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America’s drug of choice…
Churchrelevance.com covers the implications that antidepressants are now the most commonly prescribed medication in America. There are immense spiritual applications to this.
One doctor is quoted as saying in the CR entry:
Too many people take drugs when they really need to be making change in their lives.
– Dr. Ronald Dworkin :: Hudson Institute
I wrote on this issue last year.
Why do you think people are depressed?
I am currently reading a book about this. When Darkness won’t seem to lift by John Piper. It talks about this very thing. I never thought that depression is just a spiritual darkness. I get depressed a lot, but now I look at it in a different light and turn to God instead of having pity on myself. I don’t think I lot of people realize that this is what depression is. I didn’t.
I tend to land approximately where the internetmonk lands on this issue(http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/what-about-antidepressant-medication). Near the end of his article on this subject he states, “It is inappropriate and often abusive to condemn sick persons as sinful or resistant to God’s power to overthrow spiritual strongholds. Recognizing the reality of depression is a compassionate response that honors what it means to be truly human.” There’s my two cents … stolen from another man’s cents.
hmmmmm interesting. i remember you writing on this. i agree that people are popping pills wayyyyyyyyyy too much, especially in the church. i think anxiety needs to be put hand- in hand with this also. definitely believe clinical depression exists – as a professional i’ve seen it firsthand in tons of people. however, i also believe it’s not nearly as common as the meds that are prescribed for it. people want an instant fix on life’s problems, rather than just dealing with the crap that we’re handed. why are people getting depressed? i think sometimes life is just hard –… Read more »
I’ll have to jump on the band wagon here. I was reading an article in GQ not too long ago about the new drug addiction in corporate America. To get through their day and increase their productivity, workers are actually SNORTING Adderall. It’s pretty easy to get it. Just go to your doctor and give him a story about having “adult ADD” (which exists) and that you need something for it. Then let him prescribe Adderall. This stuff has some of the same effect that meth gives. I took the stuff for a while. Although it helped me to focus… Read more »
I miss Journey BADLY! I can’t wait to get back. This is one of my favorite topics! Thanks for mentioning it.I am a big believer in meds because they gave me my life back. My 1st yr of college, I had been seeing a really good counselor for about 7 months and was still suicidal pretty often. I prayed for hours and fasted regularly and still the emotional ups and downs were just too much for me, so I asked to be put on meds. (anxiety runs deep my family, btw) As soon as I started taking Zoloft, everything changed.… Read more »
hey, man. i posted on this and linked you.
As a followup, I would hope that everyone focuses on the issue at hand and realizes that at no time and in no way did I direct my entries at anyone in particular. I certainly understand that you can’t paint a broad stroke and say that all antidepressants or medicines are wrong for Christians. There are times that they are necessary, from our point of view. However, I think the vast majority of prescriptive solutions of Zoloft, Prozac, etc. today are simply the result of a health care industry run amuck, one that would rather enjoy wealth than promote health.… Read more »
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