Beyond Despair

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Orleans1

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Apologies if I have posted this on the wrong forum - I have just joined.

After a number of years of mental ill health, 4 hospital admissions, numerous psychiatrists and medications, ECT and psychology, also lots of alternative therapies and huge efforts on my own behalf I have reached a point beyond despair. All have been to no avail.

Having returned to the church some 6 months ago I pray many times a day as well as going to Mass and Holy Communion. My prayers as yet have gone unanswered and my mental health is seriously bad. I am truly a lost soul searching in the dark and for me life is merely an existence which I no longer want to experience.

I would be so grateful to anyone who would pray for me.
 
Be assured of my prayers and please read the following posts. Fr. Serpa has offer claimed that those with mental illness are closely united to Christ’s Passion by their suffering.
Your mental illness is a way of loving Him back. He knows what it is like to suffer in one’s mind. He is giving you a share in His passion and He is right there with you. Everyone has a cross—even those who seem to not have one. forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=257159
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And:
ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=478082&Forums=0&Experts=0&Days=2006&Author=&Keyword=&pgnu=3&groupnum=120&record_bookmark=30145
 
Orleans1 said:
Apologies if I have posted this on the wrong forum - I have just joined.

After a number of years of mental ill health, 4 hospital admissions, numerous psychiatrists and medications, ECT and psychology, also lots of alternative therapies and huge efforts on my own behalf I have reached a point beyond despair. All have been to no avail.

Having returned to the church some 6 months ago I pray many times a day as well as going to Mass and Holy Communion. My prayers as yet have gone unanswered and my mental health is seriously bad. I am truly a lost soul searching in the dark and for me life is merely an existence which I no longer want to experience.

I would be so grateful to anyone who would pray for me.
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Wow! Now, you have REALLY suffered!

Of course, we’ll pray for you.

Also, had you ever prayed to St. Dymphna?
 
St. Dymphna, please help Orleans1 and keep her/him away from despair.

God answers all prayers, but the answer isn’t always Yes.

The closest Christ came to despair was when He cried out “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” It was not really despair at all, but in His human emotions it must have felt like it. I think by this cry He showed how deeply He understands the mentally ill, who feel forsaken even by God Himself. He understands them far more deeply than they do themselves.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
 
Hi Orleans1,

I am so very sorry for your struggles and for your suffering.

Please don’t give up. We care about you here on the forum.

God loves you so very, very, much.

I believe it was St. Padre Pio who said that, “Jesus is closest to us when we suffer.”

Luke 12:7 from Scripture, came to my mind for you, where Jesus “tells us not to worry, as God counts the hairs on our heads…”

Here is a link to the various translations of it, if you would like to read it. It is one of my favorite verses:

biblehub.com/luke/12-7.htm

When I would feel really bad and would feel very troubled, I would go to Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, and sit quietly before the Lord. I have mentioned this in other posts that I have made here in the forum. This has really personally helped me.

Sometimes I wouldn’t do anything else but just sit there for the whole Holy Hour.

If I couldn’t make it to Adoration, I would just sit quietly in church, before Mass started. I would personally find both of those times very calming and comforting, when I would just sit before the Lord.

Prayers said for you, dear one.

Hang in there.
 
Orleans1 said:
Apologies if I have posted this on the wrong forum - I have just joined.

After a number of years of mental ill health, 4 hospital admissions, numerous psychiatrists and medications, ECT and psychology, also lots of alternative therapies and huge efforts on my own behalf I have reached a point beyond despair. All have been to no avail.

Having returned to the church some 6 months ago I pray many times a day as well as going to Mass and Holy Communion. My prayers as yet have gone unanswered and my mental health is seriously bad. I am truly a lost soul searching in the dark and for me life is merely an existence which I no longer want to experience.

