If you're an Atheist, what comforts you?

[Figbash]

Getting outside and into nature. A slow walk through quiet woods and I feel 100% better.
Or sit by the ocean or lake and just listen.

My child has anxiety and meditation and yoga are very effective.

[Jehanne]

Getting outside and into nature. A slow walk through quiet woods and I feel 100% better.
Or sit by the ocean or lake and just listen.

My child has anxiety and meditation and yoga are very effective.

Me, too; I love taking walks in forested areas.  Also, I'm into stargazing with binoculars (7x50, 15x70); love to look at M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, which passes directly overhead, zenith, where I live (central Iowa).

[Gwaithmir]

Coffee.

[Draconic Aiur]

I'm someone in transition who's pretty close to being an atheist, so I would not suggest that atheists have nothing to live for or some of the other ignorant ideas people have about atheists. Just wanted to get that out of the way. 

That said, I am having a lot of depression and anxiety that, back when I was a believer, I'd be coping with by praying. Now prayer is out, so I wanted to ask a general question: 

What brings you comfort when life is hard? I'm especially interested in any book recommendations or videos that I can turn to repeatedly when times are tough. They don't have to be by atheists or about atheism. Any secular source will do. 

thanks

Listening to Hard Rock or Heavy Metal with a cig in my mouth

[purplepurpose]

Coffee.

More than 2-3 cup is unhealthy.

[Dragonfly]

I'm someone in transition who's pretty close to being an atheist, so I would not suggest that atheists have nothing to live for or some of the other ignorant ideas people have about atheists. Just wanted to get that out of the way. 

That said, I am having a lot of depression and anxiety that, back when I was a believer, I'd be coping with by praying. Now prayer is out, so I wanted to ask a general question: 

What brings you comfort when life is hard? I'm especially interested in any book recommendations or videos that I can turn to repeatedly when times are tough. They don't have to be by atheists or about atheism. Any secular source will do. 

thanks

...I know there are techniques which can handle the bad times to get me through. I know that the bad times don't last ad infinitum, they can - and usually do - fall away. Knowing that, is comforting, in that just letting time pass, can be all that's needed to get to better times!!!...

So what are the techniques? This is what I don't have. Tools and techniques. I am very ungrounded.

---

The laws of physics.

I may be atypical of atheists in that I'm not at all cool with the idea that I am nothing more than a piece of meat that came into this world in 1959 because my parents decided to fuck one night and am destined to be nothing more than worm food. I do not at all subscribe to the platitudes that the finite nature of our lives bestows special meaning there. Indeed, I view that as a very cruel aspect of reality. Being bestowed life and a desire to continue to live while the current situation makes that impossible is the ultimate cruelty.

Maybe I'm not really that rare and many of my fellow atheists share in that viewpoint but will not admit it. But I won't go there other than to raise the possibility.

I think most of my fellow atheists vastly underestimate how amazing this universe we live in really is. Its laws pf physics limit us but that still leaves us amazing possibilities.

I share some of that pain. Indeed I believe that science will eventually give us the chance to live as much as we want (though not forever), and it is a shame we will be dead before that. Nonetheless I believe intelligence will not give us eternal life. I believe there are some universal rules which cannot bet broken.

Regarding the question of OP, I think about the value of my work. I believe it is work what gives life purpose. Through my work, I will give future generations a gift and a legacy. This idea of leaving a legacy also helps me endure almost any hardship. A man worth admiring shound not only leave a scientific or artistic legacy, but also a life worthy of admiration, which inspire the future generations.

I think that one way or another, pain is part of life. And we cannot completely avoid it. Nonetheless there are things that make us better and improve our lives. We should follow those things. I recommend all the volumes of Robert Ingersoll. His way of writing is very inspiring.

What is your work? I do not have a life's work and definitely need a passion like that.

[Magilla]

...I know there are techniques which can handle the bad times to get me through. I know that the bad times don't last ad infinitum, they can - and usually do - fall away. Knowing that, is comforting, in that just letting time pass, can be all that's needed to get to better times!!!...

So what are the techniques? This is what I don't have. Tools and techniques. I am very ungrounded.

---

Well discussing techniques and specifics is really the job of a professional. Let me reveal that I have a diagnosis of major depression, anxiety, socio-phobia, and a touch of OCD to boot. So I'm talking from experience. What is appropriate depends on why you are depressed and anxious, Dragonfly.

The best I can do is give you a little lesson on that, if I may.

