Heaviness Of Everyday Life Now

[ladybyrd]

Do any of you feel the heaviness of life now more than ever? I've never seen in my lifetime the things that are going on in our world today. I have to keep reminding myself that God is in control and He is not caught by surprise at what is happening. I've been going through a Depression Episode and that's the only thing I know that has triggered it. This past year and the still ongoing tribulations and sorrows in life now can be overwhelming and just plain scary. I know in the end of days God says if we are His we win and He has a plan in all this. It's just hard in the going through and seeing all the things that are taking place in the world. Can I get a witness?

[hypercat54]

Yes I agree. There are some terrible things happening in the world and I feel for those who are suffering.

However I have to remind you that this is not specifically a Christian site as it is open equally to everyone regardless of faith or lack of.

Its also worth remembering there are some here who have suffered with religious dogma and 'bible bashing' can be triggering for them.

[ladybyrd in reply to hypercat54]

It sounds like you've experienced what you call "bible bashing". So sorry if you have. That's is not my intention. I never said I was a Christian. I agree with what you said " this site is open equally to everyone regardless of faith or lack of it".

[hypercat54 in reply to ladybyrd]

Fair enough. You did claim god is in control though and he has a plan etc. That is your truth but not everyone's including mine.

And yes we have all suffered from much bible bashing on here with some quoting god's 'words' at us and posting scriptures etc. Or stating he loves us all etc. I am an agnostic and so are others here or atheists or different religions etc. and we don't come on to be told god this or god that.

Its always been acceptable on here to state your own beliefs and that they help you etc. but not to quote at us or try and convert like some try to. Not saying you are but there can be a fine line.

Its always best to avoid the big 3 - politics, religion and sex as they are subjects many feel very strongly about and will often cause arguments. It has happened many times on here with the result of vulnerable members getting upset and putting new ones off staying.

It detracts from the purpose of the site which is for anxiety and depression sufferers and this is what we need to concentrate on.

Not having a go at you or anything and thank you for your calm civilised reply.

[Turnipgirl in reply to hypercat54]

Many years ago at a previous job the supervisor had cried her eyes out when one member of staff who was a jehovas witness told her God loved her!

[ladybyrd in reply to Turnipgirl]

Thank you Turnipgirl. Not speaking for anyone else here, but struggling with major depression most of my life, I couldn't get through those Depression Episodes without knowing God loves me.

[Zhangliqun in reply to hypercat54]

I get that religion is a touchy topic. I also get that this is HealthUnlocked's site and they can run it any way they want to, including deleting this post, which they very well might.

But you said "It's always been acceptable on here to state your own beliefs and that they help you."

It seems to me that's exactly what ladybyrd was doing, so you seem to be giving with one hand and then taking away with the other when you then say:

I am an agnostic and so are others here or atheists or different religions etc. and we don't come on to be told god this or god that.

Ladybyrd asked for a witness. If you're not a witness, she is not talking to you so she is not "telling" you anything.

It is not only agnostics and atheists who have scars resulting from abuse by people with a different worldview, and if you spent some time in our shoes, being abused on line if we say boo about God with avalanches of the most vile, puerile, scatalogical invective and ridicule, and taunts about Flying Spaghetti Monsters and Sky Daddy this and that and comments about our gullibility and sub-50 IQs, you might see that we have scars too.

It sometimes happens even in here.

There was recently a thread started by a guy railing about how, if he could, he would punch God in the mouth for putting him in the situation he is in and how he would never ever forgive God for it. At least last I saw, the mods didn't step in, and no-one stood up for religious people with scars who might have been offended or triggered by it.

Even so, for whatever it's worth, I am a Christian but I have no problem with you bringing up your agnosticism, or with anyone of other religions getting into their views a bit. In that spirit, I did not call for this guy to be more sensitive to me. Instead I asked him to consider the possibility that God might be training him to be a mentor to others in the future in his situation. Have not heard back, maybe that thread has been deleted.

Anyway, yes, it is a sensitive area but at the same time, it's unreasonable to expect everyone to squelch something that is so integral to their humanity and their mental state at a site that's about their mental state.

It's a delicate balance but a balance nonetheless. If this site is to be fully effective in its mission to the mentally ill of all backgrounds and views, it seems to me that the conversations can't be filtered in a way that makes this place a safe haven for sensitive agnostics and atheists only. We're all going to have to tolerate people stating beliefs that "offend" us a little.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Zhangliqun]

Zhangliquin

It was back in May that Brett from HU put out a post about religion and politics being topics that could be deleted. I'm trying to find that to put up for you but I can't locate it at the moment. I will keep trying.

🐬

[Zhangliqun in reply to Dolphin14]

I've seen it before so no need to trouble yourself.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Zhangliqun]

Ok thank you for letting me know

Have a wonderful day

It went up on May 29. I keep timing out before I can post it.

Others may want to see it but I can't seem to do it

[ladybyrd in reply to Zhangliqun]

All I can say is thank you for your stand, everyone does have a right to their own beliefs. It is helpful to some and to others not. We have a right to choose that even here, it can helps others know sometimes where someone is coming from and have a better understanding where they have been. It's life and doing life with others here. It helps us to better listen and understand the mental health struggles someone is going through. So thank you again Zhangliqun, I'm with you!

