Are antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications safe for believers?

[MikeinSeattle]

This may seem like a dumb question to some. But I have heard a lot of really bad stories about people who go on these kinds of mind altering medications. My particular concern is that they may create "gateways" for demonic influence in the believers mind. Many of you I am sure have heard Jordan Petersons testimony of how anti-anxiety meds wrecked him and nearly killed him after only a short time of usage. And he is still trying to recover after years. I have always been of the opinion that things that are not created specifically by God for consumption should not be consumed. And that that God has created the "herbs of the field" as medicine for mankind. And yet recently I have heard testimony of how a member of my churches life was saved by man made mind altering medications. I do not remember what the specific medication was.

Anyways my question is first have you personally seen cases like Jordan Petersons where believers have been very negatively impacted by mind altering meds (specifically antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications)? And then are there also cases where you have seen these drugs help believers you know?

Also if you know of any previous posts which have addressed this issue please link them.

 

[Silverback]

This may seem like a dumb question to some. But I have heard a lot of really bad stories about people who go on these kinds of mind altering medications. My particular concern is that they may create "gateways" for demonic influence in the believers mind. Many of you I am sure have heard Jordan Petersons testimony of how anti-anxiety meds wrecked him and nearly killed him after only a short time of usage. And he is still trying to recover after years. I have always been of the opinion that things that are not created specifically by God for consumption should not be consumed. And that that God has created the "herbs of the field" as medicine for mankind. And yet recently I have heard testimony of how a member of my churches life was saved by man made mind altering medications. I do not remember what the specific medication was.

Anyways my question is first have you personally seen cases like Jordan Petersons where believers have been very negatively impacted by mind altering meds (specifically antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications)? And then are there also cases where you have seen these drugs help believers you know?

Also if you know of any previous posts which have addressed this issue please link them.

God gave us the gift of physicians, and counselors to assist us with sickness in this life. There is nothing wrong with using these gifts of God.

I have been on medication for anxiety, and it helped me. Using medications as prescribed is not sinning.

 

[GreekOrthodox]

I've been on anti-depressants and some ADD meds before to help over some difficult patches. One thing is that what may work for one person may not work for you, so there is some trial and error, so you have to work closely with your physician. But when you find the right medication and dosage, they can be a life-saver.

 

[Sketcher]

This may seem like a dumb question to some. But I have heard a lot of really bad stories about people who go on these kinds of mind altering medications. My particular concern is that they may create "gateways" for demonic influence in the believers mind. Many of you I am sure have heard Jordan Petersons testimony of how anti-anxiety meds wrecked him and nearly killed him after only a short time of usage. And he is still trying to recover after years. I have always been of the opinion that things that are not created specifically by God for consumption should not be consumed. And that that God has created the "herbs of the field" as medicine for mankind. And yet recently I have heard testimony of how a member of my churches life was saved by man made mind altering medications. I do not remember what the specific medication was.

Anyways my question is first have you personally seen cases like Jordan Petersons where believers have been very negatively impacted by mind altering meds (specifically antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications)? And then are there also cases where you have seen these drugs help believers you know?

Also if you know of any previous posts which have addressed this issue please link them.

There are believers who are helped, and there are believers who are harmed. Care needs to go into the right prescription, where a prescription is necessary. There are people at my church who have publicly shared that meds have helped them.

Also, just a couple disclaimers about Dr. Peterson (though I do like him and his lectures):

• He's a clinical psychologist, but that's not the same as a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are the specialists in mind altering medications.
• Unless he very recently converted, he's not a believer - though he is respectful of literary and moral lessons from the Bible.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Medicine is medicine, it affects the body and the mind and emotions attached to the body. If your body needs the medicine, take it.

 

[BeyondET]

Ashwagandha herb is great for anxiety, it is well known that Long-term use of prescription anti anxiety drugs can cause changes in the structure of the brain, resulting in increased tolerance, which ultimately leads to addiction.

