@johnfisher8401 congratulations on your baptism! May God be your light on the way to His kingdom. Nevertheless I'd like to warn you against overrating humility and especially putting it over love. Christ teaches us that the main virtue and main commandment is to love God and your neighbor. Humility is good in most contexts, but I have personally met a priest who seems to somewhat abuse the term. What he expects from his parishioners is actually 100% obedience, no matter how compatible his words are with the Gospel. So be careful with this 🙏 No.1 is Love, everything else is secondary.
Severely depressed Catholic here. Therapy has failed me and antidepressants have too, as has the cult of self-love. This is probably the best advice on depression out there. Exercise, charity, and grace work better than any medication out there.
God loves you dear friend, remember this! Whenever you feel so down, tell yourself loudly that you are a child of God and Jesus loves you sincerely. Then go out for a walk, try to relax, breath slowly and harmoniously, watch the nature around you, admire the creations of God, for He created all that for you too. And no matter what's the reason for your depression, just pray to Jesus constantly and regularly to show you the way out and BELIEVE that He'll do that - and miracle will happen. And always be grateful to Him, even be grateful for that depression - tell Him that! God bless you. Greetings from Serbia!
All good advice. I was depressed before I converted to Roman Catholic and reading the lives of the saints was helpful. Not to even approach them but to see their struggles with the same vices and virtues that all human beings share. My dear you belong here and you are loved. I love you and others love you and pray for your healing ❤
Just so you know therapy is not the problem. It could have been the method. The idea of talking about what's going on in your mind is to come to personal "ah hah" moments. Therapy could also teach you how to treat others well. I would use therapy to teach me how to be empathetic and understanding after trauma. I still think a space for God paired with therapy is a beautiful place to be. Giving to others and taking care of your health. Don't just discard it.
Orthodoxy literally cured my depression. I was in all sorts of a mess in college, but then I discovered Orthodoxy and it slowly went away. I stopped caring about all the things that had been bothering me. It did not leave me with many friends left, but I don't mind.
@@dannmurray1199 Understandably so! Sounds like you have the experience to know this. May you find comfort and consolation and advice that far exceeds the shallow content of this video. Be sure to seek help not only at church, where sorry to say you might receive shallow comments. But often a good neurologist or psychiatrist can be of help as your very first medical doctor visit. They can not only listen but help with medications that can mitigate your suffering to some degree if it has turned into a life threatening condition such as a severe chronic depressive episode which can often last up to a year and require a two week hospital stay to allow you the mental rest you need while making sure the prescribed medications are working effectively. Do not allow insensitivd people to influence you and do not entertain self doubt about your faith in Christ. It is your faith which has sustained you through one of the lowest times in your life. Thanks be to God you have not passed away from a broken heart. You can heal and by God's grace actually love and live to help others! And I know you won't tell them anything of the two-thirds hogwash offered in this shallow, aloof, and incredibly ignorant interview. May God bless you with His Holy Spirit and give you the strength and people to assist you through this time of profound loss and grief! In the meantime, be sure to eat as healthy as you can, pour out your heart to our Lord Jesus Christ and if you find your grief has worsened and you are unable to sleep, or you sleep far more than normal for you, and perhaps feel that you're unable to stop weeping, consider having a friend or volunteer bring you to the ER at hospital or to your doctor. Grief expressed as spontaneous depression and anxiety is a major health problem. Let compassionate help be administered to you. Our Blessed Lord loves and embraces you, and He will not abandon you now, when you need Him most! I'll be humbly praying for you. ❤
Recently I have been feeling an unrest with the non-denominational Christian path I have been on. The modern American church has started feeling too entertaining and performative, and I have started yearning for something less about me and more about Jesus. Thank you for sharing your story. It is inspiring
I am a cradle orthodox christian who returned to the faith in 2022, i struggle with schizotypal personality disorder and i experience immense despair everyday and take medication, Took me some time to realise that no one else can truly help me but God. I went to a healing service in my russian parish last night and i feel slightly better, im planning to go more often, when i was at my lowest i desired to die, returning to the faith changed that and now i desire solely to be fully healed with God's grace and to serve him, im improving alot since then and alot of days im starting to feel better, this video is quite helpful and i will be attending these services very often. Thank u for this
I'm so sorry you are struggling with this. That's a tough illness to live with. You're courageous, and God can help you. 🙏 Saint Charbel was an amazing Saint. Perhaps he can help too ❤ May the peace of Christ overwhelm you.
Both my youngest 2 children that are adults are diagnosed with bilpolar 2 , adhd , generalized anxiety disorder , ocd one of then and ptsd . One adult child will ajwayz live with me because she has also life king medical problems ! I argued with a family member today . Rather the family member yelled at me as they’re getting older and older . And can’t cope. I cried fir 3 hours straight . . I was scanning my phone and I saw a Orthodox Church on live steam . I watched it , and prayed and I felt better ! I watch it every night since our orthodox Easter is coming up . I found that when my family helps and I at the helm help the needy , the homeless , feed our homeless vets , adopt unwanted animals And help those Jess fortunate , i always feel better ! My life hasn’t been easy ever since I was born 57 years ago ! With our Christ my savior I couldn’t make it .
I was in my head for decades. Jesus touched my heart in August and I have been 100% cured. No medicine, no therapy, No exercise, not even prayer helped. It's when I let go and begged God to help me. The holy spirit transformed me instantly. Now when the enemy tries to sneak up on me... I realize I was tormented for years with resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness and addiction.
Not only do I live with joy in my heart I realized I do not belong to myself. I am not given life to find my own happiness. It's never about you personally. It's about giving all the glory and honor to God as his daughter. He also changed my son's heart. He was a prideful atheist now a convert to Orthodoxy. God Blessed my life by honoring my prayers as a mother.
Praise the Lord @staceymarie6895 great testimony, sometimes what we need to do is just surrender all submit to GOD resist the devil. I desire for this so much I didn’t take my faith seriously and squandered the goodness GOD gave me to end up stuck in the mud. Sometimes the depression is so strong I feel like I’m beyond all hope like on the chosen when Mary Magdalene needed deliverance and Nicodemus said we tried all we could do but I’m afraid this one is just beyond all human aid. Praise the LORD HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE! ❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼♥️♥️♥️ P.s. plz forgive my terrible run on sentences and grammar. 😌
As a psychiatrist trained in insight-oriented psychotherapy as well as meds, I applaud every single word! Orthodoxy is the best spiritual and psychological hospital and the Holy Fathers and their followers are the best psychiatrists and psychotherapists, bar none. Axios Fr Paul!
As a patient who suffered severe depression and anxiety for years, and underwent conventional psychotherapy and took meds (which had virtually no effect for me), but who has been Orthodox almost 25 years since, trying (poorly and feebly) to follow the Holy Fathers, and thereby emerging slowly from both depression and anxiety (and a host of other ills), I must add my personal testimony to the above comment. As a lifelong Christian, I never considered suicide, but at a certain time did want to die, and prayed for death. God said no. Glory be to God. For me there can be no doubt that there is one Hope, one Physician, one Savior, and one Life - the Only Good One. Thank you and axios Fr Paul!
So blessed and refreshed by this message, thank you! Also by examples, parents and instruction of others eg at schools. Would rather call Mr. Truebenbach Saint or Brother Paul, though: Jesus said to call no one father except God
@@LindaScholtz-oe7ne When you call a priest "Father", you are calling God "Father", because you are not speaking to the human priest in his own right, but rather to the image of God within Him, who serves as God's image (icon) in his role as priest, through ordination. The same applies when you kiss his hand - the action passes to God, through His image, the priest. God desires to work through us all, for us to participate with Him, and we recognize this call also in others. The priest has a specific role in making this present to us, and we recognize that repeatedly.
Fortunately a correct Psychiatrist that found the only correct path in life. I am also Orthodox Christian and my whole life and power is Orthodox Christianity.
@@ASMRyouVEGANyet you should read the other responses on this thread and find out how many people therapy has failed. Just like you say, it’s not one approach for everyone. Allow things to work for people even if you don’t think it should work for them
Therapy is a business. I dont know a single person who therapy has helped. My sister has been weaponizing therapy in our family, and ironically is the most toxic person in our family@@ASMRyouVEGANyet
What an amazing message. My sons get so much great advice from him. I have been depressed and I have realized that it's not about me and my feelings. He's reaching a lot of people. Looking forward to joining the Church very soon.❤
I'm an atheist. I don't know how I got here or why I clicked. But his advice seems humble and more real than what many have recommended to me to deal with my anxiety. Don't know if prayer is for me, but I'll clear my head
Some of the processes of prayer are important to know. Calmness, breath control, mind control through meditation, divine music. The catholic rosary calms and centre's the mind with that endless repetitive. So is the similar repetitive chants in Hinduism. You don't need to use the religious words but repetitive sounds help you clear your mind and bring focus.
