Tony Posted December 10, 2005 Posted December 10, 2005 Ive had something weird happen to me.. that isn't supposed to be..happened a few times now.. and happened littl while ago today too... Praying made me (more) depressed.... its like.. I remind myself why Im praying.. and then that gets me in the dumps.. This really not good spiritually I am sure. but thats what happens to me sometimes...
photosynthesis Posted December 10, 2005 Posted December 10, 2005 sometimes God takes away the consolation we sometimes receive in prayer in order to test our faith..
philothea Posted December 10, 2005 Posted December 10, 2005 I can't remember the last time praying didn't make me more depressed.
Tony Posted December 10, 2005 Author Posted December 10, 2005 depression not a sickness then? I thought it was.. hmm
photosynthesis Posted December 10, 2005 Posted December 10, 2005 depressed as in, having a bad mood, or depressed as in not getting out of bed in the morning and wanting to die?
photosynthesis Posted December 10, 2005 Posted December 10, 2005 [quote name='Tony' date='Dec 9 2005, 08:16 PM']depression not a sickness then? I thought it was.. hmm [right][snapback]819001[/snapback][/right] [/quote] it depends on how you look at things...
Tony Posted December 10, 2005 Author Posted December 10, 2005 [quote name='photosynthesis' date='Dec 9 2005, 07:16 PM']depressed as in, having a bad mood, or depressed as in not getting out of bed in the morning and wanting to die? [right][snapback]819002[/snapback][/right] [/quote] a bit of both actually.. a million thoughts go through my head when I am depressed..
Tony Posted December 10, 2005 Author Posted December 10, 2005 [quote name='photosynthesis' date='Dec 9 2005, 07:22 PM']about what? [right][snapback]819017[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Life in general. I guess... lonliness.. hopelessness...which leads to doubt in God himself. I have had a long bout with depression, just due to the fact I feel lonely a lot of times.. I know God is always there, but I aint called to be a hermit
Ash Wednesday Posted December 10, 2005 Posted December 10, 2005 Aww, Tony -- without sounding Clintonesque, I feel your pain. I've had depression in the past and sometimes it comes back in smaller spells, so I know how much it can smell of elderberries. Maybe try praying in a different way. I find when I am feeling some depression, my prayer life becomes less structured and more informal. Speaking to God as if he was your very best friend and can tell him anything, knowing that he would still love you as any good friend or parent would. I've personally found that when I'm battling depression, that informal conversations with the Lord seems to bode better than muttering prayers like "save us from the fires of hell" numerous times.
photosynthesis Posted December 10, 2005 Posted December 10, 2005 ah, see, when i am depressed praying things like the Rosary and long litanies helps me... because sometimes i get so sad that I don't really know what to say, and the prayers of my own heart lack hope, so I try to conform my prayer to more 'perfect' prayers like the Rosary
Ash Wednesday Posted December 10, 2005 Posted December 10, 2005 Oh, indeed, the rosary and other recited prayers are great when you're at a loss for words. I've spent many nights falling asleep with a rosary in my hand, and tears on my pillow. When recited prayer gets to be like my mouth is full of sand, I go to something more informal. Otherwise I fear I would stop praying. In fact I think a priest told me that once. "Don't stop praying, even if they are simple prayers."
photosynthesis Posted December 10, 2005 Posted December 10, 2005 do you think that prayer causes the depression or only makes you more aware of it?
Tony Posted December 10, 2005 Author Posted December 10, 2005 [quote name='Ash Wednesday' date='Dec 9 2005, 07:40 PM']Aww, Tony -- without sounding Clintonesque, I feel your pain. I've had depression in the past and sometimes it comes back in smaller spells, so I know how much it can smell of elderberries. Maybe try praying in a different way. I find when I am feeling some depression, my prayer life becomes less structured and more informal. Speaking to God as if he was your very best friend and can tell him anything, knowing that he would still love you as any good friend or parent would. I've personally found that when I'm battling depression, that informal conversations with the Lord seems to bode better than muttering prayers like "save us from the fires of hell" numerous times. [right][snapback]819047[/snapback][/right] [/quote] I shold switch it around a bit.. a lot of my prayer is lghts out. lay down in bed and rest in His presence.. but my mind wonders a lot 99% of the time
Tony Posted December 10, 2005 Author Posted December 10, 2005 [quote name='photosynthesis' date='Dec 9 2005, 07:54 PM']do you think that prayer causes the depression or only makes you more aware of it? [right][snapback]819069[/snapback][/right] [/quote] probably more aware
photosynthesis Posted December 10, 2005 Posted December 10, 2005 [quote name='Tony' date='Dec 9 2005, 08:57 PM']I shold switch it around a bit.. a lot of my prayer is lghts out. lay down in bed and rest in His presence.. but my mind wonders a lot 99% of the time [right][snapback]819078[/snapback][/right] [/quote] do you ever spend time in adoration with the Blessed Sacrament? I know for me, sometimes I have so many scary thoughts going through my head that I can't focus in prayer. But going to adoration helps me focus, because even though I cannot SEE Jesus, I SEE a piece of bread, I am sure that he is with me and it is easier to talk to him
Tony Posted December 10, 2005 Author Posted December 10, 2005 adoration is great.. yes I love it.. but I dont drive though.. so that pretty much brings me to the mercy of other people.. why dont I drive is a whole 'nother story Thankfully I was able to make it to adoration a bit before the Vigil Mass this past Wednesday for the Immaculate Coneption
Ash Wednesday Posted December 10, 2005 Posted December 10, 2005 I've never thought of prayer as being a cause of depression. I certainly wouldn't want to say that someone that is afflicted with depression is "praying wrong" -- I just know what works better for me. Sometimes people with depression can struggle with being alone with just their thoughts -- maybe praying in the company of others might also be helpful. Or reading the psalms after prayer, because they are very uplifting and positive. My first year of college I had severe depression and OCD, and I got stuck with this obsession that I had to be thinking about God, all the time, 24/7 and that if my mind wandered from God at any time whatsoever, (even if it was to talk to a friend or consider getting something to eat), I would be committing sin. I told an older mentor about this and he said "well, I don't think God wants you to be concentrating on him so much that it results you being hit by a bus" -- I laughed so hard, I never forgot that. I guess it's hard to explain the affliction I had at the time. The thing I love is how I will go to mass feeling depressed, and after taking communion, I feel better. My heart feels warm. P.S. Eucharistic adoration is awesome. One of the things I miss about home.
photosynthesis Posted December 10, 2005 Posted December 10, 2005 [quote name='Tony' date='Dec 9 2005, 09:05 PM']adoration is great.. yes I love it.. but I dont drive though.. so that pretty much brings me to the mercy of other people.. why dont I drive is a whole 'nother story Thankfully I was able to make it to adoration a bit before the Vigil Mass this past Wednesday for the Immaculate Coneption [right][snapback]819094[/snapback][/right] [/quote] ah, I see.. yeah, transportation is an issue for me too... I drive but I don't have the wheels what about holy images? like crucifixes, icons, etc?
Ash Wednesday Posted December 10, 2005 Posted December 10, 2005 And visualizing yourself in the arms of the Lord, Blessed Mother, or Guardian Angel. Or all of them.
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