C
CarmelG
Guest
Thank you all for your kind replies. The medications are kind of wiping me out today. I thank you so much for all you have said and I will remember or try to remember how God loves me.
Carmel
Carmel
- Status
C
CarmelG
Guest
I’m sorry I don’t know how to quote in the little box But when Reens said this, it gave me hope.
When Jesus hung on the cross, He allowed
His mind to be clouded - in that He truly thought
that God had abandoned Him.
Why did He permit this?
Maybe because He wanted those who suffer
with illnesses of the brain to have Someone
to identify with. Someone Who would understand.
His Father had not abandoned Him. But Jesus
thought that He had.
This Friday is Good Friday. At 3 in the afternoon,
we recall Christ saying “Why have You abandoned Me?”
Those of us who endure many kinds of
mental and/or psychological illnesses, can offer
our own sense of abandonment, with Christ - to the Father.
Few are priviledged in this way.
To keep His Son company on the cross -
in His mental suffering, in His feeling abandoned.
Those who suffer profound physical pain can
be with Him on the cross, too. And offer up
their suffering, in union with His.
Also there was another quote:
In his book “The Rosary – Chain of Hope”, page 61 (meditation on the crown of thorns), Fr. Benedict Groeschel writes:
“In the midst of the bitter sufferings that come to all of us at times, we should have hope because Jesus Christ sanctified suffering and the grief of death and the horror of mental illness. Mother Theresa used to say that mental illness is Jesus’ crown of thorns. These words can be an immense consolation and hope to those whose lot it is to wear this crown.”
I too hope this is true and it will give me a lot to think about this Good Friday. I hope to go to services, even if I know they are talking about me. The doctor on Monday gave me clonopin (sp?) to help with the anxiety. I have been taking my medication regularly since then. So maybe by Friday, things will be better. Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. May God bless you abundantly. And I will be praying for you, Reens, for your lab tests. Thank you Liz and Grace Angel for being a friend when I needed a friend.
Carmel
When Jesus hung on the cross, He allowed
His mind to be clouded - in that He truly thought
that God had abandoned Him.
Why did He permit this?
Maybe because He wanted those who suffer
with illnesses of the brain to have Someone
to identify with. Someone Who would understand.
His Father had not abandoned Him. But Jesus
thought that He had.
This Friday is Good Friday. At 3 in the afternoon,
we recall Christ saying “Why have You abandoned Me?”
Those of us who endure many kinds of
mental and/or psychological illnesses, can offer
our own sense of abandonment, with Christ - to the Father.
Few are priviledged in this way.
To keep His Son company on the cross -
in His mental suffering, in His feeling abandoned.
Those who suffer profound physical pain can
be with Him on the cross, too. And offer up
their suffering, in union with His.
Also there was another quote:
In his book “The Rosary – Chain of Hope”, page 61 (meditation on the crown of thorns), Fr. Benedict Groeschel writes:
“In the midst of the bitter sufferings that come to all of us at times, we should have hope because Jesus Christ sanctified suffering and the grief of death and the horror of mental illness. Mother Theresa used to say that mental illness is Jesus’ crown of thorns. These words can be an immense consolation and hope to those whose lot it is to wear this crown.”
I too hope this is true and it will give me a lot to think about this Good Friday. I hope to go to services, even if I know they are talking about me. The doctor on Monday gave me clonopin (sp?) to help with the anxiety. I have been taking my medication regularly since then. So maybe by Friday, things will be better. Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. May God bless you abundantly. And I will be praying for you, Reens, for your lab tests. Thank you Liz and Grace Angel for being a friend when I needed a friend.
Carmel
C
CarmelG
Guest
]I’m sorry I don’t know how to quote in the little box But when Reens said this, it gave me hope.
When Jesus hung on the cross, He allowed
His mind to be clouded - in that He truly thought
that God had abandoned Him.
Why did He permit this?
Maybe because He wanted those who suffer
with illnesses of the brain to have Someone
to identify with. Someone Who would understand.
His Father had not abandoned Him. But Jesus
thought that He had.
This Friday is Good Friday. At 3 in the afternoon,
we recall Christ saying “Why have You abandoned Me?”
Those of us who endure many kinds of
mental and/or psychological illnesses, can offer
our own sense of abandonment, with Christ - to the Father.
Few are priviledged in this way.
To keep His Son company on the cross -
in His mental suffering, in His feeling abandoned.