Me too. I abandoned religion long ago. But I hate feeling like I have no anchor nor community. I've been feeling really afflicted lately as well and I just bumped into this video. Faith aside, his advice for tackling anxiety seems practical. I will try and employ it myself. Good luck to you. ☕✨
Believe me brother you will see everything is fine just pray to Jesus and read the book of David repeatedly the words inside it have a power more than you expect I am sure as you reply me when you see the result
@@williamoarlock8634 well, then go find another deity that will sacrifice Himself to pay for your sins. I know its tough to live in a world you did not create and hate the One who created it. Humility, its just the worst thing ever
I am eighty one and the happiest times of my life were when my late husband was alive and I had three little ones under five years of age. It's only now that I realise how happy I was. It was utterly fulfilling. I live now on those memories and the love of Jesus. Amen.
As someone who has battled with depression and anxiety all of my life, and previously (as a secularist) taken antidepressants, I can say that this advice is truly excellent!
Absolutely great 8:22 advice. However, there are those we suffer from anxiety and depression because they have a biological chemical imbalance in their brain. The chemical imbalance can be shown medically with the right medication and with the right medication. Medication won't solve everything so this can still help. There are people so Afflicted with anxiety who will certainly need medication. Do not ignore it.
Hey, I'm secular and have struggled with same all my life and haven't tried antidepressants even though they've been prescribed because of personal mentality about them. I'm wondering if you would have positive or not review of them?
Amen! I struggled with depression for 40 yrs. No therapist helped me, most actually made things worse. For a decade now I have had zero meds and lots of Bible reading and serving others. I ask God every morning to use me for his glory, and to order my steps. No greater joy than helping others. Right now he keeps sending me to folks that have a dying family member.
I feel like especially with anxiety and Depression the expectation is key. The belief of the future is key. They are negative in a depressed and anxious perslns mind. To change that Religions ofc give most peace. Also Loneliness contributes a lot to modern ddayanxiety and Depression (feeling worthless). With God you won't feel alone but worthy. So it quickly Silvester everything I feel like Psychotheraphy only can explakn you whyyy you feel like this (looking in the past) and it is really important to know yourself and know the feeling has a valid reason of the past/... But you need a positive force to Pulli you out of Depression and up the Hill so more than seeing the world realistic (will keep you Stuck on the place on the hill - there will still not be hope nor energy/Motivation in you) So God ofc is the best strength you can get and believe in. I just felt with my Depression I really needed God as well - coz no facing the past was too hard and Also I didn't have strength/positive Attitude to try behavioural theraphy But needed tp feel worthy and be heard and tell all what was on my heart and soul.
How do we were others though? My days are full of looking after my autistic children as I homeschool, I don't have time to help others as much as I would like too :(
I have schizoaffective disorder and I struggle with depression often. I can honestly say, "Thank you!" for your four steps to alleviate depression. Prayer has also helped me immensely.
Your affliction is very serious as you know. Please do not consider going off your medication to prove your faith. Your faith will sustain you as you struggle and take your medication prayerfully and obediently. The Holy Orthodox Church is not a cult like Scientology which sadly and tragically will you to discontinue meds and exercise. Nope. Doesn't work for any form of prodromal schizophrenia. God bless you!
ihad a 12 hour anxiety attack yesterday. it is the first one in a year and I just prayed and prostrated with the jesus prayer. with Gods help and a wonderful GF I came through the other side. Fear of it still sits dormant. With Gods help I will be free.
God bless you. You are not alone. My heart sank when I read that as I know your pain. Stay strong, you got through it. You made it, you survived it. Hellish as it was. God carried you through. He will always carry you, He is always with us. Do not let the fear consume you, I know it's hard to do. It feels like a constant pressure, like something is looming over you waiting. The fear is the enemy. God will save us. God will protect us. As you said, God will set us free. He will not give us anything we can't handle but through Him will provide way to escape. Trust in Him and give yourself to Him fully and His love will put a light so amazing and pure into your life. I'm sorry for so much but I felt I had to. Those words were for myself just as much as they were for you or anyone else in our position. I don't know you, brother, but I know this pain. I love you. God loves us. All will be well. Also bless your girlfriend. It ain't easy being the rock. That's a good woman.
@@lighlotus117 Yes pray! Go to Divine Liturgy AND take your medication! Believe it or not there are Orthodox Christian psychiatrists who will medicate you so you can continue the mission and work God has given you to do. You can take medication, "chew gum" and pray the Jesus Prayer devoutly. Okay. Forget the gum. Pray and go to your doctor. Believe it or not, there really are Eastern Orthodox neurologist who wl tell you there will be plenty of suffering but let him take the edge off debilitating anxiety attacks. No shame in going to the doctor. You're not betraying Our Lord, the Divine Physician. St Luke, pray for us!
@thewillynilly ❤ please see a medical doctor. You cannot function with such a debilitating illness. Consider that Christ has answered your prayer by providing you with a neurologist or psychiatrist and medication. All the exercise in the world will not necessarily treat the level of damage your nervous system has sustained. You don't have to prove anything. Your faith has sustained you. Please don't demand that your healing must come through prayer alone. That's New Age---think your way to health. Only a cult will keep you from seeking medical attention. Perhaps Father does not understand that clinical conditions can get worse and sometimes prove fatal. Please see your medical doctor before a "talk therapist." You can sit on a therapist couch and it will fail miserably to treat effectively a chronic severe disease based on a physiological trauma to the central and peripheral nervous system. This may express as resultant depression and anxiety. Don't take the advice of anyone who trivializes any serious medical condition including those illnesses that symptomatically affect your mind. Pray and get a medical doctor. Take your prescription. Only when stabilized, should you consider vital exercise.
Reading all of these comments is both heartbreaking and wonderful. I’m tearing up. God is using this channel to show His love to many people including myself. Thank you for sharing these videos. Love from a Lutheran in Richmond.
Im 23 years old , a father of 2 boys , raised in south texas . A young man raised by my grandparents and given the guidance and lesson from a real wonderful man that i call my grandfather . Thru the years my faith has been tested and ive always prevailed but with my grandmother dying and my grandfather becoming senile , i had to quit my job to care for them and now with my vehicle being impounded for parking in a red zone and with how hard times have become where we are going hungry , my faith is strongly being tested and i feel like im losing my faith thru all this suffering right now and im just trying to be a man and be strong for my family ... please pray for me and my family and children and please pray that i find myself out of this hole in jesus name ..
You are a caring and responsible young man. You have stewardship of two young children: A challenge but so rewarding an opportunity to guide them into their (and your) future. Things will change. Stay strong in faith. Praying for you.
Do you want to pray the Rosary and ask God if starting a Go Fund me page is a good course of action? I never knew of the Rosary prayer until very recently, and my own life has changed as a result. I will also pray for you. Don't give up.
Absolutely spot on! My mother had severe depression in the early 1950's, hospitalized, shock. She said her doctor told her to get a part time job so she would not think of herself so much.
I’m totally agree with what the father says. I’m a psychologist and I know that depression and anxiety treatments are temporary. Knowing the Truth and the Reality of Life is the essence of life. Thank you and to God for such clear, real and good teaching 🙏🙌🙌🙌
As a dually licensed professional therapist and substance abuse counselor working in my own private practice for almost 10 years I couldn’t agree more. I’ve said almost EXACTLY what you just mentioned in this video at least 1,000 times. Anyways, working on Confirmation as a new Catholic. My family was Catholic for hundreds of years until the 80’s. Now that I’ve seen the results of living in a secular world I’m happy to say that my family with be returning to the Church.
Depression is something I've been struggling with day to day for years. Thank you so much for this interview with Fr. Truebenbach. I hope I can implement his advice soundly.
This very much reminds me of Kierkegaard's quote, "The door to happiness opens outwards". The more we can direct ourselves away from ourselves and toward others, the more deep meaning - and true happiness - we can find. "The more one forgets himself--by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love--the more human he is and the more he actualizes himself. What is called self-actualization is not an attainable aim at all, for the simple reason that the more one would strive for it, the more he would miss it. In other words, self-actualization is possible only as a side-effect of self-transcendence. "A healthy eye doesn't see itself." - Viktor Frankl
You are depressed & seeing resource with those suggesting we all can pretend there is a God who creates Mormons so Christians will know how Jews feel? Ignore how the atheist see you, You find yourself among those preaching to the choir. There is a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore, looking like an idiot. “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” One speaks to the choir because literate people will not listen to you. Your God is of incompetence. Jesus fails to complete the job for 2000 years. The Jews still don't buy your Messiah story. J Atwill has proven Jesus is a complete fabrication by Romans, not Christians or Jews. Moses, the war-criminal, proves only; God & faith makes the worst navigator in the world. And Jesus is the ultimate hypocrite by performing all sorts of signs and saying the only one given is Jonah, who was a believer tossed overboard by other believers to calm a storm. The Christian Faith is ludicrous & has no future because of itself. It is amusing to hear the profound arrogance of someone knowing of God, as if He were known outside of fiction. The believer & the literate are separated by the vocabulary of fiction: Blasphemy, God, faith, prayer, prophet, etc. Matthew 17:20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” I like asking believers how they can possibly think their faith is respectable, given Jesus said faith is worthless, since you can't expect obedience when ordering mountains to move? Freud wrote, "The antidote to Christianity is literacy". Blasphemy is a fiction vocabulary word. Blasphemy is a victimless crime. Believers have a profound lack of quality-control, so we are to pretend their God made Mormons so Christians would know how Jews feel. Like playing book tag.
