OraProNobis wrote:at1with0 wrote:
Prayer does not remove depression but, then again, neither to the drugs.
What type of prayer do you have in mind? God take away my suffering? Yeah, that's not gonna work for multiple reasons, one of which is the selfish nature of it.
Why do you presume that?
It's common sense and a lot of experience.
Wishful thinking doesn't accomplish much. Including wishing for strength and hope. Can an amputee pray for his limbs to return? No. Likewise for someone whose serotonin receptors are bad wish that they weren't. It's a myth that depression has to do with strength; strength is no more involved in clinical depression than it is for an amputee or a diabetic person. When someone feels stronger after wishing for strength, it is because of the power of belief that they feel stronger. The power of belief is where that strength comes from, not from God. The strength comes from within, no need to rely on an external source for what is already inside.
Depression happens for a miriad of reasons. Prayer that is focused on asking for strength to bare our crosses, and to persevere is actually very beneficial.
Like I said, depression, clinical depression resulting from what goes on in the brain, has nothing to do with strength. So even if prayer can be exploited in order to gain strength (which it can't), that won't treat the
cause of depression any more than oxytocin or St. John's wart.
Prayer that focuses on God giving strength and hope, and taking one day at a time doing the best you can in the given situation has helped many homeless, and jobless people have hope and carry on.
Many who seek, find, but many who seek do not find. I was jobless in a homeless shelter for part of 2003 and I have seen first-hand that belief in God and prayer did, in fact, help some people but I also know that prayer and faith alone is not a panacea for life's problems, especially problems that are results of choices freely made like to not go to school.
Prayer that is focuses on asking strength to overcome weakness and sin in ones life that is a great cause for the depression has worked as well. Many people have prayed for the strength to stop gambling, or drinking, or doing drugs, or watching porn . All things which have caused problems in their relationships and families and has lead to serious depression.
Clinical depression is not caused by sin or weakness. Nor is it demonic possession.
I feel sad that you can't see the power of prayer at1with0, and choose to twist it around as if it always some "selfish" thing. Praying for others you love has helped people overcome their depression caused by seeing loved ones in so much suffering, due to circumstances they can do little about.
Yes, how sad, that you would choose the "fun" drug, and ignore the greatest power on earth. The power of prayer.
I see the power of the will, and I think it is sad that you have to rely on an external source for your strength that is within. People who pray for strength to carry out God's will often enough are seeking an escape from their weakness and suffering, though not all people who pray are doing it for selfish reasons.
I never said I would choose to take oxytocin.
You can't be serious 
