Should Christian's take antidepressants?

OsmiumZulu · 2021-02-18T16:52:09+00:00

Should Christians? Maybe.

Should you? Better question.

From what you have written elsewhere it sounds like you are feeling depressed about your life because you lead a depressing life. If your life is a series of disappointments and disillusionment then is it any wonder that you feel disappointed and disillusioned? You mention feeling disconnected from God, is it any wonder you don't feel particularly joyful when you've been distanced from the author of life and source of joy?

The good news is that these are fixable things. You have a hard road ahead of you, but there is no reason you can't radically improve your circumstances. It's surprisingly easy to feel great about life when you have a great life.

It is my opinion that anti-depressant medications are a last resort, only to be used after spiritual, natural, and lifestyle "remedies" have been tried.

Deep_Strength · 2021-02-19T15:38:53+00:00

Most people covered the other stuff, but we do recommend lifting

My parents, sister, ex and friends have been pushing me for years to take SSRIs and I refuse on the grounds that they're a bandaid where stitches are needed.

If you ain't lifting, you're not fighting depression effectively sans medication.

Conclusions and relevance: Resistance exercise training significantly reduced depressive symptoms among adults regardless of health status, total prescribed volume of RET, or significant improvements in strength. Better-quality randomized clinical trials blinding both allocation and assessment and comparing RET with other empirically supported treatments for depressive symptoms are needed.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29800984/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28819746/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30334597/

You should generally be lifting at least 3x per week full body along with 3x a week cardio for 30-45 minutes. You can alternate lifting and cardio.. for example Mon, Weds, Fri lifting and Tues, Thurs, Sat cardio.

A lot of the newer research at least shows that depression may have foundations in possible inflammation or alteration of chemicals in the brain. Thus, cardiovascular exercises which increases blood flow to the brain, and lifting which increases also does similar and stimulates resilient changes in the brain help with depression and other related (anxiety, etc.) symptoms.

/u/OsmiumZulu Figured you'd want another reason to tell people to lift

Rifleshoot · 2021-02-18T21:16:14+00:00

The Bible says in psalms 104 that the Lord made wine that gladdens men’s’ hearts. There is nothing wrong with using a substance in moderation to help your emotional state. Our hearts are fickle and unreliable, as the Bible states. Our emotions and feelings are easily changed. So, if an SSRI is what is required, then I don’t think there is a scriptural reason why not.

But, I do believe you are correct in being wary of using it as a first option. Just know that there’s nothing wrong with using it if you were to choose to do so.

hopeunseen · 2021-02-19T02:58:56+00:00

Your argument is not logically sound.

SSRI's are the mental equivalent of giving someone antibiotics in the presence of an infection.

You should NEVER give antibiotics to a perfectly healthy person. On the other hand, antibiotics save lives when they are used to allow the body to clear the infection and heal.

To be clear, depression is not an infection. But it DOES affect the body and the mind in much the same way... Once you're depressed, you quite literally might not have the capacity to do the very things you NEED to do in order to get better (Form healthy relationships, eat right, get a job, sleep well, exercise etc)

Therefore, SSRI's allow your mind a "break" in order to give you the energy and mental capacity to face and fix your issues.

I better add: SSRI's are not a solution, but a treatment. Just taking SSRI's will not make your problems go away, but they MIGHT give you the juice you need to face them. I am also not an expert on such things, and there is no black and white when it comes to medicine - Everyone reacts differently, some people benefit, others not so much. The side effects are also very real, so I personally wouldn't use them unless you cannot cope and solve things without.. But it depends on your situation.

MichaelCeraGoneWild · 2021-02-19T03:23:41+00:00

If EVERYONE is telling you to take them, it is strongly worth considering.

But it’s serious, so talk to a doctor and tell them exactly what you said - you want stitches, not a bandaid.

Another thought: if you do go in, go in with a plan to be OFF them eventually. What another poster said, maybe you feel depressed bc you have a depressing life. Or as J Peterson said, “you’re not depressed, your life just sucks.”

