Catholic with Anxiety

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Hello friends,

Many people experience a sort of world-crushing anxiety and depression day and night. Talking to psychologists, taking medicine, and doing breathing exercises all turn out to be useless for them. Their one hope and joy is Christ, but in the darker times He seems far-away, angry, and empty.

Has anyone ever come across meditation that tends to relax the soul? The goal of contemplation generally does not seem to be calm, however, so it might be the wrong question to ask. 😊
 
First of all, to start, say a prayer to St Dymphna who is the patron of such things.

Have you tried talking to a priest?
 
I have the diagnosis of Anxiety and Depression, along with a couple of other things. As crushing as it is for now, know that it won’t always be that way. Keep trying diferent doctors and medication until you find what helps you. It might still seem dark, but there will be a glimmer of hope there. Group therapy is another option. At one time, after trying several of them, I thought group therapy was a total loss. But I finally found a place where my needs are being somewhat met. No one person or thing will help completely. For completion, we need to have God.

I’ll admit that I still have bad days. There are times, especially at night when I can’t sleep, when I feel that I am truly being crushed. If you ever feel that way, call a crisis line. There will (should) be someone there to help you. Don’t give up. As I keep telling myself, God ain’t done with me yet.
 
LoyalViews said:
First of all, to start, say a prayer to St Dymphna who is the patron of such things.

Have you tried talking to a priest?
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St. Dymphna & St. Jude are the first friends I thought of. :o

Thank God, there is a very mystical, intelligent, and wise priest from Milan who also has a degree in psychology. He seems to have a way of piercing me, specifically, with his ability to read hearts. I am speaking to him more regularly than before. My problem is a 24/7 sort of “heaviness”, crushing, or perpetual heart-break/heart-ache. Nothing specifically causes it… so that’s why I was hoping to find non-heretical, non-“centering prayer” meditation to counteract it, and grant peace.
Christy_Beth said:
I have the diagnosis of Anxiety and Depression, along with a couple of other things. As crushing as it is for now, know that it won’t always be that way. Keep trying diferent doctors and medication until you find what helps you. It might still seem dark, but there will be a glimmer of hope there. Group therapy is another option. At one time, after trying several of them, I thought group therapy was a total loss. But I finally found a place where my needs are being somewhat met. No one person or thing will help completely. For completion, we need to have God.

I’ll admit that I still have bad days. There are times, especially at night when I can’t sleep, when I feel that I am truly being crushed. If you ever feel that way, call a crisis line. There will (should) be someone there to help you. Don’t give up. As I keep telling myself, God ain’t done with me yet.
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Therapy is pretty useless… advice is worthless if it can’t be carried out or has no effect. Medication does nothing. Praying the rosary while going out for walks helps, as well as my own form of the Trisagion: “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us all and grant us peace”.

Not sure who found this, but in “Footprints”, Christ says to us:

“My child. I love you and would never forsake you. During those times in your life when you needed me the most and you only see one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

A good thing to hear. 🙂
 
Classicist said:
Has anyone ever come across meditation that tends to relax the soul? The goal of contemplation generally does not seem to be calm, however, so it might be the wrong question to ask. 😊
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When my anxiety level is high, there is no way I can manage meditation. But oddly enough, a caffeine pill sometimes helps me to focus & calms my nerves. Not coffee - too much coffee has unfortnate side affects for me - but straight caffeine.

Off topic, but is anxiety & fear of crowds inherited? My young adult daughter recently told me she suffers from them, too. But I never noticed either in my parents. I’d like to help her (& myself) if I can.
 
I have anxiety among other things. I find that listening to classical music before bed helps and sends me into a form of meditation and relaxation before I go to sleep. I also found some great CDs by Bellaruth Naperstak who runs Health Journeys which deal with anxiety.

I also find that prayer helps. I first tell God all my concerns and worries, and then move into praising Him and relaxing into His presence.

Bonnie and all, there is an organization called NAMI in the US (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) which offers resources for all types of mental illness, including anxiety. You can visit their website at nami.org
 
Classicist said:
My problem is a 24/7 sort of “heaviness”, crushing, or perpetual heart-break/heart-ache. Nothing specifically causes it… so that’s why I was hoping to find non-heretical, non-“centering prayer” meditation to counteract it, and grant peace.
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I have periods when I am exactly like that. I have started looking into Carmelite spirituality in order to overcome this and it has been really helpful. There are several threads going on about it at the moment, and they provide good advice, reference books and other resources that come in handy. It basically teaches that we should always look to God, in every moment of our day. It is a long journey and I am at the very beginning, and what I am doing at the moment is trying to remind myself of the reality of God’s presence. Whenever my thoughts wonder into territory that results in me feeling angry, scared or despairing, I make a conscious effort not to entertaint these thoughts and to focus on Christ instead. I do that by saying a short prayer (the example you give above is a great way to do it), picture Jesus or something related to our faith that gives me comfort. The point of that is to stay recollected, in the presence of God. It is hard at first. I do that over and over again during the day. It is not easy because my mind is so scattered and I am constantly assaulted by thoughts that are very upsetting. But it is a battle and I have just started. I have to say that I have been feeling more calm and happier ever since. Give it a go. Carmelite spirituality is amazing and for everybody, not just for those suffering like you and me. (Just for additional info, centering prayer uses it as the foundation for their ideas but unfortunately it added on a lot of new age junk.)
 
