Mental health and Catholicism

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JoyToTheWhirled

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I struggle with bipolar, and one of the defining features of my protestant experience has been a deep suspicion of my medication. Only today I had a conversation with a friend who expressed concern that prayer, rather than meds was the key to my recovery.

I wondered if there was the same suspicion in Catholicism? To be very clear, I have no intention of not taking my medication, it keeps me stable and sane. I also rely very heavily on prayer, especially the rosary (which engenders the same suspicion among protestant friends who think I am letting the devil have a foothold by praying to Mary, but there you go)
 
Read Ch 38 of the book of Sirach (aka Ecclesiasticus or Ben Sira).

Don’t fear modern medicine when you need it. The wisdom and knowledge of doctors comes from God.
 
Some Protestant denominations have beliefs against utilizing medicine and physicians, psychotherapy, medications, and medical procedures for mental illness; and in some instances, they also refuse to use them even for physical illnesses.
Instead they believe relying solely on prayer for healing.

The Catholic Church does not have any such prohibitions.

I encourage you to speak with your priest on this matter, and follow the directives of your healthcare professional.
 
JoyToTheWhirled said:
I struggle with bipolar, and one of the defining features of my protestant experience has been a deep suspicion of my medication. Only today I had a conversation with a friend who expressed concern that prayer, rather than meds was the key to my recovery.

I wondered if there was the same suspicion in Catholicism? To be very clear, I have no intention of not taking my medication, it keeps me stable and sane. I also rely very heavily on prayer, especially the rosary (which engenders the same suspicion among protestant friends who think I am letting the devil have a foothold by praying to Mary, but there you go)
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There’s actually a great book on this topic called “The Catholic Guide to Depression.” If you want to get an idea of how Catholics see mental illness and how we believe it should be treated, this is a good place to start. The author is a psychiatrist and a practicing Catholic.

amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1933184760/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1455906392&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=catholic+guide+to+depression

Basically, as Catholics we believe we are both physical and spiritual beings, and so there’s absolutely nothing wrong with using medicine. It doesn’t show a lack of faith in God. In fact, God is the one who gave us the capacity to reason and to discover cures using the resources he created. To not use it would be to squander his gifts.
 
JoyToTheWhirled said:
I struggle with bipolar, and one of the defining features of my protestant experience has been a deep suspicion of my medication. Only today I had a conversation with a friend who expressed concern that prayer, rather than meds was the key to my recovery.

I wondered if there was the same suspicion in Catholicism? To be very clear, I have no intention of not taking my medication, it keeps me stable and sane. I also rely very heavily on prayer, especially the rosary (which engenders the same suspicion among protestant friends who think I am letting the devil have a foothold by praying to Mary, but there you go)
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JTTW,

There is no such ‘suspicion’ in the Catholic Church. I am a faithful Catholic who takes her meds and prays, goes to psychiatric counseling and goes to Confession frequently, and I even took my book for the Liturgy of the Hours with me when I was hospitalized in the psych ward for 6.5 weeks and received ECT treatments.

Catholics know that God has given medical and mental health professionals gifts and skills to help those who are sick and suffering. Just as we would not deny someone with a broken leg the services of an orthopedic doctor or someone with bacterial pneumonia life-saving antibiotics we would not deny someone with a mental illness the services of a psychiatrist or psychiatric medications and treatments.

Be at peace.
 
JoyToTheWhirled said:
I struggle with bipolar, and one of the defining features of my protestant experience has been a deep suspicion of my medication. Only today I had a conversation with a friend who expressed concern that prayer, rather than meds was the key to my recovery.

I wondered if there was the same suspicion in Catholicism? To be very clear, I have no intention of not taking my medication, it keeps me stable and sane. I also rely very heavily on prayer, especially the rosary (which engenders the same suspicion among protestant friends who think I am letting the devil have a foothold by praying to Mary, but there you go)
Click to expand...
Hi Joy,

I have psychological problems had a fear of medications for different reasons, because I had read that they change your brain irreversibly in a damaging way.

But now I know that they are very very necessary for me and are a gift from God, as are over the counter medications like ibuprofen and aleve (naproxen).

I find that that not only does prayer to Mary not hurt, but it is crucial to my psychological well-being. I depend on her all the time. I find that being fully consecrated to Jesus through her (as taught by St. Louis DeMontfort helps me very much.

Hope you continue to find healing, and I’m praying for you.
 
Thanks everyone. I am relieved to find such a positive attitude towards these things, I have been feeling so guilty all my adult life for wrestling with these issues.
 
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