they told me that too, lots of times. granted they did also decide that my pagan ways were sending me straight to hell. and it was not just in the bible-belt

while i do not condone medical and health professionals weighing in on such matters directly, it has been my personal experience that having spiritual support and understanding wherever you choose to get it from can greatly help. my own chosen faith has main times brought me comfort and saved my life. it has also given me a way to connect to others like myself.

in the end it should be your choice. and i strongly believe they should butt out unless you directly present the question to them. that i my opinion. doesn't have to be yours.

Hmm. I'm from the bible belt, and that's a new one on me. I've had a few therapists over the years, and they never went there. They even stayed away from things like yoga and meditation, which are pretty commonly mentioned in connection with learning to breathe and techniques for panic attacks. Since my abusers were church people, maybe that's why.

It's a bible belt thing. From my experience with the church they want me to do for them and do it their way. That's what my abusers wanted to. No thanks. But that's just me.

problem, is what is it dose not help what if no matter what you do things dont get better . things keep piling up my faith has been really tested

Yes. I had one therapist tell me I needed to believe in God and attend church as it would help me heal. I am not a spiritual person. He told me that my alcoholics turn to God and it helps them to say sober and helps them find peace in their lives. It gets them out of the house and socializing too. He told me that many of the patients with mental health issues report that once they find God, and give themselves to a higher power, it takes the decision making and worry out of life because it whatever happens is part of Gods bigger picture. It give them hope. It teaches them to be grateful and kind to themselves. And so on and so on.

I cannot even consider it when God is so cruel. Letting people good without food, and shelter. Allowing wars and the horrifying things that come with that. Allowing kids to abused etc etc. Does not sound like a kind and caring higher power to me. When God brings peace to the earth, and stops abuse of kids, I will be the first one there believing. I told my therapist that, and for the next 3 weeks he worked on me to go to church with him to check it out. I told him I loved him as a therapist, but he had to keep the church stuff out of it or I would need to find a new therapist. We never discussed it again.

It is a decision you will need to make for yourself based on your person beliefs.

Oh boy. TOuchy one for me, as my grandmothers both insisted on religious answers to my *epilepsy*. (Yes, such fun in my gene pool.)...I have a lot of negative experiences connected to religion and churches. (Not God and faith, mind you. Just human interpretations of those.)

That said? I'm with Muji.. Both my current therapist and my psych-doc are from deep in the Bible Belt, and *no one* in the course of my psych treatments has ever suggested church. Ever. Not even the therapists I saw once when I was therapist-shopping.

So I have no idea why that was suggested, other than those persons putting their own *personal* beliefs into their *professional* lives.

If you have found church to be a good place for you in the past, okay. If not, they need to recognize that and back off. IMHO.

Smiles and support,
Leo

loss of a sustaining faith is a symptom of PTSD

Depending on how YOU feel about it ... you could always try "what the doctor ordered," and see if:

a) It helps you at all, and

b) there are any negative side effects ;-)

As Tom Hanks said, in "The DaVinci Code,"

"Faith is a gift I have yet to receive."

So it isn't really MY bag, but ... for some ... it can be a huge help.

I do think it's a bit weird to have "docs" mention it -- particularly if they're not psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, or other 'therapists,' but .... that wouldn't cost me any sleep ;-)

Yes, I have been told this. In several languages, theologies and continents. Yes, I found it to be true.

"Community Events" is my personal favorite summary name for it. Yes, church is one of many community events which can be VERY useful for breaking the isolation that is such a common companion for depression. In my personal therapy, it is great exposure for my fear of my own species. Among the many community events I have used to break my isolation patterns are church, community service, street fairs, museums, concerts, political rallies... The list goes on. For me the summary is, "Don't be afraid to join the human race."

for my own selfs this particular thread gives me a little more comfort. it is nice to know i wasn't the only one scarred by church goers. my current therapist was told to leave her beliefs at the door with me. she has done so very well, but she struggles with the contempt and malice i have for the general conglomerate of those types.

I say whatever works for you and if you think you should try it? Go for it
I try keeping in mind not one thing is the complete answer. It takes coping skills, activities and medication for me.

Church depresses me.

I have PTSD and I am active in my church for years. Church does help me with my PTSD, but only if I work with church and get / stay involved. For me, church isnt curing my PTSD, but does help me with it. The thing is to work with it and not expect it to resolve itself.

As for you and church, I cant say. I do suggest to try and see what happens. What harm can it do? If it isnt comfortable for you after you try it, dont do it. Doctors suggested church? Hmm...so we are not a society of anti=faith after all ( yet ).

I've found the benefit arfie mentions happens when I speak about PTSD at churches I'm invited to talk to.

I was absent from church for 20 years not that I was really spiritual prior to that; simply made to go as a child, then a social teenager. But a year prior to my accident, I stepped into a church an knew I was home. Everyone is different and everyone's timing is different and that's okay. For me, if I had not found a home in church and opened my heart to God a year prior to my accident, I'm not sure I would be where I am now. It's been a struggle..... a nightmare. I struggle with my faith daily and sometimes I think my faith makes it all that much harder. But when I am in church each wake, no matter how bad I am feeling - I leave feeling better. Church has kept me out of the depths of the darkness. A few months ago I was in a very, very dark place and I made myself stick to my routine of church, even when I really didn't want to. When my emotions told me just to hide and bed and give up, I fought against it. Oh boy, there were Sundays I sat and just bawled and others where I was so confused and anger I just stood and stared off like a lost child. But in the end I always felt a little better and with each passing week I felt even better. Of course, you have to find the church that fits you and it has to be the right time for you.

Everyone has their place. For my husband it is being on the ocean. That is another reason I insist that he spends at least one day a week on the ocean. No matter what the weather, he is at peace when he is on the ocean. That is his spiritual connection. If you can find that place, that's all that matters. Use it to your benefit. Seek your wellness through it. Seek your inner peace.