I would be so grateful to anyone who would pray for me.
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Welcome home & to CAF Orleans1.:tiphat:👋
Make yourself at home.
Glad to have you here with us.
Enjoy the forums & resources.
We are all here to help each other grow in faith.
I’ll be praying to St. Dymphna for your health & recovery.
God bless you.:harp::highprayer:
 
Lord God, Who has graciously chosen St. Dymphna to be the patroness of those afflicted with mental and nervous disorders, and has caused her to be an inspiration and a symbol of charity to the thousands who invoke her intercession, grant through the prayers of this pure, youthful martyr, relief and consolation to all who suffer from these disturbances, and especially to those for whom we now pray. Today we pray for Orleans1. We beg You to accept and grant the prayers of St. Dymphna on our behalf. Grant to those we have particularly recommended patience in their sufferings and resignation to Your Divine Will. Fill them with hope and, if it is according to Your Divine Plan, bestow upon them the cure they so earnestly desire. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Orleans1, are there masses with healing prayers held anywhere nearby? My parish has them about once a month, and we recently had a mini-mission with Father Richard McAlear (frmac.org/). Amazing things seemed to be happening. Father McAlear also talks about letting go of the things that block our healing. If he’s not coming to your area, there are videos on his website.

Praying for you…
 
A prayer against depression

O Christ Jesus
When all is darkness
And we feel our weakness and helplessness,
Give us the sense of Your Presence,
Your Love and Your Strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
In Your protecting love
And strengthening power,
So that nothing may frighten or worry us,
For, living close to You,
We shall see Your Hand,
Your Purpose, Your Will through all things.

By St. Ignatius of Loyola

​
 
What jumped straight into my thoughts is the father of a Saint whose feast-day is October 1, Saint Therese of Lisieux.
Her Papa, Louis Martin (and his wife) was beatified by Saint John Paul 2.
Louis Martin in the last years of his life, suffered mental illness.
No the prayers of his saintly daughter didn’t cure him, but in God’s eyes, the good he did when he was able, lifted him to sainthood.

Don’t give up, Love.
You battle with far more than any of us do, yet strive the best you can manage ( note, ‘can manage’)
Trust that God loves you, that He sees in you far more than anyone can, even yourself. That even as you are, you are incredibly beautiful and precious to Him.

Kind wishes,
and my prayers for you,
Trishie
 
Trishie said:
Don’t give up, Love.
You battle with far more than any of us do, yet strive the best you can manage ( note, ‘can manage’)
Trust that God loves you, that He sees in you far more than anyone can, even yourself. That even as you are, you are incredibly beautiful and precious to Him.
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Beautifully said, Trishie. God bless you!
 
Trishie said:
What jumped straight into my thoughts is the father of a Saint whose feast-day is October 1, Saint Therese of Lisieux.
Her Papa, Louis Martin (and his wife) was beatified by Saint John Paul 2.
Louis Martin in the last years of his life, suffered mental illness.
No the prayers of his saintly daughter didn’t cure him, but in God’s eyes, the good he did when he was able, lifted him to sainthood.

Don’t give up, Love.
You battle with far more than any of us do, yet strive the best you can manage ( note, ‘can manage’)
Trust that God loves you, that He sees in you far more than anyone can, even yourself. That even as you are, you are incredibly beautiful and precious to Him.

Kind wishes,
and my prayers for you,
Trishie
Click to expand...
So true…

:hug3:

:signofcross:
 
Orleans1 said:
Apologies if I have posted this on the wrong forum - I have just joined.

After a number of years of mental ill health, 4 hospital admissions, numerous psychiatrists and medications, ECT and psychology, also lots of alternative therapies and huge efforts on my own behalf I have reached a point beyond despair. All have been to no avail.

Having returned to the church some 6 months ago I pray many times a day as well as going to Mass and Holy Communion. My prayers as yet have gone unanswered and my mental health is seriously bad. I am truly a lost soul searching in the dark and for me life is merely an existence which I no longer want to experience.