Classicist said:
Therapy is pretty useless… advice is worthless if it can’t be carried out or has no effect. Medication does nothing. Praying the rosary while going out for walks helps, as well as my own form of the Trisagion
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First, anxiety is a medical condition, not just an emotional or spiritual one. I’m not discounting the effects of prayer and going for walks, but sometimes a person needs more than just these two things. Second, therapy CAN help. CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders. It’s not “advice”; it’s aimed at addressing the root of a person’s anxiety. However, it will not help if the person isn’t willing to put in the work required to change things. Third, some old-school medications are more effective in treating anxiety than the newer SSRIs. Sometimes it takes trying more than one medication to help control anxiety. A good resource is The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne.
 
Classicist said:
St. Dymphna & St. Jude are the first friends I thought of. :o

Thank God, there is a very mystical, intelligent, and wise priest from Milan who also has a degree in psychology. He seems to have a way of piercing me, specifically, with his ability to read hearts. I am speaking to him more regularly than before. My problem is a 24/7 sort of “heaviness”, crushing, or perpetual heart-break/heart-ache. Nothing specifically causes it… so that’s why I was hoping to find non-heretical, non-“centering prayer” meditation to counteract it, and grant peace.

Therapy is pretty useless… advice is worthless if it can’t be carried out or has no effect. Medication does nothing. Praying the rosary while going out for walks helps, as well as my own form of the Trisagion: “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us all and grant us peace”.

Not sure who found this, but in “Footprints”, Christ says to us:

“My child. I love you and would never forsake you. During those times in your life when you needed me the most and you only see one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

A good thing to hear. 🙂
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As Catholic_Wie has said, therapy and medication aren’t useless. It will take some effort on your part, and taking the time to find the right medication and therapist is sometimes hard to do. But keep trying. If this anxiety is over a specific issue, then help with that issue is definitely called for. Don’t try to go it alone. We are here to help, but we can’t take the place of medical assistance. Often times both are necessary.
 
I struggle a lot with depression and anxiety. I have tried counseling, and medication (per the counselor/psychiatrist’s recommendation) but I had to stop taking it because it kept me up at night, every night. Unbearable. And the counseling only went so far (this was an on-campus counselor and psychiatrist so it may not have been top-notch quality). Something that I have found that helps me through depression and anxiety is recognizing the feelings, facing them and replacing them. Facing your issues is the only way of getting over them. Avoiding them or wallowing in them only makes it worse. Also for me I can relate to your feeling like God is distant. I have a lot of issues with doubting especially since I am now living in a place where secularism is the norm… Something that I am trying to work on is developing a real relationship with God, and realizing his true presence in my life. It is amazing to me how difficult it is to do this. When I am “forced” into a situation where I have to rely on God, there is a peace and a solidarity that I don’t find anywhere else but in life there are so many distractions and I never feel up to it… Personally I think this is because of Satan’s involvement.
 
I suggest you listen to the song “Holy Darkness.”

The lyrics were inspired by St. John of the Cross, with a side helping of Job.

Lyrics to: Holy Darkness, by Dan Schutte

HOLY DARKNESS

Refrain
Holy darkness, blessed night,
heaven’s answer hidden from our sight.
As we await you, O God of silence,
we embrace your holy night.
  1. I have tried you in fires of affliction;
    I have taught your soul to grieve.
    In the barren soil of your loneliness,
    there I will plant my seed.
  2. I have taught you the price of compassion;
    you have stood before the grave.
    Though my love can seem
    like a raging storm,
    this is the love that saves.
  3. Were you there
    when I raised up the mountains?
    Can you guide the morning star?
    Does the hawk take flight
    when you give command?
    Why do you doubt my pow’r?
  4. In your deepest hour of darkness
    I will give you wealth untold.
    When the silence stills your spirit,
    will my riches fill your soul.
  5. As the watchman waits for morning,
    and the bride awaits her groom,
    so we wait to hear your footsteps
    as we rest beneath your moon.
 
CompSciGuy said:
I struggle a lot with depression and anxiety. I have tried counseling, and medication (per the counselor/psychiatrist’s recommendation) but I had to stop taking it because it kept me up at night, every night. Unbearable. And the counseling only went so far (this was an on-campus counselor and psychiatrist so it may not have been top-notch quality). Something that I have found that helps me through depression and anxiety is recognizing the feelings, facing them and replacing them. Facing your issues is the only way of getting over them. Avoiding them or wallowing in them only makes it worse. Also for me I can relate to your feeling like God is distant. I have a lot of issues with doubting especially since I am now living in a place where secularism is the norm… Something that I am trying to work on is developing a real relationship with God, and realizing his true presence in my life. It is amazing to me how difficult it is to do this. When I am “forced” into a situation where I have to rely on God, there is a peace and a solidarity that I don’t find anywhere else but in life there are so many distractions and I never feel up to it… Personally I think this is because of Satan’s involvement.
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There is more than just one medication for depression and anxiety. And, yes, there may be some that disrupt your sleep, but that can be dealt with. And just because one didn’t work (I’m referring to medication and therapist), try another. Not everyone can face, and beat, the darkness of these two. What must be faced, with the help of an appropriate taught therapist/counselor, is what is behind all of this. My depression goes back to childhood. And most of it hasn’t been appropriately addressed. I’m now in a position where it looks like that may change soon. All I can say is, with all the doctors I’ve talked to about this, it seems like one of them should have seen this need earlier. For years I didn’t know what I needed. All I could see was the darkness and pain.

I haven’t received any “magic pill” or whatever. But the stuff “feeding” my depression and anxiety is being addressed. It takes time, after all, this stuff doesn’t happen overnight. The “cure” won’t happen overnight either.
 
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