Mental health concerns like depression and anxiety are far more commonplace in the modern world. And while many people are learning to meditate, it might be where the meditation is actually derived from that could provide a key to dealing with depressive symptoms. While religion is not for everyone, there is a lot to be said about how religion can help with depression.
Up until the early 19th century, psychiatry and religion were closely connected, as religious institutions were responsible for those who were “mentally ill.” So is religion a tool that can help with depression? Here are some supporting points.
The Protective Nature of Spirituality
It’s easier than ever to become more concerned with the modern material world, which is why potentially spiritual or religious beliefs can provide a buffer of sorts. Christian retreat centers provide a metaphorical comfort blanket to anyone that comes in, which is naturally going to help people who are in need of some form of support.
Spirituality itself, and by proxy, blind faith, is something that can help people through their darkest moments. So many people talk about how their faith has seen them through. The problem occurs when atheists try to question this.
A little blind faith might not be too much to ask, especially for those people who are feeling like there is nothing left for them.
Spiritual Practices and Their Impact on Depression
There are many benefits to meditation or mindfulness, and essentially these are different forms of prayer. Anyone that has stepped foot in a church or had some form of upbringing in Christianity still feels themselves in awe of the surroundings.
But while depression is a disorder of the brain with chemical imbalances, spiritual practices may increase serotonin levels. This could be to do with the sense of resilience the individual feels. Feeling that God is on their side, whoever their god may be, gives them the feeling they are not alone. Meditation has been shown to reduce a lot of the symptoms associated with depression and anxiety, but only when conducted as part of a regular practice.
Prayer is built into religious practices, which may explain why people with bona fide faith feel more resilient.
Is Religion Key to Conquering Depression?
The treatment infrastructure in many organizations talks about giving reverence to a higher power, most notably the 12-step program. E mentre il mondo moderno può certamente essere in contrasto con il consegnarsi a un dio, la religione potrebbe essere la superficie protettiva di cui molte persone hanno bisogno. Non importa tutto quello che va storto, they will still have their faith.
Che sia cieco o meno, ci sono cose che non possiamo spiegare, e mentre la depressione e l'ansia possono certamente distinguersi dai problemi del mondo reale, squilibri chimici, e l'ignoto, ecco perché a volte, la resilienza intrinseca che inganna inconsapevolmente il nostro subconscio è uno strumento fondamentale. The brain cannot always tell between what is real and what is imagined, and this is why, if you were to completely imagine an orange in your mind’s eye and bring your senses into play, you may start to salivate.
In terms of religion and spirituality, there is a lot that we cannot understand, but religion and faith may pose some clues to help people with depressive symptoms.