I would be so grateful to anyone who would pray for me.
Click to expand...
Sweetie, I know about the despair you are talking about because I’ve been there too. I still have my diagnosis of mental illness, for which I take plenty of meds and all that, but I’m learning to accept it as part of the suffering of this life. Some days are better than others. I’m fairly stable right now, but I also know that I could go down hill real fast under certain circumstances. I pray that the Lord help you through this time, and that St. Dymphna and Our Lady of Mental Peace give you help.

O Lady of mental peace,
mother of Tranquility and
Mother of hope,
look upon me in this time
of disquiet and weakness.
Still my restless spirit,
teach my searching heart to know
that God’s love for me
is unchanging and that the suffering
which He may will for me now
is to draw me closer to Him.
Let thy gentle peace and His—
which the world cannot give—
be always with me, that I may
be sanctified: and then:
I beseech thee
for the grace to bring this
peace to others.
Jess, My Savior, I give myself
to thee through Mary:
Our Lady of Mental peace,
pray for me!
 
Our Father who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen. :signofcross:

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen. :signofcross:
 
Please precious Lord be near to and encourage this dear soul who is weary in battle. Amen.

O Lady of mental peace,
mother of Tranquility and
Mother of hope,
look upon me in this time
of disquiet and weakness.
Still my restless spirit,
teach my searching heart to know
that God’s love for me
is unchanging and that the suffering
which He may will for me now
is to draw me closer to Him.
Let thy gentle peace and His—
which the world cannot give—
be always with me, that I may
be sanctified: and then:
I beseech thee
for the grace to bring this
peace to others.
Jess, My Savior, I give myself
to thee through Mary:
Our Lady of Mental peace,
pray for me!

My love and prayers,
mlz
 
Christy_Beth said:
O Lady of mental peace,
mother of Tranquility and
Mother of hope,
look upon me in this time
of disquiet and weakness.
Still my restless spirit,
teach my searching heart to know
that God’s love for me
is unchanging and that the suffering
which He may will for me now
is to draw me closer to Him.
Let thy gentle peace and His—
which the world cannot give—
be always with me, that I may
be sanctified: and then:
I beseech thee
for the grace to bring this
peace to others.
Jess, My Savior, I give myself
to thee through Mary:
Our Lady of Mental peace,
pray for me!
Click to expand...
[SIGN]Amen![/SIGN]
 
In these forums we can offer you support in various ways, and spiritual support is what we can offer, when we are at our best.

I came across a book after hearing one of the authors discuss the subject, which is called Happiness is a Choice.

It is written by Christian psychiatrists who can bring that dimension of faith into their therapy and give reassurance based on the promises of God in the Bible.

As a teenager, I suffered from depression and found that I was the one in charge of my therapy and I had to make decisions about how I was going to allow myself to feel. I was looking for alternatives to feeling bad. And, in a poor and dysfunctional environment, it was an uphill climb.

What I found helpful is by making progress – setting realistic goals and accomplishing those goals, to give me something to feel good about myself. And, in our Christian faith, in the Catholic Church, we have a treasure in the Mass and the Eucharist, where we encounter Christ and achieve that union that we so long for.

I think it was St. Augustine who said our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee. I encourage you to find moments of rest, in union with Christ.I hope and pray that you can prove to yourself that you can control your feelings and thoughts and fill your mind with, yes, happiness.

The Catechism Section 4 on Prayer notes that the “Hail Mary” might be better translated as “Rejoice”

Rejoice O Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee !
Blessed art thou among women !
And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus !

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us, sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death,
Amen.

Make this change and put this word of joy into your vocabulary and prayer

Rejoice

As the priest says at Mass, Lift up your hearts!
We lift our hearts to the Lord

And, in all things, be thankful – for everything – the mail, the barking dog, a parking space – everything. Stay on the positive side as much as you can.
 
Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Remember oh most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence I fly unto thee oh Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee I come, before thee i stand, sinful and sorrowful. Oh Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray and do thou oh Prince of the Heavenly Host by the power of God cast into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
 
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.

†

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

†

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

†
 
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