constant struggle for me. I want to believe but find it difficult. This is sometimes the cause of my depression and anxiety.
You have a lot of courage to even ask this question. I admire you for that. I also admire your tenacity in trying to go off of meds in order to protect your future baby. I've had seven healthy children - four of whom thrived in pregnancy while I was on paxil, celexa & lexapro (variously). You don't get pregnant women volunteering for drug testing very often, but my doctors figured that my relief from depression was also in my unborn children's best interest as well. Most of the newer antidepressants are in the category "B" of drugs - they aren't known to cause any harm to unborn babies. It's between you, your husband & your doctor, but I just thought you might like to hear that one woman, at least, suffered no ill effects by staying on meds that were helping me (they also helped me to avoid post-partum depression, which I suffered with after one of my children pre-meds).But... your original question is about faith. Or the lack thereof. Or, of the going back and forth between the two with no assurance of truth.
Dinah wrote a wonderful post earlier about how intricately & delicately & awesomely the universe is put together, & how there must be a Designer of it all - it couldn't have happened randomly. Even the most die-hard atheistic evolutionists, once they open-mindedly examine the evidence, come to the conclusion that there just has to be an Intelligent Designer behind the cosmos (not to mention the single cell).
I believe in a Creator because of the evidence of His creation.
I believe in a personal God, a God who desires a personal relationship with me, because He has entered my heart, my life, & has transformed me - in a way that I couldn't have done on my own.
I've seen evidence of His existence in the transsformed lives of other people I know.
I stepped out in faith - I said, "I believe that there must be a Creator - because I see what's been created. If you're real, show me in whatever way You choose to. Become real to me. Show Yourself to me as You really are."
Most people want to see before they believe. But what's the point of that? That's not faith.
I first believed, then I saw.
No one ever died by taking a leap of faith. But how sad to die without ever having taken a leap of faith.
I wish you a blessed leap.
Shalom, Dena
Posted by oeps7 on September 26, 2003, at 8:15:20
In reply to Re: strruggling with faith » oeps7, posted by Dena on September 24, 2003, at 17:27:31
Dena,
Thank you for your kind words. It is a definite struggle for me.
I feel as if my thinking is distorted from being off the meds. I am still on zoloft 50 mg but off effexor 300mg. I feel like I am slipping back into a depression again, not sure if its withdrawal from the med though. I know this isn't related and will probably be redirected to social babble.
take care,
Mary
Posted by Dena on September 26, 2003, at 16:06:20
In reply to Re: strruggling with faith, posted by oeps7 on September 26, 2003, at 8:15:20
Dear Mary -
Stay with us at PBFaith. Your faith is crucial to your wellbeing & overall health. Going off meds is like being turned inside out & poked with a cattle-prod simultaneously! I've been there - thought I was going crazy! I stayed on one med for 3 years too long just because the withdrawal side effects were unbearable! In fact, that's how I discovered this board... searching for someone else who'd experienced the withdrawals & lived to tell about it!
Stay in touch - I will pray. I don't say that lightly.
Shalom, Dena
Posted by oeps7 on September 29, 2003, at 12:08:53
In reply to Re: strruggling with faith » oeps7, posted by Dena on September 26, 2003, at 16:06:20
Hi Dena,
Thanks for your help. I sure am still struggling with the faith and depression and anxiety. Now I'm in the process of trying fish oil to see if that helps get my brain on track a bit.
Depression is sure hard work!
Take Care,
Mary
This is the end of the thread.
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