Pagan and Depressed

[SacredWithin]

How many of you are Pagan and depressed? Answer honestly.



The reason why I ask is because so many people I know who are Pagan seem to be depressed. I'm not saying it's b/c they are Pagan because that's a ridiculous assumption. Maybe I need to get out more. I just think it's sad that the majority (not all) of Pagans I personally know seem to be depressed one way or another. Maybe it's just the age group, I don't know. Does anyone else feel the same way about their area? I don't mean to offend anyone, but I'm just pointing out what I see and wondering if anyone else sees what I see.

[PoisonIvy]

Well,I'm not depressed as in sad,but because of a chemical imbalance. But I've been that way since I was a little kid. That's what Buspar and Prozac are for. :bigblue:

[morrigan]

i think everyone goes through times when they are down/depressed.. maybe it seems to be more prevelent in pagans/witches because they are more in-tune with the energies of others and it effects them.. I know if i'm around someone who has alot of built up negative energy it wears me down and has a big effect on my mood..

[lil_suzie]

... don't know if your going to get many "non-pagans" responding, on a pagan forum.

I'm pagan and not depressed, but I was born into my faith, maybe that makes a difference? I know that alot of new pagans find thier way to thier own path while looking for answers.

[-Sky-]

I am pagan and depressed sometimes.It's not that I have the psychological disease called depression,it's that sometimes I am going through devastating sorrows...
I agree with you Sacred Within.I also believe that many Pagans are depressed but I don't know why...

[serenarian]

The first one. There was an interesting feature in Pop! Goes The Witch about this topic, although I can't remember much about it - something along the lines of what morrigan mentioned, but I remember reading it and nodding to myself because it made so much sense to me.

[arctic splash]

I get the feeling that a lot of teens who are unsatisfied with their lives turn to paganism as an escape, or even rebellion. I knew one person like this in high school. She was Native American, so a lot of her pagan sensibility came from that, but a lot of times I sort of felt she was hiding behind it. (I could be way off... these are feelings and intuitions I had years ago.)

It's also true that a large majority of pagans come in from the outside. This isn't true of Christianity or Judaism. A lot of people who feel the need to search feel there's something missing in their lives. This can make a person depressed... especially when the path is lonely and there are no roadsigns.

But actually, I think it's just this culture that makes so many people depressed. It's a culture that forces 8 year olds to spend their days in a classroom rather than outside playing and exploring. I could say so much about how I feel about this culture, but I won't. I'm just amazed at how many people I see who are or have been depressed... and it's sad. There's something wrong...

[Garden of Eden]

I voted pagan and depressed, because although I'm not depressed right at this moment, I suffer from it often (it reoccurs every couple of weeks). But I think being pagan, rather than the cause or source of this, enables me to cope a lot better with it. :)

[Druchii]

I personally don't think the two are related, but I do believe the most obvious examples that DO fit that criteria tend to be the ones that are the most vocal about it, old or young. I suffer from highs and lows from time to time. Everyone does. I have no clue if I am pagan or not.
I do know that I am hungry so I am off to buy some Gems Donuts.

[midnightreflections]

Hmmm well I did suffer from depression -but overcame it at the same time as becoming pagan. well I became pagan because of a life changing event (paranormal) when I was depressed (and connected to the depression).
So even though that is a really vague answer (because the event is very personal to me) paganism helped me overcome depression -and gave me a reason never to go back down that path again

[blueiris]

I suffer from depression and am Pagan...but it's not because I'm Pagan - I've dealt with bouts of depression on and off since I was nine years old.

[Semele]

Could it be that you see more Pagan folks depressed because that is the type of people you feel more open to discussions with? I know plenty of folks from various religions that suffer from depression.

One thing I do know is that as Pagans we are often more likely to discuss our feelings and discussing them is the key to fixing them. I say we are fortunate in our comfort with fellow pagans.

[misschief]

i'm a diagnosed manic depressive, similar to bipolar, but not the same. i've been like this forever and i've learned to control it, it's actually very easy for me. it's nothing to do with being pagan.. i think if it does seem that way it's only because pagans tend to talk more about feelings (usually). sometimes i let myself go into a mania or a depression.. but sometimes i need it, if that makes sense.

[Tsuchimaru]

I'm pretty much Pagan and I'm depressed...

[Ben Trismegistus]

I think it's the other way around. I think that people who are depressed look around for external ways in which to improve their lives. And many of them believe that a change in religion might do the trick. So they find their way to paganism because they're dissatisfied with their life in some way.

Some who is perfectly content and happy is much less likely to question their given religion.

[arctic splash]

I think it's the other way around. I think that people who are depressed look around for external ways in which to improve their lives. And many of them believe that a change in religion might do the trick. So they find their way to paganism because they're dissatisfied with their life in some way.


Yes, I think that's what I said. :)

[Ben Trismegistus]

Yes, I think that's what I said. :)
You expect me to READ what people say before posting? That's preposterous!

[SacredWithin]

Thanks. It was all I needed to know. I felt that it was more depressed people turning to Paganism as a way to cope (I don't think to run). There was also mention that Pagans seem to be more open to expressing themselves and sharing their feelings. That could be it too. Because in certain homes where fundamentalism is prevelant, it might be harder for people to express their feelings.

[CzechWoods]

despite medical oppinion, where a depression is nothing BUT a physical lack of seratonin in your brain, nothing BUT a chemical disbalance in your brain or body or whatever, i believe that depressions have a reason and are not coming out of the blue (pun not intended)

i have experienced as consultant, that depressed people most often are also ghighly sensitive people, sensible and thus also in tune with pain that is all over here

it is the very same people that choose to become pagan, maybe also to help heal the planet

well, so depression and paganism is a coinsidence imo, not a nececity though.

luckyli there is lots of stone remedies and some herbal remedies to that.

and if the seratonin thingy is true: eat chocolate. eat even more chocolate!

[sincerebliss]

well, I am a pagan teen and suprise..NOT depressed. Even though I am pagan, I still have the sterotypical perspective. The majority of pagans just seem (things aren't always as they seem) depressed. I'm being a little biased here but a lot of pagans I have seen around school (or those who claim to be pagans) seem to have a "darker" look to then. A more gothic look perhaps. I don't know but when I wear darker colors, I am usually more unhappy compared to when I wear brighter colors. That's just me..Some say wearing one color type is very unbalanced. That's why I *heard* but hey, anything's possible? ;)

[Lunacie]

I have one brother and two sisters and we've all coped with depression in our lives. I'm the only Pagan in the bunch.

[Faelon_Moon_Hawk]

How many of you are Pagan and depressed? Answer honestly.



The reason why I ask is because so many people I know who are Pagan seem to be depressed. I'm not saying it's b/c they are Pagan because that's a ridiculous assumption. Maybe I need to get out more. I just think it's sad that the majority (not all) of Pagans I personally know seem to be depressed one way or another. Maybe it's just the age group, I don't know. Does anyone else feel the same way about their area? I don't mean to offend anyone, but I'm just pointing out what I see and wondering if anyone else sees what I see.
I said pagan & not depressed...

I'm not depressed now, i kinda have been not too long ago. It was due to a very long what seemed like series of fights with my bf about minor things (two equally stubborn ppl fighting is not fun >_<) that combined with it being a long distance relationship and all thats involved with that, resulted in a very unhappy Faelon at different times, usually only for a few days or a week, until whatever fight it was, got resolved.

[midnite_aila]

It could be a mixture of things. I know in my area, it is not easy being Pagan. Not many people around here are (or are just not open about it) That seems to be the problem for a lot of my pagan friends, because they pay attention to those who laugh at them for what they are. Luckily, I have grown out of the stage where I need to be accepted by people I don't know. However, they haven't. It could also be the age group, many teens go through a time of depression because they are no longer children with little responsibilities. Or maybe it is the fact that Pagans are more sensitive to all the negativity in the world than others are. Chemical imbalances in the brain are also a possibility as well as events in a person's life that cause massive amounts of stress (which is my case most of the time). It's not just Pagans either. It's just that others have found a way to hide it instead of deal with it.

[CzechWoods]

i'm a diagnosed manic depressive, similar to bipolar, but not the same. i've been like this forever and i've learned to control it, it's actually very easy for me. it's nothing to do with being pagan.. i think if it does seem that way it's only because pagans tend to talk more about feelings (usually). sometimes i let myself go into a mania or a depression.. but sometimes i need it, if that makes sense.

could it be that you are a leo (zodiac wise) ?
if so, try using ametrine. it worked wonderfully so far with my clients who suffered from manic depr.

