Antidepressant Debate

BLynn2020 · Apr 13, 2020

Hi all - I'm not sure if this is the correct location for this, but here it goes. I've gone back and forth on how I feel regarding antidepressant medication. On one side, doctors and their recommendations, etc are Biblical and there are many people who feel that God made us creative and able to come up with solutions, modern medicine being a huge one. On the other side, these medications affect brain chemistry as well as dampen emotions to some extent. This worries me quite a bit, because I have felt in the past that my joy is lessened and that I can't seem to have the deep connection with the Lord that I've had before. I felt disconnected and couldn't quite get the depth and fulfillment I had before. At the same time, it did help control my panic attacks/anxiety/depression pretty significantly. But I cannot get the thought out of my head that it might be a tool of the devil to numb me and disconnect me from God? It seems to help my emotional state greatly but I feel like it takes away from my spiritual life and relationship with the Lord. Very curious to see others' perspectives on this.

theoneandonlypencil · Apr 13, 2020

An even better point; antidepressants are not a 'cure'. You're delaying the inevitable since your body will likely become resistant to the effects of the medication once you've used them for so long. Really, at some point you're going to have to face your depression/anxiety head on; it's a mental thing, pills can't change that.

Jacob Black · Apr 13, 2020

theoneandonlypencil said:
An even better point; antidepressants are not a 'cure'. You're delaying the inevitable since your body will likely become resistant to the effects of the medication once you've used them for so long. Really, at some point you're going to have to face your depression/anxiety head on; it's a mental thing, pills can't change that.

Then how do you face mental disorders like depression/anxiety/OCD without the help of medication? Rebuke it in Jesus' name like the charismatics do? Some people (like me for example) need antidepressants because their brain doesn't work the right way (thank Adam and Eve for that). I need my Fluoxetine to prevent my scrupulosity/OCD from making me go insane. It's just like diabetes, you can't pray it away but God has provided us with medicine to resolve the problem.

GaveMeJoy · Apr 13, 2020

Jacob Black said:
Then how do you face mental disorders like depression/anxiety/OCD without the help of medication? Rebuke it in Jesus' name like the charismatics do? Some people (like me for example) need antidepressants because their brain doesn't work the right way (thank Adam and Eve for that). I need my Fluoxetine to prevent my scrupulosity/OCD from making me go insane. It's just like diabetes, you can't pray it away but God has provided us with medicine to resolve the problem.

It’s really sad so many Christians are so ignorant that they think their spirit lives in their brain. People with organ failure need medicine. The brain is an organ. When Christians act like we can pray away mental illnesses or just need to be more
Spiritual it hurts 1) people with mental illnesses 2) our testimony for Christ because it makes us look like idiots to unbelievers and 3) other believers who need to see a doctor but we give them terrible advice that doesn’t address the real problem.

GaveMeJoy · Apr 13, 2020

BLynn2020 said:
Hi all - I'm not sure if this is the correct location for this, but here it goes. I've gone back and forth on how I feel regarding antidepressant medication. On one side, doctors and their recommendations, etc are Biblical and there are many people who feel that God made us creative and able to come up with solutions, modern medicine being a huge one. On the other side, these medications affect brain chemistry as well as dampen emotions to some extent. This worries me quite a bit, because I have felt in the past that my joy is lessened and that I can't seem to have the deep connection with the Lord that I've had before. I felt disconnected and couldn't quite get the depth and fulfillment I had before. At the same time, it did help control my panic attacks/anxiety/depression pretty significantly. But I cannot get the thought out of my head that it might be a tool of the devil to numb me and disconnect me from God? It seems to help my emotional state greatly but I feel like it takes away from my spiritual life and relationship with the Lord. Very curious to see others' perspectives on this.

It’s not a debate IMO. If you have organ failure you need medicine to treat the organ. The human spirit does not reside in our brains, it’s grey matter that is subject to failure like our other body parts.

That’s an interesting wrinkle that you are concerned your meds interferes with your relationship with God. I think a lot of prayer and perhaps trying other meds with less pervasive side effects may be something to consider but I suggest going with your doctors on it. I’m sure you are bound to get a couple Christians posting “mental illness is just demon possession” and “depression means you don’t know your value to Jesus or pray enough” on this thread. It’s not their fault they don’t understand basic human anatomy, and don’t have experience with mental illness. We are all ignorant in some areas, I’m that way I MANY areas. Don’t listen to them.

Rescued One · Apr 13, 2020

Just ask yourself if an epileptic should be medicated. Should there be vaccines? My father had polio when he was in high school. When I started school we took medication to prevent polio. I've never met anyone my age who has had polio.

theoneandonlypencil · Apr 13, 2020

Jacob Black said:
Then how do you face mental disorders like depression/anxiety/OCD without the help of medication? Rebuke it in Jesus' name like the charismatics do? Some people (like me for example) need antidepressants because their brain doesn't work the right way (thank Adam and Eve for that). I need my Fluoxetine to prevent my scrupulosity/OCD from making me go insane. It's just like diabetes, you can't pray it away but God has provided us with medicine to resolve the problem.

