Posted by Dena on December 21, 2003, at 9:08:36
In reply to Re: Antidepressants and religious faith..., posted by rayww on December 21, 2003, at 0:26:15
Dear Rayww (so nice to be writing to you here again!) & MaTurtle:
Amen!
I agree wholeheartedly with both of you. God has put us together in such a way that all parts of us are intertwined in a mysterious symbiotic design. The physical affects the emotional affects the mental affects the spiritual affects the chemical affects the physical, etc. There's no way to disconnect, isolate or compartmentalize any one component. We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made!
I'm both grateful to be living in a time where medication can be used to assist imbalance, as well as concerned about the unknown long-term effects of such medication. For me, I'm choosing to go off of my antidepressant (lexapro), just to see what's what without it. (yes, I'm doing this under the supervision of my doctor - he's been weaning me for the last six weeks - Christmas Day will be my first drug-free day in over 12 years!)
I've felt unable to achieve a level of intimacy with God & with others while I've been under the influence of this (& the other) medications. I was healed of bulimia three years ago ... it's time that I found out whether or not my depression was healed along with it.
I've been going the "rely on medication" route for a long time now. I'm ready to face whatever may be lurking below the artificially-induced balance, & to let God walk me through whatever healing may be remaining.
If however, it turns out that I just can't handle it, even without His help (or that it just isn't the time for further healing), I will have no problem returning to the "crutch" of medication. There are definitely times when a crutch is necessary. How foolish to limp through life, when support is so available.
I'm not endorsing, in any way, that others should attempt to cease their prescribed medication without their doctor's support. This approach was initiated by me, but my doctor fully supports me in it. He's a believer himself, & he understands the whole person, rather than viewing me as just a combination of chemicals. He believes in divine healing as well as healing which comes through the assistance of medication (all good comes from God). I'm blessed to have such a man looking out for my health - I've had others who downplayed my faith.
I'm excited & apprehensive about this stage of my journey. I long for a deep, intimate, REAL connection with my God, rather than being hampered by an inability to connect.
Shalom, Dena
poster:Dena
thread:291754
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20030908/msgs/292081.html