Is Depression a Sin?

[Teresa9]

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, it doesn’t mean that opinion is right. St Paul advised to take medicine. Best advice anyone can give you and that includes the Pope, is take the pills, accept the docs help when you arrive at that stage when you feel you can consult a doc and PRAY! My friend is a doctor, his saying is this, ‘I am the instrument, I administer, it is God who heals, one person can have the same ill as another, have the same treatment, one person will die and the other will not, I am just the instrument, it is God who heals.’

 

[Teresa9]

cont. however, if you are not treated how do you expect to be healed, same old same old, of not accepting what God has put before you in the way of help! This thread has gone beyond all bounds of reason in it’s context in my opinion, which IS my opinion…

 

[loyola_rambler]

Mandi:

Either I’m not clear or you do not understand! So I will take it that I am not clear.

The third option is that you are clear and I not only understand what you’re saying, but have shown that your position is antithetical to the position of the Church.

Mandi:

First of all I can only take your word for it that Alphonsus suffered from depression because I have not read anywhere that he did or exactly what treatment he sought but the one thing I am sure of if he sought treatment the prescription was not anti-depressants.

You need not take my word for it. Any good biography of Alphonsus discusses his depression early in his life that lead to the decision to become a priest, the debilitating arthritis that crippled him and caused the depression to return, the mammoth stress he faced as a bishop and the final depression that caused him to step down from his episcopacy after being disaffiliated with his own order. The treatment he sought was from physicians who treated him with a number of substances that would be considered medicinal by any standards.

Mandi:

Secondly depression is not a sign of poor faith - Faith is the remedie for depression

Then why does the Holy See call upon the World Health Organization to ensure that all people receive treatment for mental illness?

Mandi:

Thirdly (and this is the point that has somehow gotten lost) Despair is a sin against the Holy Ghost - what does this mean… we are NOT ALLOWED to wallow in depression … which means if you fall easily towards depression - (which by the way is the tendency for those with a melancholie temperment) Then you must not remain there. The Saints, and the more I think about it the more I believe that more saints than not, suffered from depression - because saints are usually very scrupulous - they never believe they are “holy enough” infact it is common for them to believe they are nothing but the most wretched sinner that walked the face of the earth. Now thats gotta be some depressing to constantly think that. But what makes saints, saints is that with total confidence they give themselves to God.

Again, the CCC disputes your hypothesis. As the CCC is the official teaching of the Church and your position is only partially developed, who do you think we should be trusting to understand the situation?

 

[loyola_rambler]

Mandi:

God wants EVERYBODY to turn to Him at the exclusion of all others.

God wants us to be happy. In seeking happiness, we’re brought together with other people who meet so many of our purely human needs…such as builders who make sure we have shelter, grocers who interact with farmers and packers to ensure we have a safe and plentiful food supply, and physicians who make sure we have healthy MINDS AND BODIES. He gives us these gifts to share with each other so that we all benefit from His multiple graces. In turning to a doctor when our bodies or our minds are infirmed, we are not turning away from God. Doctors and God are not mutually exclusive providers of health and happiness. If they were, then the Pope would not have been taken to a hospital when he was shot. John XXIII would not have sought treatment for the cancer that took his life, and even my own mother would have died 5 years earlier than she did because she would not have received the medical care that put her cancer into remission and allowed her to live to see the birth of her first grandchild.

You find it very easy to pontificate on this topic, but you have yet to address that your position is in complete contrast to the position of the Church of Rome, as shown by the official documents quoted above. Until you can reconcile that, the entire discussion is a moot point.

Mandi:

God wants people to love Him above all things and be happy with Him forever in heaven… We were not made for this world!

If you would like to view some different Catholic thoughts on Depression I recommend you go to this Board to read what others have to say

catholic-dispatch.com/cathnow/index.php?topic=20.0

I’m really not concerned with what others outside the Magisterium believe. I believe in the tenets of faith set forth by Holy See, and they’re very clear that depression, as a legitimate medical condition, is treatable by doctors and that treatment should be sought by those needing it and that society has an obligation to ensure quality treatment is available, whether in pill form or through therapy. The fact that you’re excluding either from the realm of treatment puts you outside of the Church. As noted, if you really believe God is offended when we seek help from others for what ails us, then you really need to check out the Christian Scientists and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy. You’ll find a lot more support there then you will here.