Depression is not OCD; they both may be classed as mental disorders, but to insinuate that treating OCD is like treating depression is like comparing apples to oranges simply because they are both classified as a fruit. It's very presumptuous of you to assume my views, and for your information no; I do not think you can just 'pray away' disorders. However, becoming reliant on medication for the rest of your life in order to feel 'happy' when it comes to depression and anxiety, specifically, is probably not the best course of action. I also was never advocating that antidepressants should never be used under any circumstances--rather the pros and cons should be weighed out if you decide to use them for a time in combination with other things, and regardless they should never ever become the permanent 'fix'. I've had several friends who were on antidepressants for depression and anxiety for quite some time, and from firsthand experience, I can say that they did NOT work long term; once the meds were gone, all problems came back because they never faced the issue of what was making them depressed in the first place and often they ended up worse than when they started taking them. Not to mention when on their meds, it changed them for the worse at times.

Therapy exists and is a powerful tool. So does a healthier diet, sleeping schedule, exercise, and a whole other myriad of things that would help people with these issues should they actually do them.

Running away from your problems is only going to make things worse.

Froggymom101 · Apr 13, 2020

Medicine is necessary for some people and should not be ignored but coupled with prayer.Remember Luke was a physician. There are bible verses about taking medicine when appropriate. (Isaiah 38:21, 1 Tim 5:23 )

Samaritan Woman · Apr 13, 2020

theoneandonlypencil said:
An even better point; antidepressants are not a 'cure'. You're delaying the inevitable since your body will likely become resistant to the effects of the medication once you've used them for so long. Really, at some point you're going to have to face your depression/anxiety head on; it's a mental thing, pills can't change that.

I've been on various antidepressants for over twenty years and they're still helping!

Samaritan Woman · Apr 13, 2020

BLynn2020 said:
On the other side, these medications affect brain chemistry as well as dampen emotions to some extent. This worries me quite a bit, because I have felt in the past that my joy is lessened and that I can't seem to have the deep connection with the Lord that I've had before. I felt disconnected and couldn't quite get the depth and fulfillment I had before. At the same time, it did help control my panic attacks/anxiety/depression pretty significantly. But I cannot get the thought out of my head that it might be a tool of the devil to numb me and disconnect me from God?

I have been on antidepressants for close to 25 years and have been a believer for almost 20; SSRI's control my OCD and severe depression associated with being bipolar. Over the years I have noticed that some meds dampen my emotions/feelings while others do not (one was especially numbing so I switched). I have found that my current one does flatten out my feelings to a degree but I don't let it affect my walk with God because faith is not founded on emotions; I still spend time studying scripture and praying, and I consider myself to have an intimate walk with the Lord. I have come to understand that joy is not like happiness which is reliant of momentary feelings; my joy in Him is based on peace as I grow in deeper knowledge of Him.

GaveMeJoy · Apr 14, 2020

theoneandonlypencil said:
Depression is not OCD; they both may be classed as mental disorders, but to insinuate that treating OCD is like treating depression is like comparing apples to oranges simply because they are both classified as a fruit. It's very presumptuous of you to assume my views, and for your information no; I do not think you can just 'pray away' disorders. However, becoming reliant on medication for the rest of your life in order to feel 'happy' when it comes to depression and anxiety, specifically, is probably not the best course of action. I also was never advocating that antidepressants should never be used under any circumstances--rather the pros and cons should be weighed out if you decide to use them for a time in combination with other things, and regardless they should never ever become the permanent 'fix'. I've had several friends who were on antidepressants for depression and anxiety for quite some time, and from firsthand experience, I can say that they did NOT work long term; once the meds were gone, all problems came back because they never faced the issue of what was making them depressed in the first place and often they ended up worse than when they started taking them. Not to mention when on their meds, it changed them for the worse at times.

Therapy exists and is a powerful tool. So does a healthier diet, sleeping schedule, exercise, and a whole other myriad of things that would help people with these issues should they actually do them.

Running away from your problems is only going to make things worse.

Antidepressants help many people remain “functional” it’s not about getting “happy” feelings.

Not taking the correct medication because of misconceptions and cultural ignorance is the epitome of running away from your problems. The brain is an organ, which is subject to failure just like a heart or a kidney and medication can be a vital tool.

Bob Crowley · Apr 14, 2020

I used to have depression. I was on Prozac for a few years. It got rid of the depression, although I still get frustrated from time to time But that's not depression.

As the psychiatrist said "When you've been depressed for a long time, your brain chemistry changes. Prozac very slowly changes it back again towards what it should be."

It worked for me. Mind you my depression may not have been as severe as the OP, who also said he or she gets panic and anxiety attacks, and the medication may have more side effects.