I said a prayer for you my friend!! Keep your spirits up as much as you can! I know that it can seem impossible to be able to apply any one of these methods when your mind is in the gutter, but keep at it and you will get there!! What helped me is finding which one was the easiest to gravitate towards while my mind is in that bad state. Eventually you will be able do it all even at your worst times. It doesn’t mean that it will always be easy, or that you will always do the right thing but you will feel so much better once you feel like you have a decent handle on it all!! Just for context, I received this same advice years back, and it took me years to make decent progress, but I will always keep chipping away! Jesus is worth it!! God Bless You!! 🙏❤️
@@gadgetsandeats2325 Prayer is pretending to forget: Nothing fails like prayers in a children's hospital. One must be insanely arrogant to suggest knowing something of a God. it is by boldness, Moses became the world's worst navigator, by having one foot in some fantasyland. There is a fine line between fishing & standing on the shore, looking like an idiot. Fail to get the Jews to buy it for 2000 years & they should know who their Messiah is. Jesus is a fake, to immortalize the war against the Jews. Jesus Christ is crucified for all time in literature & the subjects of Rome are illiterate. Freud wrote, "The antidote to Christianity is literacy" & the joke is in the scriptures. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" Galatians 3:13 An improvement on your God & faith; would outlaw indoctrination & abuse of the vocabulary of fiction on children.
Thank you! I went to therapy and it didn’t help at all. It seemed to make my anxiety worse! As soon as I picked up the Bible and started listening to Christian music while I slept, God strategically showed me things little by little that I needed to change to get better. The best feeling ever for me and so much better than therapy❤️❤️❤️
Nearly same story here cept took me breaking an feeling as though my Bible was about all I had but little by little I’ve learned an grown pretty far from where I was not so long ago. Glad to hear it’s gone well for you too ❤
My parents understood parts of this. Involvement in sports, church and work in and outside the house was mandatory. Self pity was ridiculed. Concern for others was lauded. Thanks mom and dad RIP❤️ Thank you, father for an awesome reflection.
So true! None of this is new. Our parents and grandparents told us the same things. Go for a walk, be active, do something, help others, pray and meditate, create something. Then we forgot to respect our elders and here we are - a boon for the pharmaceutical business. The intense self focus of today is worse than the extreme lack of self care in other times.
You express so much truth from the word of God. I am invigorated by a message I don't hear in the church today. Thank you for giving the love of Jesus through your proclamation.
Thanks! These are the wisest words I have heard in ages. .. and this from an Orthodox priest...! He shows a strength in this denomination that the evangelical church has lost. God bless you! Humble greetings from a simple Lutheran from Norway with 30 years of professional life in treatment and psychiatric health work.
Stop living in your own head. 1. Excercise 30 minutes a day. 2. Build fix or clean something, clean a room, declutter. 3. Pray for happy an hour. Jesus prayer. Be with Christ. 4. Do something meaningful for someone else. Please God help me. Give me the discipline to do these things regularly. Amen.
Thanks for typing it down, I heard Fatherr Paul and read this...good way to remember! And a healthier way to help. I knew Father when he lived in Cincinnati.
So I was having severe anxiety and depression and then after I had bells Palsy - I was diagnosed with Lyme- I was told to exercise- I was walking on pins and needles in my feet and was called lazy- couldn’t clean my room because I was so confused - I did pray- God sent a doctor to help me- luckily my priest guided me and loved me through it- lyme disease causes severe depression and anxiety- he told me to love myself- with love in Christ☦️
And please, God sent you both a great priest and a doctor. Dont fire one in favor of the other. Don't lose your faith, and also keep the doctor God sent to you as well. We are not living in a world wherein the Church is without medical physicians. It's okay to be Orthodox and go to the doctor and take meds---and pray. Never stop. ❤
It is extremely hard when you're just in suffering and survival mode w/ a chronic illness to escape the clutches of depression. There are some w/ chronic illness who somehow manage to not have clinical depression as well. And there are those that seem like they are healthy and have a good life, and still have clinical depression. It's a real illness and a miserable and pernicious one. Loving yourself is a commission that we all have and it's held w/in the second commandment: to love our neighbour, as we love ourselves. We're living in a day when the love of many grows cold. God often seems far. Self love isn't about pride or ego, it's the bare essential. If God loves us, and we need to love our neighbour, of course we must also love ourselves. I'm so glad you didn't get the pat answers that so many churches give, that can make things worse. God bless.
Good general advice. But a lot of mental and emotional illness can be due to trauma, not simply egoistic self-love. And while letting go of egoistic self-love definitely helps, discernment is needed.. not everyone can begin by praying half hour at a time, if they have a severe condition. Self emptying is the way, but find a spiritual father who can guide that. Balance is important. Don’t follow your own will and go overboard. Somebody already mentally or emotionally sick can get even worse if they go on without discernment. Each case can be different. If we believe in guidance from a spiritual father for a person without such symptoms, so much more should we believe in having for someone with anxiety and depression. Thank you Father for the video.
I was very impressed by this priest as well, not what I was expecting to hear. Very real world, down to earth, not just "turn to Jesus" talk. We have to do things to help ourselves, if we don't do those things I'm not sure how much God is going to make happen if we don't participate actively.
I an an Orthodox Christian and I feel the reality and authenticity of Orthodoxy. If you decide to be christened as Orthodox Christian, in my opinion is the best thing you can do in your life.
I just had a son 7 weeks ago and my very happy carefree husband started experiencing postpartum anxiety. He would say "I can't stop thinking, I can't relax there's all these thoughts in my head" he'd think so much about scary health and death related stuff he would end up in a full blown panic attack. Overthinking is a symptom of anxiety. You can't stop being anxious by overthinking how not to be.
Such a life change when a child is born but anxiety is paralysing. Sorry that this is happening and it is because he cares so much. Challenging for you too of course. Perhaps professional counselling for him might help? Seems as though he just needs to work through this adjustment with some help.
I had a panic attack because I was thinking too much about tragedy and death. Im sure your husband is experiencing some existential fears since he brought new life into the world. I hope he is doing better. I coped by cutting coffee, avoiding negative media, and watching comedy and being around people. God bless!
@@tanyaz1812no, professional counseling very rarely will work. It actually destroyed my life. A person in a delicate mindset should not seek psychiatric doctors.
I have an orthodox church nearby but I’ve felt too shy to attend service due to the fact that I was born Catholic. Maybe I should just go, this video is convincing me!
You absolutely should go! Nothing to be ashed of at all. When they learn that you were born catholic they will be happy that you have come to orthodox church. God bless you. Wish you all the best
I came to Christ a few years ago...i am really interested in Orthodoxy....here in new orleans theres not many options ...follow it on youtube....great advice. I only trust in Christ...i do beat myself up and this message helps so much. I was diagnosed as bipolar yada yada yada..havent taken meds for years. Never will again.
I completely agree with all this up to the point on "self love". As someone who has suffered from self esteem issues for years and has let others views dictate my direction. For me self love is being free, loving yourself enough to put you in front of God (and serve others). The devil wants us to be depressed and fall into despair. Just my thoughts. I love this channel though. And I'm grateful for finding direction with God.
I agree wholeheartedly. I have so much shame and self hatred. Self love has been important for me. Recognizing myself as a daughter of Christ, made in his image has changed me.
Yess. Instead of self love, I think it’s more accurate to say “self-compassion” treat yourself like you would treat your friends! It’s helped me so much and helped me get out of my head so i can be more perceptive to others.
I think he was speaking of self love as in “self” as an idol. I definitely believe we are to respect, care for, and love ourselves as our lives are a gift from Him. ❤
The part about self-love really opened my eyes there. It’s so true. Everytime i go down a hill in life i think that i should be loving myself and take this time to just love me, and looking back this way has never truly helped me. The only times I’ve felt like i was doing right was by doing right by others, therefore finding my surroundings with positive loving people. Which reminds me of a bible verse somewhere where it says you are who you hang around with (definitely not those words) but somewhere along that message. Definitely needed to hear this! ❤️
While I have seen this segment before, I have recently been reading Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future by Fr Seraphim Rose. The beginning of the book begins with discussing Hinduism and how it is antithetical to Christianity. Rewatching this reinforces what Fr Rose taught, and does so in a more concise manner. ☦️
I have spent a life time serving others, they have taken all that i had to give now they h8gh flying and have totalky forgotten me, and regard me as an after thought, my advice to people is to love and serve yourself first, if you have spare to share thats fine but see to yourself first you have a duty to serve yourself first otherwise you could end up with barely your life.i learned all this the hard way.
This is especially an important point for people pleasers, and givers whose are taken advantage of. It is important to know when & how to set healthy boundaries.
Draw from the well of yourself trying to help others and this well will inevitably (but usually quickly) run dry. Serve and give from the well of living water, to whatever small degree that you actually draw from it yourself, and you will never thirst in this way again.
