Reconciling darkness of mental illness with faith

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I am a huge fan of You Say by Lauren Daigle. It has become my personal apostolate and mission statement. Thank you for sharing. I watch this video every single morning and weep before the Savior.
 
Please keep the cards and letters coming. Great helps. I am so grateful for this community…
 
constant prayer to the Holy Spirit, practising forgiveness and prayer for all who have hurt me, and the writings of Fr Jacques Philippe, most helpful.

I have read everything he has ever written. I have a Catholic library 2,000 plus volumes which I have collected and studied over a lifetime…I was turned on to him when I was an OCDS novice.

Try and get help from an experienced Catholic counselor to uncover the roots of your moods - it is often trauma in childhood for which we carry inarticulate resentment and even hatred and fear, into our adult lives. You can do a lot to improve your mental health.

Indeed, I do consult my Catholic counselor once every eight weeks. She is an angel from heaven, a living saint…

Ask the Holy Family to adopt you and take care of you as though you were an abandoned child. We are each in this position, in reality. Miracles can occur.

This is a wonderful idea I’ve never thought of. Victim of molestation by family members, victim of attempted murder as adult…

I’m older than you, but my real spiritual life began when I discovered the spirituality of Opus Dei.

I have followed Opus Dei spirituality for years and more regularly during my working life. I am now retired. And Scott Hahn’s Opus Dei witness.

Thank you for reminding me of Fr. Phillippe. I’m going to pick up his volumes again. I adored them.

God Bless you. I will pray for you.
 
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God bless you for your faithfullness.

I love Roman Guardini’s books “The virtues that lead you to God” and his classic “The Lord”. He is a great writer for the anxious person who is beset by weaknesses and regrets. Guardini also struggled with depression and speaks in a way that brings peace.

Huge fan of Guardini. Read The Lord twice. All marked up. Great Catholic theologian.

There are many devotions, so many it can be bewildering. For the suffering person a good imagination is a help. By imaging we can place ourselves at the foot of the cross and participate with Christ by “offering it up” with him.

Yes. Is this the Spiritual Exercises or like? I practice them in every scene I read in my Bible. Didn’t used to, though. This is something new I’m trying. Had never really been attracted to Spiritual Exercises per se prior. It’s getting slowly more fruitful. I am drawn mostly to the mystical life but also love concrete reality, sidewalk saint stuff.

I try to remember God does not have a heart for the powerful and perfect who have no need for mercy. He has a heart for those who know they are broken and desperately need God. (that’s really everyone, if you look at yourself in proper perspective).

I also love Henri Nouwen. This is the first part of a great video series

I am just recently drawn to Nouwen from some excerpts I’ve been reading. Your message is timely. Recommend first one?
 
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The only devotion I can think of to suggest to you (if you’re not already doing it) is to cultivate the habit of offering up your sufferings. I suffer from Tourette’s Syndrome, depression, and severe anxiety. I also suffer from neuropathy which makes it impossible for me to sit or stand for more than a few minutes. Most of the day I am lying down. My life is very frustrating. I also don’t sleep well. The only thing I have besides my family is my faith in God and in particular the belief that my sufferings are helping my soul and the souls of others. I do a lot of intercessory prayer for the conversion of souls. I have been collecting quotes over the years that help to solidify this Catholic belief in my mind and soul. Here are a few of them that might help you:

“If the angels were capable of envy, they would envy us for two things: one is the receiving of Holy Communion and the other is suffering…You will save more souls through prayer and suffering then will a missionary through his teachings and sermons alone.” St. Faustina

“Patient suffering is the most enviable state of man.” Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich

“If God allows you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you and that He certainly intends to make you a saint.” St. Ignatius Loyola

“From the vantage point of eternity, even the most miserable life on earth will seem like only one night in a lousy hotel.” St. Teresa of Avila
These are so beautiful. You are my kindred soul. In gratitude. God bless.
 
recommend the books of Dr. Claire Weeks, who passed away some years ago. Her books were my life raft and I read them constantly when in my worst states. The best of them, from my point of view, is titled Peace from Nervous Suffering.
I’ve ordered it. Many thanks. Looks fascinating. Reviews are terrific.
 
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DBRANDT said:
for I am resentful and full of anger for perceived wrongs against me
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I have lived with anger and resentment in the past, but I have learned some profound lessons on being able to forgive.

I believe I was unfairly sacked in 2011 from a job I had been doing for ten years. I never had a day of sick, I did a lot of the jobs other people seemed afraid to do, caring for people with challenging behaviour.

Since being sacked; I have done about two thousand hours of voluntary work for the people who sacked me. On occasions, I come into contact with the people responsible for my sacking, I pray that God will bless them and give them peace.

It has been easier for me to do two thousand hours of voluntary work, rather than to hold onto any anger and resentment that I could have for them. I know this to be true; because in the past I have lived with real anger; I know how it has made me feel; it eats away at the soul and makes you feel miserable. I am determined that I will not be controlled by anger; I just don’t have the time or energy for those emotions any more.

I believe that resentment and anger; prevent us from being the kind and caring people that God created us to be.
 
DBRANDT said:
I am an ordinary person of faith. I have suffered debilitating mental illness all my life which has aided in essentially the destruction of all personal relationships I ever knew. Reconciling the black frame of mind with my faith and suffering has been a huge challenge, one minute at a time. At times I have been unable to bear even being in God’s presence. Can you please direct me to some helps? I have been in treatment my entire life. I am 64 years old and in otherwise excellent health.
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Pray for each person who hurt you, whom you may have hurt. Pray a selfless prayer for each of them. Does not have to be all at one sitting. Everytime you remember them when you feel down or before sleep. In the morning, before get off bed, pray the Lords prayer. Ask God for forgiveness, just as you forgive those who hurt you.

The next time, if there is opportunity, when you meet one of them, offer them a smile. It he/ she turn away, thats okay, because that way, you have found your small peace within yourself. Do this each time you have opportunity. Even if you fall into bitter quarrel again with them, you try do better again the next time.

During day time, when you are free, listen to psalms/ psalm-songs.

Find your peace in this life by doing small things out of goodwill. Do not delay trying to do great things. In doing great things, people will fall into pride. Doing small things today glorifies the Lord.

May you find your peace in the Lord Jesus Christ!
 
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I have lived with anger and resentment in the past, but I have learned some profound lessons on being able to forgive.

I believe I was unfairly sacked in 2011 from a job I had been doing for ten years. I never had a day of sick, I did a lot of the jobs other people seemed afraid to do, caring for people with challenging behaviour.

Since being sacked; I have done about two thousand hours of voluntary work for the people who sacked me. On occasions, I come into contact with the people responsible for my sacking, I pray that God will bless them and give them peace.

It has been easier for me to do two thousand hours of voluntary work, rather than to hold onto any anger and resentment that I could have for them. I know this to be true; because in the past I have lived with real anger; I know how it has made me feel; it eats away at the soul and makes you feel miserable. I am determined that I will not be controlled by anger; I just don’t have the time or energy for those emotions any more.

I believe that resentment and anger; prevent us from being the kind and caring people that God created us to be.

Thank you. This helps. I have sought forgiveness of the first of many. Releasing the first? She didn’t grant forgiveness. This hurts so much. I don’t know, but my Lord instructs me to proceed with a loving life regardless. In rubber and road of my Catholic faith, action usually precedes a change in thinking, not the other way round. So here I am, putting action before faith…the conviction that it has been released from my soul, even though it doesn’t feel that way. The rest of God’s blessings will follow. May God grant His blessings…
 
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