Replies

Spiritual pain is one that one can cure oneself.This is not so in some cases. Spiritual pain (depression) can have a phisiological cause. I know -- I suffered from severe depression throughout childhood, high school and college, even though I was raised in a happy home. I finally stopped trying to heal through my own strength, I stopped trying to numb myself with binge drinking, and asked God to help me -- and the next day I found it in me to call a therapist. The therapist said it was extremely unusual for someone as depressed as I was to seek help without outside intervention. But I had intervention...from God. They prescribed Zoloft to correct my physical deficiency of seratonin, and my life changed on that day.

I was fortunate. I know too many people who try to heal their pain with drugs -- it's not always done on a lark. My point is that some depression *is* a physical illness, and can only be healed through medical intervention. People who don't realize this and try to self-medicate deserve just as much sympathy as people who get addicted b/c of physical pain.

"But I had intervention...from God."

Your point is taken. I should state that personally, I'm an agnostic (who is very respectful of religion). From my perspective, yes, you helped yourself through your acceptance of God. That's why I said "through religion or simple optimism or whatever"... I would actually have to be not-agnostic to attribute all credit to God :) From my perspective, as long as I'm still agnostic, I have to give you the credit :)

Your point is still well taken. I do agree that depression can have physiological causes. I don't think that's AUTOMATIC the way most people seem to - honestly, I think it's the exception rather than the rule, like the claim that being gay is physiological and not a choice. Sometimes - but not usually.

However, I do believe in free will and that people can persevere, without drugs, even in the case of physiological depression. If I were Catholic, I'd say that everyone has a cross to bear, and that would be theirs, just like I have mine.

Actually, I fit several symptoms of having depression - I am more of a hermit than anyone I know, and can be obsessive compulsive (like posting!) But I'm not -sad- in any way. Is my isolation physiological? Dunno. But I refuse to go take a drug for it. I should get out of the house more, I can always do so, and it's up to me to make that happen. I'm not going to blame a chemical imbalance on it. And Rush didn't blame anyone else for his imbalance. That's why he has my respect.

Qwinn