Since nothing aside from ignorance and/or fear demonstrates that god is a requirement and the only thing that leads to god is faith, I'm sticking with reality.

(my opinion. I'm no professional in the field). Occasional depression and anxiety, is most probably a sign that your brain is trying to cope with a dilemma or problem. When your brain cannot solve a problem while in your natural state of mind it releases stress hormones that enhances you problem solving abilities. You become more aware.
Religious people have lazy brains because they convince themselves that everything will be taken cared of by an invisible friend.
What is the difference? rational people tend to take ownership and solve their problems while religious people tend to let things go and when things go wrong, blame it on another imaginary friend. If they screw up they always have the pardon clause.
The tendency to want to unload ones problem to another entity is enticing but dehumanizes one self to take ownership and do the right thing. Be strong, solve your problems and seek help from other humans rather than imaginary beings.

I just tell them to fuck off if they’re not part of my life. If they are, I make it clear that they won’t be for much longer if they persist. With my mum, I just refuse to discuss it and change the subject. We agree to disagree.
BUT, it very rarely happens at all. I can’t remember the last time. People in the UK who do that kind of thing are generally regarded as weirdos.

I have gotten this once and my response, while not some loud tantrum, was a resounding rebuke to such a level that I made it perfectly clear to family that this kind of nonsense would not be tolerated. I make no space for this madness in my life. It has permanently altered my relationship with my parents to this day. No regrets.

If someone wants to be close to me, they need to come at me with something worthwhile. I'd rather be called an asshole than sit and listen to someone's superstitious nonsense. If I'm truly being an asshole, then I can do something about that at least. When given the choice, most people would just prefer to tell you you're an asshole over some metaphysical nonsense that they know is bullshit deep down.

My point? If you don't want to deal with Jesus this and Jesus that, then you have to be able to take the ego hit. If someone still insists on boring you with invisible space daddy craziness when given the choice, then they are a fanatic beyond comprehension. They are mentally ill and not interested in treatment. Give this person no quarter.

I've noticed an inclination by some Christians to view mental illness as something that comes about due to some spiritual problem. It sounds like this is what happened to you. I have no answers though. It's so difficult dealing with irrational people, especially when you are concerned about losing those relationships.

Fossils, case closed.

My reaction is always to turn the situation around. First ask Do you ever notice that atheists never try to convert religionists to atheism. It's always religionists trying to attack the atheists by trying to make them feel inadequate for their beliefs. Atheists don't go door-to-door trying to spread the good word about there not being a god. Perhaps it's the insecurity of those with religious beliefs that cause them to try to make others feel inadequate. The concern is not about the atheist. The concern is that their beliefs are misguided and a sign of emotional shortcoming and inadequacy. Atheist go through all of life's trials and tribulations the same way everyone else does. They feel up and they feel down like everybody. What they don't feel indeed what they reject is the encumbrance of a god belief that has no use for them.

People have told me that before and I straight up tell them “that is the stupidest thing I’ve heard yet today. I mean do you HEAR yourself?!” They may get offended but seriously, if they’re gonna say some nonsensical garbage non answer like that, they kinda deserve to be offended.

Those who know me never, ever bring it up.

I haven't gotten into them. I assume you want to say something that will not upset your friends and family. I don't know what that would be if they are like mine. As far as my family are concerned, I'm working for the devil. It doesn't matter that I don't believe in the devil or God. They are delusional, and nothing I can say will enlighten them. For all practical purposes, I am banned from the family. If your family is bigoted as mine against all other religions (including other Christian sects), they aren't worth being around. They will drag you down. I hope your family is better than mine.

Having this sort of discussion over the years seems like it helps me a bit now that we live in the full blown age where facts are totally irrelevant to many. Like science, I ask for evidence. The most anyone can say is that they just know it’s true. So there isn’t much point is debating it. Religion is much like politics, vapor trails, anti-Vaccine, flat Earth, and all the conspiracy theories from JFK to 9/11. To the folks that believe in this stuff, there are no facts or evidence.

Church/religion does a lot of good things for mental health. Sense of community, connection, purpose... are all things people get from religion. That shred of validity is stretched to cover all the BS, but IMO we have to acknowledge the benefits of religion.

My response would be the normative atheist lines, show me proof your god exists and I'll believe. My parents have always been awesome and supportive, never pushing me to come back to Xtianity. I know they've both prayed for me every day for 27 years though and it hasn't had an impact yet. I volunteer at a food bank some and they've been praying for me to see good for about a year. I'm open to it, just insufficient evidence.

I do understand what happened to you viz your were discussing depression/anxiety and someone with a unopened mind gave her/his shallow solution that works in a religion like drug fashion, but you are too intelligent & open minded for that silly, condescending nonsense...thanks...Ron...

I am not an Atheist but I do have plenty of experience with religious people telling me God is the solution etc. For me my belief in god is more of a exercise in personal exploration and thinking. I think we are alone in this world together as a species and as a world. The question of god to me is irrelevant to my interactions with you or anyone else. I see god as a distant parent and we need to grow the fuck up. Or maybe god is a delusion. Some exploration of quantum physics can lead to a possibility that this is all a shared delusion. But as for your question I always respond to people telling me I need (there) god with queries like; What if my god does not agree with yours who's god is stronger? Or I ask them to call god up on their cell phone for a chat and then say whats a god worth if you can't call it up and chat? Now they often thinking I am mocking them but really the point I am trying to make is why do so many of these believers choose willfully to follow a asshole god? An absent cold god. A god who hates woman, gays and unbelievers and wants to inflict pain on all of them. Ofcourse what I am really getting at is if they were honest they are all of these things and there god just lets them pretend they are not the assholes.

Depression is more common in atheist ranks but I honestly haven't seen it personally. I think that it is difficult if you live as an atheist in religious areas or social circles.
It is almost always easy to point out the religious people who have problems. Many other mental health issues are more prevalent within religious circles and depression is common too. The two things are not really linked.