Can spirituality affect mood?

[OnAQuest]

A few weeks ago, I thought God was really sadistic. I was also despairing of my life. Today, I'm pretty sure it was all due to depression. I no longer think of God in that way, or despair of my life. What changed? I am not taking any new drugs for the depression and I am not using any phototherapy. I think it was a singularity that started me believing that God is good again. From there, I began to be more hopeful and even to pray. I think my mood is changing. I didn't think it was possible, but maybe my new take on spirituality is helping to lift my mood.

If you have similar experiences, I'd love to hear about them.

Edited December 14, 2006 by OnAQuest

[EricH]

Moved from the Welcome Forum to the Looking For Advise Forum

[Guest pixy]

My experiences would lead me towards a "yes" response to your question. I am happiest when I am staying true to my identity in Christ and when I am fulfilling His purpose for my life. When I act outside of the character God has transformed me into, I feel very "ungrounded" like I don't know who I am anymore, or what I believe... which leads to moodiness and unhappy thoughts... And, when I stray off the path God has for me, I feel directionless, and like life is pointless. So, yeah, I think spirituality very directly affects mood. True joy comes from Jesus, but you're not going to experience the outpouring of joy in your life if you're not staying connected to the Lord through prayer, Bible reading, etc...

Edited December 14, 2006 by pixy

[Craka Zac]

Yes it does affect your mood. I am happier than ever because I have Christ in me. Even being in church makes me happy.

[kat8585]

I definitely believe spirituality can affect mood, speaking from experience, and mood can definitely also affect spirituality.

[kittylover0991]

A few weeks ago, I thought God was really sadistic. I was also despairing of my life. Today, I'm pretty sure it was all due to depression. I no longer think of God in that way, or despair of my life. What changed? I am not taking any new drugs for the depression and I am not using any phototherapy. I think it was a singularity that started me believing that God is good again. From there, I began to be more hopeful and even to pray. I think my mood is changing. I didn't think it was possible, but maybe my new take on spirituality is helping to lift my mood.

If you have similar experiences, I'd love to hear about them.

Hey Quest,

To start, I really can't say I've ever had to deal with depression, but what i can say is that "spiritually" definitly affects your mood. For me personally, it affects every single thing throughout the day between what I wear, how I speak, my testimony, how much do I want to work today, do I pray and read God's Word... do I listen at church and do I listen to what others have to say or focus on myself... or am I selfish and not caring about what is right and wrong, ignornig the Holy Spirit's voice. I've noticed that the time you are closest to God in prayer and bible, the farthest away sin seems to be... but not in prayer or devotions, that sin another matter all to itself.

I've said this on here a couple times, but... there is a sin that I've struggled with for a great number of years already and it has really destroyed my life. This past year, I have come to the point of hating God, hating hte day I was saved and wishing I never was because I evied the things of the world... I had unconfessed sin in my life and I didn't want to repent... I didn't want to step out by faith again... I was miserable all the time to the point that people would ask me why I wasn't all bubbly anymore and people would shy from me. I've also noticed that when I am not right with God, for some reason, people don't like talking to me... wonder why.... but I got back with prayer and bible reading... it was a relaly a splendid day between a thousand circumstances that only God coudl have set up.... and things were great... in fact, I broke up with my boyfriend that Wednesday, did the happy dance and a had large period without that sin in my life.. not to metnion had to opportunity to witness to a bunch of people, I learned a lot... etc.... however, I fell back into sin..

This time, however, I got to the point where I wanted to give up Christianity all together (had to learn you can't give up God)... I didn't want to, but I didn't see another way out... I was hurting so badly spiritually that I was once again, miserable all the time.. I didnt' care what authority said anymore and wanted nothing to do with it... I can't recall much of those days, but I rememebr sulking around wishing for someone to give me the cure to what seemed like an incurable disease.. I lost all hope to getting out of this sin and I felt that God had failed me... I've never had my youth pastor ask me so many times if I was alright... becuase I could barely keep a smile.... the sunday night before camp, I finally gave up and talked to my youth pastor and told him that there was something that I wanted to do, but I couldn't do.. yet I coudln't see another way and then I told him that I wanted to give up everything dealing with God and Christianity in general... but that I didn't want to do it... etc... he told me that have camp "this week" and told me that if I still had this same problem at the end of the week, to come and talk to him... to say that least, was in tears that next night during and after the service, and coming back from camp and everything, I was in the best mood ever.. I emailed two friends EXTREMELY long emails telling them how much I loved them, and that they need Christ.... Joined the choir last summer I think... started hanging around more Chrstian friends, got back in the bible and prayer... the messages really really struck home.. just about always in a good mood...

From this point, really not going to go into the day from there, but, how you are with God really affects your mood.... whether you are humble and serving God throughout the day, have unconfessed sin and therefore rebellious... you might even be sad throughout the day say because of a lost soul, or maybe even because you aren't trusting Christ.... I say spirituality greatly affects it.

Depression can definitly be a different issue because many times depressing is a chemical imbalance and many times, we don't have control over that.. so therefore, spirituality might nto affect that... i dont' know.. but just a guess...