Wow this is actually very deep. Even from a non believer angle, "beware the self-love" movement is an extremely good advice. Follow your heart is not "yolo do whatever we want". thank Father
True. Do these things, it works. If you can exercise just talk a walk, you’ll feel better. Breathe the outside air, get out of the house. If you can’t get out of your head when you exercise, pray while you exercise.
this makes so much sense. in a way, i am obsessed with myself. i am obsessed with myself in a negative sense for the most part but obsessed nonetheless. i have indeed noticed that the more i think about myself, the more anxious and depressed i become. i will take this message and move forward with it. thank you
@andrewlilley3660 the wounds He received on His body...Isaiah 53:5 NKJV But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
@@hollyl4425 Jesus is a metaphor, it's the Sun! All that baloney is an attempt to have us in a constant state of contrition, and sadly, people believe in a sky daddy. The chastisement for our peace, are you for real? We've never known peace, that should tell you something, but keep eulogizing and everything will be rosy, except it never has been.
@andrewlilley3660 If you knew how much peace and inner healing I've received by forgiving my Mom for severe neglect and abuse, made possible only by the power of Holy Spirit, you would want His peace for yourself. I was once a skeptic too, as a lukewarm believer, but once I finally surrendered to Christ, He is bringing me peace and increasingly setting me free from things like looking for validation from others. I wish and pray the same for you - that you would truly know you are a son of the living God.
I've been battling severe depression this weekend and I really don't know why, never had it like this just know it's the enemy. I've been through a lot this year but did not allow it to break me. My mom was in hospital, then my grandma had a heart attack, then we had a home robbery and I lost my job. It all hit my this weekend mentally and I am so glad to have watched this video and I am going to attempt this list and most of all I need to pray and need prayer. Greetings from a Greek Orthodox pentecostal Christian 🙏🏼💕
This is so important, the distinctions that Fr. Paul illustrates between the worldly view of the human being and the Orthodox Christian view of the human being. Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos speaks of this in his books on Orthodox psychotherapy.
5 suicides in my family.Grandfather , father, uncle, 2 cousins. The depression /anxiety is a damned curse in my veins. I’ve loved and know Jesus 40 years now. I’d meditate , pray, swim 3 miles a week and play rec sports 3-5 times weekly. Worked with many “ least of these” Therapy , friends, hobbies etc. The fight to just get going day at a time is quite real. Waxes and wanes. I’m on one med , stay close to Jesus, ALWAYS known I was tremendously blessed , yet, the struggle remains. Complex dynamics. Not as simple as this person of faith shares. One day at a time. The love /hope/and belief in/of Jesus has kept me here.He suffered , this life has tribulation , He has overcome the world. My rock of ages.
Your strength and struggle are awe-inspiring, brother. I am so sorry for your loss. I have also struggled with depression for many years now. It's almost impossible to explain it to someone who hasn't experienced it. There were times when I would feel suicidal every half hour. Only in the past year or so when I formed a relationship with Christ and taken some positive steps that I have noticed a remarkable change. You seem to have done all the right things, yet as you correctly say the struggle remains, maybe for some of us ( I think I might be in this camp) it's a life long struggle. But let us never lose hope. I love you, my brother in Christ, and I pray for you. God bless.
Yes this is spiritual warfare. Spirits are everywhere and one’s thoughts and feelings can be influenced by different spirits. That’s why we must pray constantly and be led by the Holy Spirit. The more one has potential to spread love, the gospel and win souls for the kingdom of heaven, the more the demons will attack that person and cause all kinds of obstacles and tribulations in their life. All the Fathers of the Church endured immense spiritual warfare and this is how they suffered with Christ.
I think an intergenerational demon of suicide haunted your family through the generations and is now very angry that you chose Jesus and keep living. My advice is to not give, recognize the negative thoughts as coming from the dark spirits and keep your faith in Jesus strong as a rock
Maybe you need deliverance from that generational curse of suicide . May God break that curse in your family and over you in Jesus name ! You already have victory in Christ! Claim it ❤🙏. Praying for you brother
Leaving grave situations such as schizophrenia etc aside, this is the best advice ever on depression and anxiety. There is so much truth in the statement that the more you dig into yourself the worst the depression-anxiety spiral becomes.
Actual clinical depression is a grave condition as well. I would say schizophrenia is worse, but I don't think this priest understands depression as an illness. He's describing it as a feeling that one can just change.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Orthodoxy cured my depression.. thank God for revealing it to me..
Amen
Do you listen to Counterflow podcast? He's on here. Highly recommend
Jesus loves you so do we all of us Orthodox Christians. Greetings from Serbia. Stay blessed, pray and believe!!! Amin!
@@Balkans2023 thank you very much that is really sweet and kind. Ameen 🙏
To G-d be the glory
Humility is one of the biggest things ive noticed in orthodoxy.
Yes, without it there is no communion with Holy Spirit ❤
The greatest virtue of all. Because demons doesn't have it. They all have pride.
absolutely man, ive yet to meet a prideful Orthodox Christian, it is a beautiful beautiful beautiful community. I love it. Baptised this saturday☦️
@johnfisher8401 congratulations on your baptism! May God be your light on the way to His kingdom.
Nevertheless I'd like to warn you against overrating humility and especially putting it over love. Christ teaches us that the main virtue and main commandment is to love God and your neighbor. Humility is good in most contexts, but I have personally met a priest who seems to somewhat abuse the term. What he expects from his parishioners is actually 100% obedience, no matter how compatible his words are with the Gospel. So be careful with this 🙏 No.1 is Love, everything else is secondary.
❤️
Severely depressed Catholic here. Therapy has failed me and antidepressants have too, as has the cult of self-love. This is probably the best advice on depression out there. Exercise, charity, and grace work better than any medication out there.
Look up carnivore diet. Depression gone
God loves you dear friend, remember this! Whenever you feel so down, tell yourself loudly that you are a child of God and Jesus loves you sincerely. Then go out for a walk, try to relax, breath slowly and harmoniously, watch the nature around you, admire the creations of God, for He created all that for you too. And no matter what's the reason for your depression, just pray to Jesus constantly and regularly to show you the way out and BELIEVE that He'll do that - and miracle will happen. And always be grateful to Him, even be grateful for that depression - tell Him that! God bless you. Greetings from Serbia!
The issue is the cult of self love in my opinion. I'm agnostic, but agree with this priest. Self love is crazy selfish, learned from experience
May the grace and divine mercy of Christ Jesus help your every need🙏🏻
All good advice. I was depressed before I converted to Roman Catholic and reading the lives of the saints was helpful. Not to even approach them but to see their struggles with the same vices and virtues that all human beings share. My dear you belong here and you are loved. I love you and others love you and pray for your healing ❤
I agree. I went to a therapist and talked about myself and got worse. I started going to the gym, helping others and reading the Bible.
Therapy is a scam. Therapists can't even help themselves how can they help others? I got my doctor to admit that therapists are her craziest patients.
Great to hear… well done! God bless. ✝️🙏🏻
"The key to self masetry is self forgetfulness"" Bahaí Writings
Just so you know therapy is not the problem. It could have been the method. The idea of talking about what's going on in your mind is to come to personal "ah hah" moments. Therapy could also teach you how to treat others well. I would use therapy to teach me how to be empathetic and understanding after trauma. I still think a space for God paired with therapy is a beautiful place to be. Giving to others and taking care of your health. Don't just discard it.
Just because it didn’t work for you doesn’t mean it doesn’t work
Orthodoxy literally cured my depression. I was in all sorts of a mess in college, but then I discovered Orthodoxy and it slowly went away. I stopped caring about all the things that had been bothering me. It did not leave me with many friends left, but I don't mind.
When you find yourself older, alone and abandoned by your partner...you will be anxious and depressed.
@@dannmurray1199 Understandably so! Sounds like you have the experience to know this. May you find comfort and consolation and advice that far exceeds the shallow content of this video.
Be sure to seek help not only at church, where sorry to say you might receive shallow comments. But often a good neurologist or psychiatrist can be of help as your very first medical doctor visit. They can not only listen but help with medications that can mitigate your suffering to some degree if it has turned into a life threatening condition such as a severe chronic depressive episode which can often last up to a year and require a two week hospital stay to allow you the mental rest you need while making sure the prescribed medications are working effectively. Do not allow insensitivd people to influence you and do not entertain self doubt about your faith in Christ. It is your faith which has sustained you through one of the lowest times in your life. Thanks be to God you have not passed away from a broken heart. You can heal and by God's grace actually love and live to help others! And I know you won't tell them anything of the two-thirds hogwash offered in this shallow, aloof, and incredibly ignorant interview. May God bless you with His Holy Spirit and give you the strength and people to assist you through this time of profound loss and grief!
In the meantime, be sure to eat as healthy as you can, pour out your heart to our Lord Jesus Christ and if you find your grief has worsened and you are unable to sleep, or you sleep far more than normal for you, and perhaps feel that you're unable to stop weeping, consider having a friend or volunteer bring you to the ER at hospital or to your doctor. Grief expressed as spontaneous depression and anxiety is a major health problem. Let compassionate help be administered to you. Our Blessed Lord loves and embraces you, and He will not abandon you now, when you need Him most! I'll be humbly praying for you. ❤
Recently I have been feeling an unrest with the non-denominational Christian path I have been on. The modern American church has started feeling too entertaining and performative, and I have started yearning for something less about me and more about Jesus. Thank you for sharing your story. It is inspiring
@@dannmurray1199 Just because you're jaded doesn't mean everyone else will be.