 

[spiritfilledjm]

This may seem like a dumb question to some. But I have heard a lot of really bad stories about people who go on these kinds of mind altering medications. My particular concern is that they may create "gateways" for demonic influence in the believers mind. Many of you I am sure have heard Jordan Petersons testimony of how anti-anxiety meds wrecked him and nearly killed him after only a short time of usage. And he is still trying to recover after years. I have always been of the opinion that things that are not created specifically by God for consumption should not be consumed. And that that God has created the "herbs of the field" as medicine for mankind. And yet recently I have heard testimony of how a member of my churches life was saved by man made mind altering medications. I do not remember what the specific medication was.

Anyways my question is first have you personally seen cases like Jordan Petersons where believers have been very negatively impacted by mind altering meds (specifically antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications)? And then are there also cases where you have seen these drugs help believers you know?

Also if you know of any previous posts which have addressed this issue please link them.

Yes they are and don't let anyone tell you any different. We've lost people due to the belief that one who takes medication has a lack of faith in God to heal them and that is simply a lie.

 

[RDKirk]

This may seem like a dumb question to some. But I have heard a lot of really bad stories about people who go on these kinds of mind altering medications. My particular concern is that they may create "gateways" for demonic influence in the believers mind. Many of you I am sure have heard Jordan Petersons testimony of how anti-anxiety meds wrecked him and nearly killed him after only a short time of usage. And he is still trying to recover after years. I have always been of the opinion that things that are not created specifically by God for consumption should not be consumed. And that that God has created the "herbs of the field" as medicine for mankind. And yet recently I have heard testimony of how a member of my churches life was saved by man made mind altering medications. I do not remember what the specific medication was.

Anyways my question is first have you personally seen cases like Jordan Petersons where believers have been very negatively impacted by mind altering meds (specifically antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications)? And then are there also cases where you have seen these drugs help believers you know?

Also if you know of any previous posts which have addressed this issue please link them.

"Herbs of the field?" Like heroin, peyote, marijuana?

 

[BeyondET]

"Herbs of the field?" Like heroin, peyote, marijuana?

man that landed in left field hehe,

 

[MikeinSeattle]

"Herbs of the field?" Like heroin, peyote, marijuana?

Yes.

 

[SeventhFisherofMen]

This may seem like a dumb question to some. But I have heard a lot of really bad stories about people who go on these kinds of mind altering medications. My particular concern is that they may create "gateways" for demonic influence in the believers mind. Many of you I am sure have heard Jordan Petersons testimony of how anti-anxiety meds wrecked him and nearly killed him after only a short time of usage. And he is still trying to recover after years. I have always been of the opinion that things that are not created specifically by God for consumption should not be consumed. And that that God has created the "herbs of the field" as medicine for mankind. And yet recently I have heard testimony of how a member of my churches life was saved by man made mind altering medications. I do not remember what the specific medication was.

Anyways my question is first have you personally seen cases like Jordan Petersons where believers have been very negatively impacted by mind altering meds (specifically antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications)? And then are there also cases where you have seen these drugs help believers you know?

Also if you know of any previous posts which have addressed this issue please link them.

Right off the bat I'll say I take mood stabilizer and anti-psychotics. I also have a Mom who deals with depression and took medication for it.

My advice for anyone looking to get on these meds is if you aren't already on it don't start. I am currently dependent on my meds and have extreme withdrawal symptoms when I tried to get off them with the help of my doctor. These symptoms will last up to 90 days if I try and tough it out but the feeling is the worst I can describe so I don't even try. My Mom also had to tough out intense withdrawal symptoms when getting off her meds.

The cost monthly on my meds are ~$250 without insurance and about $37 with insurance where my Insurance costs $154 per month adding to $199 meds+ins.

Spiritually I do not know what it causes but I know it made me feel very slow and groggy for a while at first.

I believe you can make it without meds, but if you absolutely need to they are your choice just pray over your meds and know initially you have about 3-5 months before you become dependent on your meds so should you choose them and later decide to opt out you will not have withdrawals that are nearly as bad as myself who has been on my meds for about 7 years now.

 

[rturner76]

Some people need them, some don't. It's really a matter of working with a doctor to get the right meds or no meds but you won't find a better answer of this forum that your doctor can provide.

 

[jacks]

St. Johns Wort?

