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Should A Christian take anxiety medication?

WithLoveFromAlyssa

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Hello, Long story short I used to be on anxiety meds and i stopped taking them because I wanted to try and depend on God. Ever since then My anxiety has gotten way worse. I cant walk down the street, I'm afraid someone is going to try and stab me. I constantly am Dizzy, and have a rapid heartbeat, Headaches, and sleeping problems. Every time someone pulls out their cellphone, I think its a gun and run away.. IN PUBLIC. Ive passed out, Had depression ETC. My Doctor is saying my anxiety is physically making me sick and seriously wants me back on the pills. I admit I do feel like a happier person on them, I'm not so anxious. I just feel bad because When i try and pray, it doesn't see to help as much as the medicine. I don't doubt God can do miracles. The bible says God helps those who help themselves, so could the medication be the help he's sending me? :confused:
 

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If you were a diabetic, would you takeinsulin? Do you take asprin for a headache?

anxiety meds are not designed as a cure and are usually meant to be taken for situational anxieties in ADDITION to recommended counseling protocol. Most people need a meds UNTIll a skillset can be developed to identify triggers and coping skills can be mastered..so YES I would take the meds, but I would also seek to address the causes and attempt to learn stress management techniques.
 
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dysert

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Hello, Long story short I used to be on anxiety meds and i stopped taking them because I wanted to try and depend on God. Ever since then My anxiety has gotten way worse. I cant walk down the street, I'm afraid someone is going to try and stab me. I constantly am Dizzy, and have a rapid heartbeat, Headaches, and sleeping problems. Every time someone pulls out their cellphone, I think its a gun and run away.. IN PUBLIC. Ive passed out, Had depression ETC. My Doctor is saying my anxiety is physically making me sick and seriously wants me back on the pills. I admit I do feel like a happier person on them, I'm not so anxious. I just feel bad because When i try and pray, it doesn't see to help as much as the medicine. I don't doubt God can do miracles. The bible says God helps those who help themselves, so could the medication be the help he's sending me? :confused:
Hi, Alyssa. Long answer short, YES!

I've been a Christian for most of my life, and I've been on anxiety medication (Ativan) for most of the last 15 years. Could God cure me so that I wouldn't need to take the medicine? Of course. But until He does, I am going to take the stuff as needed or else I wouldn't be of much use to Him or anyone else. Remember that our bodies have been affected by the Fall. There's stuff wrong with us, and I'm thankful for modern medicine that can help alleviate some of the problems. There's nothing wrong with a Christian taking anxiety medicine any more than there's anything wrong with a Christian wearing glasses, a hearing aid, taking insulin, antidepressants, etc.
 
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dysert

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Thank you guys. It just makes me feel un-pure... If that makes any sense. Putting that stuff in my body.
Do you know why it makes you feel un-pure? Is it just anxiety medicine or do you feel this way with any medicine (aspirin, Pepto Bismol, etc.)? You're taking it under a doctor's supervision as needed. It's not like you're downing a fifth of whiskey to get calm.
 
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trulyconverted

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1 Cor 10:26 "For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof."

Col 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:"

Even the medications belong to the Lord.
 
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dysert

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I don't know, I feel like i'm letting God down by taking them.
I don't think you're letting God down. You're taking care of your body, which is a gift He gave you. I'm sure He wouldn't want you to let yourself fall apart (which is what would happen to me if I stopped taking the meds I'm on). You want to be a good steward of what He gave you, and since something isn't working quite right in your body it's actually God-honoring to do what you can to fix what's wrong.
 
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WithLoveFromAlyssa

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I don't think you're letting God down. You're taking care of your body, which is a gift He gave you. I'm sure He wouldn't want you to let yourself fall apart (which is what would happen to me if I stopped taking the meds I'm on). You want to be a good steward of what He gave you, and since something isn't working quite right in your body it's actually God-honoring to do what you can to fix what's wrong.



I never looked at it that way...Hmmmmm :doh::confused::thumbsup:
 
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americanvet

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Hello, Long story short I used to be on anxiety meds and i stopped taking them because I wanted to try and depend on God. Ever since then My anxiety has gotten way worse. I cant walk down the street, I'm afraid someone is going to try and stab me. I constantly am Dizzy, and have a rapid heartbeat, Headaches, and sleeping problems. Every time someone pulls out their cellphone, I think its a gun and run away.. IN PUBLIC. Ive passed out, Had depression ETC. My Doctor is saying my anxiety is physically making me sick and seriously wants me back on the pills. I admit I do feel like a happier person on them, I'm not so anxious. I just feel bad because When i try and pray, it doesn't see to help as much as the medicine. I don't doubt God can do miracles. The bible says God helps those who help themselves, so could the medication be the help he's sending me? :confused:

My dear sister if you need the med's by all means take it! Another thing, people say "god helps those who help themselves" but in reality God helps those who need help.
 