[Miss Edith]

I'm pagan, and yes, I can feel really low at times, but I wouldn't say I was depressed. And if I was depressed, it wouldn't be connected to paganism anyway- it's usually things like school, other people's attitudes etc that upset me ;)

[CzechWoods]

Namaste MWs

i have been cruising through the posts, and I have felt so much grief and depression. Maybe its because of Yule approaching or just the general November moodiness, but I think that no matter why you believe you are sad, you need a stone cheer up

STONES TO REDUCE THE (emotional) PAINS YOU FEEL
1. Rosequartz, the great heart comforter
http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/rosequartzrosenquarz.msnw
2. Flint, to light/relight your (inner) fire *no pic/info avail. yet*
3. Orange or Citrino Calcite (also Tea-Lights of those). bring more sunnshine and more structure in your life http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/calcite.msnw
4. Aventurine, especially green: Serenity
http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/aventurine.msnw

STONES THAT BOOST YOUR EGO (self esteem)
1. Citrine: also a good stone against depressions http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/citrinezitrin.msnw
2. Carnelian; enhances attractivity http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/carneliancarneolkarneol.msnw
3. Garnet: boosts attractivity and signalizes you are one who does not go for second best
http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/garnetsgranate.msnw
4. Peridot: combines self esteem and self love http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/peridot.msnw

STONES THAT FIGHT DEPRESSIONS:
1. Chrysoprase (stone of saxons): with its apple green colour it brings joy and uncomplicatedness in your life. http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/chalcedon2family.msnw *scroll down*
2. Citrine or Honey Comb Calcite: resolves depressions, often even suicidal tendencies
*citrine see above* * Calcite: see above*
3. Chytha-Serpentine (Serpentine from South/Middle America). detoxication of body, mind, spirit. enhances flexibility in all word meanings *no pic/info avail. sorry*
4. Ametrine: excellent to stabilize manic depressions and alike. brings harmony between spirituality /material needs
http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/ametrine.msnw

STONES THAT ENHANCE INSPIRATION
1. Aquamarine: stone of artists, doctors and creative people. aquarius-stone
http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/aquamarine.msnw
2. Clear Crystal Quartz: clarifier, boosts meditation, enlightment etc. an ALL Chakras Stone http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/clearcrystalquartzbergkristall.msnw
3. Smokey Quartz: leads us to lok behind our own curtains; through our own mists. clarifyer of the inner mysteries (and miseries) http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/smokeyquartzrauchquarz.msnw
4. Amethyst: stone of meditation, divination, contemplation, concentration. neptun-stone
http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/amethyst.msnw

STONES TO TURN AROUND OUR LIFE *no pic/info yet*

1. Pietersite. leads you uncompromisingly to the point you need to understand and accompanies you while you change it for good
2. Black Eye aka Rainbow Obsidian. shows you whats totally wrong in your life. its the Kick-in-the-butt-stone
3. Australian Amulett-Stone. Accompanies you through your darkst hours, giving you strength to get through
4. larimar: stone for new beginnings. opens new pathways on spirituality

(c) www.czechwoodsgems.de
all rights reserved.

[Faery-Wings]

awesome post, czechwoods. Thanks.

Pagan and depressed here.

[Karma Chameleon]

[color=indigo]How many of you are Pagan and depressed? Answer honestly.

No I am not depressed. I'm not 100% bubbly happy all the time, I think anyone under certian situtation would get upset and depressed. But in general, I am quite happy in life.

[elfmage]

Yeah, occasionally, balanced with the whole "manic" thing. :twitch:

You may want to check the "Health and Beauty" section too, by the way;

http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=74391&highlight=depression

There are also threads on issues that are sometimes related;

"Do you cut yourself?" : http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=53118&highlight=depression

"Have you ever been suicidal?" : http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=68639&highlight=depression

[wakywitch]

A few wks ago I was very depressed and :sadman:
Having broken up with a man who was very special to me.
Plus thanksgiving, makes me sad.

Things are definately looking up tho. :heartthro

[Invidosa]

I know that I am depressed, it was really bad when I was in high school; bad enough for me to be a self-mutilator, now (i'm 23) I still have trouble with it, but not as badly (thank the spirits for Celexa!) For me personally, being a pagan helped me to get a grip on my depression. Knowing the Goddess, and lots of meditation has been a real help to me, as well as lots of practice with visualizations.

[Carickah]

Well, I am pagan. I am clinically depressed. The two are completely seperate from one another. Currently, I am in the middle of ending a 13 year marriage(enough of a reason to be depressed in and of itself), going through a hard time with my job and my personal ethics(strike two), and, of course, it is "the holidays" and it was only 2 years ago next week that my grandfather(whom I was very close to) passed away from lung cancer(strike three). My spiritual path has helped me with all this, but I have been depressed much longer than that. In fact, there is some basis in the thought that I have been depressed my whole life. Not to mention that I was diagnosed with ADD as a child, I am popping good with mental issues. So many issues, that I had to order back issues... in fact, some of my issues are out of print.:smile:



k

[Ron]

i think everyone goes through times when they are down/depressed.. maybe it seems to be more prevelent in pagans/witches because they are more in-tune with the energies of others and it effects them.. I know if i'm around someone who has alot of built up negative energy it wears me down and has a big effect on my mood..
Stop reading my mind.. tis exactly what I was going to say. :smash:

[CzechWoods]

awesome post, czechwoods. Thanks.

Pagan and depressed here.

thanks for your prasie and appreciation of my post. you were welcome

[LittleRhiannon]

Pagan and not depressed. I mean, I'm not happy all the time, but I'm not sad for no reason or even most of the time.

[Incendia]

:uhhuhuh: Pagan and depressed here too....though my "Paganism" has helped me cope. We need a sad nodding smiley...;)

[halfwaynowhere]

well, i'm not really depressed.... I think I'm bipolar, my doctor gave me a referal to a psychiatrist, but my dad hasn't made my appointment yet, so i dunno. but right now i'm in the depressed stage...

[Mouse]

every one of my pagan friends went through serious depression not too long after finding paganism, includeing myself.. i guessed it was some kind of "test" or something.. i think the two are deffently related.. possibly because we need to embrace both the light and the dark and depression tends to change one's way of thinking.
~miriam

[WingedTigerChild]

I have been clinically depressed since day one. However, I was diagnosed with major depression when I was twelve, now nearing nineteen with some serious manic depression. *Sigh* I can't think of a day that I haven't hated life...even just slightly. I'm a pisces, which may have quite a bit to do with it. but I really don't know. There were complications when I was born and with all the medications my mother had to take, it's hard to say. I know I have enlarged something or others in my brain...which messes with my body's ability to work the way it should...like I can't run and stuff. So yeah. Bit of a rant there. Sorry.

[SacredWithin]

Mouse, I thought about that too. I thinkit happens whenever anyone moves to another religion, there is always a "test". I think I know exactly what you mean.

I have been clinically depressed since day one. However, I was diagnosed with major depression when I was twelve, now nearing nineteen with some serious manic depression. *Sigh* I can't think of a day that I haven't hated life...even just slightly. I'm a pisces, which may have quite a bit to do with it. but I really don't know. There were complications when I was born and with all the medications my mother had to take, it's hard to say. I know I have enlarged something or others in my brain...which messes with my body's ability to work the way it should...like I can't run and stuff. So yeah. Bit of a rant there. Sorry.

Awww, poor Tiger :hugz: I really hope things get better for you. Just don't give up on life okay? Please?

[BabblingImp]

i think everyone goes through times when they are down/depressed.. maybe it seems to be more prevelent in pagans/witches because they are more in-tune with the energies of others and it effects them.. I know if i'm around someone who has alot of built up negative energy it wears me down and has a big effect on my mood..
I agree with you, I have fought deppression all my life, and part of my porbelm is sometimes I forget to block myself from what others feel, and I think that is why I NEED 10 hours of sleep, just to flush away things from the day before! But I hardly ever smile because I just don't feel like I can smile beacuse I'm draged down by so many 'things' :twitch:

[9-2-2]

I am a non-Pagan occultist and depressed. I'm facing the very strong potential loss of everything I own including my home, and I also work 12 - 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, just to have a place to crash. I don't have much of a life to live.

[oakowl]

How many of you are Pagan and depressed? Answer honestly.



The reason why I ask is because so many people I know who are Pagan seem to be depressed. I'm not saying it's b/c they are Pagan because that's a ridiculous assumption. Maybe I need to get out more. I just think it's sad that the majority (not all) of Pagans I personally know seem to be depressed one way or another. Maybe it's just the age group, I don't know. Does anyone else feel the same way about their area? I don't mean to offend anyone, but I'm just pointing out what I see and wondering if anyone else sees what I see.
I work with the public everyday and it seems to me there are alot of sad, angry and just outright rude people walking around. I find it weird that I am often complimented on being so cheerful. I think there is a percentage of people who have a huge hole in thier souls that materialism and the quest for fast gratification is not filling. I have found that my pagan spiritual practice fills me to overflowing and I like sharing it with others. So lets get out there and bring the seaching ones home. Bright blessings !

[indigo rain]

i think alot of depressed people turn to paganism to make themselves feel better, to search for answers, and to improve themselves. for healing.

[SacredWithin]

I work with the public everyday and it seems to me there are alot of sad, angry and just outright rude people walking around. I find it weird that I am often complimented on being so cheerful. I think there is a percentage of people who have a huge hole in thier souls that materialism and the quest for fast gratification is not filling. I have found that my pagan spiritual practice fills me to overflowing and I like sharing it with others. So lets get out there and bring the seaching ones home. Bright blessings !