 

[fraggle]

i’ve been reading that one major way to tell if a person is going through a dark night rather than depression is if that person remains very productive and social despite the spiritual disconsolations.

 

[deaconswife]

Why do people think a chronic illness is a sin? Is diabetes or MS, or rheumatoid arthritis a sin?

 

[jennstall]

Maggie:

I wanted to vote for the second to last option, except that it said that God needed the help of the medications rather than that we needed the assistance that He provides us in the form of the medications. God doesn’t need our help, but we surely need His in every form that He renders it. I could not be a fully functional Mass attending praying Catholic if I had never made it onto the medications.

Yes, well said. God works through Doctors. He needs no help from them, but they get plenty of help from Him.

Like you, I would also not be a practicing Catholic today if it were not for anti-depressants. They balanced me out so I could finally reach the point of recognizing the most important thing missing from my life was my faith. I could not focus on this loss while still worrying about things like getting out of bed in the morning and whether or not to take a shower or answer the telephone. God could see me the whole time, but I could not see God until I’d cleared the debris away and I do believe He was there to prod me into finally taking some action at a point in time when action was the last thing I wanted to take.

 

[jennstall]

Mandi:

Sorry to mislead you to the fact that that is my definition of faith - it is not - It comes from a Grade nine religion book called Our Quest for Happiness.

The author of your book, Newell Dwight Hillis, was a late 19th century Protestant minister, not a Catholic. He is reported as being both a Presbyterian and a Congregationalist. And quite frankly, he doesn’t sound much like either. He sounds more like a Christian Scientist or a member of another New Thought church and the late 19th century would put him at just the right point in history to meet up with the establishment of New Though ideas.

I would say his thoughts are pretty useless on the subject of Depression from a Catholic perspective.

 

[burnside]

I certainly hope depression is not a sin,because i suffer from it.I
hasten to add i am not suicidal.The way it affects me is constant tiredness,unreliable memory.I can remember well enough those things i have to do on a regular basis but,for example,if i have a computer problem and fix it,i cannot be sure i’ll be able to remember what to do next time the same problem arises.I think the difficulty with the memory is because my sleep is rather shallow.My mind is too tired to remember everything clearly.I have never felt a great benefit from pills.Now i am retired i have
decided to just pray and take the advice of another depression victim and try to "live"with depression.In addition,i have been taught Autogenics by an Irish Passionist priest,which is very
relaxing if you can discipline yourself to do the exercises every day.
In my case,the depression was not just about a mental problem.
I have joint problems which,before retirement,made my job difficult.Sometimes it was hard to appreciate that i was one of the lucky ones,i had employment.
P.S.Recently,a newspaper article requested volunteers to try out
a new drug for insomniacs called “circadin”.Perhaps i’ll have a go,
but then again i’m a poor sleeper,not an insomniac.

 

[tru_dvotion]

How can something caused by chemical imbalances of the body be a sin? Get real!

 

[CD4]

tru_dvotion:

How can something caused by chemical imbalances of the body be a sin? Get real!

Absolutely…Depression is most definitely NOT a sin…it is a condition…a medical problem.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Sirach 38:1-15

Hold the physician in honor, for he is essential to you, and God it was who established his profession.
2 From God the doctor has his wisdom, and the king provides for his sustenance. 3 His knowledge makes the doctor distinguished, and gives him access to those in authority. 4 God makes the earth yield healing herbs which the prudent man should not neglect; 5 Was not the water sweetened by a twig that men might learn his power? 6 He endows men with the knowledge to glory in his mighty works, 7 Through which the doctor eases pain and the druggist prepares his medicines; 8 Thus God’s creative work continues without cease in its efficacy on the surface of the earth. 9 My son, when you are ill, delay not, but pray to God, who will heal you: 10 Flee wickedness; let your hands be just, cleanse your heart of every sin; 11 Offer your sweet-smelling oblation and petition, a rich offering according to your means. 12 Then give the doctor his place lest he leave; for you need him too. 13 There are times that give him an advantage, 14 and he too beseeches God That his diagnosis may be correct and his treatment bring about a cure. 15 He who is a sinner toward his Maker will be defiant toward the doctor.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

None of the answers in your poll are acceptable.