Make Jesus your partner, he will never leave you.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking less about yourself.
You shouldn't think less of yourself, I fully agree with that but It should not spill over into pride either.
As a psychologist! I support this message!
I am a cradle orthodox christian who returned to the faith in 2022, i struggle with schizotypal personality disorder and i experience immense despair everyday and take medication, Took me some time to realise that no one else can truly help me but God. I went to a healing service in my russian parish last night and i feel slightly better, im planning to go more often, when i was at my lowest i desired to die, returning to the faith changed that and now i desire solely to be fully healed with God's grace and to serve him, im improving alot since then and alot of days im starting to feel better, this video is quite helpful and i will be attending these services very often. Thank u for this
Read the bible,pray and get on face surrender to a Holy loving God our Saviour Jesus Christ.
I'm so sorry you are struggling with this. That's a tough illness to live with. You're courageous, and God can help you. 🙏 Saint Charbel was an amazing Saint. Perhaps he can help too ❤ May the peace of Christ overwhelm you.
@@andrirublov🙏🏼
This is so relatable.
Both my youngest 2 children that are adults are diagnosed with bilpolar 2 , adhd , generalized anxiety disorder , ocd one of then and ptsd . One adult child will ajwayz live with me because she has also life king medical problems ! I argued with a family member today . Rather the family member yelled at me as they’re getting older and older . And can’t cope. I cried fir 3 hours straight . . I was scanning my phone and I saw a Orthodox Church on live steam . I watched it , and prayed and I felt better ! I watch it every night since our orthodox Easter is coming up . I found that when my family helps and I at the helm help the needy , the homeless , feed our homeless vets , adopt unwanted animals And help those Jess fortunate , i always feel better ! My life hasn’t been easy ever since I was born 57 years ago ! With our Christ my savior I couldn’t make it .
"People are trying to be like God, without God." That's a word. ☦️
❤
That's me for sure
I was in my head for decades. Jesus touched my heart in August and I have been 100% cured. No medicine, no therapy, No exercise, not even prayer helped. It's when I let go and begged God to help me. The holy spirit transformed me instantly. Now when the enemy tries to sneak up on me... I realize I was tormented for years with resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness and addiction.
Not only do I live with joy in my heart I realized I do not belong to myself. I am not given life to find my own happiness. It's never about you personally. It's about giving all the glory and honor to God as his daughter.
He also changed my son's heart. He was a prideful atheist now a convert to Orthodoxy. God Blessed my life by honoring my prayers as a mother.
Praise the Lord @staceymarie6895 great testimony, sometimes what we need to do is just surrender all submit to GOD resist the devil. I desire for this so much I didn’t take my faith seriously and squandered the goodness GOD gave me to end up stuck in the mud. Sometimes the depression is so strong I feel like I’m beyond all hope like on the chosen when Mary Magdalene needed deliverance and Nicodemus said we tried all we could do but I’m afraid this one is just beyond all human aid. Praise the LORD HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE! ❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼♥️♥️♥️
P.s. plz forgive my terrible run on sentences and grammar. 😌
So, you credit your recovery to a phantom, amazing.
Amazing. I would love to hear more and learn from you. I think you have important things to share that would really help 😢❤
@@staceymarie6895❤
Humility is power.
Yes, but only up to a certain point it is often abused by people to the point of contempt, our claws must always be visible.
LORD JESUS CHRIST SON OF GOD HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER
Neka te dragi Bog čuva 🙏!
Эзэн Есүс Христ, Бурханы Хүү, нүгэлтэн намайг өршөөгөөч!
As a psychiatrist trained in insight-oriented psychotherapy as well as meds, I applaud every single word! Orthodoxy is the best spiritual and psychological hospital and the Holy Fathers and their followers are the best psychiatrists and psychotherapists, bar none. Axios Fr Paul!
As a patient who suffered severe depression and anxiety for years, and underwent conventional psychotherapy and took meds (which had virtually no effect for me), but who has been Orthodox almost 25 years since, trying (poorly and feebly) to follow the Holy Fathers, and thereby emerging slowly from both depression and anxiety (and a host of other ills), I must add my personal testimony to the above comment. As a lifelong Christian, I never considered suicide, but at a certain time did want to die, and prayed for death. God said no. Glory be to God. For me there can be no doubt that there is one Hope, one Physician, one Savior, and one Life - the Only Good One. Thank you and axios Fr Paul!
✝️🙏🏻✝️🙏🏻
So blessed and refreshed by this message, thank you! Also by examples, parents and instruction of others eg at schools.
Would rather call Mr. Truebenbach Saint or Brother Paul, though: Jesus said to call no one father except God
@@LindaScholtz-oe7ne When you call a priest "Father", you are calling God "Father", because you are not speaking to the human priest in his own right, but rather to the image of God within Him, who serves as God's image (icon) in his role as priest, through ordination. The same applies when you kiss his hand - the action passes to God, through His image, the priest. God desires to work through us all, for us to participate with Him, and we recognize this call also in others. The priest has a specific role in making this present to us, and we recognize that repeatedly.
Fortunately a correct Psychiatrist that found the only correct path in life. I am also Orthodox Christian and my whole life and power is Orthodox Christianity.
This is my Parish Priest
Tell him to stop giving out advice on therapy. Not everyone is the same and therapy is not one single method.
@@ASMRyouVEGANyet you should read the other responses on this thread and find out how many people therapy has failed. Just like you say, it’s not one approach for everyone. Allow things to work for people even if you don’t think it should work for them
Therapy is a business. I dont know a single person who therapy has helped. My sister has been weaponizing therapy in our family, and ironically is the most toxic person in our family@@ASMRyouVEGANyet
What an amazing message. My sons get so much great advice from him. I have been depressed and I have realized that it's not about me and my feelings. He's reaching a lot of people. Looking forward to joining the Church very soon.❤
@@ASMRyouVEGANyettherapy is a scam. Christ is the way.
I'm an atheist. I don't know how I got here or why I clicked. But his advice seems humble and more real than what many have recommended to me to deal with my anxiety. Don't know if prayer is for me, but I'll clear my head
Prayer is designed for absolutely everyone. Jesus' offer of salvation from eternal death is also freely available to you.
Some of the processes of prayer are important to know. Calmness, breath control, mind control through meditation, divine music. The catholic rosary calms and centre's the mind with that endless repetitive. So is the similar repetitive chants in Hinduism. You don't need to use the religious words but repetitive sounds help you clear your mind and bring focus.
You can do mindfulness meditation, focus on a candle flame, or suchlike.
Me too. I abandoned religion long ago. But I hate feeling like I have no anchor nor community. I've been feeling really afflicted lately as well and I just bumped into this video. Faith aside, his advice for tackling anxiety seems practical. I will try and employ it myself. Good luck to you. ☕✨
Believe me brother you will see everything is fine just pray to Jesus and read the book of David repeatedly the words inside it have a power more than you expect I am sure as you reply me when you see the result
At the end of every depressive episode, the conclusion is always the same...I've been way too focused on me
Isint it so true I feel the same . ❤
Focusing on this Christian egoist deity is depressing too.
@@williamoarlock8634🙄
@@williamoarlock8634 well, then go find another deity that will sacrifice Himself to pay for your sins. I know its tough to live in a world you did not create and hate the One who created it. Humility, its just the worst thing ever
@@ringforthrev Humility is a far greater problem for most of 'the church'.
I am eighty one and the happiest times of my life were when my late husband was alive and I had three little ones under five years of age. It's only now that I realise how happy I was. It was utterly fulfilling. I live now on those memories and the love of Jesus. Amen.
As someone who has battled with depression and anxiety all of my life, and previously (as a secularist) taken antidepressants, I can say that this advice is truly excellent!
Absolutely great 8:22 advice. However, there are those we suffer from anxiety and depression because they have a biological chemical imbalance in their brain. The chemical imbalance can be shown medically with the right medication and with the right medication.
Medication won't solve everything so this can still help. There are people so Afflicted with anxiety who will certainly need medication. Do not ignore it.
You actually need a license to do plumbing.
@@theresamiceli7106there's never been any proof chemical imbalances are even a thing.
Hey, I'm secular and have struggled with same all my life and haven't tried antidepressants even though they've been prescribed because of personal mentality about them. I'm wondering if you would have positive or not review of them?
Exactly… I mean EXACTLY what I needed today. Thank you. Lord have mercy ❤☦️
Me too!
Jesus loves you people as we do - all the Orthodox Christians. Greetings from Serbia.
@@thefuzzfactor2989 Jesus loves you people as we do - all the Orthodox Christians. Greetings from Serbia.