But if I were the OP I'd think long and hard before giving up on the medication.

Incidentally the psychiatrist is a very spiritual Catholic, but that didn't stop him from recommending Prozac when he thought it was necessary.

faroukfarouk · Apr 15, 2020

Samaritan Woman said:
I have been on antidepressants for close to 25 years and have been a believer for almost 20; SSRI's control my OCD and severe depression associated with being bipolar. Over the years I have noticed that some meds dampen my emotions/feelings while others do not (one was especially numbing so I switched). I have found that my current one does flatten out my feelings to a degree but I don't let it affect my walk with God because faith is not founded on emotions

;

Samaritan Woman said:

I still spend time studying scripture and praying

Click to expand...

Samaritan Woman said:
, and I consider myself to have an intimate walk with the Lord. I have come to understand that joy is not like happiness which is reliant of momentary feelings; my joy in Him is based on peace as I grow in deeper knowledge of Him.

Great testimony!

Good to take prescribed meds (I myself take lots, for various reasons...) but the believer's peace and standing is based on the Person and Work of Christ which God completely accepts. John 14.27.

Emsmom1 · Apr 15, 2020

theoneandonlypencil said:
Depression is not OCD; they both may be classed as mental disorders, but to insinuate that treating OCD is like treating depression is like comparing apples to oranges simply because they are both classified as a fruit. It's very presumptuous of you to assume my views, and for your information no; I do not think you can just 'pray away' disorders. However, becoming reliant on medication for the rest of your life in order to feel 'happy' when it comes to depression and anxiety, specifically, is probably not the best course of action. I also was never advocating that antidepressants should never be used under any circumstances--rather the pros and cons should be weighed out if you decide to use them for a time in combination with other things, and regardless they should never ever become the permanent 'fix'. I've had several friends who were on antidepressants for depression and anxiety for quite some time, and from firsthand experience, I can say that they did NOT work long term; once the meds were gone, all problems came back because they never faced the issue of what was making them depressed in the first place and often they ended up worse than when they started taking them. Not to mention when on their meds, it changed them for the worse at times.

Therapy exists and is a powerful tool. So does a healthier diet, sleeping schedule, exercise, and a whole other myriad of things that would help people with these issues should they actually do them.

Running away from your problems is only going to make things worse.

I have suffered from depression since I was 12. Studies have shown it is partly genetic (both my grandmothers had it and my aunt was hospitalized for it), although environment plays a role as well. I was in therapy off and on (mainly on) from the ages of 17-45. I had periods of remission, but the depression always returned and the episodes were starting to get closer together and more severe-this is not uncommon for those with chronic depression. In 2015 I was hospitalized for a severe episode. Thankfully, over a period of 10 days they found a medication that works for me. Since December of 2015, I have not had an episode of depression. Now, things aren't perfect and of course I get sad like anyone else. But the depression is gone. I will probably have to be on the medication for the rest of my life-and I am okay with that. I don't rely on medication to be "happy;" I rely on medication to keep me ALIVE. That is how severe my depression was. Sometimes a medication that was previously efficacious becomes less so and a dose change or even a medication change can be useful. I hope that does not happen for me, but it could.
And of course there is a difference between major depressive disorder and feeling sad. Not everyone needs antidepressants and among those who do not all will need to be on them permanently. But there is a subset for whom medication will be a necessary component of their lives. To claim that they don't work "long term" is simply wrong.

faroukfarouk · Apr 15, 2020

Emsmom1 said:
I have suffered from depression since I was 12. Studies have shown it is partly genetic (both my grandmothers had it and my aunt was hospitalized for it), although environment plays a role as well. I was in therapy off and on (mainly on) from the ages of 17-45. I had periods of remission, but the depression always returned and the episodes were starting to get closer together and more severe-this is not uncommon for those with chronic depression. In 2015 I was hospitalized for a severe episode. Thankfully, over a period of 10 days they found a medication that works for me. Since December of 2015, I have not had an episode of depression. Now, things aren't perfect and of course I get sad like anyone else. But the depression is gone. I will probably have to be on the medication for the rest of my life-and I am okay with that. I don't rely on medication to be "happy;" I rely on medication to keep me ALIVE. That is how severe my depression was. Sometimes a medication that was previously efficacious becomes less so and a dose change or even a medication change can be useful. I hope that does not happen for me, but it could.
And of course there is a difference between major depressive disorder and feeling sad. Not everyone needs antidepressants and among those who do not all will need to be on them permanently. But there is a subset for whom medication will be a necessary component of their lives. To claim that they don't work "long term" is simply wrong.

Good to take prescription meds, and not come off them without the doctor's approval.

Dave-W · Apr 17, 2020

theoneandonlypencil said:
Really, at some point you're going to have to face your depression/anxiety head on; it's a mental thing, pills can't change that.

There is a difference between normal depression (emotional sadness) and clinical depression; which is a chemical imbalance in the brain.

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