Mental Illness?

[space_ghost]

Lilyofthevalley:

I am a “meany” who dislikes shrinks intensely.

have you thought about discussing with a Priest?

 

[walter.gonzalez]

I believe that MamaGeek’s loved one would benefit from help. If I were in that situation (loved one not accepting help, doesn’t acknowledge problem) first off I would help in whatever ways the person would accept. It isn’t enough for me to pray. I don’t need to impose the type of help **I **think is best. Rather I would let the loved one tell me what help they want. With patience I would wait for an opportunity to comment on the areas of concern. Let the loved one bring the topics up. I would communicate about the areas of concern by sharing my own struggles with those 11 areas (haven’t we all struggled with those 11 at some time in our lives?).

I have been helped by God in many ways. God provides me with healers, teachers, priests, counselors, medications, and everything really. God gives me unconditional love.

 

[Lilyofthevalley]

No, Ghost, my bigotry against psychologists/psychiatrists does not affect my every day living, nor others.

 

[felra]

walter.gonzalez:

I believe that MamaGeek’s loved one would benefit from help. If I were in that situation (loved one not accepting help, doesn’t acknowledge problem) first off I would help in whatever ways the person would accept. It isn’t enough for me to pray. I don’t need to impose the type of help **I **think is best. Rather I would let the loved one tell me what help they want. With patience I would wait for an opportunity to comment on the areas of concern. Let the loved one bring the topics up. I would communicate about the areas of concern by sharing my own struggles with those 11 areas (haven’t we all struggled with those 11 at some time in our lives?).

I have been helped by God in many ways. God provides me with healers, teachers, priests, counselors, medications, and everything really. God gives me unconditional love.

Well said walter.gonzalez. Welcome to the forums!

 

[AmyS]

Lilyofthevalley:

Hi Lily,
Gee I can recognize at least 5 of these symtoms in myself
these would be:

1. difficulty making decisions
2. difficulty throwing things away
3. procrastinates
4. germaphobic
5. blows things out of proportion

I wonder if I’m in need of help??? Annunciata

---

Exactly, Annunciata, those things describe myself as well. Should I run to the nearest shrink and sign up for therapy?

Yes alot of people deal with these things, but, to what extent… A person with a mental illness has exagerated problems with these things.

This guides their lives, not the opposite… You have difficulty making decisions, but, I am sure it doesn’t keep you from daily functions in your life.

For example, the difficulty throwing things away… I have been in homes where there was a couple feet between the pile of stuff in their home and the ceiling in their home. They have a crawl space to get around in. This is probably not what you have.

Procrastination: they don’t get to the hospital, pay bills, buy groceries…

I can go on and on with the whole list. Mental illness is a serious problem.

 

[AmyS]

MamaGeek:

I have a loved-one with some symptoms of concern. This person will not seek a professional diagnosis. These are the symptoms:

1. difficulty making decisions
2. paces often
3. difficulty throwing things away
4. avoids social situations
5. procrastinates
6. avoids change, even in small ways
7. germaphobic
8. often depressed
9. blows things out of proportion
10. rarely gets angry, only sullen and removed
11. extreme difficulty talking about feelings, showing affection

How do I get this person help? I have been praying for a long time. Do these symptoms seem problematic, or am I imagining things? How do you get help for someone who will not acknowledge a problem exists? This person is close enough to me that it is having a significant impact on my life and my family.

It sounds to me like your loved one has more than one thing going on here. People with mental illness don’t always see it. Then again, how long have these problems existed? You should get in touch with your local Department of Adult Services and see if they could come and do a home assessment. If yours in Virginia is like ours in California they can do mental assessments at the home. Maybe you can see about introducing the worker as a friend of yours. The other thing is this person is an adult so it does make getting services diffcult, you can’t usually get something done against their will.

 

[lizziebeth730]

Ahhhhh I feel like I’m still at work. This is what I deal with all day long except that I work in a nursing home.

