Is religion bad for schizophrenia?

This is something I struggle with really bad. I was raised seventh day Adventist. Then I became an atheist. Now I’m just a ecumenical, unity of humankind, Christian. I don’t adhere to any belief that one religion is the only way though. In many countries religion is more of a sense of National identity and culture.

I love the bible. But all the ■■■■ about demons and hell makes my symptoms worse.

I’m sorry everyone. I had a traumatic experience this night, earlier.

I guess I’m looking for answers on the grand philosophical questions of life and it’s meaning.

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No, it can actually help. But everything in moderation, it’s OK as long as you don’t obsess or get extreme about it. And getting obsessed with it is a very real danger for some people with schizophrenia.

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Suddenly becoming very religious is a common red flag

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when you think you are a prophet or jesus or god then there is a problem. :scream_cat:
unless you ’ really ’ are a prophet or jesus or god…and then i bow to you masterful one…lol :flushed:
take care :alien:

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Lol sometimes I do have delusions that I’m a Jewish prophet. Weird and bizarre. It’s probably time for me to put the religion down and get some yoga sandals and meditate in the woods. :wink:

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Religion can be a problem if certain scriptures, beliefs, or situations trigger your symptoms or illness. Religion is something that should build you up, not blow you up. If you find it is starting to make your illness go ‘boom’, step away from it for a bit.

There was a long time I didn’t dare watch X-Files or anything like it. Would get me foaming at the mouth. Doesn’t set me off these days now that meds are helping me keep my illness under wraps.

Pixel.

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For me it can be a trigger. I think people who were not raised in a very hardcore religious environment/household might have a hard time understanding how religion could set someone off who is already prone to intrusive thoughts, paranoia, psychosis and so on.

The brain derives the material for psychosis from somewhere. I highly doubt that someone with schizophrenia who grew up alone on an island could have paranoid delusions about the government spying on them, without ever even knowing what a government or spy technology is. It has to be derived from somewhere.

If you grew up in an extremist religious environment, then your brain may very well draw on that material during psychosis. It’s an easy door to open if at some point in your life (childhood) you believed in those things (threat of demons, etc) without any psychosis present. Just makes it that much easier for the mind to run wild with it.

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I wouldn’t have survived without my faith, AND I suffer delusions as a result of my faith. I’ll never give up my core beliefs in a loving and supportive God; that’s obviously very helpful. But I do have to be careful about how involved I get because I’ll slip right back into heavy delusions of demon possession, etc. I don’t throw the baby out with the bath water, so to speak, but being moderate and careful is important.

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So are the Kardashians, but you won’t find me following them.

I say go with what is logical to you and don’t try to be something you aren’t. If it is causing you unnecessary stress and making your symptoms worse, abandon it if possible.

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my mother in law said she wanted me to get prayed over and then have the house blessed so the voices don’t come over to their part of the house and torment them. This caused a mild breakdown, I thought I was possessed but I was able to rationalize it, thankfully.

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I’m sorry @cbbrown. My family always wants to ‘lay hands’ on me.
I tell them I’ve had enough of that…

It depends on the individual person, some people with schizophrenia/SZA can handle Religion, others like myself cannot.

My psychosis involved an overload of spirituality and Religious themes - I cannot hadle Religion but do consider myself somewhat spiritual.

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I kind of put my foot down and said no, my partner didn’t want me to tell her about how I felt possessed she said that would make her mom freak out, and drag me to church for an exorcism.

I’ll never understand.

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Becoming religious is a bad sign for me. I’m atheist. I have a guardian angel, Jerek, who comes to me when I get delusional. When Jerek appears it’s time to call the pdoc. Jerek made me believe I could walk on water and have Jesuses abilities. Made me end up in hospital…before I got wet.

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I think if it lifts you it;s good and if it scares you it’s bad. Only you would know what effect it has on you.

Pixel agreed on the island scenario, are you one of the schizs? or the infested? as I call us. MM

Yes. Schiz. Schizophrenic. Whackdoodle. Nutter. That’s me.

Labels can’t stick to Awesome, that’s my theory.

Pixel.

Hun, my belief there is defo our energy lives on, Not bothered eathier way but have so much evidence, History you must know the book has been changed to control people look into history, just e a good person, smile at a stranger and that smile may go on for a long time you made good in the world x

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Ha! good, me too. If you can check out my post on The Alien Theory.MM