Is it O.K. to contact an outside source for help?

[MayaElizabeth]

I’m having trouble getting my brother to open up to me and tell me what’s the matter with him so I can somehow help him. My brother is going on 35 and hasn’t left the house (our parents house) literally for 10 years- no job, no girlfriend, no nothing. I’ve offered to take him to the doctors, to renew his license, to get someone he can talk to and maybe help him out but he’s denied any help. He doesn’t look nor act depressed, he’s not on any medications, no drugs, nothing. Only problem is that he has a sleeping problem; has always had irregular sleeping patterns (since adolescence). We all pray for him but it seems he’s just stuck where he’s at and he’s not doing anything to improve himself. My question: Would it be non-Catholic like to contact Gary Spivey (a spiritual psychic) to find out what’s wrong with my brother??? I’m just very concerned for him and it seems prayers haven’t got him very far.

 

[thistle]

I’m having trouble getting my brother to open up to me and tell me what’s the matter with him so I can somehow help him. My brother is going on 35 and hasn’t left the house (our parents house) literally for 10 years- no job, no girlfriend, no nothing. I’ve offered to take him to the doctors, to renew his license, to get someone he can talk to and maybe help him out but he’s denied any help. He doesn’t look nor act depressed, he’s not on any medications, no drugs, nothing. Only problem is that he has a sleeping problem; has always had irregular sleeping patterns (since adolescence). We all pray for him but it seems he’s just stuck where he’s at and he’s not doing anything to improve himself. My question: Would it be non-Catholic like to contact Gary Spivey (a spiritual psychic) to find out what’s wrong with my brother??? I’m just very concerned for him and it seems prayers haven’t got him very far.

Yes it would be wrong.
Much better to contact a priest first and if necessary ask him to recommend a Catholic Psychologist.

 

[jmcrae]

Your brother either needs medical help, or he needs to learn how to cope as an adult.

Ask for medical help first; if they find nothing wrong, then your parents should use appropriate strategies to launch him into adulthood.

 

[strngrnrth]

Irregular sleep cycles can indicate depression. Depression and dependency are a vicious circle in a lot of lives. If he gets out of the house, he might just blossom. Definitely ask him to see a psychiatrist.

 

[Newbie2]

Sounds like mom and pop would benefit from some counseling as well. 35 years old and still home? Sounds like there may be multiple problems, such as enabling, going on.

If it’s not strictly a medical problem, sorry to say that unless he really isn’t convinced that he needs help, he won’t seek it.

An outside source of help, definitely; a psychic? No way.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

I’m having trouble getting my brother to open up to me and tell me what’s the matter with him so I can somehow help him. My brother is going on 35 and hasn’t left the house (our parents house) literally for 10 years- no job, no girlfriend, no nothing. I’ve offered to take him to the doctors, to renew his license, to get someone he can talk to and maybe help him out but he’s denied any help. He doesn’t look nor act depressed, he’s not on any medications, no drugs, nothing. Only problem is that he has a sleeping problem; has always had irregular sleeping patterns (since adolescence). We all pray for him but it seems he’s just stuck where he’s at and he’s not doing anything to improve himself. My question: Would it be non-Catholic like to contact Gary Spivey (a spiritual psychic) to find out what’s wrong with my brother??? I’m just very concerned for him and it seems prayers haven’t got him very far.

YES, it would be wrong. I know that when we love someone we allow ourselves the possibility of trying anything and hoping anything will work.

I will tell you right here and right now, the only thing that psychic is going to free up is money out of your wallet. I have seen this scam before. He may be a smooth talker who is able to get a result - using motivational tricks and manipulation, not “psychic power!” - and then one of two things will happen… he will take the money and run, or look at you solemnly and say:

“This is the worst case of this I have ever seen… I know I can help him, but it is going to take a lot of sessions (+$$$$!)”

Do not be fooled, do not let him take you, do not let him near you. Neverminding the damage you can do to your soul with trusting in spirits and new age, this man and his ilk are all charlatains. If ANY of them have any power, I promise you they are not getting it from God.

Your brother sounds like he is depressed. He needs to be taken to a REAL doctor for evaluation and help. Sleep cycles and depression go hand in hand. Depression can cause sleep problems, then sleep problems can cause more depression. After a while, you feel like you can’t get out of it, nothing can change, you don’t want to leave the house, sometimes you don’t want to leave your room. This needs real medical help, not a con man.

Please stay away from the cons, and seek real help for him as it sounds like he has a real (but treatable) problem.

 

[StCsDavid]

My question: Would it be non-Catholic like to contact Gary Spivey (a spiritual psychic) to find out what’s wrong with my brother??? I’m just very concerned for him and it seems prayers haven’t got him very far.

So prayer is not good enough? Instead of turning to God for spiritual healing we should turn to Gary Spivey? Whether your brother is depressed or just a bum is hard to know from my computer screen; however, whatever the problem your brother experiences, he is going to have to be the one who initiates the solution. If he refuses help, really, what can you do? Not a whole lot from a material standpoint.

Keep praying for your brother and I would ask St. Joseph to intercede for him.

 

[puzzleannie]

I’mf. My question: Would it be non-Catholic like to contact Gary Spivey (a spiritual psychic) to find out what’s wrong with my brother??? I’m just very concerned for him and it seems prayers haven’t got him very far.

it would be a waste of time and money. If your brother does indeed have underlying medical or psychological problems a psychic will do absolutely NOTHING for him. He will lose a bit of weight, the weight of money in the wallet.

 

[Anne1964]

If you mean that he has literally not stepped outside of the house in 10 years, there is a phobia called agoraphobia, which means fear of open places. Someone with severe agoraphobia would be afraid to leave their house. This condition can be treated by a competent therapist.

 

[drafdog]

Get him to a medical doctor and then, probably a psychiatrist. This is extremely unhealthy behavior. Prayer is fine, too, but grace builds upon nature. That’s why you get him to a doctor first.

Matthew