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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SLS on February 19, 2009, at 8:40:00
Interesting study involving faith and mental illness.
I hope this link works. It is very long.
- Scott
Posted by 10derHeart on February 22, 2009, at 0:41:19
In reply to Study on faith and mental illness., posted by SLS on February 19, 2009, at 8:40:00
Here's a tiny url for you -
it went from 348 characters to 25 - love that website! I actually learned of it here on Babble:-)
So easy - just go there, copy and paste one of those insanely long urls, and voila! - it converts.
And that IS an interesting study.
Posted by floatingbridge on August 16, 2009, at 18:15:22
In reply to Study on faith and mental illness., posted by SLS on February 19, 2009, at 8:40:00
Hi Scott,
Do you subscribe to the journal? I could only read the abstract.
I wish often that I had faith.
fb
Posted by morganator on August 17, 2009, at 0:18:06
In reply to Study on faith and mental illness., posted by SLS on February 19, 2009, at 8:40:00
Scott,
I have very little faith and I am interested in somehow finding some. I would consider myself agnostic at the moment. I read that you were an atheist at one point in your life and those were some of your darkest days. So, being someone who obviously embraces science and biology, how did you come to have such a strong faith in God?
Posted by SLS on August 19, 2009, at 7:18:28
In reply to Re: Study on faith and mental illness., posted by morganator on August 17, 2009, at 0:18:06
I haven't forgotten about you. I'm still deciding how to answer you.
If one were to try to think things through logically, I guess it comes down to a question with an unknowable answer: Why existence?
Why does the Universe exist?
Can we explain man's agony and remain committed to believing in a Universe with a god? I have believed in God despite my (formally) intractable illness. I believed that there was a good chance that I would never get well. Still, I was able to reconcile this with the perfection of Creation. How do you explain the pain and misery that exists in the world if God is supposed to represent all that is good? I have no problem answering this question for myself.
The Spirit.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on August 19, 2009, at 7:47:12
In reply to Re: Study on faith and mental illness. » morganator, posted by SLS on August 19, 2009, at 7:18:28
I just wanted to make sure that I mentioned here that I had been atheist for a few years. Those years were dark, cold, and empty. Very scary.
Things turned around for me when I asked someone why a god would create a universe. He told me that perhaps God wanted a relationship.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on August 19, 2009, at 13:32:28
In reply to Re: Study on faith and mental illness., posted by SLS on August 19, 2009, at 7:47:12
It is not surprising that anyone with depression should question their faith or spirituality. These things are casualties of the illness. Depression can mute or destroy one's spirituality. Yet, it is precisely a strong sense of spirituality that has been shown to foster a higher success rate in the treatment of depression. It's a Catch-22. That's why it makes sense for someone with depression to attend to their spirituality and find a way to strengthen it.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081023120228.htm
There is a fine line to walk, however. People who are always in search for a meaning to life seem to have higher rates of depression. This is an association and not a demonstration of causality, though. Still, if the question remains unanswered, I imagine that there can be a great sense of emptiness that can lead to cynicism and defeatism, both of which can trigger or perpetuate a depression.
http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/41/21/26
So which comes first, the destruction of spirituality or the depression? I am guessing it can work either way. Regardless of the order in which they occur, finding spiritual balance is important to mental health. Perhaps better said is that attending to spiritual imbalance is what is important.
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on August 19, 2009, at 14:05:24
In reply to Re: Study on faith and mental illness., posted by SLS on August 19, 2009, at 13:32:28
Scott,
Thank you so much for you replies (and links) here. On Monday I finally asked my pdoc /t if he believed in God. (I really never ask him personal questions.) He has never known depression, himself. He believes, if I may paraphrase, in a sense of wonder, of the universe, of creation. I might add that as a doc, he has a very caring, kind, interested presence. He once counseled me to "let love be the compass." As a person with religious damage, I've always searched for the meaning and my purpose. Recently, I've relaxed my grip on those questions, (though they still haunt me), and think of my therapists words. More and more, it's like coming home.
I appreciate your answers and sharing very much--Morganator, you, too.
fb
Posted by SLS on August 20, 2009, at 6:13:17
In reply to Re: Study on faith and mental illness. » SLS, posted by floatingbridge on August 19, 2009, at 14:05:24
Hi FB
> I've always searched for the meaning and my purpose.
