Does this mean I don't have faith?

[Lookingforjoy]

My 11-year-old son has been struggling mightily with anxiety, to the point of contemplating suicide. Yesterday in church the priest told us about Bl. Solanus Casey, who was so caring and humble and loved to help the sick. Last night I prayed to Bl. Solanus and to God to help my son.

This morning he woke up and one of the first things he said was, “It’s so nice to have a positive outlook on life.” He seem so even-keeled today. I’m absolutely floored and so grateful.

Here’s the thing, though: today I was supposed to make an appointment for neuropsychological testing for him. He has issues beyond anxiety and it’s really affecting his life. Making that appointment feels like showing that I don’t have faith that God will take care of him. But maybe God’s help will come in the form of just the right person to help my son? Maybe Bl. Solanus will intercede not to outright cure my son, but to lead us on the path to finding ways to help him?

I want to make this appointment but I feel incredibly guilty now, like I have no faith. Any ideas about what I should do?

 

[humbleseeker]

Talk to your priest. Please do not ask complete strangers on the internet to make medical decisions for your child.

 

[rosejmj]

You should rely on other means other than prayer for your son to get better. Priests always told me God makes use of other people to help us and we have to do our part as well. In your case it is seeking psychological help for our son. Do not put that aside because you think prayer will fix it. Prayer can help but most likely it’s God’s will to make use of the means you have available

 

[Jen7]

How can it hurt to make the appointment? Perhaps the doctor will confirm a cure. “Official” cures (like for a canonization) are always verified by medical science. It isn’t a lack of faith. On the other hand, if underlying issues are still there but this is just a temporary “break” or reprieve, that is still something to praise God about! It sounds like a miracle, whether it was a full cure or not!

 

[Lou2U]

Here’s a story I’ve read on CAF before:

A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help.

Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, “Jump in, I can save you.”

The stranded fellow shouted back, “No, it’s OK, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me.”

So the rowboat went on.

Then a motorboat came by. "The fellow in the motorboat shouted, “Jump in, I can save you.”

To this the stranded man said, “No thanks, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith.”

So the motorboat went on.

Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, “Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety.”

To this the stranded man again replied, “No thanks, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith.”

So the helicopter reluctantly flew away.

Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, “I had faith in you but you didn’t save me, you let me drown. I don’t understand why!”

To this God replied, “I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?”

Make the appointment. I’m glad he feels better today, but as the others have said, it does him absolutely no harm to get seen.

 

[Lookingforjoy]

Thanks!! I figured I should make the appointment but I felt so guilty. I feel a lot better about going forward with it now!

 

[Retsel]

He seem so even-keeled today.

Highs and lows are to be expected. Don’t let them slow your information/knowledge/action progress.

I had some exposure to a public hosted help center in action.
The psychiatrist in charge fostered a pretty much anything goes environment.

Uneaten food all over the tables and floor, overflowing garbage cans, bathroom a mess, video games and other entertainment items scattered all over etc.

He was replaced and the new in-charge had them clean/straighten up and take the garbage out before leaving.

You should have seen the difference in the two groups when leaving! The first left pretty much as they arrived, the second happy, chatting and cheerful.

What I learned:
If you can, don’t send you kid to public school.
Expect your child to accomplish all types of physical chores/work. (Don’t be afraid help and challenge yourself.)
Love your child and guide him/her to independence.
Encourage any skill, no matter how seemingly mundane.

 

[1ke]

Making that appointment feels like showing that I don’t have faith that God will take care of him.

MAKE THE APPOINTMENT!!!

The Catholic Church fully embraces doctors and mental health professionals. These sciences are gifts from God to us. DO NOT be lured into the false idea that you must rely on “faith healing”. This is not so. Even in Jesus’s time they had doctors and midwives, although their skills and knowledge were much limited.

I want to make this appointment but I feel incredibly guilty now, like I have no faith. Any ideas about what I should do?

MAKE THE APPOINTMENT.

 

[Inquiry]

Make the appointment

When people who have struggled with suicide suddenly go positive and even keeled that can be a massive red flag. It sometimes means they’ve actually made the decision to go through with it and have a false sense of peace. Not always, of course, things are probably fine, but better to make the appointment just in case.

 

[Gab123]

I would also seek a Catholic psychologist and try to get to the root of what is causing an 11 year old to have suicidal thoughts. Today’s culture of death and the many bad influences, from bad companions, bad entertainment, pornography, dabbling with the occult, demonic video games etc. all have a toxic effect on the mind and soul. These days it is so common to try and mask symptoms with prescription drugs, which all have side effects, some of which are also terrible. I would look to filling a young mind with good stories of the Saints, reading the Gospels, and playing holy music in the home to start. Look at his bedroom and see what kind of things are influencing his mind, i.e. if there are posters of music bands etc. If there are any bad influences, replace them with good ones. Also, keep holy water in your home, even in a spray bottle to bless your home. Put up holy pictures, ,especially a nice one of the Sacred a Heart of Jesus.

 

[TheLittleLady]

God provides science and physicians to us.

There are some religions who shun medicine, they are heretical and not Catholic. Trust God to guide your doctors.