My therapist this week asked me if I believe in anything..... I had a big blank... I was raised Catholic but I have not been practicing for almost 10 years... It got me thinking maybe if I had something to believe in then my anxiety may weigh me down less..... But now I am unsure what I could believe in. I may go back to church or even try multiple religions or church to see if it helps..... Anyone else find that having a strong spiritual base no matter what religion it is seems to help?
Spirituality : My therapist this week... - Anxiety and Depre...
Spirituality
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Dogmom55
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I do believe in spiritually if all you know is the Catholic Church go for it. I has help me a lot. I am catholic and my priest came to visit me last Thursday I felt much better after talking to me and praying along with my parents & sister. Today I went to meet him at church I was able to drive and get out of the house I had been fearing of doing so. We talked he blessed me with holy water I went to church and prayer light up a candle prayed some more and it made me feel much better. Start with the our father that is a very strong prayer. I have a very close friend who is Pentecostal and she told me the our father is the strongest pray for a lot of people. I read psalms and have also done the chaplet of the divine mercy let me know if you want to go that way I can share some prayers with you b
Thank you for the encouragement! It has been so many years since going to my church I do not know where to start. I was going to go to a service the other night and chickened out...
I personally have always been very spiritual and it does help me a lot. I believe God is guiding and angels are watching over. I have been a devoted Catholic and Muslim but right now I don’t follow any religion. I think whatever is helpful, go for it. Best to you, Dogmom.
Thank you for the encouragement!
Starrlight shines so bright that she reminds of God's love and light in my life everyday. She is a true light to my world.
Awww 😃
Did you read my reply to Dogmom, another friend of mine? What did you think?
I love how your mind and heart are open. 😊
I have found that Believing in god actually help in controlling anxiety and depression a lot. If you will truly believe in god, then you won't have sense of fear, you will always know that there's someone who's always there with you 24*7, so nobody can hurt you or harm you. Anxiety increases when we overthink, always believe that god will make everything good for you, he's testing you.
whenever you're hurt or in bad situation then always think like this.. a horse rider whip it's horse because it want it to come first, just like this god want you to be first that's why he make you suffer, so that you can come out of it and excel.
all religion are good. follow anyone, they all will at the end tell you same things.
I am hindu, i follow Hinduism, it's great. If you want you can read Hindu scriptures, it will definately give you inner peace.
• in reply toRedfox9
Which one?
Redfox9• in reply to
It's so nice that you're interested in Hindu scriptures, In India you will see a lot of foreigners in holy cities chanting bhajans in Hindi and Sanskrit.
Read Bhagavad-Gita . just read few things about it, you will definitely feel like reading it fully.
• in reply toRedfox9
Always believe that god will make everything good for you, he is testing you....
Your god makes you suffer because it wants you to come first... Seriously???
Grimreaper• in reply to
Jimmyjimmy .. request you not to hurt anyone feelings . This topic is little controversial. But there are billions who follow some religion and other and it does provide them strength.
But if you don’t believe in it.. it’s your choice don’t put down others please
Peace .. God or no God 😊🙏😊
• in reply toGrimreaper
I'm just wanting these religious types to explain themselves instead of giving people false hope.
If they want to put this stuff on a public forum then they should be prepared to explain how it works etc.
If they dobt like being questioned about it then maybe they shouldn't be posting about it.
Redfox9• in reply to
Man the world is living on hope, everyday you wake up hoping the day to fine, you hope or wish that everything will be fine.
if false hope make you happy and live freely then it's good to have false hope.
Redfox9• in reply to
you will behave the way you think, what's point in thinking negative?
I wrote things which helps me in difficult times. (it's not written in scripture) your life will be reflection of the way you think.
I try to take out positive thing from every situation even when it's negligible, that positive thinking helps to face difficult time.
The things i wrote helped me a lot, that's why shared it, if you don't like it then ignore it.
• in reply toRedfox9
You think I'm being negative because you don't like what I'm asking.. I myself think that questioning things is actually positive because its the only way anyone can learn about and understand things.
Don't you agree.?
Redfox9• in reply to
asking questions is good, but to mock it is not. Your beliefs may be different with mine, but i won't mock them.
Grimreaper• in reply to
Jimmyjimmy and Redfox... pls be There a peace .. no point in having argument on such topic for which millions have been killed to prove it one way or other .. but nothing can be proved .
Better respect each other views and don’t take it further .. this community is not for debate on this topics.
