Priests more into psychology than Jesus..

[distracted]

. I’m saying that a lot of people who aren’t truly mentally ill are on anti-depressants, and it is stiffling thier creativity and joy and sorrow and all that good stuff about being human. Distracted doesn’t seem mentally ill to me, just full of angst. If you never feel pain, you will never feel relief. If you never feel blue, you can never feel joyous.

.

thank you… esp for that part where you say i don’t seem mentally ill…

How can one be mentally ill when one is in love with (spends time with) Jesus?? That is an insult to His power… True… i dont always give every “little thing” to him (immediately) to “fix”… but i always (nowadays) at least KNOW that i should… (etc, etc)

and life in this crazy, materialistic, un-Christian world is enough to make anyone… even those who are virtualy “healed” relapse somehow into some kind of “illness”… or whatever you want to call it… but i don’t call it “mental illness” in my own case (and that is NOT denial… i believe in facing truth, painful as it can be… and usually is…) - it is more emotional than mental… To me mental illness is something like schizophrenia… doing harmful things to oneself/others…

I think some people on the forums (protestants?) would love to think i a have a mental illness … so they can negate everything i say… so they can totally disregard it… or what have you…

I think a lot of people would like to think that the following is PROOF that i have a mental illness…

I am an enthused Catholic.

 

[EasterJoy]

you are so preachy… you come across like you know just about everything and others were born & raised in a vacuum or soemthing…

And you sound like you have a split personality or something because you say one kind of thing in one post & something contradictory to that in another…

I thikn it best we do not correspond with each other any further…

I think the reason I say one thing in one post and something else in another is that sometimes I am talking about myself and my experiences, and sometimes I’m talking about other people, whom I know can be totally different than I am. So…as I said, if you find it does not apply to you, of course that needs no more explanation than that. You asked, I answered, and that is all that needs to be said. I neither expect nor need a reply…may all go well with you.

 

[Salonika]

I agree, angst can lead to great faith and creativity. However, if you are suggesting that angst can be mental illness then this is an argument that is not supported by the evidence. There are far more people with mental illness who are not creative or productive in anyway (e.g. unable to work, have relationships, care for themselves.) than 'great’artists etc. There are also many, many creative and brilliant people who are not and were not mentally ill.

In addition, it is likely that these great creative people would have been more creative and productive if they did not have to struggle with their mental illness.

Have you actually spent significant time with people who are seriously mentally ill? have you spent time in a mental health unit? Please, reassure me that you don’t mean “Pull yourself together. You just lack willpower.”

You honestly believe that prayer and willpower is enough for these suffering, desperate souls? Even the Catholic Church recognises the existence of mental illness and also recognises the need for medical intervention. It is in the paragraph of the catechism that I cited in an earlier post.

As for mental illness being a result of “rescinding from their sufferings and problems”. You really believe that mental illness cancels suffering and reduces their problems? In most cases suffering is increased and more problems are experienced. That’s why its called mental illness.

Well, for one thing, most people did not have access to medical care in previous ages. Most of the poor would suffer and die without any help or diagnosis. In addition, systematic records were not kept of numbers diagnosed, and those that were kept were often lost or inaccurate. We also did not know as much about mental illness and people were often told that they were lazy or immoral and incarcerated in workhouses or similar. In those places they often died of malnourishment, neglect or disease, because, after all,
It was, and is cruel, and lacking in compassion and knowledge to treat sick people in that manner.
God Bless us all that we have medical science.
Karen

Karen

Thank you very much for your post. You have said some very important and compassionate things.

When we look around us we can see the unhappiness and loss of joy of life that sadness and adversity can bring and that can be multiplied so many times by the presence of mental illness. People need appropriate assistance to deal with both.

 

[eelpis]

you are so preachy… you come across like you know just about everything and others were born & raised in a vacuum or soemthing…

And you sound like you have a split personality or something because you say one kind of thing in one post & something contradictory to that in another…

I thikn it best we do not correspond with each other any further…

“May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, may the rain fall soft upon your fields, and, until we meet again, may the Lord hold you in the palm of his hand.”

Remember that it takes great humility to acknowledge that you are dependant in any way, on other people (we all are) or that you need a medicine. God is close to those who suffer, he loves them more than every one else.

 

[eelpis]

And as you said there are so many priests today who rather want to be Oprah or Dr Phil than what they truly are… priests.
I think it’s a symptom of their own identity crisis.

Pray for our priests.

 

[elts1956]

you are so preachy… you come across like you know just about everything and others were born & raised in a vacuum or soemthing…

And you sound like you have a split personality or something because you say one kind of thing in one post & something contradictory to that in another…

I thikn it best we do not correspond with each other any further…

Dear Distracted, Perhaps you should ask yourself why you are sooooooooo defensive. Easter Joy gave a sound rational post, using no names, in fact she said she didn’t know you and therefore, I take that to mean she isn’t pointing fingers.