 

[SeventhFisherofMen]

Some people need them, some don't. It's really a matter of working with a doctor to get the right meds or no meds but you won't find a better answer of this forum that your doctor can provide.

Actually they CAN get a better answer than their psychiatrist can provide as someone who has a psychiatrist and has had about 7 in my lifetime knows that they are pushed by pharmaceuticals to recommend habit forming meds that they themselves do not and in most cases would not take.

Do not assume that the Psychiatrists know what it's like to be a patient more than an actual patient, there is a difference and that is all I'll say for now.

 

[1watchman]

Right off the bat I'll say I take mood stabilizer and anti-psychotics. I also have a Mom who deals with depression and took medication for it.

My advice for anyone looking to get on these meds is if you aren't already on it don't start. I am currently dependent on my meds and have extreme withdrawal symptoms when I tried to get off them with the help of my doctor. These symptoms will last up to 90 days if I try and tough it out but the feeling is the worst I can describe so I don't even try. My Mom also had to tough out intense withdrawal symptoms when getting off her meds.

The cost monthly on my meds are ~$250 without insurance and about $37 with insurance where my Insurance costs $154 per month adding to $199 meds+ins.

Spiritually I do not know what it causes but I know it made me feel very slow and groggy for a while at first.

I believe you can make it without meds, but if you absolutely need to they are your choice just pray over your meds and know initially you have about 3-5 months before you become dependent on your meds so should you choose them and later decide to opt out you will not have withdrawals that are nearly as bad as myself who has been on my meds for about 7 years now.

One needs to always consult a physician knowledgeable about psychiatric meds. If not a Psychiatrist, a specialist in Internal Medicine can help monitor such a mental/emotional condition. One should NEVER exceed the prescription directions; and contact your physician at any symptoms of change or troubles.

 

[SeventhFisherofMen]

One needs to always consult a physician knowledgeable about psychiatric meds. If not a Psychiatrist, a specialist in Internal Medicine can help monitor such a mental/emotional condition. One should NEVER exceed the prescription directions; and contact your physician at any symptoms of change or troubles.

Did you mean to reply to my post instead of the OP? It sounds like this is a response to OP and not my post

 

[1watchman]

My thought was about all that was being said about the medications used, and how some look at it, Fisher. Certainly it was for general information to share on the subject. Many people use many drugs without regard to a specialist prescribing it or monitoring it.

 

[BeyondET]

Yes.

No to heroin peyote maybe CBD try it and see

 

[SeventhFisherofMen]

My thought was about all that was being said about the medications used, and how some look at it, Fisher. Certainly it was for general information to share on the subject. Many people use many drugs without regard to a specialist prescribing it or monitoring it.

Well as I mentioned I have a psychiatrist, just wasn't sure why my post was quoted but the response didn't really have much to do with what I said

 

[com7fy8]

This may seem like a dumb question to some. But I have heard a lot of really bad stories about people who go on these kinds of mind altering medications. My particular concern is that they may create "gateways" for demonic influence in the believers mind.

Well, a medication is physical. So, I see it is possible that a physical thing by itself can not control what a demon does or does not do.

But our character spiritual can have a lot to do with if we can give in to evil spiritual beings or not. But what matters is if we are with God.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

So, while we obey how God says not to give in to anxiety, and pray the way He has us praying, we are guaranteed how His peace will guard our minds and our hearts. This means our spiritual minds, I would say. Because God's peace is spiritual to guard our spiritual minds.

But a physical medication can effect our physical brains, but it can not cure our spiritual character of our spiritual minds. And a physical chemical is not almighty like God's peace. God is almighty; His peace is almighty to protect us in our minds and hearts.

Jesus says, and guarantees >

"'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:29)

So, to me this means if we submit to Jesus in His "yoke", and learn from Jesus, He will give us rest in our souls. And I understand our soul includes our heart and mind which His almighty peace protects while we obey Him in this peace.

In case you want to check out a video I did about being ruled by God's peace and what God does with us in His peace, it is in Youtube. The title is > "Obey God in His peace" and it should show an orange computer screen; it's about thirteen minutes > if your search does not show this, this might work >