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Suggest Treatment For Severe Depression
Question: About 3 years ago, while being treated for depression and trying different medications, such as Miramax (?), Provigil, Welbutrin...some were introduced before tapering off from the previous med but I was only on them for a short time, I became very anxious and depressed beyond doom and gloom. I seemingly had no ability to find help from my faith. God seemed absent and nonexistent to me. Previously, I had some personal faith and encouragement from my Christian faith. I felt bereft of any hope and comfort from my relationship with God. This has persisted but I try to find the feeling/reality that I once had in believing in and loving God. Often, I feel like a hypocrite at church and I feel I have nothing to offer. Sometimes, I want to just stop going but my husband is a strong believer and I don't want to let him down. I want to be the way I was before. I also would like to know what happened. I have asked therapists but no one seems to understand or have any answers. I am now almost 66 years old, female, married...had 2 children and now have 1 granddaughter and 2 grandbabies from my husband's son and wife...we have been married almost 5 years. My 1st husband and I divorced 18 yrs ago.
Brief Answer:
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.
I'm sorry you've been through so much pain. It sounds like you have been struggling with depression for some time, but after some medication adjustments a few years ago you have been struggling with your faith, which bothers you the most.
I have a few thoughts about this. We know that altering the chemicals of the brain can change people's experience of spirituality and religion. Seizures, for example, can give people highly religious experiences. It may be that something has changed in your brain that has affected your religious perceptions of the world. It may also be that you don't have faith anymore for other reasons not at all related to this.
There is no way medically to be sure if this is the case, and no way to somehow medicate you such that faith returns to you. It becomes a question for you to think about and decide. If faith is something important to you, I would encourage you to reach out to your pastor or religious community to seek guidance on this issue. Doctors can do a lot -- but this lies more in the realm of consulting with spiritual advisors.
We know that faith can help depressed people, if they are religious people to begin with. But it may also be that religion is no longer right for you, and that's okay too -- plenty of people are good without God. I would talk to your pastor at church and continue to think about what is best for you going forward.
Please remember to rate and close this answer if you find it satisfactory.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me at my private link below. After you ask a direct question it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.
I'm sorry you've been through so much pain. It sounds like you have been struggling with depression for some time, but after some medication adjustments a few years ago you have been struggling with your faith, which bothers you the most.
I have a few thoughts about this. We know that altering the chemicals of the brain can change people's experience of spirituality and religion. Seizures, for example, can give people highly religious experiences. It may be that something has changed in your brain that has affected your religious perceptions of the world. It may also be that you don't have faith anymore for other reasons not at all related to this.
There is no way medically to be sure if this is the case, and no way to somehow medicate you such that faith returns to you. It becomes a question for you to think about and decide. If faith is something important to you, I would encourage you to reach out to your pastor or religious community to seek guidance on this issue. Doctors can do a lot -- but this lies more in the realm of consulting with spiritual advisors.
We know that faith can help depressed people, if they are religious people to begin with. But it may also be that religion is no longer right for you, and that's okay too -- plenty of people are good without God. I would talk to your pastor at church and continue to think about what is best for you going forward.
Please remember to rate and close this answer if you find it satisfactory.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me at my private link below. After you ask a direct question it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you for your response. It helps to know that altering brain chemistry can change people's experience of spirituality and that seizures can cause religious experiences. So it may be true that whatever happened to me because of the drug interactions caused this change.
It definitely happened at the time of the drug reaction so I don't think other factors were involved. It does trouble me greatly because the faith experience I had was dearer than life in a sense. I will try to speak to my pastor about it though we have only been at our present church for a few months and I lack courage in talking about this. Maybe I can find a spiritual website similar to this medical question website where I can ask questions!
I will continue to try to remember to ask the Lord to restore my soul, as in Psalm 23, even though I feel so dull.
Thank you for your time and expertise. It has given me some hope...just to understand that there may be legitimacy to what has happened to me.
Thank you again,
XXXX XXXXXXX
It definitely happened at the time of the drug reaction so I don't think other factors were involved. It does trouble me greatly because the faith experience I had was dearer than life in a sense. I will try to speak to my pastor about it though we have only been at our present church for a few months and I lack courage in talking about this. Maybe I can find a spiritual website similar to this medical question website where I can ask questions!
I will continue to try to remember to ask the Lord to restore my soul, as in Psalm 23, even though I feel so dull.
Thank you for your time and expertise. It has given me some hope...just to understand that there may be legitimacy to what has happened to me.
Thank you again,
XXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Followup
Detailed Answer:
You are very welcome! Good luck to you.
Please remember to rate and close this answer if you find it satisfactory.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me at my private link below. After you ask a direct question it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Followup
Detailed Answer:
You are very welcome! Good luck to you.
Please remember to rate and close this answer if you find it satisfactory.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me at my private link below. After you ask a direct question it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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