🙏🙏
grimreaper am not proving anything, am happy with my belief and i don't have problem with anyone's else, i think we should do anything that make us happy which don't harm other ...either it's belief in god or not .
I am not saying you are .. but for betterment of forum I said we should not get into who is better with God or without it. 👍👍
I am very interested. Will be reading some. Thanks Redfox!
welcome 
fauxartist• in reply to
a 'light bulb' works for me jimmyjimmy...flip a switch and let there be light....
• in reply tofauxartist
Me too.
Dogmom55, you know I'm solidly in your corner. Though not overtly religious, I certainly believe in God or a supreme higher being. Everyday when I look at the trees, the breeze blowing, the rain and the sky, I feel I have no choice but, to believe. My beloved counselor Moriah, whom I had to leave recently, was strongly religious. She never criticized the fact that I didn't believe as she did. Instead, she worked within the boundaries of our shared beliefs, One interesting point she made several times was that we are where God wants us to be at any given time. That God has a plan for us and one way or another, we will follow his plan. What she ment was that anytime we detour at some point we will swerve back onto the place we're supposed to be. So, why do we suffer? It teaches us a lesson, we learn not to repeat the same mistakes we made over and over. It's also a natural part of life. We all age and die. So, death and pain is a common thread in everyone's life. Interestingly enough, I took my horrible situation and turned it into a path where I spend a significant amount of time trying to help others. There are always those who are worse off than us. If you want to worship God, just pray to him. Ask for his forgiveness and understanding. He's always listening and he will hear you. Then honor him by doing whatever you can to help. That means far more to God than walking into some church building. The bible says, 'Where 2 or more are gathered in his name, he is in the midst of them'. If you have friends that go to church, talk to them about it. God will honor that too. You can go to the members section and type JEG 325 into the search box and contact me directly. I will chat with about religion, God or anything you want. I care about you and I also do it to honor God and Moriah's efforts in my life. Look around. God is everywhere!
This is soooo great to read. Yes, I love it; God is everywhere, under a leaf, in your friends’ heart, everywhere. I’d love to talk about God with you sometime, any of you awesome people.
Starlight ... looks like you are searching the footprints 👣 of God ..
so here is mine take on it ..
it’s within you .. where is he .. he is here within you and now at this present moment. The moment when there is no past to feel sorry about and no future to worry about .. that present moment , he is with you .
I feel meditation (mindfulness) helps you bring closer to it . It always there but we can’t see .. because we are so much occupied in past and future.
There is one thing is to believe and other is to experience. You can experience it with your present moment. Leave aside everything just experience present moment and you got it . (It’s much easier said than done .. but meditation will take you there slowly and steadily)
😊😊
I agree completely He is always with us but we aren’t always paying attention. I love mindfulness and meditation. I used to go to a class (meditation) every week. I need to get doing it myself with a guide I love Tara Brach. Grimreaper, how do YOU like to meditate? So curious.
I did some classes of Vipasana, some home practice, it’s all about how you let drop your senses and just do not react to them but watch them .. it’s all about being aware of what’s happening and what you are doing .. 🙏🙏
I have the fleeting capability sometimes to withdraw into myself and observe everything around me, myself included. It's like I astral project from deep inside and then just stand there nearby and look around. Then I sort of wake up or come to and everything is normal again.
• in reply toGrimreaper
This is beautiful!!!!! I love what you said!!!! 💕💕💕
Starrliight, I will talk about God with you anytime you want. Just ask me from the chat sight. Okay? Notice carefully how much we think alike....
• in reply toJEG325
Amen..god is everywhere..I ask people if they see god, they say, the obvious, no...then they ask me if I do, and I answer, yes...then I read the look on their face..lol..I'm glad you see god jeg325..I tell people the same..look around, god is everywhere!..amen
JEG325• in reply to
Hey! I don't hear from you enough. I miss your loving words of wisdom. Eventhough, I see God everywhere, I mis not having a significant other to share it with. It makes me feel lonely and sad sometimes. Especially when it's series of rainy, gloomy days like now and I can't get out into the sun. Any words of wisdom from your loving heart for me?
I don't want to discourage you at all. I too am a Roman Catholic. Despite that, I did have anxiety and panic attacks even when I was attending Mass at Church. The large crowds with no easy escape path from the pews distressed me. If I start preach, I spent about 10 years formally studying Catholic theology and was preparing to make a career of it. If I preach, give me a virtual tap on the back of the head.
