Mental Health Problems.

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khmsct99

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I haven’t been on for a while because of stress, but decided to post something now.

In late 2003, I developed OCD and a phobia. I was 4 years old, and I wasn’t in school yet.
I still have these 2 problems but they are getting worse. It has caused other mental problems:

-Mild Trichotillomania
-Depression
-Social Anxiety (Possible / Don’t Know)
-Sleeping Problems

These are more recent though. Mild Trichotillomania in February 2015, Depression in Late May 2015, Social Anxiety Problem in Summer 2014, and Sleeping Problems in May/June 2015.

I wanted to know if anyone has one of the problems above and how you managed it. (Specific Prayers, Passages/Verses, etc.)

I feel asleep around 11 PM, woke up at 2 AM and then fell asleep at 3 AM. Woke up at 5 AM. I used to go to sleep at 10 PM and wake up at 6 AM and maybe wake up early in the morning and go back to sleep. I don’t feel motivated and more angry at people/world. I thought (in late May) it was stress from final exams but it has increased since then.

Thanks.
 
The only self-help remedy that I can suggest is that I have gotten some help with early waking and inability to go back to sleep by getting an MP3 player and playing myself books on tape. I just needed something to take my mind off of all the things I was thinking about. I would recommend this to someone who finds they can fall asleep in front of a movie but otherwise have trouble sleeping.

As to spiritual helps, there is an element of trial and error. The only unusual thing I might suggest is praise songs. Singing and praise raise the spirits, whereas rehearsing woes can make them seem greater. If you discern that your problem is not that you have too many problems but that your problems upset you too much, then “switching your noodle” so that you “treat” negative thoughts by praising God, this might help you.

The difference between this and trying to whip up positive thoughts about yourself is that in my experience I have less inner resistance to praising God when I’m down. You don’t have to believe you are strong or worthwhile. All you have to believe is that God is great, God is merciful, and God loves you. You can feel as tiny as you want, but you can still allow yourself to allow your Creator’s opinion to hold sway over yours.

I hope that helps. Mostly, realize that we are the Body of Christ. Don’t be tempted to think you are supposed to go it alone. You are nothing without God, you are nothing without the love of others, but what of it? We were all created to need those things. That is how we are made, and how we give glory to God! If you are tempted to think you shouldn’t need help, chalk that up (ironically) to pride. Let go and be small.

Here is one of the best praise canticles ever:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.

(Lk 1:46-55)
 
Those are good thoughts from EasterJoy. I also want to urge you to seek, be open to and pray for spiritual healing. There is not a great deal of hope to be had in the medical world for your problem. But we do know that “We fight not against flesh and blood but powers and principalities”. If you set your heart of this, asking God for wisdom and direction for the how and where, I am sure He won’t let you down. He will either lead you to the place of healing - someplace in the Body of Christ - or He will give you peace that this is not what He has in mind for you.
 
khmsct99 said:
I haven’t been on for a while because of stress, but decided to post something now.

In late 2003, I developed OCD and a phobia. I was 4 years old, and I wasn’t in school yet.
I still have these 2 problems but they are getting worse. It has caused other mental problems:

-Mild Trichotillomania
-Depression
-Social Anxiety (Possible / Don’t Know)
-Sleeping Problems

These are more recent though. Mild Trichotillomania in February 2015, Depression in Late May 2015, Social Anxiety Problem in Summer 2014, and Sleeping Problems in May/June 2015.

I wanted to know if anyone has one of the problems above and how you managed it. (Specific Prayers, Passages/Verses, etc.)

I feel asleep around 11 PM, woke up at 2 AM and then fell asleep at 3 AM. Woke up at 5 AM. I used to go to sleep at 10 PM and wake up at 6 AM and maybe wake up early in the morning and go back to sleep. I don’t feel motivated and more angry at people/world. I thought (in late May) it was stress from final exams but it has increased since then.

Thanks.
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First of all, I STRONGLY recommend that you see a counsellor. From what you’ve said about your age, it sounds as if you’re still a teenager. Counselling is usually the first-line treatment for mental health issues in children and teenagers, due to risks involved with medication for these age groups.

Secondly, to help with your sleeping, at the start I recommend good sleep hygiene. This means you keep your bedroom for sleep ONLY. NO computer, NO desk, NO schoolbooks, NO TV, NOTHING. This will help you associate your bedroom with sleep. Make sure you’re not too hot or too cold. I sleep best in a cold bedroom, but not everyone is comfortable that way. Open the window or add a fan if you need to. Figure out what’s comfortable sleepwear for you. Some people sleep better nude or semi-nude (underwear) than they do clothed. Make sure you have a comfortable, supportive pillow and mattress. Make sure you’re able to completely darken the room and make it quiet. Blackout curtains can be helpful, or you can wear a sleep mask (if it’s comfortable).

Work out a bedtime routine for yourself. A warm bath or shower helps some people sleep. A cup of hot herbal tea (check out which ones are safe for you, especially if you’re on medication) can be very relaxing. This will help your body figure out it’s time to sleep. I’ve also read that carving a set amount of “worry time” out of your day is helpful - time to think about all of your problems and issues, then set them aside. This way, when you go to bed, you’re not thinking about all these things - because you’ve already worked them out.

Figure out how much time you actually sleep, then go to bed that number of hours before you wake up. Going to bed too early is often counterproductive as you’ll get anxious looking at the clock. If you don’t feel sleepy, don’t lie in bed for more than 30 minutes - get up and do something quiet, such as reading. DON’T go on a screen of any kind (TV, computer, tablet, phone) - this has been shown to disrupt sleep.

Regular activity is helpful, but DON’T exercise within 3-4 hours of going to bed. I have an anxiety disorder as well (generalized anxiety) and I find sewing to be very relaxing for me. I believe firmly that people, especially those with mental health issues, need to find their “thing” that relaxes them. For me, it’s sewing. For some people, it could be drawing, painting, sculpting, walking the dog, baking, cooking, writing, reading, going to the gym, swimming - literally, if it makes you happy to pound sand, get yourself a sandbox and pound sand to your heart’s content.

St. Dymphna is the patron saint of mental illnesses. I will ask her to pray for you.
 
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