Those who suffer profound physical pain can
be with Him on the cross, too. And offer up
their suffering, in union with His.
Also there was another quote:
In his book “The Rosary – Chain of Hope”, page 61 (meditation on the crown of thorns), Fr. Benedict Groeschel writes:
“In the midst of the bitter sufferings that come to all of us at times, we should have hope because Jesus Christ sanctified suffering and the grief of death and the horror of mental illness. Mother Theresa used to say that mental illness is Jesus’ crown of thorns. These words can be an immense consolation and hope to those whose lot it is to wear this crown.”
I too hope this is true and it will give me a lot to think about this Good Friday. I hope to go to services, even if I know they are talking about me. The doctor on Monday gave me clonopin (sp?) to help with the anxiety. I have been taking my medication regularly since then. So maybe by Friday, things will be better. Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. May God bless you abundantly. And I will be praying for you, Reens, for your lab tests. Thank you Liz and Grace Angel for being a friend when I needed a friend.
Carmel
When Jesus hung on the cross, He allowed
His mind to be clouded - in that He truly thought
that God had abandoned Him.
Why did He permit this?
Maybe because He wanted those who suffer
with illnesses of the brain to have Someone
to identify with. Someone Who would understand.
His Father had not abandoned Him. But Jesus
thought that He had.
This Friday is Good Friday. At 3 in the afternoon,
we recall Christ saying “Why have You abandoned Me?”
Those of us who endure many kinds of
mental and/or psychological illnesses, can offer
our own sense of abandonment, with Christ - to the Father.
Few are priviledged in this way.
To keep His Son company on the cross -
in His mental suffering, in His feeling abandoned.
Those who suffer profound physical pain can
be with Him on the cross, too. And offer up
their suffering, in union with His.
Also there was another quote:
In his book “The Rosary – Chain of Hope”, page 61 (meditation on the crown of thorns), Fr. Benedict Groeschel writes:
“In the midst of the bitter sufferings that come to all of us at times, we should have hope because Jesus Christ sanctified suffering and the grief of death and the horror of mental illness. Mother Theresa used to say that mental illness is Jesus’ crown of thorns. These words can be an immense consolation and hope to those whose lot it is to wear this crown.”
I too hope this is true and it will give me a lot to think about this Good Friday. I hope to go to services, even if I know they are talking about me. The doctor on Monday gave me clonopin (sp?) to help with the anxiety. I have been taking my medication regularly since then. So maybe by Friday, things will be better. Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. May God bless you abundantly. And I will be praying for you, Reens, for your lab tests. Thank you Liz and Grace Angel for being a friend when I needed a friend.
Carmel
M
mslizzie
Guest
I too hope this is true and it will give me a lot to think about this Good Friday. I hope to go to services, even if I know they are talking about me. The doctor on Monday gave me clonopin (sp?) to help with the anxiety. I have been taking my medication regularly since then. So maybe by Friday, things will be better. Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. May God bless you abundantly. And I will be praying for you, Reens, for your lab tests. Thank you Liz and Grace Angel for being a friend when I needed a friend.
Glad to hear you are taking your meds, Carmel. I am currently taking Abilify, Ativan and Seroquel. My doc said Klonopin is habit forming so I am just taking the three I mentioned. Take care and I will pray for you.
With love,
Lizzie
Glad to hear you are taking your meds, Carmel. I am currently taking Abilify, Ativan and Seroquel. My doc said Klonopin is habit forming so I am just taking the three I mentioned. Take care and I will pray for you.
With love,
Lizzie
R
reen12
Guest
Dear mslizzie and Carmel,
I can’t tell you how my heart lifted when I read your
last two posts. How very brave you both are.
reen12
I can’t tell you how my heart lifted when I read your
last two posts. How very brave you both are.
reen12
M
mslizzie
Guest
Dear mslizzie and Carmel,
I can’t tell you how my heart lifted when I read your
last two posts. How very brave you both are.
R
reen12
Guest
Thank you, mslizzie. I used to post on some of the
MI forums. I can remember one woman, who had
lived with schizophrenia for many years, saying to
a person who had just been diagnosed:
"I never say “Have a nice day.”
I always say:
“Have the best day that you can.”
I’ve never forgotten that.
I often tell members of the “greatest generation,”
[those now in their later eighties], how much help to me they are.