It's interesting you would mention this because this concept was also brought up in the Conversations With God series by Neale Donald Walsch and a few other books. I think this has been age-long wisdom that has yet to be tapped by most. :)

[TheTempestuous1]

Well on the whole a lot of pagans tend to be introverts and introverts also seem more prone to clinical depression. Thats a thought.. Also, the fact that its a subculture that tends to attract people who feel outside of the mainstream culture, can predispose these people to be depressed. Also, in order to choose a religion, other than the one you are born with, it can often take a great deal of research and desire to learn, thus intelligent people, who I believe because of their intelligence and analytical tendencies are prone to depression. Did I mention those people often are introverts? hehehe...

[Epona44]

:abbed: :tub: :ringaroun

Although I have been, everybody gets depressed sooner or later. :dis:

What's important to recognise is that when you are depressed for a reason, that the low feeling is what happens when you take an incident inside of yourself.

If you are healthy, that follows an assimilation process, and then you reconcile yourself to it and you cope.

There is biochemical depression, and sometimes you need help with that, but recognizing that it's a chemistry problem helps in handling it a lot.

Sunlight helps, and so does exercise. :adidas:

[Zander770]

Bipolar, Axis 1.


Yep.


How'd'ya "like me," NOW, then?!!?


HAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!


As IF . . . As IF "this" were even some SURPRISE to anyone who reMOTELY "knows me," here, or anywhere else, on-line!


It'sjust yet another (bleepin') "lable," that's all it is, to me.


Wanna hear some of a few of my OTHER "labels," now, would ya? Yes? Well, then . . .

PM me. "Come 'ere . . ." Go 'head. Please! It'll "cost ya," but . . . only a "wee-bit," I SWEAR it!

Going for a "Guinness run," now. I Need Air!

[CzechWoods]

zander770. ummm language ?

i understand your feelings about labeling, but still. please try keeping in mind that there are also children in this community. i know, it is challenging at times (and believe me i too sometimes would rather use swear words) but on the other hand.

you said pagan ? yet you use some term most derrigatory to mothers ?

maybe you give it a second chance.

maybe you edit this post of yours. would you?

[Wiccamagikal]

As a matter of fact, right now I am suffering from depression. I say suffering, because that is what this can be described as. I would much rather be sick than depressed..lol but unfortunatly I am. I have Manic Depression, ( a chemical imbalance ) and it just..my mood is like an emotional roller coaster. I am trying hard to deal with my depression right now, and am taking medication as well..but it does not seem to be going away...

[Myrrh_Topaz]

I am technicly a Neo-Pagan.

I am also Bi-Polar. This means that I can be Clinicly Depressed at times(thanks to all the meds I am on though that is not very often :ballonsmi ).

However I am not Depressed because I am a Neo-Pagan. In fact ever since becoming a Neo-Pagan my life has never been better :thewave:

[Zander770]

zander770. ummm language ?
Can ANYone direct me toward the nearest MATURE Pagan Site, PLEEEEEEEEZE???

I am getting SICK of all of the BS here . . .

"ummmmmm language?"

How "sweet . . ."

How OLD are you, CzechWoods? Really? How old?

They've a "kiddy's corner," here, somewhere, I've read.

Do you have arms? Fingers, too, I assume (s/he's "typing," but, I've many disabled friends that use a "appendage holder" betwixt their teeth to type), correct?

CHANGE THE CHANNEl if you're "offended." Im mean, that's what "I" have to do! Why shouldn't Y.O.U., then?

This is . . . something, fer sure, mon . . .

How did my mere WORDS POSSIBLY "offend" YOUR "sensibilities," anyway, huh?

Jaysas! I am having to "prance about," here, all of the sudden, while, on the thread "right next door," they're speaking of "Satanistic decapitations," et. al., . . . S*IT!!!
PHUCK this!!!

This is ridiculous! (O! . . . "TO me," that is. TO ME!!!!!!!)

Don't wanna OFFEND anyone . . .

Yerz,

[Xentor]

Can ANYone direct me toward the nearest MATURE People Site, PLEEEEEEEEZE???

I am getting SICK of all of the BS here . . .

"ummmmmm language?"

How "sweet . . ."

How OLD are you, CzechWoods? Really? How old?

They've a "kiddy's corner," here, somewhere, I've read.

Do you have arms? Fingers, too, I assume (s/he's "typing," but, I've many disabled friends that use a "appendage holder" betwixt their teeth to type), correct?

CHANGE THE CHANNEl if you're "offended." Im mean, that's what "I" have to do! Why shouldn't Y.O.U., then?

This is . . . something, fer sure, mon . . .

How did my mere WORDS POSSIBLY "offend" YOUR "sensibilities," anyway, huh?

Jaysas! I am having to "prance about," here, all of the sudden, while, on the thread "right next door," they're speaking of "Satanistic decapitations," et. al., . . . S*IT!!!
PHUCK this!!!

This is ridiculous! (O! . . . "TO me," that is. TO ME!!!!!!!)

Don't wanna OFFEND anyone . . .

Yerz,

MW is a PG13 site and a family community. It is your job to show some respect. It is your job to not offend.

Speaking about decapitation is different from directly insulting anyone. There are some pretty horrible things going around in the real world and they will be and are allowed to be discussed. But while doing it, we won't curse, insult nor harass people.

Got that?

[Zander770]

So? MASTER xentor's got a HARD-ON for me, all the sudden, it seems, huh?

Whelp? WHAT CHA GONNA DO? Aye, "xentor???" WHAT???

YOU cannot CENSOR everyone!!! You (even) GOTTA sleep, SOMETIME!!!

AND!!! This ain't EVEN "his" FIGHT!!!

zzzzzzzzzz . . .

What a . . . "Pagan" you are! Master "xentor . . ."
==================================

I was the one who deleted that post.

. . . but you won't go "Who the f u c k is Isaac Bonewitz anyway?" or anything in that direction. Not on this board.
You are WRONG.

I NEVER wrote that. O, boy . . . What is WRONG w/you, man? To say that I WROTE . . . Ha! You wait, my man. You wait.

I've a copy of the post, you ego-meglomaniacial PR*ICK. WHO DO you THINK YOU ARE, huh? Who do YOU think you're speaking to?

"Master 'Wicked Mystic'?!!?"

HA!

Okay! Whooooo . . . 'Cuse ME! Pleeeeeze, sir! By allllllllll means, please!

I'll be BANNED before I COW-TOW to the like of a LIAR.

You are a LIAR!!! And more . . . probably. (((What ARE y.o.u.???)))

You "decided" to . . . "Delete MY post" due to . . . What, again? I hope that you at LEAST "get paid," for this, 'cause . . .

This is hilarious! Unbelievable!

You're . . . I really . . . I PITY you. I really do.

--Allen Mahan

cc/file
mol
Semele
(((et al.)))

[Xentor]

[font=Courier New]AND!!! This ain't EVEN "his" FIGHT!!!

You are right. This fight is yours and yours alone. Go get some counselling.

[Carickah]

Can ANYone direct me toward the nearest MATURE Pagan Site, PLEEEEEEEEZE???

I am getting SICK of all of the BS here . . .

"ummmmmm language?"

How "sweet . . ."

How OLD are you, CzechWoods? Really? How old?

They've a "kiddy's corner," here, somewhere, I've read.

Do you have arms? Fingers, too, I assume (s/he's "typing," but, I've many disabled friends that use a "appendage holder" betwixt their teeth to type), correct?

CHANGE THE CHANNEl if you're "offended." Im mean, that's what "I" have to do! Why shouldn't Y.O.U., then?


You know, I have a lot of tolerance. I really do, but this really isn't the place for such tantrums. and I won't even go into the part of the post that I didn't quote. no need. It's all been posted before. I have been here for 2 years and I have never, until now, put anyone on my ignore list. Welcome, Zander.



k

[Xentor]

You know, I have a lot of tolerance. I really do, but this really isn't the place for such tantrums. and I won't even go into the part of the post that I didn't quote. no need. It's all been posted before. I have been here for 2 years and I have never, until now, put anyone on my ignore list. Welcome, Zander.



k

No need to. He's banned. And unless my fellow admins decide otherwise, he'll stay banned.

[Carickah]

Yeah, I kinda noticed that after I wrote all that... :D I went back to the thread in Just talk that you closed and there it was... hehehe. Oh well. I think I'll keep the ignore on, anyway. It keeps me from having so much space taken up in threads where he's posted. :D



k

[Mouse]

I'm not trying to be nasty but thankyou Xentor for banning Zander... coz damn..

[Lunacie]

Hmmm, Zander used to be cool, and interesting, and funny.
I wonder what's going on in his world right now?
http://mysticwicks.com/images/smilies/ponder.gif
Of course, it's not right to blast anyone here just because he has a problem somewhere else.

[Little Willow]

*wanders in ... wonders what the hell's going on .... decides to just answer the question and leave quietly*

Not depressed. Have the odd bought of downness (is that a word) every now and again, but that's more to do with life in general ... or more acurately ... work and the idiot in admin who is just a royal pain in the butt. I really must learn tolerance. But nope, not depressed. Never suffered from it either. Not real depression anyway. Have a lot of friends who have or do suffer with it, mostly non-pagan though.

