It did for me. Mainly on the subject of death. Like, when my grandmother died, and my old dog had to be put down, and even going to funerals to be moral support for friends or family, it’s hard for me to live with “I/they literally will never see them again” I don’t think I’ve ever fully coped with it, but I’d be more upset with myself believing in an afterlife as an easy way out.
No I'm pretty sure it a near death illness, divorce, losing a band and a small business all within a couple of months. But l could be wrong.
@sweetcharlotte l hadn't really thought about it in awhile, but when you put it all in one sentence it sounds pretty bad.Thanks to the makers of an anti-depressant called Zoloft l made it. Thank you for your kind words. ☺
Religion caused depression for me. It went away when I stopped believing.
Mermaid911, I can relate to you. The Mormon religion really intensified my depression after another member in my ward killed my daughter. The church said the killer was not to blame, even though she was convicted of reckless driving, because it was all "part of god's plan."
No. I'm pre-disposed to it. It's my coping mechanism. Also I'm highly sensitive and grew up in a family where emotions were suspect, so I learned to squelch everything.
Yeah, me too. Funnily enough I'm quite an emotional bunny these days, but in childhood it wasn't a thing that was tolerated. The result was a super laid-back teenager with a flashpoint temper.
I think being atheist, it was more comfortable for me to reach out for help with my depression, versus blind faith.
I wonder about that! As we atheists have more logical minds, we may be able to see various mental illnesses as more similar to physical illnesses, with biochemical causes rather than moral failing or lack of willpower or character. What do you think?
Wow, sorry it affected you that way. I got depressed later I think, but not worrying about going to hell has probably made me slightly less depressed, if anything. I take it you didn't worry about that outcome? What religion were you raised in?
I was raised catholic but I’m convinced it was for show because we weren’t a “mass on every Sunday” family. I was baptized and got put through communion and confirmation but no one really cared so it was just a label. I never feared an afterlife even though people said there was one. I just went about my day not worrying about anything. That was growing up, as an adult I worry about everything lol just not religion
Though I don't have depression, I do think being an atheist does make coping with death harder. For me anyway. That's about the only time I "wish" I believed. I believe that belief in "seeing them again" makes it easier for many.
That’s pretty much how I feel.
Yes, it did. I had to come to terms with things I believed and looked forward to. Seeing loved ones again, an afterlife, heaven and "God."
I do and it didn't. In fact, atheism helped to relieve my depression a bit.
I first experienced depression in my 20s. Single, in the Army, not a good fit, not at all doing anything career wise that I was interested in.I wouldn't have said I was a xian then, I was pretty flighty back then. I experienced depression off an on for several years in my 30s and 40s, while I was trying to be a good Xian. And I have had anxiety and depression off an on through my 50s while being openly atheist. So, no connection for me between religion or lack thereof and depression.
You're ridiculous lmao. Way to shoehorn religious memes like "atheists are more depressed" or "if you don't believe in an afterlife, then death is more miserable".
I'm not an atheist, but if you don't agree with atheism then I'm sorry but creationism is just not as logical of a belief system as atheism is. Atheists cannot prove that there isn't a God(s) but at least they rely on science and a good degree of reasoning.
I have dealt with depression. Atheism has nothing to do with it.
I doubt it, as I've always been an atheist so I wouldn't know any different. What I did find maintained depression for me, for all of my adult life, was alcohol and junk food. As soon as I finally knocked both on the head, my mental buoyancy came right up and has stayed there ever since. That's not entirely the reason I was depressed, but it's helped stabilise my mood enough to take control over the other aspects of my life that bring me low.
No. If anything, I'd say my depression contributed to my atheism. I was born more emotionally detached, which is a form of depression, so I never felt what others felt when it came to church and gods. All mental states or conditions have their pros and cons, but if my atheism was a major factor with my depression, I'd gladly take it. One human's curse is another human's gift.
No. I see the world for what it is: a space in time complete with wonderful experiences and sometimes extreme hardship. I suffer from depression, but most of that is caused by situations outside of my control - if humans weren't so stupid, I would be fine. Sometimes I wish that I could believe in bullshit, but I can't.