Mental Illness and Sinning

[mandy0913]

I’m Mandy, I’m 19 years old and I’m new here. I have a question and I’m really wondering what people will say about this because I have been thinking about this for a long time.

The short version of the question is how harshly does God judge the actions of someone with a mental illness?

I am asking because I have had an eating disorder and have struggled with self-injury for a while now. I don’t like it, and I am really trying hard to be well. I am in therapy as well. Even though on the whole I am trying to move forward, slip-ups and relapses happen very often. I realize that on some level my actions are my choice, but my judgment is so clouded by the disorder that I can’t come to the right decision sometimes. I believe I eventually will be well, but I am worried that every time I mess up I get farther away from what is good.

Any thoughts?

 

[phoenixrrt62]

I’m probably not the person you’d want to hear from, b/c I am searching for-questioning the existence of a god, but…here’s my take on it, FWIW…

I think if the very organ you reason with is affected by illness, I’d think that a merciful and just god would understand this, and also understand that you are trying your best to do what is right, but sometimes you slip up. Hell, don’t we all?

They would be called mistakes;0) And we ALL make them. Trust. I must make a billion every day…HA!

I see the most mentally adjusted people do things that I really find disturbing. So. There’s that. No one is perfect. No one.

On a more personal note, when I was a teen, and through my 20’s, I really struggled with unipolar depression,(atypical depressive disorder) so much so that the local psych ward seemed to be a revolving door for me. I was a hot mess…went through a laundry list of antidepressant meds, had to drop out of college, even had to live in a assisted living facility for the mentally ill for about 1 1/2 years. My life, for all intents and purposes, was pretty much over…before it even began.

I was very lucky…lucky to have a wonderful doctor who worked with me, through thick and thin, a wonderful therapist who really forced me to work on my problems unceasingly, and the staff at the home I lived in were nothing short of amazing…they really pushed me to rise above what I saw as a quagmire I saw no way out of. And I had wonderful friends…have one friend who has been with me, through all my craziness, to this very day. That’s what you call a true friend.

I managed to get out of the nightmare of mental illness. Yes, I still have depressive episodes, (am having one now, ick) but…know what? There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Trust.

Your life has so much to offer, there’s so much possibility out there…so much…so you just hang in there, and it will get better…and I have a really hard time believing any god would hold your illness against you and say you are sinning.

 

[stringbeanduck]

The Church teaches that the God has compassion for those who suffer from addiction and mental illnesses. In other words their, culpability for the sins they commit might* be lessened. It is usually up to the Priest and the person who is confessing how that works out in every case, but this is the general idea. Needless to say eating disorders would fall into this category. I encourage you to talk to your local priest on this issue.

Understand though that: "Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good.” -2288 CCC

Personally I say if you will to do good, but slip up every so often, you are not getting farther away from what is good. We are all human and fall prey sin, but for those who have remorse there is hope.

 

[Marvellous_One]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks about sin and has very clear answers on this so you should check it out. On a more personal level, I too struggle with sin and make choices that I should not. And “all are sinners and fall short of the glory of God.”

Yet the Jesus is always calling us closer to Him and is your #1 fan. He is your help. Call upon Him in your struggles and you will see that there is a way out. That sounds great but how quickly I forget to do it.

Know that God knows us better than we know ourselves and as such knows our motives in what we do. He tells us to sincerely confess our sins and we will be forgiven. So be sure to confess you sins so that you will be forgiven and then you will be closer to “Who is Good!”

I don’t know if you are catholic but if you are, the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession, is available to give us Jesus’ grace so we can be stronger and also receive that special gift of Absolution of our sin. Also it is important to note that sin is communal, meaning that as Christians we are part of the Body of Christ and that every sin affects the Body and the sinner needs to be “reconciled” to the Body. That is why it is crucial to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

I am not trying to put any pressure on you or add any guilt to an already difficult situation.

Beyond all this, it would be helpful to find a place that has Healing Masses and offers Healing Prayer. We all need brothers and sisters around us that will help us, and show us that we are not to struggle alone.

I lift you up right now, asking Jesus to grant you a special blessing so that you will experience His love as you read these words. For He is the Truth, the Way, and the Life.

God bless you and lead you to the places you need.