I had just graduated with a degree in theology from a catholic university and entered the grad school to continue my studies ... and that's when I had my first experience with being a major depressive with anxiety and panic. I had no idea what was going on and the whole God thing made it worse for me ... I was in a dark, terrifying place and I had no idea what was going on ... and ... in my mind, I was rationalizing and pleading with God for help but I still could not get out of that darkness. I remember being angry that God just wasn't helping me. I thought ... me, of all people deserved to be happy because, after all, I was doing God's will. Yes, I know this is a very cultural Catholic way of thinking. At the time, Mass was causing me more stress and panic than assistance. I do still believe and I am a practicing Roman Catholic. It took some time and some medicine but I'm still here.
Our Liturgy, our Tradition, our "smells and bells" have come to be a place of comfort now and I understand so much more about life and people. Our Mass, our spirituality is very much like others that practice breathing exercises to calm down. Repetition, silence, incense, singing, standing, kneeling, sitting ... for a Catholic, this can be a form of muscle memory to bring you back to a place of calm and peace. For our prayer, the routine and ritual can be calming and comforting. It may not work every time but there are reasons why we do a lot of the things we do in Catholic life and ultimately many of these things are psychological and sociological. I encourage you to try it but don't run away if it doesn't work right away. Breathing exercises take practice and so too does this.
I do want to tell you that the Catholic Church is one of diversity and acceptance. We are actually 24 different traditions that come from all over the earth and yet we are in full communion. Diversity and tolerance is at our core. It may not always appear that way and some of the people in the Church can be homophobic, xenophobic, misogynistic, hateful, bigoted turds that get a sick pleasure out of using their "faith" to beat other people up but with 2000 years of tradition ... we really are tolerant and accepting. We do need reminding of this on occasion so if Catholic spirituality doesn't help you ... try something else or go somewhere else and share your experience if you are open to it.
Also we have a lot of Church fathers (and mothers) that most likely were major depressives, had OCD, anxiety and panic disorders and everything else that comes with being human. Their writings show them wresting with the darkness and hopelessness we can find themselves in. To those of us that are spiritual and experience the pain and agony associated with depression, anxiety and panic, their thoughts and lives can be comforting and inspiring. And ... sometimes they can just be annoying. Diversity and tolerance!
• in reply toadeo888
Which university? Franciscan university? Ave Maria? I love my catholic faith.
I was raised Catholic and I find that I experience less anxiety having a less rigid belief system because I spend less time questioning everything.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking religion it’s just not for me. I have problems trusting humanity. There is a connection there I don’t have time to type out.
Regardless, Church can provide a sense of community. The right church will make you feel welcome and included. It will hold events and hopefully improve something in your life.
Personally I subscribe to something very similar deism which is a philosophy that never took off from when it was popular in the 1700’s or whenever. The argument is that life is too complex to have miraculously happened so someone or something had to start the process leading to life. It can be taken as far as there being a “creator god” but the main point where it differs from traditional religion is that god or whomever, ISNT watching. They don’t interfere and everything we do is controlled by the laws of the universe and human nature.
It’s not for everyone obviously but I’ve been far calmer personally once I accepted this belief.
Oh that is very interesting Faulhalken. Makes ya think.
I was raised southern Baptist & I have to admit, I stopped believing in God for a long time. When bad stuff starting happening to me, I didn’t seek Him out, pray & quite frankly didn’t want anything to do with him. The night that I tried to take my own life, I called out to him crying, asking him to take me peacefully. Maybe I was messed up from the pills I took, or maybe He is real, but I felt a presence put their hand on my back as I was going unconscious. I felt it. I thought I was drifting. I don’t know, but I’ve been trying really hard to find Him again. My partner & I pray every night. I’ve been reading the Bible & maybe someday I’ll feel like I’m “saved”... whatever that even means. I love this topic, I don’t think we are suppose to talk about it on the site, but I do like hearing people’s thoughts on if it helps those that are lost.
JEG325• in reply to
Salavation is an important concept in most religions, yet no one can agree on how it's supposed to be done. One reason is that I think man has corrupted most religions. It has become more about their will, rather than God's will. But, the ancient American indians had a simple, sraightforward religion based around the 'Great Spirit'. Sometimes I think we need this simplicity too. When religion gets too couched in rules and regulations it does more dishonor to God, then honor. One of my teachers said the reason Jesus came was to make salvation easier. To provide a direct access to God through his Son. He said the old Jewish religion had more than 600 laws and God knew people couldn't obey that many different rules. So, he offered up his Son to allow everyone, Gentiles included, to be saved in a more reasonable way. Now, you can take that however you like. I took the 'Life Of Jesus', 'Bible Studies', & 'Book of Ephesians' courses for 6 months. A lot of it stuck with me despite myself. Nevertheless, I choose to worsip God mostly by helping others. I don't worry about mans flawed concept of salvation. If that is controversial, I apologize in advance.
