Hello, I'm Jimmie

[envilid]

Hello, I am Jimmie. The way that I found this site is by typing in "The atheist's guide to being happy" into google.

I am a generally apathetic person though I have been for what seems my entire life, also though at a very early age when I was going to church every time I would pray (alone not following in with a preacher or someone else) I would find myself saying if you do exist or something to that extent in my prayers. Which I realize I was inclined to this way at an early age.

I consider myself as being agnostic just because the fact that you can't know so that just inclines me to choose that.

Getting back to the point in why I joined this forum, I was wondering how many of you guys are generally happy people. I have used drugs recreationally since I was about 16-17 (now 21) and most of the time that was weed. Which made me happy of course, but now I am at the point where I kind of need to stop because for the sake of work. I have been on many SSRI's and an SNRI and some other junk antidepressants (IMO) for awhile. Though I am currently off because they didn't work. Still looking for one that does though.

I am not exactly questioning my beliefs, because I am inclined to question and most of the questions when asked always make more sense without an Omnipotent being, but I sometimes feel like I'm being punished and now a curiosity brings me here to ask about how many of you fellow atheists/agnostics and the new word I've learned here apathiest are generally happy without any drug use including prescription.

I know that it is most likely a chemical imbalance, part of my lifestyle, or past. I'll also mention I suffer from social anxiety probably linked to my minor-moderate depression.

In short the question is Are there many of you that are just happy people without drug use (including prescriptions) Also if you use any homeopathic medicine please list that too.

Edit: I plan on asking this question in another social anxiety forum I belong to, but in the opposite form I.E. are many of you agnostic/athiest.

[xSilverPhinx]

Welcome!

If also tried a few antidepressants (the best one for me was called Effexor, I think) but what might work for someone might not work as well for someone else. Also, they usually recommend that people also do therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy, to strengthen the process of going from depression to happiness, or at the very least not feeling happy but not feeling depressed either. I would consider myself to be just that, I don't really feel neither happy or sad.

But anyways, that's what they say, that just medication may not be as good. I can see the merits to having a good therapist to help you see things that you probably don't and re-train your thinking processes towards something better.

[envilid]

Yes, I was just recently on effexor and for a number of reasons including losing my job and it not working  well enough I recently stopped 12 days ago actually. Bad withdrawals of course, but I believe I'm over them. Recently fired so no insurance and waiting until I feel more comfortable with my psychiatrist to start therapy who I actually feel I can relate to for some reason, though he failed to call me back today about wanting a new SSRI to be prescribed especially since my insurance is probably gone (loss of job) and I may have to cancel my upcoming appointment.

I'm more concerned about my social anxiety though I affects my life worse than my apathy. The effexor may have even made me feel better but in social situations I'm terrible, even on forums I find myself thinking that my post is stupid and completely deleting it and leaving. I actually took a xanax earlier which is probably why I'm able to post :|

And sorry I know this is an athiest discussion forum not a social anxiety/depression forum, but I guess its a good way of getting to know who I am.

Also I know some people find Xanax to be a recreational drug, but I don't get anything out of it but being able to express my self.

[xSilverPhinx]

I'm not a psychologist or psychiatrist, so I don't feel too comfortable doing this, but phobias do need therapy to get over, exactly for the reasons I mentioned in my previous post. You should talk to your doctor about that specifically.

It's an irrational fear, isn't it? It's something that you're going to need to expose yourself to, but seeing things a different way - and of course, if it's really bad, probably with some anti-anxiety meds to help. Out of curiousity, have to tried talking yourself out of an irrational fear? If yes, how did that go?

I have stage fright myself, kind of crippling at times.

Edited to add: I don't know why you feel that your post is stupid, it looks pretty normal to me, even as if written by someone who didn't have social anxiety. I'd bet that if you didn't mention it, nobody would notice that you feel that way...

[Recusant]

Hello and welcome to HAF, Jimmie. I'm certainly not qualified to suggest drugs of any sort (have never used any prescription anti-depressants), and I'm only happy some of the time. I can say that the "power water" that homeopaths are pushing is a complete waste of money, unless you happen to be highly suggestible. You should investigate it for yourself, but here's a very brief look at its utter worthlessness. (The article is a few years old, and many of the links don't work, but the Mayo clinic piece it mentions can be found here [PDF file].)