*slinks away .... very, very quietly* ;)

[CzechWoods]

No need to. He's banned. And unless my fellow admins decide otherwise, he'll stay banned.

Namaste Xantor,

a heart felt thank you in this case. I do not call for policing and such too much, and i would have ignored the :atantrum: in this case, despite of course it is hard to ignore.

But I am happy you took appropriate action in this very case .... blunt and repeated, lack of respect should not be tolerated. many - not just you - have asked politely and got insults in return. good we have the admin police ;) who watch the peace to remain in here :fpraise: admin Xentor

[Psyche Ague]

There are lots of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews, etc, who are also depressed.

But yes, I am depressed. So is my Christian mother (she's Catholic) and so is my non-practicing Catholic father. *shrug*

[dark angel]

There are lots of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews, etc, who are also depressed.

But yes, I am depressed. So is my Christian mother (she's Catholic) and so is my non-practicing Catholic father. *shrug*

Sorry to hear this, i have also been suffering depression from a recent split from my partner of six years.
i was told about a book; you cant afford the luxury of a negative thought.
and since i've been reading this book i have changed my outlook completely.
I hope things pick up for you,
take care

[Morrighan61]

I'm Pagan, and yes, I get depressed.

You would too if you had my life of late. Religion aside, and though I am very thankful for it, I've had it rough the last decade or so.

I have had a couple of chronic illnesses for a long time. I came through a horrible car accident only to end up really sick again, which has led to me struggling in several other ways healthwise that on top of the permanent injuries I'd suffered and the original illnesses have really have made being disabled that much harder to take.

Being a walking medical file, I've had to give up one career I really worked hard for for and take another that so far isn't making me happy or paying the bills...The money I got for being injured got sucked up into even more hospital bills, and now I am nearly broke, in debt up to my eyeballs, living in near poverty, and pretty much alone besides...

My friends vamoosed when they realized I wasn't going to be the "up" and "uberoptimistic" person they'd always known...I lost a guy I was dating because I couldn't keep up with him anymore physically and thus far no guy I've met since seems able to deal with all of my "stuff."

Bottom line is because of my illnesses I am not the greatest person to be around sometimes. I hurt a lot, and having chronic pain and a relationship isn't all that easy a thing to manage. So it's likely I am not going to be in one, or get married, or have kids, all things that yes, I did kinda want sometime soon...

I'm feeling like 38 going on 78 sometimes, and baby do I ever get depressed!

Am I gonna be here five years from now?

I honestly don't think so...

I'm getting worse in some ways, and I don't think I want to be in a wheelchair tying to make it with no help, and no one to love me.

For right now, I am doing my best to cope, but I am making no promises.

Being a Witch though, that is not something to regret.

If I have any joy in anything anymore at all it's in nature. It's in communion with my Creator(s) and what they have created. Sometimes I can't wait for them to call me home, but I know it's not my time just yet and that I still have something to do before I get to the point where I won't be able to cope.

I don't know what.

I just know I do...

But being a Witch I am practical too.

I know that eventually it will be time to shrug off this body for the new one. As it happens I take great comfort in that fact...

"M"

[Kheti]

I voted other,Im pagan well from the Judeo-Xtian point of view.Am I depressed,well not at the moment,I do get depressed at times about different things,but not about being pagan.Except I do get peed off at times thinking how the Christians and Muslims messed up such great pagan nations as Ancient Kemet.

[Willow_starr]

I am Pagan and depressed right now but it is winter and the middle of the university essay and exam crunch and I always suffer from depression and anxiety attacks at this time of year.
Rather than Paganism being a factor in my "illness" (for lack of a better word), not saying that that was what you were implying with your poll, it is a significant part of my coping and healing.

[andiethegoodwitch]

How many of you are Pagan and depressed? Answer honestly.

I am Pagan and very depressed.

Andie

The reason why I ask is because so many people I know who are Pagan seem to be depressed. I'm not saying it's b/c they are Pagan because that's a ridiculous assumption. Maybe I need to get out more. I just think it's sad that the majority (not all) of Pagans I personally know seem to be depressed one way or another. Maybe it's just the age group, I don't know. Does anyone else feel the same way about their area? I don't mean to offend anyone, but I'm just pointing out what I see and wondering if anyone else sees what I see.

I answered yes of course!

[andiethegoodwitch]

I am Pagan and depressed right now but it is winter and the middle of the university essay and exam crunch and I always suffer from depression and anxiety attacks at this time of year.
Rather than Paganism being a factor in my "illness" (for lack of a better word), not saying that that was what you were implying with your poll, it is a significant part of my coping and healing.


Wow. Me too. Exactly the same.

Andie

[Aidron]

Actually, my faith is one of the things that helped me to overcome the severe depression I had years ago. [shrugs]

I find most people are depressed, period, religion and spirituality has no ties to it. People worry too much and allow the simplest of slights to swell up and be magnified. I know almost no one who isn't absolutely defensive, as if everything you say is a stab at their character. I think a lot of people truly enjoy being depressed, as if they feed off the misery and pity.

[Kalandriel]

I'm actually a very happy and bubbly person, maybe even sickingly so! :)

So I'm Pagan and not depressed.

(But what normal person doesn't get down once in awhile? I get depressed when I need to!)

:)

[Childof_theMorrigan]

i have bi polar and i'm pagan so i voted for 'other'

i wish i could remember the exact statistics i learned in abnormal psych.. i think it's nearly 1/3 of the population of the u.s. has or has had at least one major depressive episode as defined in the DSM IV. so i would assume this would affect a lot of pagans and non pagans alike

[skyler]

pagan & not depressed. :)

[AstralMoth]

Pagan and changes daily.

[LadyCelt]

I think as a whole, depression itself seems more rampant. I feel it is more diagnosed and/or people are more willing and open to discuss and admit it.

[Kaiser]

i think everyone goes through times when they are down/depressed.. maybe it seems to be more prevelent in pagans/witches because they are more in-tune with the energies of others and it effects them.. I know if i'm around someone who has alot of built up negative energy it wears me down and has a big effect on my mood..


I completly agree here ... a pagan/witch is more inclined to the engergies around them not neccessarily empathic but that *vibe* is there and so emothions may affect use more dominatly than others who are less inclined to feel these energies

[demonique]

Granted, I don't know a lot of pagans, but I have noted that a lot of depressed people who are Christians tend to lose their faith and revert to other religions, or to being agnostic/athiests, so perhaps this is part of it. Also, I'm thinking that perhaps it /is/ the age group. Young and college age people tend to have a fairly high rate of depression. (I think, on a personal level, that depression is over-diagnosed and it seems, these days, that /everyone/ is depressed, or wants to be, but that has little to do with the discussion.) Not saying that you're not depressed, or that the people you know aren't, but... yeah. I mean, I went through my period of depression (runs in the family - everyone in it has those tendencies. Dad is an alcoholic with a serious depression problem. Brother is the same (he's 20). I went through depression at 16-18, and then a milder one around 20-22. I'm 23 now, and anything but depressed, and I attribute part of this to my recent "conversion" to paganism. Why? Because I see paganism as a reason to be more content with life, to see the beauty in everything, good or bad, and to accept the darker aspects of life as well as the lighter ones. To know that if things are going poorly, I can try and change things, and more than try, I /can/ change things, and to know that everything, eventually, passes.

[SilverNightShade]

depending on your age group...younger teens up till 16/17 will mistake depression for day to day saddness. Depression is a serious mental disease having distinct symptoms that last not for days, but for weeks and months at times. It's a chemical imbalance of serotonin and Norepinephrine.

I just get tired of people being sad and saying they're depressed because that's not what depression is. I learned that from experience.

And i learned, for all who truly are depressed, exercise balances out those chemicals in your brain a little more. The only true cure is medication but exercise does helps some.

[SoulHealer]

Well I have suffered depression but I actually was depressed during the years I wasn't an active pagan (I had pagan beliefs as a kid strayed as a teenager got depressed got pushed firmly back into paganism as part of the "cure")

So i'm pagan and not depressed but I feel more than the pagan bit my depression was due to straying away from me life path not straying away from a pagan path as such (lol it sounds like i two-timed paganism dosn't it?)

[aluokaloo]

I put other, because like everyone else, i have my ups and downs, I just get struck by them a little harder then some other people because I am a very sensitive person.

[LostSheep]

I think a lot of people truly enjoy being depressed, as if they feed off the misery and pity.

There are people, I think, who sometimes pretend to be depressed because it seems 'cool'; but they certainly aren't, either depressed or cool; no one would want to have the hollow emptiness, the thoughts that crowd in on you, the dependence on drugs and/or alcohol to sleep, the scars in a lot of cases ....

... though with me, i think finding some kind of spiritual direction, if you want to call it that, has helped; given me hope that maybe there's something more than the ordinary, everyday world. So if there is a link between depression and paganism, it's that one helps with the other.

[TaysatWesir]

:hrmm: I am pagan and depressed (diagnosed by physiatrists) nuff said.