Firstly anxiety and depression are a part of the human condition. Almost everyone experiences those to some extent, throughout each and every week.
The kinds of thought you have about them can drive you further into them , or pull you out, or at least let time do its thing, (you will just feel better doing nothing).

But they can also be designated as mental illnesses. I would not like to suggest that you have any mental illness, (but I do - have mental illness - which I cope with daily). The types of problem you mention, Dragonfly, may just be quite a part of the normalcy of being a human. But if they do constitute a mental illness, it could be that there is a chemical imbalance in the brain, (again, I stress - I'm not talking about you especially, Dragonfly - such a determination should be made by a mental health professional).

The conditions of depression and anxiety come in two flavours ~ namely exogenous, and endogenous.

Exogenous - caused by outside events. If a close family member or loved one were to die, you may experience sadness, grief, (depression). If you did not, then it would be quite unusual. The root of the feeling is the external event - that death - for example.

Endogenous - caused by your own bodily / mental function. This is something in the way your body is made, just like some people have blue eyes, some brown etc. As I said, it may, (or may not), be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. If it is due chemical imbalance, then anti-depressive drugs can help. The right types will help to redress the chemical imbalance. I'd advise strongly against self medication.

Here endeth the lesson.

I've subscribed to this thread to maintain the conversation if you want to. I think that your approach in handling the problem you describe, Dragonfly, should be appropriate to whether it's endogenous or exogenous. There are techniques for handling the normal every day blues. There are some for handling built-in medically caused dark moods.

I compare my own life's journey, and my own handling of the problems I have, of akin to erecting a pyramid, (think Egyptian), and not to erecting a tent.

To build a pyramid takes along time and a lot of effort. To put up a tent, not so much. In my own life, and WRT my illness,  I consider myself to be building pyramids, not putting up tents.

Finally, guard yourself from letting this posting drag you down in any way. You're still the same person after you read it as you were before.

Cheers,
Magilla.

[Macoleco]

...I know there are techniques which can handle the bad times to get me through. I know that the bad times don't last ad infinitum, they can - and usually do - fall away. Knowing that, is comforting, in that just letting time pass, can be all that's needed to get to better times!!!...

So what are the techniques? This is what I don't have. Tools and techniques. I am very ungrounded.

---

I share some of that pain. Indeed I believe that science will eventually give us the chance to live as much as we want (though not forever), and it is a shame we will be dead before that. Nonetheless I believe intelligence will not give us eternal life. I believe there are some universal rules which cannot bet broken.

Regarding the question of OP, I think about the value of my work. I believe it is work what gives life purpose. Through my work, I will give future generations a gift and a legacy. This idea of leaving a legacy also helps me endure almost any hardship. A man worth admiring shound not only leave a scientific or artistic legacy, but also a life worthy of admiration, which inspire the future generations.

I think that one way or another, pain is part of life. And we cannot completely avoid it. Nonetheless there are things that make us better and improve our lives. We should follow those things. I recommend all the volumes of Robert Ingersoll. His way of writing is very inspiring.

What is your work? I do not have a life's work and definitely need a passion like that.

Do you have some sort of thing you want to create and share with people? It can be scientific or art related.

[Fireball]

Something else to consider:

You’ve realised that this life is finite, and that means it is extremely valuable. You made this discovery while you still have time to seize life and make the most of it. Some people go through their whole lives thinking this is just the warmup.

Indeed. Once I realized that I was an atheist, I was bit depressed, because of they way that they are looked down upon. But I'm an independent enough cuss that I can get over what other people think of me. Not having to hold back on life having to concern myself with other people think will send me to hell was quite freeing. BTW, hell is made up!

That is a rude statement Rob.
All I did was to reply to VL.

Eventually you should have told VL to avoid asking me this type of questions.
Clearly is not your day.
Better go back to rest.  

That's not a rude statement.

"Go fuck yourself, you self righteous piece of shit!" Is a rude statement.

LR is a trolling turd. Pay no attention to his buccal feces, Dragonfly (I know that this is Valk's response). He hasn't a clue about handling us here, and fumbles around a lot.

Has anybody mentioned masturbation yet?

Transcendental Masturbation® FTW!

[MattB]

What brings you comfort when life is hard? 

Meditation, mindfulness and knowing that the religious are wrong. 

The thought that tomorrow can be different. 

I know it sounds stupid but gratitude lists sometimes work.

I agree with the meditation and mindfulness. I'd say fundies are wrong.