Please try not to feel too self-conscious about your posts here. We have some fine members, and I hope that you'll enjoy exchanging thoughts with everyone here. Can't do that if you worry too much about how you sound though. Everything I've read from you has been well written and has a nice touch of humor to it; no stupidity detected. Nobody is perfect though, so you shouldn't be too hard on yourself, even if that's easier said than done. We make an effort here to keep it civil, so at least you shouldn't have to worry about being jeered at.

Notes for new members from Tank.

The Rules.

Users who comply with forum rules will graduate to full membership after 10 posts. Till that time your ability to post is limited to the "Getting to Know You" section of the forum. It is our hope that this small restriction improves the overall atmosphere of HAF.

Some threads you might find interesting.
Where did you get your username from?
10 Things About Yourself
Tell us A Bit About Where You're From
Photography
Non-religious pet peeves
Pets...what do you have?
How to tell your family you are an atheist.*

*You will need 10 posts before you can add a post to this thread, but you can read it at any time.

In addition, you may find the following of interest: "Rules for Conducting a Discussion" by Dr. Mortimer J. Adler.

I hope you enjoy your time reading and posting here!

[envilid]

Haha, I believe I mistook homeopathic as meaning natural such as fish oil (omega-3) which I do believe helps in high doses for my depression. I would like to think that I am pretty logical so no that was my mistake on the definition. And thanks for the kind words.

I know its pretty irrational, but when I was using drugs at earlier ages before I stopped running around as much with my true friends I did find myself in the presence of a lot of unstable people, which is another reason I do not want to work at the industrial park again. Once I get out of this I need to get back into college immediately :/

I plan on going into therapy once I start work again, maybe before depending on the type of income dependent payment my psychiatrist can help me with. Though I believed it was a chemical balance (not counting it out entirely) before you bringing it up as an irrational fear kind of made me reflect on my life and the situations I found myself in.

And I'm pretty sure that every devout christian isn't always ecstatic so I kind of feel like my mindset was a little off at the beginning of this topic. Thanks for the replies. I plan on being somewhat of a regular.

[Tank]

Hi Jimmy

Welcome to HAF

Chris

[Crocoduck]

Welcome to the forum.


Jerry

[Traveler]

Hello, Jimmie, and welcome!!!

First off, I doubt very much that depression is related to belief system, or lack thereof. I also frequent a christian forum and the depression section is, well, depressing. Many christian people posting about wanting to commit suicide, for instance.

I am a non believer, agnostic atheist, secular humanist, and freethinker. I also suffer from depression. I'm also a very happy person. I am completely convinced that depression has a very strong chemical component. Why? Because I found an anti-depressant that works for me. It doesn't make me giddy with joy. It simply makes me feel like myself. I'm an artist. I tend to find beauty and joy everywhere I look. Even when I'm feeling depressed, I lack motivation sometimes, but am still able to find joy in things. I've never believed in god. Any god. And I don't understand why anyone would feel a god is necessary to find happiness. The world is beautiful. And awful things happen. And sometimes I won't watch the news for weeks at a time because I know it'll just sadden me. What cheers me, or makes me happy? Lots of things. One of my dogs crawling into my lap for a snuggle. An osprey flying overhead when driving along the road. Creating a particularly beautiful painting. Laughing with friends. And much more.

I also want to comment on therapy. Very good idea. But it sounds like you're talking about therapy with your psychiatrist? I don't know about the pros and cons with the added factor of your social anxiety, but when I was in therapy I went to a licensed clinical social worker. They're probably less expensive and some of them are very, very good.

Good luck to you!!!

[envilid]

Thank you for the advice. I am feeling a bit more normal today. I do think it was a pretty irrational of me, but I also found myself very curious about the statistics of happiness and religion.

yes, I have been a bit nervous about starting therapy and have also found a medicine that worked for me, but it kind of went away within weeks. It lets me know though that there is a chemical issue somewhere up there. I will look into the clinical social worker advice. So far I've trusted my psychiatrist pretty well though. Hes helped me way more than when I went to the free clinic which treated me like I was there to get prescribed drugs. They even refused to change my medicine (Celexa) at the time saying I've changed it to frequently when I had been on it for 6 months...So of course I stopped going there.