Get help.

 

[wynnejj]

We’re all crazy. And we’re all a blessing to whoever has the decency to put up with us.

 

[elts1956]

We’re all crazy. And we’re all a blessing to whoever has the decency to put up with us.

Yes, and the scary part is that people look at us and call us NORMAL.

 

[wynnejj]

It just seems that priests nowadays (a lot of them) are more into psychology than spiritualiity… and True Psychology comes from Jesus… the one who knows us perfectly.

Have you experienced this or something like it??

I think that there are more “gray” areas today about what is right and wrong, what is black and white. When I was growing up, the Baltimore Catechism was my medium for religious education. It was very black and white (and a little dry). Later, when my brother was teaching CCD, I got a look at the teaching materials and felt that the materials were lacking in substance and hard B&W facts. So now I suspect that priests may have to use more psychology to persuade future adults of what is black and white which could have been avoided if the kids had been solidly grounded in hard facts from the start.
There is so much Relativism today and so little Absolute Truth.

True Psychology comes from Jesus - the one who knows us perfectly — some thoughts —.

Ask, Seek, and Knock. I find often when I have a burning question about right & wrong or understanding, I’ll be stewing about it for a week or two imploring God - Why?. My answer usually does come with some kind of signature unique way that is so coincidentally in accord with the unique way of my thought processes and the way I framed the question. The person who delivers the message is often a surprise to me - maybe, someone whose counsel I wouldn’t normally accept.

 

[Fran65]

I’m saying that a lot of people who aren’t truly mentally ill are on anti-depressants, and it is stiffling thier creativity and joy and sorrow and all that good stuff about being human.

I think you’re absolutely right there. There are problems with overprescribing and also that we live in a culture where we don’t expect to work with pain and suffering. For example, its not good practice to medicate someone experiencing grief, but many people label normal, healthy grief as ‘depression’ and want it ‘treated’.

Distracted doesn’t seem mentally ill to me, just full of angst.

Again, I’m with you here. None of us know Distracted well enough to offer an opinion.
God bless
Karen

 

[distracted]

I think the reason I say one thing in one post and something else in another is that sometimes I am talking about myself and my experiences, and sometimes I’m talking about other people, whom I know can be totally different than I am. So…as I said, if you find it does not apply to you, of course that needs no more explanation than that. You asked, I answered, and that is all that needs to be said. I neither expect nor need a reply…may all go well with you.

i just re-read my post to you. I sound kind of harsh and i apologize for that. I guess my issues were triggered…

anyway… i am more refreshed today… I was tired yesterday (etc)… In any case… I also shouldn’t have said that about having a split personality because every one of us has one ofthose to one degree or another… Humans are complex creatures… and we don’t know ourselves… not even a fraction of who we truly are… and as i am sure you know, only Jesus knows the real person and can help us to become our best selves…

God bless…

 

[distracted]

I think you’re absolutely right there. There are problems with overprescribing and also that we live in a culture where we don’t expect to work with pain and suffering.

So true… Even we Catholics (being human) try to avoid suffering… and sometimes, that is not such a bad idea. After all, what we put ourselves thoruhg, we put Jesus through (St. Mt 25:33-)… Its another one of those balancing acts we have to do… :hypno:

. None of us know Distracted well enough to offer an opinion.
God bless
Karen

thank you for your thoughtfulness…

What i feel is most helpful is other posters’ testimonies… of their own struggles. That way i can know i am not alone and that… well… maybe i need to be reminded that the devil is after someone besides just me…

 

[dessert]

Distracted; I would seek more than one priest to help you with prayer and confession. Depending on how far you want to drive it may be aways. I have had a lot of counseling. Some everyday some every week some several times a day. Saying the rosary at the beginning with a couple older ladies everyday at Mass. This has gone on for a couple years and I am beginning to feel normal again. I think I was delivered of many things which I would not even like to or want to know the names of. I had lots of on-line stuff counseling and two priests that really stuck with me one that said he would give me the whole day to sit down and talk. They have all been incredible and to pay them all back would have cost a bundle and if it could be bottled would make millions. What was most incredible was they kept saying the same thing; Pray, calm down, leave anything you don’t feel comfortable with, know when it seems wrong, pray.
Use Sacramentals or ask the priest, this can only come from prayer and fasting . God Bless You and I pray for you. I hope we are helping you and your continued response is good.

 

[Joannm]

How can one be mentally ill when one is in love with (spends time with) Jesus?? That is an insult to His power… True… i dont always give every “little thing” to him (immediately) to “fix”… but i always (nowadays) at least KNOW that i should… (etc, etc)

I am an enthused Catholic.

Having worked in ministry for over 20 years and having a husband who worked in a psychiatric hospital, I can assure you that one can be mentally ill and in love with Jesus. In fact, many, many mentally ill people are very religious, some even fanatically religious. The Church can be a haven for people with mental illness.

