Losing Faith Complicates Mental Health Recovery?

[LivingNumbers6.626]

I left mormonism, had been depressed two years before then, and when I left things got worse.

Building up the courage to take such a big step does not change a lot of the subconscious and subliminal programming in your brain. It's a pretty big change and the human mind doesn't seem to like changes --especially big ones-- even if they are reasonable and beneficial. I think it's important to review the ways in which your religion and religious practices affected your day-to-day life and find substitutes for those moments, otherwise you can feel as if your routine has been thrown off. It can be traumatic enough that a person will easily return to a system of behaviors that are harmful. But if you can get through the worst of it, you can then begin to build a new set of behaviors and routines and patterns that fit your new life and you will start to feel a lot better.

You're right. I've started to replace certain religious practices for more strengthening ones. Just a few off the top of my head:

Praying: Mindfulness
Church Music: My piano studies, negating all hymns from my repertoire.
Scripture Study: Recreational reading or science study
Church "talks"/testimony: poetry writing
Church events: secular meetups

I think I'm on the right track...atleast I feel better when holding true to these helpful coping mechanisms.

[JaceDeanLove]

I can somewhat relate to what you're saying. I have schizophrenia and bipolar type 1 disorder. I miss the comfort of religion. I'm a bit of a nihilist now. More of an existentialist though. In other words, I believe life has no objective meaning, and people must give themselves meaning. Maybe that will help. Try to find what you want your meaning of life to be. Don't let some religious leader tell you your purpose. Honestly, it's kind of liberating to pick your meaning.

[LivingNumbers6.626]

I can somewhat relate to what you're saying. I have schizophrenia and bipolar type 1 disorder. I miss the comfort of religion. I'm a bit of a nihilist now. More of an existentialist though. In other words, I believe life has no objective meaning, and people must give themselves meaning. Maybe that will help. Try to find what you want your meaning of life to be. Don't let some religious leader tell you your purpose. Honestly, it's kind of liberating to pick your meaning.

I would concur. I often time miss the comforts of mormonism but then remember that ultimately it is a dystopian society.

And I often do in times relate to nihilism. But you are right, it's exhilarating to think of life like a blank canvass and say "I can paint whatever the fuck I want, now." haha

[robvalue]

You are very welcome Q1C. It sounds to me like you are doing a great job of recovering, and that it will be just a matter of time before you adjust to your new life.

My depression has nothing to do with religion, I was lucky enough not to have been indoctrinated. It does have a lot to do with psychological damage done to me as a child though, so it's not all that different.

I recovered from that bout of depression after a lot of therapy, but sadly it has now come back because I fell ill with M.E. (Chronic fatigue syndrome).

[Aractus]

Religion is poison.

Religious attendance has proven therapeutic benefits in psychology. It's one of the few benefits that they can legitimately claim. Doesn't make it right, just means that does help people feel better and happier, so it's not at all surprising that losing faith can cause you to experience depression, etc.

[amit1947]

As a new member of this forum, I must say that I am impressed by the mature, well thought out, and truly compassionate posts on this thread.

Mental health is so important to our happiness and well being (I learned this first hand). It fills me with sadness to hear about those on this thread who have depression and other illnesses. I hope you seek help and feel better.

I have also struggled with my wife's mental health issues this year and have learned to appreciate modern psychology and psychiatry. Thankfully she is better and I hope she stays that way.

[dyresand]

Religion does more to hurt someone mentally if you think about.
Guilt needless guilt they say x variable died for z variable sins.
then the music terribly terribly sad music to the point it makes peoeple sad for nothing.
then brings it up in the end with a joyful one.
Brainwashing 101 my suggestion if you have mental health problems
stay the hell away as it will do more to damage you than help.
As these are they same people who used to believe mental issues
was demons.

[The Valkyrie]

I left mormonism, had been depressed two years before then, and when I left things got worse.

Anyone else experienced this?

Anyone ever felt so insecure and empty after leaving an extremist dogma?

I think, especially in the case of mormonism, the practitioner of any serious sect has to sacrifice their identity for the sake of the church. For someone who has mental health issues, this creates another bag of problems to heals.

Just a thought.

Religion is poison.

I don't blame it, I take responsibility for my own fate and emotions, but I think things would be easier without the dogmatic variable of absolute servitude.

I suffer from depression anyway. But I have to say, for me, that when I gave up my religion - Catholicism - it was one of the most freeing experiences I ever had. I was a truly happy person for the first time.

For many, however, giving up religion is like trying to give up a deeply seated addiction. There are questions that you're suddenly asking and wondering what if you are wrong going through your mind.

That's one of the insidious things about religion, especially if you've been indoctrinated into it since childhood. It gets so deeply ingrained some people take years to get over it and that can cause depression.

I've just read an article on the Friendly Atheist blog about one of the Westborough grandchildren leaving the cult and how he became depressed and suicidal.

The good thing is that there are large numbers of growing atheist communities now where you can talk to people who have been through it.

[dyresand]

I left mormonism, had been depressed two years before then, and when I left things got worse.

Anyone else experienced this?

Anyone ever felt so insecure and empty after leaving an extremist dogma?

I think, especially in the case of mormonism, the practitioner of any serious sect has to sacrifice their identity for the sake of the church. For someone who has mental health issues, this creates another bag of problems to heals.

Just a thought.

Religion is poison.

I don't blame it, I take responsibility for my own fate and emotions, but I think things would be easier without the dogmatic variable of absolute servitude.

I suffer from depression anyway. But I have to say, for me, that when I gave up my religion - Catholicism - it was one of the most freeing experiences I ever had. I was a truly happy person for the first time.

For many, however, giving up religion is like trying to give up a deeply seated addiction. There are questions that you're suddenly asking and wondering what if you are wrong going through your mind.

That's one of the insidious things about religion, especially if you've been indoctrinated into it since childhood. It gets so deeply ingrained some people take years to get over it and that can cause depression.

I've just read an article on the Friendly Atheist blog about one of the Westborough grandchildren leaving the cult and how he became depressed and suicidal.

The good thing is that there are large numbers of growing atheist communities now where you can talk to people who have been through it.

I had the opposite reaction i had depression as a believer.

[robvalue]

I would be even more depressed than I am if I had to force myself to believe utter garbage, demonstrable falsehoods and contradictory teachings. You'd have to kill the logical part of my brain first.

I too think it's wonderful to see the support people are getting, meeting places such as this are really important to bring together people to help each other through these insane times.