I see them struggle with advance old age, and how brave
they are. They set me an example that I’m going to need,
20 years from now. One thing I’ve heard is “Just keep putting
one foot in front of the other.” It sounds a simple thing.
But it’s not. It takes great courage, to face life with the
many limitations that may express, in advanced old age.
Each of us learns from the other.
[BTW, I avoid any mention of a specific medication, in my posts.
I wanted to tell you and Carmel that.] I may refer to a med,
in general, but I never post the name of the med.]
I thought that you and Carmel would like to know this.
An Oldie but Goodie, in NY. :tiphat:
reen
M
mike7795
Guest
Once you understand that the mind isn’t real, your mental illness will disappear. Where is your mental illness at night, when the mind is not active? If it were real, would it not be there at all times?
By all means, continue taking your medicine, but when you have some free time, try to trace your thoughts back to where they come from. Find the source.
Indeed, God is with you in spite of your mental illness. Go to that place from which thoughts arise…the place that is still and silent, prior to all thought. When you arrive there, there will be no issue of mental illness. You will be alone with God.
C
CarmelG
Guest
My doctor said to take the Klonoin only for the duration than I can stop after a while. I am also taking Geodon, Luvox, and effexor xr, but at very high levels. I just sometimes think I am cured and don’t need them anymore and then I get into trouble again. I will try so hard to take them. Since I have first posted, I have felt God’s love for me and I don’t think he is mad at me at the moment What a wonderful feeling!
Carmel
M
mslizzie
Guest
Thank you for the comforting words, Mike. I was actually at the church with my 2 daughters last night, to attend the Last Supper mass. It felt very good just to be there and after the mass itself, being in the adoration of the blessed sacrament. I felt at peace with the Lord.
M
mslizzie
Guest
That is a very good news to hear, Carmel, that you are taking all your meds.
Even if you do feel a lot better, you still need to continue your meds unless your doctor says otherwise.You are doing the right thing for your recovery. I will be behind you all the way and we will support each other towards the path to recovery from our Schizoaffective disorder. Although they say it is incurable, the medswill greatly help reduce our symptoms so we can lead productive and fulfilling lives.
C
CarmelG
Guest
Thank you for all your kindness. My boss just called up and fired me. I don’t know why, except that I’ve been sick. He said it was a lot of little things and that people were complaining (but this is the first I’ve heard of people were complaining). I thought everyone liked me and that I was doing a good job. I’,m stunned and don’t know what to feel right now except sadness.
Caarmel
Caarmel
R
reen12
Guest
quote: Carmel
I hope that there is someone near, whom you
can speak with, about this.
I can surely understand that you feel stunned
and sad.
Please know that I am praying that God will
be with you, especially today.
reens
I am so sorry that this has happened, Carmel.
I hope that there is someone near, whom you
can speak with, about this.
I can surely understand that you feel stunned
and sad.
Please know that I am praying that God will
be with you, especially today.
reens
C
CarmelG
Guest
Thank you, Reens. I’m feeling a little better about it today. Thank you for the prayers; I need them right now.
Carmel
J
jmm08
Guest
I disagree with this quote above. Just substitute names of other illnesses for the words “mental illness” and you see how silly it is. Just as silly are these statements:
- Where is your cancer at night, when the body is not active.
- Once you understand that the heart isn’t real, your heart disease will disappear.
- If your diabetes were real, would it not be there at all times?
- Where is my aortic aneurism at night, when my body is not active?
With cancer, pain can come and go. Just because one is having a good day does not mean that the cancer is gone or never was there. Enjoy the good day when it comes, because other kinds of days are frequent as well.
Diabetes is a matter of consciously having to keep balance. Blood sugar can be too high or too low. And if one is going from one extreme to the other, there can be a temporary normal level. This is also likely true with many mental illnesses. There are moments of in-between or moments of normal thinking. But at such normal times, one must still watch.
If one knows mental illness, or is very close to someone who has or has had a mental illness (without leaving them), there is understanding. There is also suffering and worry. Sometimes the worry can be great.
I guess I’m just writing too much. But I do not think the quote makes sense.
jmm08
D
dana19620
Guest
Dealing with a mental illness is difficult for the person and those who love them. I have Bipolar, and though I would like to be free of the disease, I believe that God’s healing does mean that he will remove the disease from my body. He has a plan, which I could never understand, so when I feel overwhelmed by my symptoms I seek God’s help in getting me through.