Amen! I struggled with depression for 40 yrs. No therapist helped me, most actually made things worse. For a decade now I have had zero meds and lots of Bible reading and serving others. I ask God every morning to use me for his glory, and to order my steps. No greater joy than helping others. Right now he keeps sending me to folks that have a dying family member.
That’s awesome!!!
No amount of suffering goes unrewarded............................Falun Dafa
@@mreajamorgana I explain to you the truth and you call me nuts, so where does that leave you? Lost, sorry.
I feel like especially with anxiety and Depression the expectation is key. The belief of the future is key.
They are negative in a depressed and anxious perslns mind.
To change that Religions ofc give most peace.
Also Loneliness contributes a lot to modern ddayanxiety and Depression (feeling worthless).
With God you won't feel alone but worthy.
So it quickly Silvester everything
I feel like Psychotheraphy only can explakn you whyyy you feel like this (looking in the past) and it is really important to know yourself and know the feeling has a valid reason of the past/...
But you need a positive force to Pulli you out of Depression and up the Hill so more than seeing the world realistic (will keep you Stuck on the place on the hill - there will still not be hope nor energy/Motivation in you)
So God ofc is the best strength you can get and believe in.
I just felt with my Depression I really needed God as well - coz no facing the past was too hard and Also I didn't have strength/positive Attitude to try behavioural theraphy But needed tp feel worthy and be heard and tell all what was on my heart and soul.
How do we were others though? My days are full of looking after my autistic children as I homeschool, I don't have time to help others as much as I would like too :(
This is typical orthodox teaching! Praise the Lord!
GOD BLESS ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS CHRIST IS GOOD AND I LOVE YOU ALL❤❤❤❤☦️
❤❤❤🙏
@@tamjansan1154 Amen 🙏
I have schizoaffective disorder and I struggle with depression often. I can honestly say, "Thank you!" for your four steps to alleviate depression. Prayer has also helped me immensely.
Your affliction is very serious as you know. Please do not consider going off your medication to prove your faith. Your faith will sustain you as you struggle and take your medication prayerfully and obediently. The Holy Orthodox Church is not a cult like Scientology which sadly and tragically will you to discontinue meds and exercise. Nope. Doesn't work for any form of prodromal schizophrenia. God bless you!
Keep strong in your faith brother. Keep Jesus close to your heart.
Forget yourself! Live for others! Faith demands ACTION. Great advice!!
This has given me hope, I’ve always remembered myself as anxious… I don’t want it anymore
ihad a 12 hour anxiety attack yesterday. it is the first one in a year and I just prayed and prostrated with the jesus prayer. with Gods help and a wonderful GF I came through the other side. Fear of it still sits dormant. With Gods help I will be free.
God bless you. You are not alone. My heart sank when I read that as I know your pain. Stay strong, you got through it. You made it, you survived it. Hellish as it was. God carried you through. He will always carry you, He is always with us. Do not let the fear consume you, I know it's hard to do. It feels like a constant pressure, like something is looming over you waiting. The fear is the enemy. God will save us. God will protect us. As you said, God will set us free. He will not give us anything we can't handle but through Him will provide way to escape. Trust in Him and give yourself to Him fully and His love will put a light so amazing and pure into your life.
I'm sorry for so much but I felt I had to. Those words were for myself just as much as they were for you or anyone else in our position. I don't know you, brother, but I know this pain. I love you. God loves us. All will be well.
Also bless your girlfriend. It ain't easy being the rock. That's a good woman.
That's really tough man. I hope you can continue to heal.
@@lighlotus117 Yes pray! Go to Divine Liturgy AND take your medication! Believe it or not there are Orthodox Christian psychiatrists who will medicate you so you can continue the mission and work God has given you to do. You can take medication, "chew gum" and pray the Jesus Prayer devoutly. Okay. Forget the gum. Pray and go to your doctor. Believe it or not, there really are Eastern Orthodox neurologist who wl tell you there will be plenty of suffering but let him take the edge off debilitating anxiety attacks. No shame in going to the doctor. You're not betraying Our Lord, the Divine Physician. St Luke, pray for us!
@thewillynilly ❤ please see a medical doctor. You cannot function with such a debilitating illness. Consider that Christ has answered your prayer by providing you with a neurologist or psychiatrist and medication. All the exercise in the world will not necessarily treat the level of damage your nervous system has sustained. You don't have to prove anything. Your faith has sustained you. Please don't demand that your healing must come through prayer alone. That's New Age---think your way to health. Only a cult will keep you from seeking medical attention. Perhaps Father does not understand that clinical conditions can get worse and sometimes prove fatal. Please see your medical doctor before a "talk therapist." You can sit on a therapist couch and it will fail miserably to treat effectively a chronic severe disease based on a physiological trauma to the central and peripheral nervous system. This may express as resultant depression and anxiety. Don't take the advice of anyone who trivializes any serious medical condition including those illnesses that symptomatically affect your mind. Pray and get a medical doctor. Take your prescription. Only when stabilized, should you consider vital exercise.
Let’s go my brother! We are here standing with you. Keep your armor on and that sword sharp ⚔️☦️
Reading all of these comments is both heartbreaking and wonderful. I’m tearing up. God is using this channel to show His love to many people including myself. Thank you for sharing these videos. Love from a Lutheran in Richmond.
“ You can’t demand the same rewards when you depart from the path that he laid for us. “ 🔥🙏🏻
This is fantastic!! Wow! I do these things naturally on a regular basis.
I’ve had hard times but have never been depressed:)
I can see kindness and good heartedness in this mans eyes. Amen to his words.
So many takeaways and so much to process.
1: “…you can never be a good Christian because no one is good but God alone”.
Im 23 years old , a father of 2 boys , raised in south texas . A young man raised by my grandparents and given the guidance and lesson from a real wonderful man that i call my grandfather . Thru the years my faith has been tested and ive always prevailed but with my grandmother dying and my grandfather becoming senile , i had to quit my job to care for them and now with my vehicle being impounded for parking in a red zone and with how hard times have become where we are going hungry , my faith is strongly being tested and i feel like im losing my faith thru all this suffering right now and im just trying to be a man and be strong for my family ... please pray for me and my family and children and please pray that i find myself out of this hole in jesus name ..
God bless you and your family. God is always with you, remember that. Sending love and prayers from Serbia!
You are a caring and responsible young man. You have stewardship of two young children: A challenge but so rewarding an opportunity to guide them into their (and your) future. Things will change. Stay strong in faith. Praying for you.
I pray that God the Father will open the doors of opportunity for you to meet all your needs, in the mighty name of Jesus.🙏🏻
Salm 23. God bless you 🙏💕sending love❤
Do you want to pray the Rosary and ask God if starting a Go Fund me page is a good course of action? I never knew of the Rosary prayer until very recently, and my own life has changed as a result. I will also pray for you. Don't give up.
Absolutely spot on! My mother had severe depression in the early 1950's, hospitalized, shock. She said her doctor told her to get a part time job so she would not think of herself so much.
Although a non-denominational Christian, I found this message to be refreshing and beautiful. Thank you, brother, in Christ.
Thank you! Father Paul trenham had a video on this channel, orthodoxy and Protestantism, very insightful! I recommend checking it out
On his channel
Loved the explanation of asceticism. It’s not a hate of self, it’s a love of Christ to such an extent that you forget yourself.
I’m totally agree with what the father says. I’m a psychologist and I know that depression and anxiety treatments are temporary. Knowing the Truth and the Reality of Life is the essence of life. Thank you and to God for such clear, real and good teaching 🙏🙌🙌🙌
As a dually licensed professional therapist and substance abuse counselor working in my own private practice for almost 10 years I couldn’t agree more. I’ve said almost EXACTLY what you just mentioned in this video at least 1,000 times. Anyways, working on Confirmation as a new Catholic. My family was Catholic for hundreds of years until the 80’s. Now that I’ve seen the results of living in a secular world I’m happy to say that my family with be returning to the Church.
Wrong church.
What your kids need isn't guilt
Thank you for this video Father. I struggle with suicidal and Depressive Thoughts, this was informative.
God bless you. Keep praying for the Armour of God to protect you from the enemy. You belong to God ❤
Praying and being in Lord's presence helps me the most.
Depression is something I've been struggling with day to day for years. Thank you so much for this interview with Fr. Truebenbach. I hope I can implement his advice soundly.
You got this 💪😎
This very much reminds me of Kierkegaard's quote, "The door to happiness opens outwards". The more we can direct ourselves away from ourselves and toward others, the more deep meaning - and true happiness - we can find.
"The more one forgets himself--by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love--the more human he is and the more he actualizes himself. What is called self-actualization is not an attainable aim at all, for the simple reason that the more one would strive for it, the more he would miss it. In other words, self-actualization is possible only as a side-effect of self-transcendence. "A healthy eye doesn't see itself." - Viktor Frankl
Depression is exhaustion of soul and body. Recovery involves deep rest and time in the word of God and prayer.
I struggle with depression almost on a daily basis, thank you so much for this video!
You are depressed & seeing resource with those suggesting we all can pretend there is a God who creates Mormons so Christians will know how Jews feel?
Ignore how the atheist see you,
You find yourself among those preaching to the choir.