[Childof_theMorrigan]

depending on your age group...younger teens up till 16/17 will mistake depression for day to day saddness. Depression is a serious mental disease having distinct symptoms that last not for days, but for weeks and months at times. It's a chemical imbalance of serotonin and Norepinephrine.

I just get tired of people being sad and saying they're depressed because that's not what depression is. I learned that from experience.

And i learned, for all who truly are depressed, exercise balances out those chemicals in your brain a little more. The only true cure is medication but exercise does helps some.

thank you for saying that... so many people think that depression is just a state of mind and you can just flip it off if you try hard enough.

exercise does definately help! so does behavioral and cognitive therapy as well as eating balanced meals, not riding the nicotine, sugar or caffiene rollercoasters.

[BlackMagicalCat]

Well,Im a member Of a christian forums and you should see their place where you can post if you need help and prayers.Some of the posts are heart wrenching,like,I was just beat up by my husband,or ,Im depressed,and so on.It is much more bigger there than here,of coarse there are more people there,but this problem is not just a pagan problem based on what I have seen,It apears to me to be a human problem.

[Silvan]

[color=indigo]How many of you are Pagan and depressed? Answer honestly.Pagan and not depressed, usually. I get depressed at various points along the way, like in August, when it's hot and my workload increases 115,000%, and I know everything is about to die on me again, and the unspeakable season is just around the corner, but by this point of the year I'm usually over it, as I am right now. I go through it again in about February when everybody blows their tax refunds and my workload increases 115,000% and spring isn't getting here fast enough, but again, I usually get over it. I spend about 4/5 of the year on a pretty even keel, without Prozac, so I think I'm doing pretty well for myself. Especially since I'm quite likely bipolar, and I have a high genetic probability of winding up crazier than a sh!thouse rat later in life. (If I'm not already. :alol: )

[fatimah2001]

How many of you are Pagan and depressed? Answer honestly.



The reason why I ask is because so many people I know who are Pagan seem to be depressed. I'm not saying it's b/c they are Pagan because that's a ridiculous assumption. Maybe I need to get out more. I just think it's sad that the majority (not all) of Pagans I personally know seem to be depressed one way or another. Maybe it's just the age group, I don't know. Does anyone else feel the same way about their area? I don't mean to offend anyone, but I'm just pointing out what I see and wondering if anyone else sees what I see.
ok i didnt answer on the poll bcuz im not quite pegan and not quite non pegan.. but nomatter what spiritual path i take i will allways be deprtessed:(

[Evendusk]

More witchy than pagan here and not depressed but not happy either.

[mtpathy]

Man i voted other,because i used to really put myself down and
get really depressed all the time.
That was happening when i was taking the world,and everyone
in it so seriously,as if everyone was there for the sole purpose
to ruin me and my life "paranoid much"?
Now ive learned to laugh,even when im upset,and even when im
scared,and i always try to laugh the hardest when i get kicked to
the ground :hahugh:

[Phoenix Element]

I'm pagan and depressed. Because I'm in a real slump right now. College graduate working at Wal-Mart, absolutely no friends nearby to visit with or talk with, living with the family for another two months, almost no time to myself, hating NY winter.

[Garm]

"Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know"

Ernest Hemmingway

[Akhkharu Asgard]

I'm a pagan. However, if I am depressed, it extends from various issues of my life. None of which have anything to do with my belief(s). As a matter of fact, I'm not sad or depressed.

[Cindlady2]

I sometimes get depressed but it has nothing to do with being pagan .... in my case.
I do feel however that alot of depressed people my turn to paganism! A way of feeling they can have some control over their lives.

[Akhkharu Asgard]

I do feel however that alot of depressed people my turn to paganism! A way of feeling they can have some control over their lives.

Or any religion really. Religion and having a faith in someone seems to help a lot of people leave their depression behind.

[arianrhods_daughter]

I get depressed at times but only due to external factors not from suffering depression

[teishabee]

But sometimes nothing really helps.

[Stormwt]

i think everyone is depressed sometimes in some ways. Perhaps pagan people tend to be more willing to express feelings? I was friends with a girl at school who was very christian and extremely depressed. But she wouldn't let anyone know because her mum would be mad. Her mum didn't want people at church to think that a member of her family was crazy!!!

I'm not saying all Christians are the same but there are slight differences in acceptable behaviour between faiths or even the branches of faiths.

Hope I make sense

[Caffiend]

Well, I'm Pagan and depressed. And no, not because I'm Pagan. There is just a lot of crap going on in my life right now. If anything, that fact that I'm Pagan keeps me going.

[Jolixte]

I'm not pagan, nor depressed much. If I'm anything, I'm usually pissed off.

[ravenscape]

I almost didn't vote because I think my case is a little bit out in left field. I am a Pagan and right now I am being treated for clinical depression -- i.e. I have a chemical imbalance.

I have immediate family members who also have or have had clinical depression, so there's probably a hereditary component.

I don't think my depression has anything to do with being Pagan. To my knowledge I'm the only Pagan in the family. I also think that much of my study and meditation has been helpful in controlling my depression symptoms. I've experienced depression off and on all my teen and adult life. I've been a Pagan for about 4 years.

[SilverSeraphim]

I was diagnosed with depression long before it ever occured to me to even think of leaving Christianity for paganism. Of course, the approach I heard left alot to be desired- basically act as if depression was some sort of spiritual failing, nevermind that you may have a natural cause for it, or even a damn good reason for being depressed.

[teishabee]

belief helps me through the day.

[SylverStar]

Ha..I don't know when I answered this poll...but must have been awhile ago. Anyways I answered Pagan and not depressed...when it's more pagan and depressed (I go through bouts of denial).

Anyways I would probably also say I'm pagan because I'm depressed. I agree with the view that people who are searching for meaning/answers and whatnot tend to turn/settle in paganism. I think that depression has me questioning a lot of things...but I honestly couldn't say if it's my personality or depression or a combo of both that turned me onto this path.

[MoonDragn]

I don't usually get depressed, but I often get this opressive feeling that everything is going wrong and that the world is against me. Whenever that happens I just reassure myself that everything is fine.

Sometimes I can really feel the negative energies reaching out there and thats when I ground center and shield. Sometimes it gets so bad that I get a headache from it and I have to do a banishing to drive it away.

I find that reaching a state of non feeling helps, where I distance myself away from emotion, either from myself or others. However I don't know what kind of negative effects that has.

[star_belfire]

Thorgh I have no formal dignosis I think I may be suffering depression. I have days where I don't even waht to exist but I press on anyway.

[StarEyedShelly]

I'm pagan, and used to be depressed, due to, like a lot of people have said, a chemical imabalance. Now I'm on prozac. Maybe it seems that more of us are depressed, at least on the forum, because this is where a lot of people go for help when they're feeling down.

[Xeen]

I voted non pagan and depressed... only because I don't think I fit into the "pagan" catagory close enough :)

But I've been depressed all my life. I've been labled unofficially by a few as bipolar and a few other things. I've come to accept it now (at age almost age 25). Sure it gets really really bad sometimes, but I keep it all bottled up inside me and that's just fine :)

[ChrissyK]

I am Pagan and not depressed! My daughter is Pagan and depressed, she is also 14 and trying to find herself, trying to fit in and tired of defending her beliefs. She gets hammered everyday at school because she isn't christian, not because she is vocal about her beliefs but because she has to defend herself when religion is brought up in the classroom when it shouldnt be. She is treated different by teachers and some students but she is so strong and confident in her beliefs that she doesnt care, she just deals with it but after time it does take its toll on her. So for that reason I think a lot of Pagans seem depressed. Feeling like an outcast or like no one accepts or understands you. I went through that years ago and maybe people thought I was depressed but I was more angry at the ignorance around me. Now I am very happy and sure of my beleifs and nothing anyone could say would affend me. But my daughter is not there yet because she has no choice in dealing with the people she has to everyday.

[OnyxStar]

I'm depressed, but most of it is hereditary. I'm on medication... thank goddess.
So much sh*t is going on in this world, and for pagans who are so connected to the earth, you feel much of the same pain as the earth's.

[Darius]

I consider myself pagan and I fight major depression all the time. Most of the time I can hold it back, but the other day it hit me pretty hard and I think I'm starting to fend it off again. lol.

[JadeEmerald]

I answered with Pagan & Depressed only because I do have some form of depression (seems to run in the family only in the women though) and I recently started following the Pagan path...

[Tigerlily]

Pagan and depressed here.

On and off since I was 10. :(

[~*Woodrose*~]

i think i would b depressed if i wasnt a pagan

[Astara Seague]

seems like the not depressed have it by a hare
Im not depressed ~ sometimes I feel a little over whelmed but not depressed

[Crysiira]

I think someone should do some sort of professional study. As an avid psychology, sociology, and theology student... learner in general... I find studies fascinating. (slightly crazy, i know.) Anyway, I truly think this would be an interesting study to find what religion in general correlates with depression most. CORRELATION IS NOT CAUSATION - that is, just because you are pagan does not mean that you are depressed or more likely to become depressed, just like being depressed does not mean that you will automatically turn to paganism... Correlation is just the number of people who are both pagan and depressed, it doesn't really look at reasons why.
And speaking of reasons why, I agree with everyone who said that people with depression are more likely to search for answers to their questions and find something that makes them happy.... for many (but not everybody) religion is the answer. On the reverse, being in a minority religion group can also be related to depression because it's so hard to find acceptance. And in the middle, pagans are more in tune with nature... and in my opinion, nature and humanity are in very sad states right now. That alone is enough to get me depressed.
And I have battled with depression on and off most of my life. During my first major bout, discovering paganism helped to lift me out of my depression, and during recurrent bouts, paganism has continued to be what keeps me from going over the edge.
Anyway, I'm off topic. Someone get in contact with the people that do these kinds of studies and get us some real numbers!

