>lifelong agnostic/atheist
>chronically ill, depression, etc.
>take pride in working through it myself
>hit a rough patch (really rough, moved back w/ parents, etc. at 23)
>thinking about prayer as a way to reduce anxiety
How unreasonable is this? After all it's a way to reduce overall anxiety and take control over things I know fully well I don't have any control over.
OP here, I ask this here because you're the most rational people I know
It will only reduce anxiety if you believe God might actually be listening.
Prayer isn't bad actually. I liken it to self talk which can be good for the psyche. As far as whether or not you can logically determine is has an effect, well obviously it doesn't, but just feeling like someone is there can make things better even if there isn't. Hell you might even induce a strong enough placebo to actually physically change you to a degree.
I would say that praying to a god that you don't really believe in wont help you out that much. If you feel like praying would help then meditation may also help.
This is usually my thing. Just the chance that there may be someone at least listening makes me feel better. In which case I guess I've answered my own question.
agreed, though i'm a newbie at mediation, so my concentration is lacking
Then what damage can it do. It sounds like you're in a position without much reprieve so go ahead and pray, we all need hope for a better life.
Im a doctor and a huge amount of my lifelong patients are deeply religious, why not when the life they have materially is so rotten?
Im guessing IBD, literally everyone seems to have it now.
You're not an atheist