There is a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore, looking like an idiot. “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
One speaks to the choir because literate people will not listen to you. Your God is of incompetence. Jesus fails to complete the job for 2000 years. The Jews still don't buy your Messiah story. J Atwill has proven Jesus is a complete fabrication by Romans, not Christians or Jews. Moses, the war-criminal, proves only; God & faith makes the worst navigator in the world. And Jesus is the ultimate hypocrite by performing all sorts of signs and saying the only one given is Jonah, who was a believer tossed overboard by other believers to calm a storm. The Christian Faith is ludicrous & has no future because of itself.
It is amusing to hear the profound arrogance of someone knowing of God, as if He were known outside of fiction. The believer & the literate are separated by the vocabulary of fiction: Blasphemy, God, faith, prayer, prophet, etc. Matthew 17:20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” I like asking believers how they can possibly think their faith is respectable, given Jesus said faith is worthless, since you can't expect obedience when ordering mountains to move? Freud wrote, "The antidote to Christianity is literacy".
Blasphemy is a fiction vocabulary word. Blasphemy is a victimless crime.
Believers have a profound lack of quality-control, so we are to pretend their God made Mormons so Christians would know how Jews feel. Like playing book tag.
I said a prayer for you my friend!! Keep your spirits up as much as you can! I know that it can seem impossible to be able to apply any one of these methods when your mind is in the gutter, but keep at it and you will get there!! What helped me is finding which one was the easiest to gravitate towards while my mind is in that bad state. Eventually you will be able do it all even at your worst times. It doesn’t mean that it will always be easy, or that you will always do the right thing but you will feel so much better once you feel like you have a decent handle on it all!! Just for context, I received this same advice years back, and it took me years to make decent progress, but I will always keep chipping away! Jesus is worth it!! God Bless You!! 🙏❤️
@@gadgetsandeats2325 Prayer is pretending to forget: Nothing fails like prayers in a children's hospital. One must be insanely arrogant to suggest knowing something of a God. it is by boldness, Moses became the world's worst navigator, by having one foot in some fantasyland. There is a fine line between fishing & standing on the shore, looking like an idiot. Fail to get the Jews to buy it for 2000 years & they should know who their Messiah is. Jesus is a fake, to immortalize the war against the Jews. Jesus Christ is crucified for all time in literature & the subjects of Rome are illiterate. Freud wrote, "The antidote to Christianity is literacy" & the joke is in the scriptures. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" Galatians 3:13
An improvement on your God & faith; would outlaw indoctrination & abuse of the vocabulary of fiction on children.
@@gadgetsandeats2325 Thank you so so much!!!
Thank you! I went to therapy and it didn’t help at all. It seemed to make my anxiety worse! As soon as I picked up the Bible and started listening to Christian music while I slept, God strategically showed me things little by little that I needed to change to get better.
The best feeling ever for me and so much better than therapy❤️❤️❤️
the EXACT same thing happened to me
💯 & God Bless! ✝️🙏🏻
Nearly same story here cept took me breaking an feeling as though my Bible was about all I had but little by little I’ve learned an grown pretty far from where I was not so long ago. Glad to hear it’s gone well for you too ❤
My parents understood parts of this. Involvement in sports, church and work in and outside the house was mandatory. Self pity was ridiculed. Concern for others was lauded.
Thanks mom and dad RIP❤️
Thank you, father for an awesome reflection.
So true! None of this is new. Our parents and grandparents told us the same things. Go for a walk, be active, do something, help others, pray and meditate, create something. Then we forgot to respect our elders and here we are - a boon for the pharmaceutical business.
The intense self focus of today is worse than the extreme lack of self care in other times.
You don't know what depression really is , sorry you are wrong
You express so much truth from the word of God. I am invigorated by a message I don't hear in the church today. Thank you for giving the love of Jesus through your proclamation.
Thankyou Jesus. By grace ye are saved not by works that any man can boast. There lies freedom and a big step to helping with depression
Orthodox Christians are truly doing God's work.
Only Greek or Aramaic orthodox are doing God's work not Russian orthodox. Russian orthodox is like Megachurch in America
@@RichardLionheart12Only Greek and Aramaic? You know nothing about Orthodox Church
Excellent talk, precise, to the point and full of wisdom based in the word of God
Thanks! These are the wisest words I have heard in ages. .. and this from an Orthodox priest...! He shows a strength in this denomination that the evangelical church has lost. God bless you! Humble greetings from a simple Lutheran from Norway with 30 years of professional life in treatment and psychiatric health work.
Stop living in your own head.
1. Excercise 30 minutes a day.
2. Build fix or clean something, clean a room, declutter.
3. Pray for happy an hour. Jesus prayer. Be with Christ.
4. Do something meaningful for someone else.
Please God help me. Give me the discipline to do these things regularly. Amen.
Thanks for this mate
Thanks for typing it down, I heard Fatherr Paul and read this...good way to remember! And a healthier way to help. I knew Father when he lived in Cincinnati.
Thank you
Thank you 🙏
God isn’t going to help you, listen to this guy, you have to help yourself
So I was having severe anxiety and depression and then after I had bells Palsy - I was diagnosed with Lyme- I was told to exercise- I was walking on pins and needles in my feet and was called lazy- couldn’t clean my room because I was so confused - I did pray- God sent a doctor to help me- luckily my priest guided me and loved me through it- lyme disease causes severe depression and anxiety- he told me to love myself- with love in Christ☦️
And please, God sent you both a great priest and a doctor. Dont fire one in favor of the other. Don't lose your faith, and also keep the doctor God sent to you as well. We are not living in a world wherein the Church is without medical physicians. It's okay to be Orthodox and go to the doctor and take meds---and pray. Never stop. ❤
My daughter had Bell’s palsy and then the anxiety and depression set it. Thank you for sharing ❤️
It is extremely hard when you're just in suffering and survival mode w/ a chronic illness to escape the clutches of depression. There are some w/ chronic illness who somehow manage to not have clinical depression as well. And there are those that seem like they are healthy and have a good life, and still have clinical depression. It's a real illness and a miserable and pernicious one.
Loving yourself is a commission that we all have and it's held w/in the second commandment: to love our neighbour, as we love ourselves. We're living in a day when the love of many grows cold. God often seems far. Self love isn't about pride or ego, it's the bare essential. If God loves us, and we need to love our neighbour, of course we must also love ourselves. I'm so glad you didn't get the pat answers that so many churches give, that can make things worse. God bless.
@@walkingthroughpixels That's harsh.
@@saintejeannedarc9460 sorry, I agree that was harsh.
God bless you father this channel being my favourite one Κυριε Ιησου Χριστε ελεησον με τον αμαρτωλο.
God bless orthodoxy ❤
I'm Colombian Orthodox 🇨🇴☦️
CRISTO RESUCITÓ 🙏🏻💒
Воистину Воскресе!!! ❤
Indeed He is risen! God bless you. Greetings from Orthodox Serbia.
Good general advice. But a lot of mental and emotional illness can be due to trauma, not simply egoistic self-love. And while letting go of egoistic self-love definitely helps, discernment is needed.. not everyone can begin by praying half hour at a time, if they have a severe condition. Self emptying is the way, but find a spiritual father who can guide that. Balance is important. Don’t follow your own will and go overboard. Somebody already mentally or emotionally sick can get even worse if they go on without discernment. Each case can be different. If we believe in guidance from a spiritual father for a person without such symptoms, so much more should we believe in having for someone with anxiety and depression. Thank you Father for the video.
Think I am in the wrong church. The best advice I ever heard, thank you.
Never too late! Visit an Orthodox church near you.
I was very impressed by this priest as well, not what I was expecting to hear. Very real world, down to earth, not just "turn to Jesus" talk. We have to do things to help ourselves, if we don't do those things I'm not sure how much God is going to make happen if we don't participate actively.
I an an Orthodox Christian and I feel the reality and authenticity of Orthodoxy. If you decide to be christened as Orthodox Christian, in my opinion is the best thing you can do in your life.
You are welcome anytime! ❤ Let me know if you need an
Orthodox godfather :)
I just had a son 7 weeks ago and my very happy carefree husband started experiencing postpartum anxiety. He would say "I can't stop thinking, I can't relax there's all these thoughts in my head" he'd think so much about scary health and death related stuff he would end up in a full blown panic attack. Overthinking is a symptom of anxiety. You can't stop being anxious by overthinking how not to be.
Such a life change when a child is born but anxiety is paralysing. Sorry that this is happening and it is because he cares so much. Challenging for you too of course. Perhaps professional counselling for him might help? Seems as though he just needs to work through this adjustment with some help.
I had a panic attack because I was thinking too much about tragedy and death. Im sure your husband is experiencing some existential fears since he brought new life into the world. I hope he is doing better. I coped by cutting coffee, avoiding negative media, and watching comedy and being around people. God bless!
@@tanyaz1812no, professional counseling very rarely will work. It actually destroyed my life. A person in a delicate mindset should not seek psychiatric doctors.
He can take Bach rescue remedy
Wow! Beautifully unravelled. Absolutely! From the heart, bro ♥️
I have an orthodox church nearby but I’ve felt too shy to attend service due to the fact that I was born Catholic. Maybe I should just go, this video is convincing me!