Depression can be a sin (despair). Or, it can be punishment for prior sin. Or, depression can also be suffering caused by the sin of others. And finally, depression can be none of the above, but merely suffering for the greater glory of God. (cf. Jn 9:3, man born blind).

Prayer is absolutely needed. However, there’s nothing wrong with the legitimate use of anti-depressants to help to control faulty bio-chemistry.

 

[John_of_Woking]

Depression is awful. It should be treated by BOTH Prayer and Medication

 

[fruitloops_10]

I’ve had depression on and off for about 3 years…
taking meds and keeping in prayers …lots of it…matter of fact…
ill pray for you…

God will help you through this…

God Bless

 

[space_ghost]

“Great men suffer hours of depression through introspection and self-doubt. That is why they are great. That is why you will find modesty and humility the characteristics of such men.”
~ Bruce Barton (1886-1967)

 

[Kevin_Walker]

I do not know what the Church’s stance is on depression, but I don’t see depression a sin anymore than a head ache or belly ache or tooth ache or an appendicitis would be a sin? I don’t see why a harmless physical psychological ailment would be a sin?

 

[Conster74]

I have suffered severe depression, on and off, for over 20 years.

Alot of times I dwell on how much others hate me and wouldn’t it be nice to just slip into a hot tub of water and slit my wrists. Or get dead drunk and take a dive into the river/lake/other body of water. Or get hit by a car, truck, train, taxi, cement mixer, rampaging Godzilla, or any of the above.
The only reason, according to my warped thinking, that anyone would want to keep my stupid *** around, is that I work, I pay taxes, and God forbid that the United States government should lose that $2000 a year. And god forbid my BF should have to take the time and trouble to sniff out a new (meow meow).
I do not go to a psychiatrist to confess these thoughts because I am scared shless that I will be involuntarily locked up and pumped full of meds that will deprive me of my senses and then my life would be even more screwed up than it is right now. I do not attempt suicide because I used to work in a nursing home, and knowing me, I would screw it up. I would do just enough damage to end up a brain damaged vegetable. Then I would spend my days in somewhere like St. Camillus, eating mystery meat, drooling, crying, shing my diaper, and having to look at someone like (name of former supervisor nurse deleted, simply because its so vile!) as my nurse. So I simply drag on, day after day, hoping that God will not throw me into the eternal BBQ pit, because after all, I didn’t commit suicide so I upheld my part of the bargain. So I drag on day after day, hoping that others don’t decide I’m too f***ed up to be running around loose, hoping against hope I don’t lose everything I’ve spent the last five years working for.
Over the last 30 years I’ve slowly come to a realization: I am basically a good person. Its the rest of the world that is messed up. It doesn’t change my frightened anguish, it just makes it a bit easier to put up with. And if tomorrow I should die a natural death, cool. I won’t be the least bit sorry other than leaving my children behind.
And if anyone sees this and decides to be a do gooder and call the men in white coats, here’s my answer: **** OFF. I’ve spent 20 years contemplating suicide. If I haven’t done it already, chances are I’m too chicken to.
Please forgive me God. but its how I feel. your son didn’t have a swell time on the cross either…

Conster

 

[AmyS]

Conster,

I have delt with different levels of depression for years now and it is awful… You are in my prayers. I think the best way I heard it put is depression is hate turned inwards. It is not simple and it is very painful. Very far from being a sin, especially because we want to get through it.

 

[Conster74]

Thanks. If I did not have God now to help me deal with it, the agony would be intolerable.

The thing that pi**es me off is the people who look at us depressed types as though we had rabies – as though we could bite them, they would be irrevocably infected and die. They believe the best thing for us and everyone would be to lock us up and throw away the key.
I’ve started to go to counseling. How much I can trust this person is up to her. I’ve made up my mind though that if she tries to stick any kind of label on me such as paranoid, delusional, etc with the intent of reducing me to a mere psychiatric disorder instead of the human person I am I will walk out, never to return.
I am a human being and I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE IMPERFECT, BROKEN AND IN PAIN. If you’re NOT broken… God can’t do jack squat with you. Period. Its the happy folks in life you have to watch out for. They are happy without God. This is a fate I don’t want. I’d rather be miserable and have God, than be happy without Him. Well I think I’ve said enough to get me locked away for ten long years so if you don’t hear from me I’m probably in the nut hut.