I'm smiling because I have people ask me that question every now and then. My reply, although extremely short, reflects where I have arrived at spiritually. For me, it makes life just that much more precious.
Q: What is the meaning of life?
A: Life is its own meaning.> Recently, I've relaxed my grip on those questions
You must be a "seeker". These people seek out understanding of all things, visible and invisible. If the Western answers to your questions still leave you empty, distressed, or wanting, you might try finding some understanding from Eastern philosophies. My spirituality and philosophies are rooted in a belief of what science has and will yield on the nature of God's Universe. That life be its own meaning comes from a belief in evolution and the biology that comes from it.
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on August 20, 2009, at 23:47:43
In reply to Re: Study on faith and mental illness. » floatingbridge, posted by SLS on August 20, 2009, at 6:13:17
>
> You must be a "seeker". These people seek out understanding of all things, visible and invisible. If the Western answers to your questions still leave you empty, distressed, or wanting, you might try finding some understanding from Eastern philosophies. My spirituality and philosophies are rooted in a belief of what science has and will yield on the nature of God's Universe. That life be its own meaning comes from a belief in evolution and the biology that comes from it.
>
>
> - ScottHi Scott, Let's say that I'm a recovering 'seeker'. I like the link you posted from, I think, Science Daily, that spoke of 'existential well-being'. That best describes what I'm trying to work on, in therapy, in my interpersonal relationships, and within myself. Most helpful of readings comes from a small number of buddhist texts, catholic mystics, and psychotherapy itself--reading about it's potential to transform people--to minister to people. For me, destruction of spirituality came first, by damaging religious upbringing (read crazy zealots here), then the depression. I am in a process of recovery. I don't have the head for science and evolution, enough that it would lead me to the wonder of the universe and creation. I have heard, and been inspired by scientists and philosophers that have spoken on this very subject and their faith. I feel I am more humble--and what I reach out for more than anything, is love and connection--to others and self. This helps me stay sane and orders my universe.
best regards to you on the path,
fb
Posted by morganator on August 21, 2009, at 2:32:40
In reply to Re: Study on faith and mental illness. » morganator, posted by SLS on August 19, 2009, at 7:18:28
>If one were to try to think things through logically, I guess it comes down to a question with an unknowable answer: Why existence?
>Why does the Universe exist?
These are exactly the 2 questions that give me hope in my quest for God and spirituality.
Posted by morganator on August 21, 2009, at 2:38:56
In reply to Re: Study on faith and mental illness., posted by SLS on August 19, 2009, at 13:32:28
Yeah I was able to ignore my agnostic nature for the seven years or so that I was doing fairly well on Zoloft. I was also feeling good physically and was not feeling very limited in leisure activities(sports, drinking, playing my bass). Now that I am 36 and struggling with so many things, my fear of getting old and dying(which I have had since I was very very young, maybe 4 or 5) has come to the surface, and along with that my struggle to find spiritually/belief in God.
Posted by morganator on August 21, 2009, at 2:43:39
In reply to Re: Study on faith and mental illness., posted by SLS on August 19, 2009, at 13:32:28
Scott thanks so much for your replies, I really do appreciate it!!!
Posted by SLS on August 21, 2009, at 7:50:53
In reply to Re: Study on faith and mental illness. » SLS, posted by floatingbridge on August 20, 2009, at 23:47:43
> what I reach out for more than anything, is love and connection--to others and self.
Me too.
:-)
What an inspiring perspective.
> best regards to you on the path,
The thing that I am most grateful for regarding seeking answers to questions of spirituality is that my path has led me to a place of balance. My way works for me. I feel no need to deliberate these issues anymore. I shy away from debates regarding spirituality and religion. I have no need of them. I'm right where I need to be. It has proven to be a place of great stability, strength, and bliss. Yet, the path towards enlightenment continues.
I like the ideas of Maslow and his hierarchy of needs. His original paradigm consisted of 5 levels of needs beginning from mere biological survival and leading to self-actualization. Later, a 6th level was added, and it related to spirituality.
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on August 22, 2009, at 13:03:57
In reply to Re: Study on faith and mental illness. » floatingbridge, posted by SLS on August 21, 2009, at 7:50:53
Scott,
Thanks for your kind words--and providing an opportunity to talk about these things. So nice to discuss something other than meds!
With best thoughts for you and great respect,
fb
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