[CelticMoon11]

I get depressed, sure, I think everyone does at some stage in their lives. But I'd like to point out there is a difference between 'feeling depressed' and suffering Depression.

I USUALLY get depressed about external circumstances impacting on my life that gets me down although on occassion I get depressed for no reason or get very happy for no real reason but it isn't very bad or that extreme. For me I think I have a bit of both I'm not sure the doctors think so but I've found it mostly managable.

So I suppose I could be classified Pagan & Depressed but a more accurate answer is "Witch & Sometimes Depressed, Mostly from External Reasons"

[Gypsy flower]

I can be either
depends on my situation I am slightly Bipolar
but Im happy more then Im sad

[Golliath]

Pagan!! :boing:

Depressed? *lol* Not me! :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing: :boing:

[Arion]

I'm Pagan and diagnosed with depression, I think many Pagans might be the depressed sort because we do not necesaarily fit into the mainstream world. Society is structured around Christianity, Christian values, Christian morals, Christian rules, Christian tradition; Pagans have a different value system by nature, not because we're Pagan, but we're Pagan because we've got different beliefs. If you live in a world that does not suit your spiritual needs or give you satisfaction in what you are passionate about, you will feel depressed. I've always been different, had different ideas about religion, sex, life in general, and I was not accepted by very many people. I was always being told I was wrong and should be quiet. I found Paganism when I was 15 and had an outlet to be more creative in the way I worship divinity, which helped. I still do not feel like I fit into the mainstream world, but oh well. Hopefully when I het older and out of the school system, I'll have more independence to live the way I choose instead of always being told the way I should think and what I should do with my life.

This is just my theory, it certainly not will not speak for all depressed Pagans, but I think it's valid for some.

[Qeniheru]

I am pagan and even though I have yet to be diagnosed (I can't pay for the therapy out of pocket, and my family is in denial and won't let me, even though they know I tried to kill myself when I was in my second year of high school. :( ), I am pretty sure I have had chronic depression since I started high school. Sometimes it gets really bad, and I have been coping with it better since going to college (I never belonged in high school, didn't have any friends until senior year, etc.), since now I have good friends, good relationships, and paganism to keep me happy. :) Sometimes it bothers me, but not like it used to. The worst side effect is chronic fatigue these days.

Becoming pagan helped a lot actually, as I have had a spiritual void in my life since I stopped believing in Christianity when I was about 12 years old. After seeing and hearing so much in daily life, it just didn't make much sense anymore.

[HorseCrow]

I am pagan and I am NOT depressed. Very sad to see how many are though. Lots of hugs and energy to you all :hugz:

[moonthatsheloves]

Maybe part of it is because it is often hard to find other pagans where you live to hang out with. They say that community helps bring people happiness in life (and better health and longer lives), and so if you join a church you have all this community and like-minded people around you. But a lot of times pagans have trouble hooking up with other pagans and are often left feeling alone and can't find other people like themselves. ???

[Lady Valkyrie]

How many of you are Pagan and depressed? Answer honestly.

The reason why I ask is because so many people I know who are Pagan seem to be depressed. I'm not saying it's b/c they are Pagan because that's a ridiculous assumption. Maybe I need to get out more. I just think it's sad that the majority (not all) of Pagans I personally know seem to be depressed one way or another. Maybe it's just the age group, I don't know. Does anyone else feel the same way about their area? I don't mean to offend anyone, but I'm just pointing out what I see and wondering if anyone else sees what I see.

I get very depressed... extremely happy... raging mad... I don't play well with others... it's called Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder & Premenstrual Dysphoric disorder (PMDD). And believe me I take meds and counseling for them and it helps a lot... as well as my religious & spiritual practices help a lot. I am 31 years old and have been this way most of my life before I ever knew what being a Pagan meant.

I don't mean to offend you but I have to ask... are these Pagans that you personally know that seem to be depressed... are they by chance Gothic, wear all black, filled with doom and gloom, into paganism and witchcraft for the dark, mysterious rebelling against their parents and/or church kind of pagans... and would they happen to be teens and/or in their early 20's?

[Lady Valkyrie]

i'm a diagnosed manic depressive, similar to bipolar, but not the same. i've been like this forever and i've learned to control it, it's actually very easy for me. it's nothing to do with being pagan.. i think if it does seem that way it's only because pagans tend to talk more about feelings (usually). sometimes i let myself go into a mania or a depression.. but sometimes i need it, if that makes sense.

Manic Depression is Bipolar Disorder... it is not similar... it is the same thing. Manic Depression is an older term that has been used for a very long time now. It wasn't until recent times has manic depression been given a more politically correct and prettier sounding name of Bipolar Disorder.

I am curious as to how you have come to "control" your Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression). See, I have Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression) as well. My official diagnosis is Bipolar Disorder NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) which simply means it's a mixed state of Bipolar which psychiatrists and patients fondly call "rapid cycling." Anyway, I am curious as to how you "control" it because it is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The use of psychiatric medications alone can help somewhat. Therapy alone can help somewhat. However, best results have come from both medications combined with therapy. I personally believe that if one is religious and/or spiritual one can add that to the mix and it will help even more. Best case scenerio is that one can learn to cope with Bipolar symptoms when they flare up through therapy and the meds can help level out the huge ups and downs in emotions. But I personally don't believe that one can "control" Bipolar Disorder.

So, please I would appreciate any insight you could give me on how exactly you control it. Maybe... just maybe it could help me... and possibly my son. I have an almost 15 year old son with ADHD and Bipolar.

[Lady Valkyrie]

I think it's the other way around. I think that people who are depressed look around for external ways in which to improve their lives. And many of them believe that a change in religion might do the trick. So they find their way to paganism because they're dissatisfied with their life in some way.

Some who is perfectly content and happy is much less likely to question their given religion.

No one is perfectly content and perfectly happy. I don't care what religion or lack thereof one may believe in, everyone gets depressed every once in a while... It's called the "blues"... or PMS... LOL. Everyone is disatisfied with their life at some point, even if it is just for a short period of time... it's called the teen years and the mid-life crisis... or being elderly and waiting to die. No one has a perfect life or perfect mental health all of the time. No not everyone has to seek professional help and/or take meds at these times, but it happens to everyone nonetheless.

[Lady Valkyrie]

despite medical oppinion, where a depression is nothing BUT a physical lack of seratonin in your brain, nothing BUT a chemical disbalance in your brain or body or whatever, i believe that depressions have a reason and are not coming out of the blue (pun not intended)

i have experienced as consultant, that depressed people most often are also ghighly sensitive people, sensible and thus also in tune with pain that is all over here

it is the very same people that choose to become pagan, maybe also to help heal the planet

well, so depression and paganism is a coinsidence imo, not a nececity though.

luckyli there is lots of stone remedies and some herbal remedies to that.

and if the seratonin thingy is true: eat chocolate. eat even more chocolate!


yes, there are herbal remedies that can aid ones very mild depression... such as Kava Kava, St. John's Wort, and Valerian. However, I know for a fact that such herbal suppliments and home remedies are not strong enough to help some who have more serious issues than just a short lived mild depressive state (the blues). In such cases, such as severe Clinical depression, Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, where the depression is extremely severe and it is indeed due to a chemical imbalance such herbal remedies are just not enough. I know because I've tried them. Also if one is seeking Psychiatric help and is recieveing psychiatric medications to treat these disorders then taking additional herbal remedies can actually have severe adverse effects. ALWAYS consult your doctor before taking herbal suppliments if you are taking any medications psychitric or otherwise... there can indeed be bad drug interactions. I do know because I can't even drink certain herbal teas which I LOVE because of their bad side effects with my medications.

Please don't get me wrong. I do use a lot of herbal remedies myself and I also practice gemstone and crystal magick. However, I will not take herbal remedies if there are going to have little to no effect and I will take a doctor's medications if it means that I can live a better, more mentally stable life.

[Lady Valkyrie]

I noticed that you did not list Rutilated Quartz. I know that Rutilated Quartz helps heal wounds from childhood. When I go to therapy I take with me a chuck of Rutilated Quartz with me. The stone happens to be in an oblong shape... like an egg. The Rutile in it is reddish brown... as though it were dried blood. This stone is helping me in therapy to bring out the demons I have locked deep inside myself concerning my biological mother and the abuse I suffered. I know Rutilated Quartz helps heal wounds from childhood.