 

[Charlie_Vivian]

How can one be mentally ill when one is in love with (spends time with) Jesus?? That is an insult to His power…
I am an enthused Catholic.

Wow, Distracted! That’s a huge assumption! Isn’t that like saying: "Because I’m a Catholic, I’m no longer subject to any sin, or any consequences of the fall.

 

[distracted]

  Use Sacramentals or ask the priest, this can only come from prayer and fasting . God Bless You and I pray for you. I hope we are helping you and your continued response is good.

When people let us down, God steps in… if we let Him…& sometimes even when we don’t… God is love…

I prefer to go to Him about things… People always disappoint… not because i expect them to be perfect or anything… but i HAVe been through things most people have not been through… not even close… so i have just accepted my “alone-ness”… and my unique circumstances, unique past experiences, etc… Sometimes i think all this seeking help form counselors (etc) is just a way of not really accepting things as they are… or something…

 

[catharina]

When people let us down, God steps in… if we let Him…& sometimes even when we don’t… God is love…

I prefer to go to Him about things… People always disappoint… not because i expect them to be perfect or anything… but i HAVe been through things most people have not been through… not even close… so i have just accepted my “alone-ness”… and my unique circumstances, unique past experiences, etc… Sometimes i think all this seeking help form counselors (etc) is just a way of not really accepting things as they are… or something…

Going to Him about things includes going to His priests for the Sacraments. Priests can ask if a penitent is troubled or is in psychiatric treatment because some mental-health issues can certainly diminish one’s culpability in matters of sin and such questioning is therefore relevant to the confessional. Ignoring such an exchange can be ignoring HIS response to your prayers.

 

[distracted]

Wow, Distracted! That’s a huge assumption! Isn’t that like saying: "Because I’m a Catholic, I’m no longer subject to any sin, or any consequences of the fall.

well… if a person wants to put words in another’s mouth… i guess he can make that person’s words say whatever he wants them to

 

[elts1956]

When people let us down, God steps in… if we let Him…& sometimes even when we don’t… God is love…

I prefer to go to Him about things… People always disappoint… not because i expect them to be perfect or anything… but i HAVe been through things most people have not been through… not even close… so i have just accepted my “alone-ness”… and my unique circumstances, unique past experiences, etc… Sometimes i think all this seeking help form counselors (etc) is just a way of not really accepting things as they are… or something…

How do you know your experiences in life have been so much more terrible than anyone else’s who has posted here? I don’t mean to diminish your trials. I am sure to you they were/are terrible. But I find that at least in instances of trials and tribulations, our understanding of them is relative.

I will always remember when at a young age, Grade School, I saw the movie “The Song of Bernadette”. Do you remember the nun who was in competition with Bernadette to try to prove her own holiness through her suffering? She just couldn’t understand why Bernadette was so blessed with the visions of Mother Mary, when SHE was the victim of so much suffering and the Blessed Virgin was ignoring HER. She thought she had it bad, until Bernadette shared with her what TB of the bone had done to her leg. The other nun was humiliated. The point is many, or perhaps I should say all of us, have suffered in one form or another. Just as Bernadette accepted her pain and was silent, so many others, although not Saints, are also silent and accepting.

 

[strugglingalong]

Have you actually spent significant time with people who are seriously mentally ill? have you spent time in a mental health unit? Please, reassure me that you don’t mean “Pull yourself together. You just lack willpower.”

Yes actually I have spent time in a psychiatric ward as well as working with those with mental illness. Some do have legitimate mental illness but I think the case of genuine, biological mental disorder is more rare than most make it out to be.

I’m not saying it is just willpower. It is also the desire to want to be better, to want to try to face things, etc. These people need help but they also need to want to change too. Some people simply want to give up and want to turn away from their struggles.

As for mental illness being a result of “rescinding from their sufferings and problems”. You really believe that mental illness cancels suffering and reduces their problems? In most cases suffering is increased and more problems are experienced. That’s why its called mental illness.

Yes, of course they continue to suffer but most of them have some specific event or feeling or experience they want to avoid and even if they suffer from other things as a by-product they will avoid that thing, or things. I’m not saying the tendency to repress or to rescind is beneficial holistically. I am saying that it is beneficial from their point-of-view because there is some other thing that they think they most avoid.

Well, for one thing, most people did not have access to medical care in previous ages. Most of the poor would suffer and die without any help or diagnosis. In addition, systematic records were not kept of numbers diagnosed, and those that were kept were often lost or inaccurate. We also did not know as much about mental illness and people were often told that they were lazy or immoral and incarcerated in workhouses or similar. In those places they often died of malnourishment, neglect or disease, because, after all,
It was, and is cruel, and lacking in compassion and knowledge to treat sick people in that manner.

Agreed.

Pax Christi tecum.