• in reply toJEG325
Wow! That’s a great way to explain it. Thank you so much for telling me this. I don’t find it controversial! I used to be that little girl that would be singing with the book upside down in the choir & make everyone smile or laugh. I would talk about Jesus all the time. I want to get back to that. I really do. I do believe He exists, but I just need to find out how to actually BE a Christian. I guess I’m more spiritual than religious now. I definitely believe in angels & people watching over us. I feel like I’ve been protected by my late grandmother so many times. My mom tells me all the time that the night I tried to take my life, my grandmother came to her while she was wide awake in the bed alarming her to check on me. I believe her. My mother isn’t one to say stuff like that for no reason. So, I know this stuff exists. I am trying really hard to get back to Jesus. <3
JEG325• in reply to
I can help with that. Moriah repeatedly told me I'd make a great counselor or pastor. Back in the day, my dad and I would talk about religion for hours on end sometimes. We were opened minded and covered just about every topic you could think of. I can be spiritual. I always told Moriah that if I allowed myself, I could dive headfirst into religin and be 100% gung-ho about it. Surprisingly, she advised against that. She said God would work his will in my life if I just take the ride as He planned it. She often said that I was the most religious, non religious person she had ever seen. It became an inside joke of sorts. My reply was that I had never needed religion to tell me to be a good person, to love my fellow man and to wanna help one another. I still feel this way. Do you wanna be a good, 'Christian'? Ask God for help with it. Be a good person, help others, love your neighbor as yourself and give back to life what you can. If you believe in God and you allow him to mold you, whether knowingly or unknowingly, you will be fine. Keep believing in angels, God's protection and His love for you. He will be there when you need it. Maybe he sent me to you too. You never know....I know this: I'll also be here when you need it. Just reach out to me and you'll see.
I find it has helped me tremendously. Best of luck on your journey.
I can tell you with certainty that God wants a relationship with you. Jesus Christ is the only way. I would encourage you to read your Bible and ask God to reveal Himself to you - He will. You aren't going to find the truth in a "religion". I was raised Catholic myself. It has truth mixed with paganism. I would encourage you to persue the God that loves you, and gave His Son to die for you. I would love to talk with you more about this. If you would like, I will give you my personal email address. I will be praying for you
I find that believing helps me. I used to be religious and now I am spiritual. I believe in God and angels and am constantly searching for good, for truth, to be guided and ultimately to reach a heaven. And that comforts me.
You don't need to go to a church to believe in anything, if your god is real then you can talk to it through prayer on your own.
The 66 books contained in the Word of God is so accurate and we can put our complete trust and faith in the God of the Bible. That doesn’t mean we won’t face opposition, trials, and tribulations. Jesus said we would, but be of good cheer, He has overcome the world. I’m eager to see what God has prepared for those who love Him. I would encourage anyone to read the Bible and ask God to reveal Himself to you. Be careful, if someone is teaching something that doesn’t line up with scripture, look for believers that do. It is getting harder to find because so many are caving in to what society says is right. What God says is what’s important. If you would like to talk, please message me.
I would like to let you all know that I am following my path of becoming a Spiritual Life Coach. The reason why I call it Spiritual Life Coaching is because I believe that we are Spirits having a physical existence. It is because we have forgotten this that we suffer. It is because we are not connected to our true self that we suffer in this world that most of the time seems like a hell. I would love to help you in your process just like I have been helped. I also suffered from anxiety and depression so I completely understand you. However, I have been on a spiritual journey for many years now, and it is when I disconnected from my true essence that I began having anxiety attacks. Now that I have connected again to my Higher Self which is connected to All, Universe, God, Source (however you want to call it), now I am in Peace.
So, as a thankful practice for being in this group, (because it helped me in my process) I would like to encourage you to send me a private message with any problem that you might have and I will do my best to guide you.
Have a wonderful day and remember, you have the power, you just have to remember. It is time to stop people, situations and yourself from taking that power away.
Much Love
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