The plan to get off is (1) identify areas A, B, and C (usually body, career, and a romantic relationship), (2) attach tangible goals to each like make X amount salary, get to X bf%, etc. and (3) once you hit those markers, go to your doctor and ask about how to get off meds.

No problem jump starting a car that’s been sitting idle for a while. But the car shouldn’t need the help once you actually get it driving again.

WhereProgressIsMade · 2021-02-21T16:14:33+00:00

I just started reading the book, "When I Say No, I Feel Guilty". It has started talking about how depression is a built-in biological response to frustration. Similar to how anger prepares you for aggression and fear prepares you to flee, depression prepares you to conserve resources to wait for a better day.

If anti-depressants give you the boost you need to start addressing things that are frustrating you, then being on them short-term can work. If you don't use the opportunity to fix anything, it's a waste.

Make a plan on how your going to fix crap in your life and do it. That will do more for depression than anything else.

I really should get my wife off of them, she's been on them for 10 years now. :/

Virtual-Slip6478 · 2021-03-08T17:47:41+00:00

From what I’ve seen, now this is just in my experience so take it how you want to but I know of some very bad side effects of anti-depressants mainly suicide. So no I wouldn’t recommend it. The Bible says to be sober minded and if you are taking something that alters your mind, then I’m against it. Same argument against liquor and and drugs actually. I would say pray and talk to your pastor or someone who’s walk with the Lord is evident.

AbstergoKnight · 2021-03-08T23:03:55+00:00

I am currently on antidepressants. I wanted to weigh in.

There are different types of depression. But, just as our bodies can break and suffer damage so can our brain. I’m confident that I have what’s called a chemical imbalance.

I refused medication for a long time. Went through the Marine Corps. Had 4 kids. Went through college while working full time. The whole time, people close to me were telling me I should consider medication.

My daughter was born without a toe and her right leg is shorter and gimpy. She didn’t choose this. It’s a result of the fall. The only thing she can do is take steps to correct the mess she was given. She’ll never have a normal body, but with some surgery she can get pretty close.

Similarly I was born with a chemical imbalance. My brain isn’t normal. Without medication, everyday is a fight just to get through it. Sometimes I’ll have entire months where it’s difficult just to get to sleep or wake up in the morning. Everything almost feels impossible. It’s like treading water. It’s all I can do just to breathe.

With medication, my brain gets close to normal. It’s like walking through ankle deep water. I’m still not completely fixed, but I’m close enough that it almost doesn’t bother me. I still have some difficult times, but I don’t get so bad that I can’t function. That’s what medication does for me. I plan to be on medication for the rest of my life.

Also, SSRIs might not be the answer. You need to find a good doctor who will patiently help you through different medications until you find the right one. SSRIs made it worse for me. I’m currently on Wellbutrin. It’s working wonders in my life.

Everything feels easier. I don’t have to fight so hard just to do simple things. That frees me to take on more and harder things. I regret spending the first 29 years of my life without medication.

Fristson · 2021-02-18T14:36:51+00:00

I assume you have SSRIs because a dr has prescribed them. Get a second opinion. Sometimes our bodies need the help to get back to a balance. God created a perfect man but we fell and our would is in constant decay. I believe God has help men discover all medications for good to help us. Do your research.

RedPillGlasses · 2021-02-18T16:41:46+00:00

You’re on the roof in an (emotional) flood, and there’s a helicopter and you’re saying “don’t worry God will save me”

If you have a chemical balance in your brain, it’s a lot harder to serve God. Or do anything else in your life.

Take the meds if you need them man.

thepanda37 · 2021-03-05T11:24:44+00:00

You're right.

In addition to that, they're hardly even bandaids.

If they worked (beyond placebo) you could at least get philosophical about it. But usually they don't.

Title	Should Christian's take antidepressants?
Author	trapper_bub
Upvotes	6
Comments	29
Date	February 18, 2021 11:45 AM UTC (5 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askRPC
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/askRPC/comments/lmkylf/should_christians_take_antidepressants/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askRPC/should-christians-take-antidepressants.741782 https://theredarchive.com/post/741782

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