Go, go! :) Ask God to give you courage!
You absolutely should go! Nothing to be ashed of at all. When they learn that you were born catholic they will be happy that you have come to orthodox church. God bless you. Wish you all the best
You must come back to the real church our Lord Savior Jesus Christ created himself! The time to act is now!
I would recommend you attend a Latin Rite Catholic mass or Byzantine Rite Catholic mass, there are many rites within the Catholic church!! 😊
I was born protestant and didn't go to church my entire life for 34 years. What excuse do you have to not commune with your Lord?
This is the type of wisdom this world needs. We are to prideful and are to use to being reassured for our selfish needs
❤⛪🙏☦GOD BE WITH US IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST EVIL ☦🙏🕊💪
I came to Christ a few years ago...i am really interested in Orthodoxy....here in new orleans theres not many options ...follow it on youtube....great advice. I only trust in Christ...i do beat myself up and this message helps so much. I was diagnosed as bipolar yada yada yada..havent taken meds for years. Never will again.
I remember reading in the 80's one therapist would tell his patients to volunteer somewhere.
Many thanks ✨
Greetings from Romania 🇷🇴
I completely agree with all this up to the point on "self love". As someone who has suffered from self esteem issues for years and has let others views dictate my direction. For me self love is being free, loving yourself enough to put you in front of God (and serve others). The devil wants us to be depressed and fall into despair.
Just my thoughts. I love this channel though. And I'm grateful for finding direction with God.
I agree wholeheartedly. I have so much shame and self hatred. Self love has been important for me. Recognizing myself as a daughter of Christ, made in his image has changed me.
Yess. Instead of self love, I think it’s more accurate to say “self-compassion” treat yourself like you would treat your friends! It’s helped me so much and helped me get out of my head so i can be more perceptive to others.
Agree. Trauma survivors usually hate themselves, and not in a spiritually fruitful way. But God can transform it
I agree wholeheartedly
I think he was speaking of self love as in “self” as an idol. I definitely believe we are to respect, care for, and love ourselves as our lives are a gift from Him. ❤
I love that he mentioned Viktor Frankl’s emphasis on meaning!
The part about self-love really opened my eyes there. It’s so true. Everytime i go down a hill in life i think that i should be loving myself and take this time to just love me, and looking back this way has never truly helped me. The only times I’ve felt like i was doing right was by doing right by others, therefore finding my surroundings with positive loving people. Which reminds me of a bible verse somewhere where it says you are who you hang around with (definitely not those words) but somewhere along that message. Definitely needed to hear this! ❤️
While I have seen this segment before, I have recently been reading Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future by Fr Seraphim Rose. The beginning of the book begins with discussing Hinduism and how it is antithetical to Christianity.
Rewatching this reinforces what Fr Rose taught, and does so in a more concise manner.
☦️
This resonated with me so much, curse my pride. Bless you Father.
I have spent a life time serving others, they have taken all that i had to give now they h8gh flying and have totalky forgotten me, and regard me as an after thought, my advice to people is to love and serve yourself first, if you have spare to share thats fine but see to yourself first you have a duty to serve yourself first otherwise you could end up with barely your life.i learned all this the hard way.
Exactly, people drain you.
Focus on your mental and physical health, just saying go clean a room may not be helpful in the long term on its own.
This is especially an important point for people pleasers, and givers whose are taken advantage of. It is important to know when & how to set healthy boundaries.
Draw from the well of yourself trying to help others and this well will inevitably (but usually quickly) run dry. Serve and give from the well of living water, to whatever small degree that you actually draw from it yourself, and you will never thirst in this way again.
Wow this is actually very deep. Even from a non believer angle, "beware the self-love" movement is an extremely good advice. Follow your heart is not "yolo do whatever we want". thank Father
Amen to every bit of this- signed, a protestant
I am so glad I have found this channel and this priest.
I have watched all the videos of his channel.
God bless him :)
True. Do these things, it works. If you can exercise just talk a walk, you’ll feel better. Breathe the outside air, get out of the house. If you can’t get out of your head when you exercise, pray while you exercise.
I needed this so much, thank you!
Just perfect and practical advice Father. Thank you.
Amen Father.
Glory to God ❤
this makes so much sense. in a way, i am obsessed with myself. i am obsessed with myself in a negative sense for the most part but obsessed nonetheless. i have indeed noticed that the more i think about myself, the more anxious and depressed i become. i will take this message and move forward with it. thank you
By His stripes we are healed.
What stripes?
@andrewlilley3660 the wounds He received on His body...Isaiah 53:5 NKJV But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
@@hollyl4425 Jesus is a metaphor, it's the Sun! All that baloney is an attempt to have us in a constant state of contrition, and sadly, people believe in a sky daddy.
The chastisement for our peace, are you for real?
We've never known peace, that should tell you something, but keep eulogizing and everything will be rosy, except it never has been.
@andrewlilley3660 If you knew how much peace and inner healing I've received by forgiving my Mom for severe neglect and abuse, made possible only by the power of Holy Spirit, you would want His peace for yourself. I was once a skeptic too, as a lukewarm believer, but once I finally surrendered to Christ, He is bringing me peace and increasingly setting me free from things like looking for validation from others. I wish and pray the same for you - that you would truly know you are a son of the living God.
Amen!
I've been battling severe depression this weekend and I really don't know why, never had it like this just know it's the enemy. I've been through a lot this year but did not allow it to break me. My mom was in hospital, then my grandma had a heart attack, then we had a home robbery and I lost my job. It all hit my this weekend mentally and I am so glad to have watched this video and I am going to attempt this list and most of all I need to pray and need prayer. Greetings from a Greek Orthodox pentecostal Christian 🙏🏼💕
What a great priest!
Thank You ✝️🙏😊
Thanks, Father. Whether offered in the confession or here, truth and effective!
Amen Father.🙏☦️❤️
This is so important, the distinctions that Fr. Paul illustrates between the worldly view of the human being and the Orthodox Christian view of the human being. Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos speaks of this in his books on Orthodox psychotherapy.
Such a young man and absolutely the best advice I have ever heard!!! Thank God for you!
This is 110% the best advice for anxiety and depression. I hope more people see this video!
Very nice to heard orhodox preach on english language, what a nice sight, without irony.
Respect to you father.
5 suicides in my family.Grandfather , father, uncle, 2 cousins.
The depression /anxiety is a damned curse in my veins.
I’ve loved and know Jesus 40 years now.
I’d meditate , pray, swim 3 miles a week and play rec sports 3-5 times weekly.
Worked with many “ least of these”
Therapy , friends, hobbies etc.
The fight to just get going day at a time is quite real.
Waxes and wanes.
I’m on one med , stay close to Jesus, ALWAYS known I was tremendously blessed , yet, the struggle remains.
Complex dynamics.
Not as simple as this person of faith shares.
One day at a time.
The love /hope/and belief in/of Jesus has kept me here.He suffered , this life has tribulation , He has overcome the world.
My rock of ages.
Your strength and struggle are awe-inspiring, brother. I am so sorry for your loss. I have also struggled with depression for many years now. It's almost impossible to explain it to someone who hasn't experienced it. There were times when I would feel suicidal every half hour. Only in the past year or so when I formed a relationship with Christ and taken some positive steps that I have noticed a remarkable change. You seem to have done all the right things, yet as you correctly say the struggle remains, maybe for some of us ( I think I might be in this camp) it's a life long struggle. But let us never lose hope. I love you, my brother in Christ, and I pray for you. God bless.
Yes this is spiritual warfare. Spirits are everywhere and one’s thoughts and feelings can be influenced by different spirits. That’s why we must pray constantly and be led by the Holy Spirit.
The more one has potential to spread love, the gospel and win souls for the kingdom of heaven, the more the demons will attack that person and cause all kinds of obstacles and tribulations in their life.
All the Fathers of the Church endured immense spiritual warfare and this is how they suffered with Christ.
I think an intergenerational demon of suicide haunted your family through the generations and is now very angry that you chose Jesus and keep living. My advice is to not give, recognize the negative thoughts as coming from the dark spirits and keep your faith in Jesus strong as a rock
It’s a daily fight for your soul. Sometimes hourly. It will take time, but you’re on the right track. Regular confession is very helpful
Maybe you need deliverance from that generational curse of suicide . May God break that curse in your family and over you in Jesus name ! You already have victory in Christ! Claim it ❤🙏. Praying for you brother
Leaving grave situations such as schizophrenia etc aside, this is the best advice ever on depression and anxiety. There is so much truth in the statement that the more you dig into yourself the worst the depression-anxiety spiral becomes.
Actual clinical depression is a grave condition as well. I would say schizophrenia is worse, but I don't think this priest understands depression as an illness. He's describing it as a feeling that one can just change.
Many blessings to you! Thank you for being our Father at SPPOC!
Thanks
Thank you! God bless
God bless you! Thank you for serving the Lord ❤✝
Thanks!
Thank you! God bless 🙏
Thank you, Father. This makes many things so much clearer.
Love this servant of Christ 🥰