Depressed from dropping religion

[Minimalist]

I used to pray to my God to help me cope with it,

So who did better? "God" or the shrinks?

[Fruity]

I understand. I grew up in a world of fundies. Life was all about the god. Since the day I was born, the only meaning to life had to be the god. When I stopped holding on to faith, I felt like a person who was in love and all of a sudden broke up. No... worse. It was more like a person who was in love with someone only to discover that person never existed. I felt confused because I missed someone that was false. I missed talking to him... though "him" was air. This sadness is normal when religion was a huge part of your life. You know what helped me? Atheist forums. Hanging out here with people that are faithless and do a lot better than just survive helped me feel better. Now I am happy to be atheist and don't miss any of the shit church gave me. Hang in there. You will be fine.

[freedomfromforum]

Are you on medication for anxiety?

Yes, many times daily

[Walking Void]

Are you on medication for anxiety?

Yes, many times daily

Showoff.

[Zazzy]

Well... I used to use prayer to help me deal with my paranoia. I have extreme paranoia of my friends/family leaving me. This paranoia wasn't caused by anything bad in my childhood, it was just there. I was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD, as well as General Anxiety as a child, and was a hoarder for a good portion of my childhood until I got help. I used to pray to my God to help me cope with it, and I truly believed that he would be there to help me. But since I got into science and started watching documentaries on stuff that interested me, and started actually reading the bible, I figured out that what I believed in is a huge pile of horse crap. When I went to my parents for some advice, my mom lost her mind about it and is suffering depression because of me choosing to be an agnostic. My dad is okay with it, as he is a rationalist and he truly doesn't care most of the time. Sorry that I've rambled. If there's anything I haven't answered, tell me and I'll reply with more if I can.

Thank you for telling me this. I don't have much to offer you, since I have never experienced such a process. But I can imagine it would be scary, isolating, and frustrating.

I hope you are actively pursuing treatment for your paranoia and others issues. I myself have some mild OCD which I can mostly manage without meds, but it's a really annoying disorder- I look at it as a separate person inside of me rather than as part of myself (and no, I don't have multiple personality disorder).

One more question: is residual belief any part of your problems? Are you suffering from thoughts that you might be wrong about being agnostic? Or have you firmly accepted your agnosticism and are just upset about being fooled for so long and upsetting your family? I guess I'm asking if this is still a process, or if the process is essentially over and you're just dealing with the aftermath.

[MindForgedManacle]

The night I dropped my religious beliefs, I won't deny that suicide crossed my mind a few times.

[freedomfromforum]

Yes, many times daily

Showoff.

You're getting close to your 1K post badge. What do you say I pack a fat bowl and we
both show off together to celebrate? How would that be?

[Zazzy]

The night I dropped my religious beliefs, I won't deny that suicide crossed my mind a few times.

Why? Was it really that bad?

[Ring0]

Well... I used to use prayer to help me deal with my paranoia. I have extreme paranoia of my friends/family leaving me. This paranoia wasn't caused by anything bad in my childhood, it was just there. I was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD, as well as General Anxiety as a child, and was a hoarder for a good portion of my childhood until I got help. I used to pray to my God to help me cope with it, and I truly believed that he would be there to help me. But since I got into science and started watching documentaries on stuff that interested me, and started actually reading the bible, I figured out that what I believed in is a huge pile of horse crap. When I went to my parents for some advice, my mom lost her mind about it and is suffering depression because of me choosing to be an agnostic. My dad is okay with it, as he is a rationalist and he truly doesn't care most of the time. Sorry that I've rambled. If there's anything I haven't answered, tell me and I'll reply with more if I can.

Thank you for telling me this. I don't have much to offer you, since I have never experienced such a process. But I can imagine it would be scary, isolating, and frustrating.

I hope you are actively pursuing treatment for your paranoia and others issues. I myself have some mild OCD which I can mostly manage without meds, but it's a really annoying disorder- I look at it as a separate person inside of me rather than as part of myself (and no, I don't have multiple personality disorder).

One more question: is residual belief any part of your problems? Are you suffering from thoughts that you might be wrong about being agnostic? Or have you firmly accepted your agnosticism and are just upset about being fooled for so long and upsetting your family? I guess I'm asking if this is still a process, or if the process is essentially over and you're just dealing with the aftermath.

It's still a process. I still don't know just yet in my opinion.

[Walking Void]

Showoff.

You're getting close to your 1K post badge. What do you say I pack a fat bowl and we
both show off together to celebrate? How would that be?

For reals?!

Dude, We could make so much money, too, because of where I live! Illegally, but still!