I am hopeful though life isn't always fair, and I'm better off than probably most of the people in this world. Time and medication heal all wounds.

[MadBomr101]

First off, I doubt very much that depression is related to belief system, or lack thereof. I also frequent a christian forum and the depression section is, well, depressing. Many christian people posting about wanting to commit suicide, for instance.

This is just their way of getting closer to god.

[Whitney]

Welcome to HAF.

I don't think there is anything specific to atheism or theism that particularly makes someone a happy person.  A general state of happiness rests in finding enjoyment in the every day stuff, holding onto good memories, and not overly focusing on the bad.  Some people just have a tendency towards depression no matter what their religious beliefs are; you may just be one of those people.  I don't have chronic depression but have had a few extended periods of it over the years...including back when I was an active believing participant in the church.

I'm glad that homeopathy being junk was pointed out to you.  For natural fixes to depression I suggest eating right and exercising; especially the exercise as it releases endorphins (natural feel good hormones).  I've been told that St. John's Wort helps depression but also read that it makes birth control not work you'd also need to run it by your doctor first as there could be interactions with whatever else you may be taking...I'm not even sure if I'd suggest trying it since my research ended when I read about it making the pill less effective.

[envilid]

Lol, I would like to point out again that it was a mistake I confused homeopathic with natural. I am not so dumb as to believe in homeopathy. I am also taking St. Johns wort but not as it recommends on the bottle because at one point during taking it about a year ago I found myself with extremely blurred vision like I was 30% blind and couldn't read anything this just lasted for a night though I do still take it as much. I find Omega-3 oils to work for me fairly well too, but am trying to focus more on my social anxiety  disorder than my apathy/depression (which may be intertwined).

I did get prescribed a new SSRI today (Paxil), which I have tried before only for a short period of time. I am more concerned with the fact that I do not have the income to get anything but the generic from the Walmart $4 prescription plan as I have read many bad things about generics. Hopefully since I haven't taken the brand name these problems will not arise.

I'm not sure of many natural medicines or OTC medicines that claim or are regarded to treat SAD, but would be willing to try them. Some people do rate some natural or OTC medicines on a certain site that eludes my mind at the moment, but some people have had success with St. John's Wort and Fish Oil for social anxiety where in I have not so I am skeptical.

Believe it or not I think I am doing a lot better than I was earlier this year. I didn't post in forums or onto my facebook (defined as a creeper I guess). I still do not chat though in my earlier years use to find myself chatting quite often. I guess I feel like posting gives me time to think of what I am going to say and when in direct situations, especially real life, where my brain basically locks up and I am to worried to think about something to say as my thoughts are too busy thinking about what other people are thinking of me.

But I haven't got to pick up my Paxil yet that will be tomorrow. I am also not sure how long it will take to see effects, but I will keep posted. Hopefully I will feel the desire to go out and socialize and the motivation to better myself like I really want to.

[Whitney]

I did get prescribed a new SSRI today (Paxil), which I have tried before only for a short period of time. I am more concerned with the fact that I do not have the income to get anything but the generic from the Walmart $4 prescription plan as I have read many bad things about generics. Hopefully since I haven't taken the brand name these problems will not arise.

From my understanding the only difference is in the non-active fillers in order to get around copyrights.  I always get generic when available; you just pay more for the name otherwise.

[Amalthea]

Hi Jimmie
I too have experienced Social Anxiety issues. I have also dealt with depression and confusion and difficult therapists. While I cannot know exactly what emotional pain you have experienced, I believe that you can achieve a higher quality of life. It takes work, diligence, and most importantly time. I started out small by going to the local toastmasters club, where I felt awkward and inept but you know what? So did everyone else. I firmly believe in behavioral changes, going outside your comfort zone and taking care of your body, as the key to lasting mental health. Keep seeing professionals, but try to make baby steps into society. And most importantly, do not beat yourself up after perceived "mistakes". I hope you will continue to use this forum, because every post is a step in the right direction.