Stress Center Peer Support

I do not think of myself as religious and was wondering why I feel I need to be, to reply to so many of the posts?
I am puzzeled by this.

Sorry, I was wondering if there is a corilation between Anxiety and Depression and Religion? Have I not been stressed enough yet? Not taken enough rides to ER? I mean no offense, Just seeking answers.....expecting a response or two on this one...

Hey! I can relate. I know that I feel comforted when I go to church. The people are always positive and just being around other people in that environment helps. Also, just knowing that those people will most likely be least judgmental can be helpful. Have you felt better when around religious people before?

I have often found myself turning to religion, only to no avail. I prayed and begged for mercy. It never came to me though. I would go to church every opportunity I had, even if it was just to hang out there on a typical day. I found that I made myself pretend it was bettering me, but that only destroyed me even more in the long run.

I think religion as an entirety is just something I don't go for or believe is necessary for my own personal well-being. For me it was just sort of a shroud covering my eyes. Don't get me wrong, everyone is different. Some people are very religious and it seems to do them a lot of good. Please note that I very much respect religious people. Just because my lifestyle or opinion differs from their's doesn't mean we can't get along and agree to disagree.

I'm sorry that I seem to be babbling on and on here. Just thought I'd state how religion often came into my life during my periods of struggle.

Peace & Love
-Dustin

Religion or Spirituality INSPIRES & creates a sense of HOPE W/ IN US, irrevalent to religious background. When an individual is in the midst of the worst of anxiety disorder & or depression, they can feel depleted of all HOPE OR INSPIRATION. Out of sheer faith, faith being "in their gut they know there is better than that which anxiety disorder & depression is making them feel, they seek to nourish their internal selves(emotionally, spiritually)= FOOD FOR THEIR SOULS & SPIRITS - this affords them the ability to take this JOURNEY - w/ courage.

Religion/spirituality offers a sense of hope, inspiration, possitivity, love, hope, endurance, ability - simply fr the concepts: I am not alone, I am loved, there is hope, this is not my forever, there is a way to come out of the dark for all things that are anxiety disorder & depression= there is a way, & I am a part of something greater than this, w/ this being anxiety disorder & depression.

You know, anxiety disorder & depression, can make us feel so many cumulative & negative things - it attempts to harden our hearts, spirits, & souls. Kind of making our existence DARK - nighttime 24/7. Religion/spirituality affords us the ability to OPEN THEM BLINDS - MOVE THE CURTAINS, LET THE SUN SHINE IN - so we can SEE & FEEL THE TRUTH - not the lies anxiety disorder & depression makes us feel.

So, if you find yourself seeking out religion, you simply want HOPE/INSPIRATION - you want to FEEL BETTER - you don't want to feel all the neg things that are anxiety disorder & depression. This is not out of OBLIGATION - but rather, RESTORATION.

No man is an island alone - @ 1 point in our lives(several or many to be honest & fair), we all need a little help sometimes - that is great, that makes us human. Life can & will have a variety of events that test our: will/faith-NOT JUST in God or that HIGHER POWER -but W/ in ourselves as well/ability to endure & tolerate/excell/come out successfully/heal/recover/love ourselves & others more. Religion/spirituality/Faith-belief system simply is THAT LIGHT NEEDED - that moral compass - that sense of positive direction - that burst of hope that inspires us all to carry on even when we feel too tired to do so/even when we think we've done enough - it affords us some DEEP POSITIVITY in a world & life where all things are not necessarily positive all the time - as Lucinda says, LIFE IS NOT ABOUT EASY & LIFE ISN'T FAIR.

