[passinthru]

cutting and depression do go hand in hand at times but as Roring Lams pointed out it doesn't always have to be the case.

some people cut, others struggle with eating disorders, other turn to drugs or alcohol. the bottom line is we are trying to fix things ourselves. We are trying to make the pain go away even for a few minutes.

Self-harm/self-injury is a private thing for many people. We don't like ot talk about it becuase it isn't understood. Generally the only people who understand are those who are themselves cutters.

Katie+

[Nate]

Originally posted by passinthru
so no Nate, you can't just trust God. That's the same thing as telling someone with diabeties to not take their insulin cause that shows a lack of faith.

Ok, I think maybe I might have worded a few of my replies wrong. If I gave the impression that I thought faith was all that was needed, I apologize. That is not what I'm trying to say at all. What I am trying to say is that you can go to all the shrinks and doctors that you want, but if you don't have faith, it won't do squat for you.

[passinthru]

Originally posted by KeyboardFreak


I find it pretty ironic that this is basically what everyone who was healed by Jesus did.
Nothing more needs to be said; faith heals.

James 5:15a
and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up...


Now that I think about this a little more, I'm going to basically go back to my original statement. The cure for depression is faith in God. Whatever God decides to do to heal a person of whatever kind of depression they may have, I believe it will require faith on their part. (note: This is not to say that medical or pyschological attention is worthless; but rather to say that they are worthless without faith in God.)

so are you saying that if I had more faith in God I wouldn't be depressed?

Katie+

[passinthru]

k nate this is where you are wrong...because shrinks and counsellors can and do help. Even without faith, because depression is in part a medical problem. see the reason why depression is misunderstood and hard to treat is because of the thought-patterns that go along with it.
it's a chemical and an emotional thing.

Katie+

[Nate]

Originally posted by passinthru
some people cut, others struggle with eating disorders, other turn to drugs or alcohol. the bottom line is we are trying to fix things ourselves. We are trying to make the pain go away even for a few minutes.

Exactly, you are trying to do things to fix it yourself. This is why faith is so important. Faith is realizing that you can't help yourself (in fact, this is the basic premise on which the whole doctrine of salvation rests... but that's another story), and then realizing that nobody but God can help you. Now, God may choose any number of ways to help you (through doctors, through psychiatrists, through friends, through supernatural events, etc)... but the thing to remember is that healing will ultimately come from God.

I hope this makes sense. (probably not, I don't seem to be having a very good time articulating my thoughts lately)

IHL,
Nate

[passinthru]

Originally posted by KeyboardFreak

Exactly, you are trying to do things to fix it yourself. This is why faith is so important. Faith is realizing that you can't help yourself (in fact, this is the basic premise on which the whole doctrine of salvation rests... but that's another story), and then realizing that nobody but God can help you.

true on the we're tryign to fix it ourselves, but isn't modern medicine about that? according ot your logic here you shouldn't go for chemotherapy or take any sort of painkillers...

Now, God may choose any number of ways to help you (through doctors, through psychiatrists, through friends, through supernatural events, etc)... but the thing to remember is that healing will ultimately come from God.

will it? I don't know.

I hope this makes sense. (probably not, I don't seem to be having a very good time articulating my thoughts lately)

hey it's ok i'm not being as articulate as I need to be either.

Katie+

[Nate]

Originally posted by passinthru
so are you saying that if I had more faith in God I wouldn't be depressed?

No. I, once again, have misworded something. Faith is not the cure for depression, it is the treatment. Faith in God may or may not make depression go away.... but it will allow you to cope with it.

I am trying to say that faith in God is the best way to cope with depression.

[Nate]

Originally posted by Eggy
But it is a serious medical/psychological/chemical condition and must be treated as such... God's healing is necessary... but treatment of the medical condition is too, and that can be part of the healing process used by God...

I agree completely.

[passinthru]

Originally posted by KeyboardFreak
No. I, once again, have misworded something. Faith is not the cure for depression, it is the treatment. Faith in God may or may not make depression go away.... but it will allow you to cope with it.

I am trying to say that faith in God is the best way to cope with depression.

ok methinks that we aren't using the same meaning for depression. when i'm talking about depression I"m talking about the medical condition.

God does play a big role in coping and learning to live with depression. But so do new thought patterns and habits to replace old negative ones.

Katie+

[passinthru]

Originally posted by Eggy


Right... and what Katie (i think), and I, are trying to say, is that faith is *part* of the way to cope with depression, but does not, all of itself, solve things...

Healing is a process and needs to be wholistic.

yeah I think we're on the same page Ian.

Katie+

[Nate]

Originally posted by passinthru
according to your logic here you shouldn't go for chemotherapy or take any sort of painkillers...

Not exactly. Because God can use those things just as much as He can use anything else. I am not saying that we should boycott modern medicine altogether.... I am simply saying that we should never place the power of medicine above the power of God.

[passinthru]

Originally posted by KeyboardFreak
Not exactly. Because God can use those things just as much as He can use anything else. I am not saying that we should boycott modern medicine altogether.... I am simply saying that we should never place the power of medicine above the power of God.

ok I think I'm starting to see where you are coming from.

I'm very bitter about the whole God aspect of this due to personal stuff. I'm gonna try to stay away from it best i can.

Katie+

[Nate]

Originally posted by passinthru
ok I think I'm starting to see where you are coming from. course I think that the whole power of God thing is a theology debate...ya know I'm gonna start a thread on it in there and we can hash that aspect there not here. 'k?

Ok, I haven't been in theology for a few weeks anyway, this'll give me an excuse to get back into the swing of things.

And let me remind you that theology is not just something that is only studied by scholars and has no bearing in our everyday lives. Theology is the study of God and His ways. If we, as Christians, are living for God as we claim to be.... shouldn't we allow an understanding of His ways and His power to permeate everything we do?

[Nate]

Oops... you edited your post. I guess mine still applies though.

[Nate]

Originally posted by passinthru
I'm very bitter about the whole God aspect of this due to personal stuff. I'm gonna try to stay away from it best i can.

"The whole God aspect" is just about the only thing that matters! I can understand why you might be bitter, but that doesn't change the fact that God is a vital part of any healing process.