Namaste MWs

i have been cruising through the posts, and I have felt so much grief and depression. Maybe its because of Yule approaching or just the general November moodiness, but I think that no matter why you believe you are sad, you need a stone cheer up

STONES TO REDUCE THE (emotional) PAINS YOU FEEL
1. Rosequartz, the great heart comforter
http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/rosequartzrosenquarz.msnw
2. Flint, to light/relight your (inner) fire *no pic/info avail. yet*
3. Orange or Citrino Calcite (also Tea-Lights of those). bring more sunnshine and more structure in your life http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/calcite.msnw
4. Aventurine, especially green: Serenity
http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/aventurine.msnw

STONES THAT BOOST YOUR EGO (self esteem)
1. Citrine: also a good stone against depressions http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/citrinezitrin.msnw
2. Carnelian; enhances attractivity http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/carneliancarneolkarneol.msnw
3. Garnet: boosts attractivity and signalizes you are one who does not go for second best
http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/garnetsgranate.msnw
4. Peridot: combines self esteem and self love http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/peridot.msnw

STONES THAT FIGHT DEPRESSIONS:
1. Chrysoprase (stone of saxons): with its apple green colour it brings joy and uncomplicatedness in your life. http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/chalcedon2family.msnw *scroll down*
2. Citrine or Honey Comb Calcite: resolves depressions, often even suicidal tendencies
*citrine see above* * Calcite: see above*
3. Chytha-Serpentine (Serpentine from South/Middle America). detoxication of body, mind, spirit. enhances flexibility in all word meanings *no pic/info avail. sorry*
4. Ametrine: excellent to stabilize manic depressions and alike. brings harmony between spirituality /material needs
http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/ametrine.msnw

STONES THAT ENHANCE INSPIRATION
1. Aquamarine: stone of artists, doctors and creative people. aquarius-stone
http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/aquamarine.msnw
2. Clear Crystal Quartz: clarifier, boosts meditation, enlightment etc. an ALL Chakras Stone http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/clearcrystalquartzbergkristall.msnw
3. Smokey Quartz: leads us to lok behind our own curtains; through our own mists. clarifyer of the inner mysteries (and miseries) http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/smokeyquartzrauchquarz.msnw
4. Amethyst: stone of meditation, divination, contemplation, concentration. neptun-stone
http://de.msnusers.com/CzechWoodsGems/amethyst.msnw

STONES TO TURN AROUND OUR LIFE *no pic/info yet*

1. Pietersite. leads you uncompromisingly to the point you need to understand and accompanies you while you change it for good
2. Black Eye aka Rainbow Obsidian. shows you whats totally wrong in your life. its the Kick-in-the-butt-stone
3. Australian Amulett-Stone. Accompanies you through your darkst hours, giving you strength to get through
4. larimar: stone for new beginnings. opens new pathways on spirituality

(c) www.czechwoodsgems.de
all rights reserved.

[elfmage]

I don't mean to offend you but I have to ask... are these Pagans that you personally know that seem to be depressed... are they by chance Gothic, wear all black, filled with doom and gloom, into paganism and witchcraft for the dark, mysterious rebelling against their parents and/or church kind of pagans... and would they happen to be teens and/or in their early 20's?

For the record... just because you're a teenager, a Goth, and a NeoPagan does not automatically mean you're only 'pretending' to be depressed.

And it's rather difficult to know precisely why it is that someone is 'into' Paganism or Witchcraft - people probably assume I'm into the 'dark mysteriousness' of it, simply because I don't pretend that everything is light and love.

Stereotypes are insulting to those who use them and those to whom they are applied. :)

[Lady Valkyrie]

There are lots of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews, etc, who are also depressed.

But yes, I am depressed. So is my Christian mother (she's Catholic) and so is my non-practicing Catholic father. *shrug*


You know, personally I believe if here in the US we could actually have an authentic poll done we'd see that there are more Christians depressed than any other religion... that is if the Christians were honest about it. The reason I say this is because when I was an extremely fundamentalist christian attending the Church of God there was so much depression everywhere I turned in the Christian community. However, they would put on a smiling face and say that God has allowed them to live for one more day, they have a roof over their head, food in their stomachs and a job to go to, therefore they really don't have a reason to "complain" about the "little things" so they would just have to give the "little things" to God. But such talk was covering up the fact that they were slowly dieing in their hearts and minds... they were morbidly depressed. When I started complaining about depression in my own life, I was told to "not claim it and give it to God" and/or I "must have some sin in my life that the devil has entered in to plant those seeds of depressions" therefore I "must get down on my knees and pray for God to show me this sin and repent of it." For years I was an extremely miserable Christian right alongside other miserable Christians. Now of course I'm not saying that all Christians are like this... but I personally believe many are because they are conditioned to believe they must not give into Satan for God has given them much love and joy when they were saved. Just my opinions, folks. I mean no disrespect.

[Lady Valkyrie]

For the record... just because you're a teenager, a Goth, and a NeoPagan does not automatically mean you're only 'pretending' to be depressed.

And it's rather difficult to know precisely why it is that someone is 'into' Paganism or Witchcraft - people probably assume I'm into the 'dark mysteriousness' of it, simply because I don't pretend that everything is light and love.

Stereotypes are insulting to those who use them and those to whom they are applied. :)


Whoa... Wait... you are mistaken. I never stated that teenagers "pretend to be depressed." I never stated those words. The fact is it was the author of this thread who stated... "The reason why I ask is because so many people I know who are Pagan seem to be depressed." Therefore, I was asking about those particular pagans they were referring to because the author of this thread is but a teenager themselves.

And I have 2 teenaged kids myself... 13 (girl) and 15 (boy)... I also have a 10 year old... so I personally know that depression comes with the package of teenagers. All teens are depressed at one time or another. They are all very up and down with their moods... they (teenagers in general) are indeed the ultimate unoffically undiagnosed Bipolars LMAO! However, there are groups of teens within the realm of Paganism who do the Goth thing and claim to be "Wiccan." You cannot tell me that there are no teens like that in this world because I see them all the time for myself. But in this instance I am not trying to stereotype any teens. I was specically asking the author of this thread about the pagans she was referring to personally. I was not stereotyping. For heaven's sake my 13 year old daughter is a Pagan herself and she is not all doom and gloom goth. LMAO! If anything she's a cross between a punk and a hippy. LOL

[Duwayitheru]

Pagan and generally not depressed these days. I get depressed every now and then, but who doesn't?

[StormVixen]

I don't mean to offend you but I have to ask... are these Pagans that you personally know that seem to be depressed... are they by chance Gothic, wear all black, filled with doom and gloom, into paganism and witchcraft for the dark, mysterious rebelling against their parents and/or church kind of pagans... and would they happen to be teens and/or in their early 20's?

pfft... why do people assume gothic culture is all to do with wearing black, doom and gloom, rebelling etc...

oh well im used to the steriotyping now...

oh yeah the reason why i dropped into this thread is because my depression is back... yay... nothing to do with being a pagan tho...

[Njorun Alma]

Pagan? Yes
Suffering from depression? Yes

Are they related? Not more then the fact that finally realizing a bit more where I belong has kept me alive longer then if I had stayed in my Christian surroundings. Simple as that.

Depression is something I've suffered on and off since I was 8 and at that time I was oficially christian.

Personally I believe that people who are pagan are a bit more in tune with their feelings as well as the mood around them. Also I believe that they do adopt a lot of negative feelings from others because of their generally helful and loving nature. A lot of the pagans I know have a tendancy to share too much of their own energy and usually don't get enough from other, and that can have a huge impact on your mental health.

[Lady Valkyrie]

pfft... why do people assume gothic culture is all to do with wearing black, doom and gloom, rebelling etc...

oh well im used to the steriotyping now...

oh yeah the reason why i dropped into this thread is because my depression is back... yay... nothing to do with being a pagan tho...

If you were used to the stereotyping then you wouldn't have even made such a comment about my comment. See, I already stated that I am not stereotyping. Believe me I know better than you think about the Gothic subculture. I would NEVER presume to think that ALL goths are about wearing black and doom and gloom. However, there are select groups, mainly teens, who are like that. I am not going to shy away from this issue because a few teens here at Mystic Wicks have thin skin. Hopefully if they are truely into the Gothic subculture then their skin will grow a bit thicker. Even Wiccans in General need to grow a thicker skin nowadays because of the stereotyping of the "new age fluff bunnies."

[Njorun Alma]

I am not going to shy away from this issue because a few teens here at Mystic Wicks have thin skin. Hopefully if they are truely into the Gothic subculture then their skin will grow a bit thicker. Even Wiccans in General need to grow a thicker skin nowadays because of the stereotyping of the "new age fluff bunnies."

*applauds* probably not my place to comment, but I compleatly agree with that comment. :cheers:

Growing a think skin is actually quite necessary these days. Being quite gothic looking as well as a pagan I learned that quite early, and anyone claiming any kind of lable need to be prepared to be steriotyped. It's the way most people deal with different kinds of subcultures and religions, politics and nationalities popping up everywhere. We're at a point in time where we're being introduced with so many different kinds of people, music, litterature, cultures and subcultures that we don't know what to do.
Most of the billion different subcultures, cultures, religions etc that are out there today collided/popped up/were created/met up during the period of the last 100-200 years, which is quite fast after centuries of being used to ONE reality. People WILL stereotype purely because they sometimes have no other choice...

eh... yeah, I know... insanely off topic. Sorry about that.