[Mountainlover57 in reply to ladybyrd]

I agree. We should have the ability and the freedoms to express how we feel and what we want to say. I agree with the fact that we are towards the end of times. There is nothing wrong with expressing our thoughts on this site. If this is our way of believing and our upbringing and this is the knowledge that we have and the way we express ourselves as Christians. I have read things on this site that triggered me that was pretty dark. I just decided to leave the post and scroll on. That was my choice.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Mountainlover57]

healthunlocked.com/anxiety-...

You are a newer member so I wanted to link you to these guidelines.

I hope you are doing well

🐬

[Mountainlover57 in reply to Dolphin14]

Thank you. I will be mindful of the rules. I was just responding to another where it was important.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Mountainlover57]

I just wanted to share them. You are doing fine.

We need to express ourselves, it's important. Sometimes things get heated so I just wanted you to see the guidelines. I couldn't find the exact post I was looking for.

I appreciate you looking at it and responding to me

I hope you have a wonderful weekend

[ladybyrd in reply to Mountainlover57]

Thank you Mountainlover57 for your post. You are insightful to what you are saying here. All of what you said is part of what makes a person who they are today. Our mental health from those experiences is what has lead us here to this forum. What you said has value and is true, maybe not to some that's reading this, but to the ones that it does hold true to them. So thank you, reading a post is a choice, you can continue to read it or scroll to another one.

[Mountainlover57 in reply to ladybyrd]

Thank you ladybyrd. I really value your input and feel that what you just posted for me meant a lot to me. I think that bringing us up and saying positive things about each other is what will make us feel better.

[Plantlover14]

God always works for the good. Thank you for your post

[ladybyrd in reply to Plantlover14]

Thank you Plantlover 14, that is so true. Mental Health struggles are hard enough to go through without knowing that He's always at work. It just helps in the knowing.

[Mountainlover57 in reply to Plantlover14]

Thank you for such a positive post about God. I know that some of us don't believe, but that's fine and I totally respect that.

[Zhangliqun]

You can get a witness, but I would say you're probably watching the news too much. Remember Paul's brilliant ancient psychiatry in Philippians 4:6-8 to "think on these things". And tune in some videos about rabbits or other happy things.

[ladybyrd in reply to Zhangliqun]

Thank you Zhangliqun for the reminder of Philippians 4:6-8. Those verses really apply to what our thought process needs to be, for me anyway. I watched an uplifting Christmas movie today🙂, thanks for your help.

[Gramas]

To your point I absolutely feel things in life are out of control. I have never felt so helpless, hopeless, and dreadful of what may happen next. It seems like every day just brings more bad news. While I try not to focus on it (I don’t even watch the news anymore) its hard to avoid what’s going on as it affects my everyday life. I don’t know how people are getting through.

[Nothing_but_books in reply to Gramas]

Me too. I can't watch or listen to the news, it's intended to stress us and it does, me. I don't remember a political election ever upsetting me the way this one has.

There aren't enough rabbit videos to make the crazies stop.

[Gramas in reply to Nothing_but_books]

This election actually has me scared as I don't know whats going to happen to us. I don't believe either of the candidates really understands what the poor to middle class is going through and while they talk a good game they have no plans or intentions to rectify it. I only see things getting worse.

[Dolphin14]

ladybyrd

I agree, the news is very upsetting.

Too much news can cause us great anxiety as Zhangliqun has stated

I'm not sure of the whys of it all or what the outcomes will be.

I just wish we could all live in peace

🐬

[ladybyrd in reply to Dolphin14]

Thank you Dolphin14, Let it be so! We may not live in peace now but my hope is in knowing one day we will.

[Dolphin14 in reply to ladybyrd]

If only We can't lose hope

Take care of yourself

[Nothing_but_books]

Hi ladybyrd,

First, let's get this aside, I am not a believer. I know I'm not the only one here who can be triggered by some religious talk. (I don't mean your post. It wasn't triggering for me.)

Second, boy do I hear you. Yes, I do feel the heavyness around me, now more than ever. Lots, in my world and my life, is downright terrifying.

What's going on in the world today scares me deeply. I won't be around long enough to see where it all heads, but I've seen enough not to like it one bit.

We can come together here, as believers and as unbelievers, to share our feelings.

Thanks for listening.

[ladybyrd in reply to Nothing_but_books]

Thank you for your post and your honesty Nothing_but_books. You are more honest than some believers I know. If your alive and don't have your head in the sand, I think most people feel some kind of heaviness and even feeling terrified at what is taking place in our own lives and in the world. I guess for me my hope comes from my belief. I don't think I could live in this world without it, especially now. I hope I'm not being to personal and it's okay if you don't won't to answer here. But could you expand more about why you won't be around long enough to see where it all heads? Your absolutely right, when should be able to come together here as believers and unbelievers to share our feelings.

[Nothing_but_books in reply to ladybyrd]

Oh, that's a simple question. It's the nature of life. I have fewer days ahead of me than behind.

Are you a reader? I just finished a lovely short-short story about just that. It's a love story. Check it out if you're interested. The link's below.

harlanellisonbooks.com/susa...

[ladybyrd in reply to Nothing_but_books]

Gotcha, thanks, I'll give it a look.