To sum things up, my life has been pretty shitty lately. My mom passed away six months ago, my dad is a drunk. My best friend moved away maybe a month ago. My boyfriend's.. not. My grades have been less than great and I think bits of my brain are falling out somehow at night- Why else would it seem that my life's being turned upside down?

I never did drugs or anything else noteworthingly 'bad'. I respected my parents when I had the chance and I recieved good marks in school. I grew up as a non-practicing Christian- That is, my family beleived in God, but we didn't go to church or pray regularly.

I've tried to be openminded. I thought maybe I'd get a sign somehow. I don't care what it is, just something. I haven't gotten anything. My faith is on low and I'm teetering on the edge of becoming an athiest. I mean, this God character isn't doing much to save my sanity.

Any words of wisdom? How do you guys cope and hold on? What religion are you?

I'm atheist in the sense I don't bow to any God. I deal with things the same way Christians, Muslims, Jews, Pagans, and other religions do. I find comfort in something, and ride it until the storm is over. I generally find my comfort in art, writing, friends, and the occasional crying. Religious people generally find their comfort from the community around their area of worship, and from the thought that God is with them through it all and that it's just another storm to make them stronger. I guess you should be honest with yourself: Do you believe a God exists and will help you weather the storm and make you stronger, or do you believe that you must weather the storm with your friends and with yourself to create a life experience that makes you stronger?

Whichever it is that seems right to you, I wish you the best of luck with it. I had a similar situation six years ago in which I lost a good deal of my faith in the idea of a caring God...I felt dead for several years, but I'm fine now. Just know this: Things can get better if you try your damndest to improve them.

Here's your sign! http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif)

The existence of any God is irrelevant in this case. It is you and you alone that must brave the storm.

There are many things in life which will seek to test your resolve. They will either cripple/destroy you or you will emerge as a better person because of them.

So the real question is, do you have what it takes to make it through?