[StormVixen]

meh... whatever... i guess im overprotective of my (apparent) gothic past... (Grrr...):hahugh:

[Cornflake_Girl8]

Eh....I've been depressed for 12 years. I'm just now growing out of the teen angst phase to embrace something more meaningful.

I was pagan before, but it wasn't until I chose (or rather, they chose me) Green Witchcraft that I've begun to sense my true self and what I was meant to do.

[SilentDreams]

I think these days everybody and their brother are depressed. I swear in the last 3 years almost everyone has depression.

I'm not saying that it's false or hypochondria(sp) but I do think this outburst is a bit overdone and inflated.

As for pagans and depression? I believe it. "Out" Pagans are generally shuned by society. That can't leave one feeling all that great. Also, Pagans are rather spread out and many find themselves alone with a "odd"(as some would deem it) belief system and no "real-life" friends or companions to share it with. I've also noticed that on the whole, Pagans tend to be in bad financial situations and are having or have had rough lives. So it's not surprising to me one bit if the majority of Pagans these days are really depressed.

Although, as with depression in general, I'm sure with Pagans it's too a bit "inflated".

[ViolinGoddess]

I voted "other" because I don't know if I consider myself a pagan or not. Techinically I'm a christian witch. SO, by way of religion, I'm christian. But py practice ( I practice magick) I'm pagan...I guess. Anyway, I have depression. Have had it all my life.

Honestly I don't know if there is any connection between paganism and depression. My first instinct is "no". But who knows.

Violin Goddess

[StarEyedShelly]

I'm pagan, and being treated for depression. In my early teen years, I was very depressed, but it was more for a chemical reason than external factors. But I'm on medication now, and I'm all better for the most part. Becoming pagan was sort of a gradual process for me, and it actually started when I was depressed. When I was at my lowest points, the lowest I have ever been in my life so far, the goddess appeared to me and told me that everything was going to be all right. At the time, I dismissed it as a figment of my imagination, but now I realize that it was during this rough time that I really receive my true calling :) That's how my paganism and depression are somewhat related :)

[RavenStars]

I came to paganism as a feminist while an undergraduate. It was more of a political force to begin with but I did feel Her in my life and in the world around me.

I experienced late onset manic depression (bipolar) while I was trying to do my graduate work. It was hellish. I did not practice my beliefs, in fact I could hardly think about my religion.

As the years went on and my illness progressed I finally reached a point where I knew something was _very_ wrong and finally got diagnosed. With the help of my meds and therapy, I was finally able to get on with my life and back to my religion.

First, I worked with Yemeya. She held me in Her arms and taught me to ride on top of the waves of my mood swings. To begin with they were very, very difficult to deal with. But She taught me patience and compassion.

Later, as my illness execrated, Kali blew in out the dark and crazy reaches of my experience. For me Kali is a warrior and protector. She too would wrap me in Her arms, but Her lessons were different. She taught me courage and acceptance.

Today I'm on social security disability, I am no longer able to work. But I finally have the time and (with my Goddess given gifts of patience and courage) to study and practice my religion no matter what my mood.

Yes, I'm pagan. Yes, I'm depressed/manic/mixed at some point. As several people have pointed out, faith, no matter what its flavor, helps you cope. Finding the right flavor for me was (and is) about a very personal relationship with the Divine. As a solitary, there really is no one between me and the gods.

And a final comment, I was graced with a visit to a crystal shop in Mt. Shasta http://www.crystalwings.com/ where I purchased a large quartz crystal point with lithium ghost inclusions. The owner had no idea I was manic depressive but felt I could benefit from it. It's a stunning piece. And it has helped me through some tough patches.

[RavenStars]

I had another thought about this subject. It seems mostly selective for people who are depressed. I mean it seems natural to go looking for people that experience things the same way. As an example, we are on a pagan web site! I hope this makes sense.

[noxtwice]

I voted pagan and depressed but for medical reasons.

i suffer from bipolar disorder (manic depression) so i have occasional bouts of severe depression beyond my ability to control. but i was this way all of my life so i don't think my faith has any bearings on it, nor likewise does my depression have any bearings on my choice in faith.

when i am not suffering from depression i am utterly content and happy.

[Zhr Morgana]

I am both Pagan and suffer from depression and other equally dark moments. I don't take medication for it because I believe that I am what I am and I don't need to pop a pill in order to be how I am "supposed to be" in today's prim and proper robotic society. I mean no offense to anyone here...but I don't trust in any doctor's diagnosis of the human mind and therefore see no need to "correct" myself. I have grown a lot since I converted to the Craft four years ago, and have become more my own person because of it.

[Mesektet]

Though I am going through a rough patch, it is both tied to my spirituality and through completely seperate circumstances.

Essentially, I'm beginning to think my rough period is a result of my inablity to reconcile certain things in my life with my spirituality.

[tears_of_ashes]

i think everyone goes through times when they are down/depressed.. maybe it seems to be more prevelent in pagans/witches because they are more in-tune with the energies of others and it effects them.. I know if i'm around someone who has alot of built up negative energy it wears me down and has a big effect on my mood..


This is my view too (from a non-pagan)

[SweetIsTheTruth]

Also I believe that they do adopt a lot of negative feelings from others because of their generally helful and loving nature.

Sounds like shielding could prevent one from adopting moods/feelings of others in the environment.

A lot of the pagans I know have a tendancy to share too much of their own energy and usually don't get enough from other

Sharing your energy with others can be constructive of destructive, depending on who you share with. There are psychic vampires out there, who will take and drain your energy while offering little in return. Most psychic vampires I have run across aren't aware they do this either.

I voted Pagan and not depressed. I haven't been depressed in years. Some of the comments I have read here regarding those depressed yet refusing medication saddens me. Depression often has a biological basis. For instance, if the serotonin levels in the brain get low, depression usually follows. The relationship between low serotonin levels and depression are directly linked. Of course, not all depressions have a biological basis. They can have both a biological and psychological basis. In those cases, medications can lift the depression enough so that the psychological issues can be dealt with more easily.

The best part about the newer medications on the market is, even short-term use can bring long term results. For instance, a psychiatrist, who was a very good friend and client some years ago, told me drugs like Prosac can 'jump start' the brain chemistry. In other words, they raise serotonin levels permanently. So I would only use Prosac for say 3-4 months. After I went off of it, the serotonin levels would stay at the higher level the drug produced, even though I was no longer on the medication. (Prosac kills the sex drive so short-term use was best for me.) However, you might have to experiment a bit to find the med that works best for you. Paxil made me anxious and would have me pacing the floor all hours of the night. A friend of mine had the opposite effect from me. Prosac made her a nervous, floor-pacing wreck, but Paxil worked like a charm for her. You can easily tell within 24 hours of starting these medications if it really isn't right for you and your particular chemistry.

Help is out there. There's no shame in taking medications we need to get us where we need to be.

[Wyrdsister]

I actually found that finding paganism helped me out of my depression. It's a belief system that can help me put things in perspective. For example, I had a much harder time in the fall and winter before I was pagan. Now I am able to go easier on myself for feeling tired and sluggish in the darker months as I understand it is all part of the wheel of the year. Before that I had no decent frame of reference.

~Wyrdsister

[SpiralDancing]

Hi, I'm Angie, and I'm a depressed pagan...:lol:

Depression runs in my family, we have at last count...

A depressed atheist, a depressed lapsed (completely lapsed) Catholic, 2 depressed Catholics, and my bro, who is depressed, but I dunno what he is, probably atheist or agnostic.

O - my depression is PPD, so dunno if it counts as part of this thread.

I think intelligence plays a part too.
I find (probably a gross generalisation) that more intelligent people tend to get depressed.

Just a theory anyway...

[Les_Nubian]

<---------------Pagan and "bipolar". It's hereditary, so not much to do with my view of the world even though that kinda makes it worse lol. This world's going straight in the dump!

[GabrielWithoutWings]

I'm not a pagan. I don't what I am. I've breezed through most of the world's major religions, and still haven't found a home.

This is what makes me depressed.

When I find something that rings true, I might not get depressed near as much.

:thumbsdow

[BFD_Zayl]

Well, i'm pagan, but i'm not depressed per se, i have rampant emotions filled with hate, anger, rage, etc. that i translate from feelings to music, through my guitar

[Keldra]

I was raised Christian and I was happy, but didn't quite 'fit'. I found my way to paganism and I was still happy, but the not-fitting feeling went away too. Then I developed depression (and it is clinical depression, not situational depression -- I ought to be on medication and I am sometimes, but I've never been good at taking it) and became an atheist, or more accurately, tried to convince myself I was one. Now I'm on the road to recovery from the depression -- insomuch as one ever recovers from depression, I know it'll always be a part of my life in a way -- and came back to paganism.

So I would say that I'm a depressed pagan, but like some of the others who have posted here, my spirituality is one of the things guiding me out of the depression, not into it. :)