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When you are relying upon the medication to change your thought patterns, you are not relying upon what God said.

Just what we need. More "Christians" heaping guilt on people who are relying on life-saving medication to overcome clinical depression.

Race, you are part of the problem with your "trust in God alone" nonsense. Someone reading this thread who needs medication should feel absolutely no shame in seeking it. In fact, medication is what God wants them to turn to.

Why act as if God is not telling them to take advantage of the most obvious cure?

Someone reading this thread who needs medication should feel absolutely no shame in seeking it.

Of course they shouldn't feel any shame in seeking medication. People take insulin, there is no diffrence.

Of course once symptoms are controlled (not cured) by medication one should also get counselling. This counselling doesn't have to come from sex-obsessed Fruedian or other secular humanist, of course.

Heck even the 12 step programs begin with "believe in a Higher Power"

Your failure to understand what I just said to that person is only more proof that you are a person to be avoided.

"Race, you are part of the problem with your "trust in God alone" nonsense. Someone reading this thread who needs medication should feel absolutely no shame in seeking it. In fact, medication is what God wants them to turn to.
"

No need to be so judgemental here.

Depression is multifactoral and it is not necessarily simply chemical.

Don't mean to lecture here but here goes.
The chemicals in question here are Dopamine and Serotonin.
Most of the newer antidepressants, paxil, zoloft, seroquel act on Serotonin. Some people who have been clinically depressed all of their lives may in fact have fewer transmitters. Most people have had down regulation due to life events. Drugs can do it (estasy being one).

Usually depression follows a major life event like a death or loss of a job , temporary grief is normal but when the "feelings of helplessness, worthlessness" move in and take over , this is where the spiral really accelerates. Deep and abiding faith can play a very big role here, and it can be very helpful. I am not a florid Christian that can quote scripture here but Depression is some serious soul work and cooperating with God here can help you make some serious life changing movements.

Drugs can be a very important in helping someone get through the badness when it is acute but unless you are one of those people who are chemically inbalanced from birth , depression is a great opportunity for growth.

In my own personal experience My mother had been diagnosed with cancer, I was totally devoted to my job and very much over invested, a difficult marriage. At the time my mother was succoming to the disease, a major upheaval and change in management made it mandatory for me to walk away from the job. I spun into a hellish depression. Thoughts of suicide were my escape hatch. I asked myself 15 times a day is it so bad that I have to open that door and leave. Just knowing that I had the option made it easier to stay.

Now many years later I know bad things happen for good reasons if you use your opportunities. The job I walked from was going nowhere, leaving the job gave me the opportunity to physically care for my mother the last month and a half of her life. I poured much love into my mother and we talked a lot. It hurt like hell but 20+ years later I am happy that I did it. I don't have any unresolved issues with Mom. Surrendering to the power of God in my life led me back to school and as a result I have been in nursing for over 20 years now. One of the hardest jobs I have ever loved.

My marriage got remarkably better , I found out my biggest problem was I was so busy being super competent and self sufficient that I was proving I didn't need him. I got to the point where I couldn't do anything and because of that helplessness I allowed him to carry me. Great trust has grown from that. I also know I am not complete in an of myself. I need to give love, I need to receive it .

My professional field is drugs of every variety. Antidepressants is a significant measure in the treatment of depression but it is not the only one. Faith is another. Talk therapy is extremely useful as well. Service to others is profoundly useful also. You can always find someone who has made a lemonade out of lemons, and you can always find someone who's situation makes your problems look like chump change. One of the most important parts is rejecting the concept of victim.

Victims can only stand by and let things happen to them. When you acknowledge that you always have choices even if it is your attitude you are making progress.