My motto is: Joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presnce of God.
There is a song by Scott Krippayne that I hold dear and find comfort in. It is a song work having and listening to during tough times. It is titled “Sometimes He Calms the Storm” The lyrics are:
All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn’t mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child
He has a reason for each trial
That we pass through in life
And though we’re shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ
No matter how the driving rain beats down
On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet peaceful place
May God’s peace and love be with you are you deal with your illness.
My motto is: Joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presnce of God.
There is a song by Scott Krippayne that I hold dear and find comfort in. It is a song work having and listening to during tough times. It is titled “Sometimes He Calms the Storm” The lyrics are:
All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn’t mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child
He has a reason for each trial
That we pass through in life
And though we’re shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ
No matter how the driving rain beats down
On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet peaceful place
May God’s peace and love be with you are you deal with your illness.
M
mslizzie
Guest
Thanks, Dana for the beautiful lyrics. Wish I could listen to the actual song
You are a very strong person.I hold on to my faith too when I am overwhelmed, scared, alone and anxious. I know these sufferings are not going to last forever and when we reach God’s Kingdom, our sufferings will fade.
You are an inspiration to me. God bless you always
B
bookgirl32
Guest
I just read this and know it’s been up for awhile. I don’t know if this has been said already. I have OCD and anxiety and it comes and goes 95% of the time, even though it can greatly reduce my daily functioning, I’m still functional, mostly completely so. When I was pregnant though, I was sicker than I could’ve imagined. I started seeing a priest here in my town that is a kind of spiritual counseler to a lot of the mentally ill. He lead me through a book by Timothy Gallagher called “Discernment of Spirits”. It’s a practical guide to St. Ignatius’ rules of discernment that made just as much difference in my life as any medicine. Just a suggestion.
Also, it helps me, as others have said, to think that this suffering is a part of what Jesus suffered. And everytime I have a severe episode I come out the other side renewed in Christ’s love. So even in the midst of the episodes, I can be thankful that I have them.
Also, it helps me, as others have said, to think that this suffering is a part of what Jesus suffered. And everytime I have a severe episode I come out the other side renewed in Christ’s love. So even in the midst of the episodes, I can be thankful that I have them.
C
CarmelG
Guest
Dana, I love your motto. Do you mind if I make it my own. I think it will help me when I am suffering. My psychologist tells me that God can heal a little at a time as we work together to deal with the issues either causes or surrounding the disease. I think he is right. When I am in confusion, I feel God’s presence sometimes and everything seems to be alright.
Bookgirl, I also have OCD; I know it can be terrible. I have had it since I was 15 and I am now 52. In the past 37 years I have learned to deal with the behaviors (I try like anything to ignore them and tell myself it is all anxiety that nothing bad is going to happen and I give it to God which helps tremendously - like if I have to check to front door a few dozen times, after two times I pray to God to put angels at the door so nothing bad can get in; it seems to work for me) but I am also taking Luvox for the ruminations in the mind that I can’t ignore. Are you taking medications? They can help tremendously.
Just know that I understand what you are going through and you can overcome the behaviors to a certain degree. The bad thoughts that are mostly sacrileges when I have them I tell myself they are a part of the disease and God does not hold that against me. I just try not to ruminate on them and let them go as if they were impure thoughts that crossed my mind.
My heart goes out to you. And know that the people on this thread are very nice and kind and they have helped me tremendously.
Peace to you, little sister – Carmel
B
bookgirl32
Guest
Carmel,
Thank you!! I myself don’t suffer from physical compulsions but obsessive ruminating thoughts. They’re anything from hurting my baby to something bad about God, oh, to just about anything horrible you can think of. Scrupulosity and hypochondria are also right there. I’ve just recently been called to jury duty and am terrified that it will be the trial of a child abuser or molester and therefore trigger thoughts and I’ll be stuck in a court room having to continue to hear about it! Hopefully it won’t be, pray for me!
I do take meds, Prozac works the best for me, Zoloft when pregnant (pregnancy is a nightmare, but the baby is worth it!) My Catholic Counseler and my spiritual director are also huge helps, along with my sister, who is also afflicted with it. Oh, and my husband
. I’m sure he’d love to see himself listed last, whoops!I also have to tell you that you have a beautiful name. My birthday is the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and I’ve always considered it for a little girl if I ever have one!
- Status