I personally do have a particular religion I was raised w/. Yes, I still firmly believe in the ideals of that said religion. However, now as the adult woman I am - I've branched out a little bit: What does that mean? hahahaha - well, that means I have more of a FAITH than a RELIGION + I choose not to get caught up in the politics of modern day religion: you know, mine is better than yours - my way is the best way & only way & the rest are inferior to mine- I DON'T BELIEVE THAT AT ALL I personally don't get caught up in the TITLES MAN HAS CREATED - that seemed to have divided us a little, opposed to unite us. Now w/ divide I simply mean that "my religion is the ONLY WAY & RIGHT WAY" - So, we have variety of faiths: Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Krishna, Buddist, Pentecostal, Hindu(sp), Jehovah, Born again Christians, etc - TO ME PERSONALLY & FOR ME PERSONALLY - my faith is not the only way - nor the right way, I don't need to make someone what I am simply cause we're different & I don't care that we choose to believe a little differently - <span class="ev_code_RED">I simply care that WE CHOOSE TO BELIEVE - in whatever mean/form/fashion that nourishes our hearts/soul/spirits - It is more important to me - that WE ALL REACH OUT TO EACHOTHER in love/frienship/help/support - that the TITLES/LABELS that are assigned to our individual beliefs systems. I care that we are friends - that we are all learning to love ourselves & others more.</span> THAT IS MY RELIGION.

I hope you all have a great day - its almost FRIDAY - YIPPPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEE

LENORE

The Bible says that faith is hope in that which is not yet seen.
It may be common among people who struggle to have to have this hope in order to deal with the present problems that they can't solve.
I also think it's stressful to believe in the value of goodness and not resort to hurting others as an easy way to make problems go away.
I needed a foundation for my faith and I found it in my religion, Christianity.
I don't know how people can live without faith but many do.

I'll give you as quick an answer as I can.

I am a Christian, though I haven't been to church in a long time. I like church, but haven't found the right one in our area. That being said, my religion is 'Ronda-ism', I take the parts from different religions that speak to me. Some Catholic, some Protestant, some Jewish, etc. The point is, I love God, and I can't be without him. He is where I turn when I'm lost or when I'm found - when I'm happy or when I'm sad. I'm thankful for God.

Though, that being said, I don't personally (my opinion) agree with all that happens in organized religion. Many a battle has been waged in the name of religion and I personally don't believe that any one person or group should have the ability to tell people how to interpret God or the Bible. It's an individual thing to interpret what we read, hear and learn.

You don't have to be a Christian to share on this site. You might find more common bonds if you are, but it's certainly not necessary.

God won't make the condition go away. He won't do it for you. The point is that we have the ability within us to heal ourselves and we need to find the way to do that - perhaps through the program or perhaps through other means. I choose to believe that God led me to find the program. He shows me the way to use what I already have and it is up to me whether I choose to see it and act on it or not.

Keep in mind that in all recovery programs they talk about believing in a 'higher power'. I pick God, but for you, it might be the universe or some other higher power. The reason is that we need to trust something greater than ourselves. Without that faith we are just individuals walking the earth with no real destination or connection. Which sounds lonely.

Not sure if that helps, but there you have it!
Ronda

We were created to worship the Creator. That feeling is a bult in urge. He just wants us to get to know Him!

Glass

ramppamp,
If it bothers you to read spiritual posts, then dont read them or post to them... you have that choice:)

I agree that we are created with a desire to belong and be loved unconditionally, accepted, and valued. The only place we can really get this is with God. We have a "God-shaped" hole inside us, if you will. So when you have a desire to reach out, you are actually doing what God created you to do.

Church is great, but it won't fill the void either. Only a relationship with Jesus Christ can. Church is not intended to make us fit for heaven by our own efforts, but instead to encourage us to continue on the very hard path of living and trusting God. It's a place where broken people are to get together and worship God. I don't become a more valuable person by going to church; hopefully, I will learn how to allow God to work through me in everyday situations better.

Church, or religion, is not really what saves us; nor is anything we do. Did you know that Christianity is the only religion that offers salvation without any works on our part? Instead, God allows us to freely choose Him if we will. The reason why we have trouble doing that is because we don't like to get out of the driver's seat of our lives. Living a Christian life is actually hard. Not a life of pure bliss. But it is the only life that promises peace even during troubles, salvation without sacrifice (Christ did that), and unconditional love. I don't think of it as a crutch, a nice way to live, something that works for me but perhaps not for others, etc. It is a yearning fulfilled. It is my life's blood. It is a true relationship with Jesus Christ, the one who loves me so much that He gave it all for me. It has compelled me to love Him because He loved me first. Who doesn't want to be the apple of someone's eye? To have a safe place to go and be yourself with total acceptance? Who doesn't want to be love no matter what you do, don't do, have done, haven't done, etc. Only He is capable of that, and He gives it freely to those who seek Him.

No thing, no person, no place, no institution can do that for us.