This person should get help. There are people who can do things and not be a shrink. Social Workers/ Case Managers ( like me) can do some pretty good things for folks who need help, and don’t want “HELP”

Worst comes to worst, you might have to go to court (if this person becomes dangerous to themselves or others and they can legally be deemed “incompetent” which is a really nasty word, but basically means someone becomes their guardian.

I deal with people who have a combo of many of those symptoms.

Theres also a difference between sentimentality. (I am a pack rat too) and being a hoarder. I have a lot of stuff that I am attached to, and won’t throw out, but hoarders keep everything, pieces of paper, food, clothing, shoes,etc. This can be dangerous for health reasons.

Talk to this person. Lay it out on the table in brutal honest terms. Don’t do the spoonfull of sugar routine. They need to know that these behaviors are NOT normal. That they need help, even if it’s only some meds, or going to talk to someone, or having someone come over and help them out.

 

[love-bias]

Question:

Can we really (try to) mix behavioral psychology–in its raw form, which is, it seems to me, what I’d call *blind muscle mysticism–*with Roman Catholicism; and expect people to think we’re telling them the truth about what we really believe, deep inside of our hearts?

I mean for example, in Roman Catholicism we have: metaphysical demons, distinctly existing in their own free will, outside of cause & affect; and these demons can and would torment humans. It doesn’t matter one little bit what chemicals are/n’t within the human’s body.

But in pure Behavioral Psychology we have: a chemical in the food you ate lastnight, at that unsanitary Chinese Resturant. (We’re still looking for our neighbors’ dog) In Behaviorism, the farthest we will ever truly be allowed to explore of these "demons" (by whatever you’d mean by the word–it doesn’t matter in this shallow behavioral sense), is this:

*“you should not eat chinese dog before you go to sleep, lest you have nightmares. (Which very well may resemble the demon(s) which those (foolish?) Roman Catholics believe in.” *

(And I go farther, and dare say anyone is a fool or liar, if they don’t perceive the real, underlying sentence/implication here: “your so-called ‘demon,’ is only that spoiled chinese mystery meat you ate last night, ya stupid Catholic!”)

IOW: if you believe the Catechism of the Catholic Church to be TRUTH, then you need not weary yourself by delving into and relying so heavily on the advice of Behavioral Psychologists.

:twocents: --Jason

 

[love-bias]

PaulDupre:

Sounds exactly like my ex-wife: clinical depression with schizophrenic tendencies. It usually starts in the early-mid 20’s and gets worse with age, sometimes developing into full-blown psychosis, as it did in my ex’s case. There is a strong genetic component.

Get him to a psychiatrist ASAP. This can be treated pretty successfully with medications. The sooner you get him on meds, the happier he will be, and the slower the condition will progress.

If he won’t get help voluntarily, you may be able to have your loved one committed for 72 hours for evaluation. This depends on your relationship. If it is a child or spouse you have the authority in most states. It is a very painful thing to do (I know, I’ve done it).

Your first resource should be your family physician, for initial referral to a competent psychiatrist (not psychologist). Talk therapy does *no good *for this condition until the underlying neurological/chemical problems are dealt with by medication.

God bless you,
Paul

I love you, my good brother Paul, but (heh heh) I must confess to you: amidst Psychiatrists and Psychologists, I am drawn to the “latter.”

I prefer Psychologists to Psychiatrists any day. The reason is because, so it seems to me anyway, more Psychologists acknowledge the existence of a metaphysical soul; whereas psychiatrists don’t tend to. (But I could be wrong, I’ve only taken one class in General Psychology)

Best wishes.

Jason

 

[goravens]

I don’t think any one of us can tell simply from your post what’s going on with your friend. Many of the concerns you mention could be something, or could just be normal. It depends a lot on the severity of behaviors and contexts in which they are in. It certainly could not hurt to talk with a counselor, social worker, or psychologist to get an assessment done. Get a good recommendation though either from local church or catholictherapists.com or some other reputable source.

Best wishes!