Is reading the bible/praying a good cure for depression?

I have heard people remark that others should pray and just read the bible when they are feeling depression set in.
having some training in psychology, i can not fathom how this can help any one suffering from dysthymia ect.


so what do you all think?

is praying/reading the bible a good cure for depression?

 

When people are depressed, they are often very weak and vulnerable.

When they read the bible, it leaves them very susceptible to the fact that God is with them, and that God will watch over them just as he watched over his people.

Praying is like the placebo effect, It gets things off peoples chest, and they'll probably feel better about it.

Overall, yes I think it does help certain people. However it won't help all.

 

God is not room service. You can't call on him only in desperate times. Remember to love and praise God at all times. Reading the Bible does help with thoughts and can help you make decisions.

 

It mainly depends on whether or not the person believes in God. I don't think it's good advice for someone to give considering they are only making assumptions. Even if one is a believer, I don't see how praying or reading the bible could help much with depression for more than just few minutes, but it can't really hurt either.

 

It depends on a variety of factors:
Whether the person believes that the Bible is the inspired word of God. If not HR might as well read any other history book.
Wat chapter the person reads. For instance, reading the book of Psalms is pretty encouraging because the writer,David, talks about how God delivers him and protects him. Reading other books such as Isaiah, Deuteronomy, or Revelations can have a negative effect due to it being quite judgmental, telling of the last days, and about terrible things that happen to people.

Praying to God I think is beneficial to only people who believe God is real and still listens to people. If they don't believe God is real they might as well talk to a stuffed animal or a wall.

Tl;dr its beneficial only to certain people.

 

I had been attending the Mormon church for upto 3 years on and of really but when it came to the time when i really needed to rely on someone church was not the answer for me. What i mean is i needed someone to talk to and express what was happening in my life, simply praying just makes you feel more like an idiot when nothing happens and if its does its probably just placebo and reading the bible doesn't help you overcome depression and if it does its because you didn't really have a purpose in life. The reason why church didn't work out for me is because nothing about praying and reading the scriptures could change the situation i was in. It may have given me a more positive outlook on life but it still wouldn't change the situation.

 

in simple words

it helps a little bit

 

its all in ones head i would say. alot of times, people simply need something to beleive in. something to put faith it. if for some its god and the bible, then to each his own.

 

I've read the Bible, and God does some very unkind things in there. A way to cope with depression is to get a group of friends and start running with them. Then you are staying in shape, and communicating.

**By the way: I am not a Christian, just had to experiment.**

 

anything that relaxes you kinda is a cure for depression isnt it?

 

If you are an adherent of organized religion then it probably would help.

 

Depends upon the messages you get from it.

 

What do you mean unkind? Looks like you are reading out of context to me. However, this is a different debate irrelevant to this thread.


Reading the Bible can help with depression, as well as praying. What I would recommend, if you're Christian and even if you aren't, is to find a group of people and start a Bible study. Fellowship with others is key, especially if they share the same beliefs as you.

If you have bad depression I also recommend anti-depressants.

 

Yes of course because there are scriptures for depression from the Bible that you can rely on to give you hope. For me, bible reading and praying are the most powerful prescriptions for healing depression.

 

Any religion has its sacred texts that try to explain certain teachings and the like. The Bible and Christianity is no different to Muslims and the Qur'an in that they give guidance to those willing to pay attention.

 

If you believe in it, why not? The worst thing that can happen is not help you at all. If you're depressed and think praying will change it, then by all means go pray.

 

i dont think so, the bible is mostly about giveing your life up for others so if someone is reading the bible while they are depressed and not thinking right, they are just gonna wanna kill them selves thinking that they will reincarante into a better person.

 

So many things incorrect about this statement you made.