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WithLoveFromAlyssa

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If you were a diabetic, would you takeinsulin? Do you take asprin for a headache?

anxiety meds are not designed as a cure and are usually meant to be taken for situational anxieties in ADDITION to recommended counseling protocol. Most people need a meds UNTIll a skillset can be developed to identify triggers and coping skills can be mastered..so YES I would take the meds, but I would also seek to address the causes and attempt to learn stress management techniques.


I Am in agreement with this. :angel:
 
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WithLoveFromAlyssa

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My dear sister if you need the med's by all means take it! Another thing, people say "god helps those who help themselves" but in reality God helps those who need help.

And I could surely use the help! :blush:
 
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americanvet

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And I could surely use the help! :blush:

I find that the closer I am to God the more a peace I am with life. If you have some time available try to replace whatever you had been doing with some Jesus time. And remember you have millions of brothers and sister who love you.
 
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LM1955

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If you want to go a more natural route, you can always try L-Theanine. It is an amino acid that calms the nerves.

I started having anxiety attacks when I was 16-years-old. I am now 57. However, even though I have learned some coping techniques, I still have problem with anxiety. I just am able to keep my doses low and not run for a pill everytime I have an attack.
 
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Alyssa,

I have asked myself the same questions and adopted the same mentality you have hinted at. I wanted to believe that if I had enough faith, that I would be able to "turn it over to God", and I would not require anti-anxiety medication as a result.

In the end, like some of your responders have stated, we wouldn't think twice about taking medication for many other medical conditions we may run into, such as diabetes or chronic pain. I have to believe that, just like God gave mankind the intelligence to develop medications for those conditions, he also gave us the intelligence to develop anti-anxiety medications.

More so than that, I realize that my strong motivations to be the "guy that doesn't need medication to combat anxiety" really boils down to pride on my part. I have a weakness and I need help. God has given the world anti-anxiety medication. I believe that if I'm too prideful to receive it when I honestly need it (and I can tell by your post that you too have most likely not come to this crossroads lightly), then I am basically saying that I am too proud to receive God's help, through His provision of that medication to the world.

Believe me when I tell you that I sympathize with you. I will be going back on anti-anxiety medication very soon, and it was not an easy decision to come to, but I do believe that God gave this provision to us. We only cheat ourselves if we do not accept this gift from Him.

God Bless,

Isaac
Indiana, USA
 
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Thank you guys. It just makes me feel un-pure... If that makes any sense. Putting that stuff in my body.
It is OK I am 21 and am on three medications at least one maybe all three will be life time, if I went off them frankly I would be foolish.
 
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Right now it seems like your body needs the medication. It's not like your body wants it, it needs it. There's a difference, and god knows that. Don't feel un pure,or don't feel like your letting god down by not trusting he can heal you. He know's you and he know's your heart. You want help but most of all you want god's help. Don't move to quick let him heal you. It'll happen over time. God's time is not like time here on earth. Everyone here is always in a rush. Technology demands that everything just become faster and faster. Some of us need to slow down big time.Including myself. I just want to be healed of anxiety already and crazy thoughts but I know i will be healed in gods time. Don't let the devil deceive you and make you feel like your doing something wrong when all your doing is helping yourself.Its not your body that you need to focus so hard on being pure its your heart and by admitting how you feel and your great concern for god, it shows something. Keep up the good work i say.
 
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laineyk

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Greetings...have a question for you, WHO DO YOU THINK CREATED THESE MEDS? God enabled men to make medication to help us.

I struggled with this exact same issue for 6 years. went on and off zoloft several xs because I felt guilty.

Its been 12 years now all total been on zoloft the last 6 years straight because I could NOT function. do I continue to ask God to heal me DAILY? YES....He is in control and my biggest request is that I am given peace over all this.

Not to hurt feelings, but the bible in fact does NOT say" God will help those who help themselves"

but it does say He will never leave us comfortless.

Blessings
 
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