Some solutions for mental illness against theology and why?

[BonnieBj]

I understand that the Church teaches that we are forbidden to use hypnosis and biofeedback and certain other techniques for treatment of mental illness. Why is this so and would there be any exceptions made?

 

[puzzleannie]

I understand that the Church teaches that we are forbidden to use hypnosis and biofeedback and certain other techniques for treatment of mental illness. Why is this so and would there be any exceptions made?

do you have some source for this allegation?

 

[Newbie2]

I’m not aware of any such prohibition.

 

[rpp]

I have done a very brief and cursory search and can find only one reference to hypnosis in any Church document.

All I found was *Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of Life: A Christian reflection on the “New Age” *from the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

In it it had this quote. The citation for this quote is:
70 Michel Lacroix,* L’Ideologia della New Age, *Milano (Il Saggiatore) 1998, p. 74.

“The point of* New Age *techniques is to reproduce mystical states at will, as if it were a matter of laboratory material. Rebirth, biofeedback, sensory isolation, holotropic breathing, hypnosis, mantras, fasting, sleep deprivation and transcendental meditation are attempts to control these states and to experience them continuously” 70 These practices all create an atmosphere of psychic weakness (and vulnerability). When the object of the exercise is that we should re-invent our selves, there is a real question of who “I” am. “God within us” and holistic union with the whole cosmos underline this question. Isolated individual personalities would be pathological in terms of *New Age *(in particular transpersonal psychology).

Since this is in the context of some sort of New Age spirituality, I do not think such a proscription would apply to a medical treatment.

There are lots of medical treatments that are permissible for one reason and not for another. For example, if a woman loses a breast to breast cancer, having breast augmentation so that her appearance is restored is reasonable. On the other hand, having breast augmentation for vanity or elective cosmetic reasons is not permissible.

 

[Al_Masetti]

If you do a search here on CAF for “hypnosis” you may find more information.

The Church has written very little on this topic; however, my understanding is that Pope Pius VI, Pope Pius IX and Pope Pius XII all approved hypnosis for therapeutic purposes.

 

[peary]

I understand that the Church teaches that we are forbidden to use hypnosis and biofeedback and certain other techniques for treatment of mental illness. Why is this so and would there be any exceptions made?

I am not aware of this. The Church believes that sometimes, due to severe psychological trauma, that the mental state of a person needs to be healed first before the spiritual state can properly be taken care of. There is nothing that I know of where the Church prohibits Catholics from using hypnosis or biofeedback by a professional mental health specialist to alleviate and heal psychological traumas.

 

[Christy_Beth]

The problem with hypnosis is that it causes the person open to suggestion. For awhile, there were stories of “false memories.”

 

[Al_Masetti]

The problem with hypnosis is that it causes the person open to suggestion. For awhile, there were stories of “false memories.”

Being open to suggestion takes place all the time in society. It’s been that way for dozens of centuries. The issue of hysteria and the execution of people as witches is but one example.

The false memory scandals were but one example of unscrupulous counsellors joining with power-hungry prosecutors … this sort of thing goes on all the time.

However, hypnosis used carefully by vetted professionals is a useful technique.

Keep in mind that the original post uses the expression “mental illness”. There is a wide variety of mental illness. And the term “mental illness” does not describe properly the wide variety of behaviors that are unproductive.

For example, there are many different kinds of hypnotic interventions … and some of them, such as EMDR and EMI can be extremely helpful and easy to employ when treating PTSD.

Guided imagery can be helpful in treating such things as fear of flying.

Normally in hypnosis, there is a trance induction and employment of suggestion. However, in both the PTSD treatment and in the guided imagery, you don’t need to use either an induction or suggestion.

Airplane pilots employ highly refined situational awareness … which could be considered a form of hypnosis … sharp focus.

Hypnosis is a multi-faceted topic worthy of exhaustive study and detailed discussion. Not to be dismissed out-of-hand. And besides we are exposed to suggestion all day, every day, in our normal lives. Just watch television. Or read a newspaper or a magazine. Or look at a movie.

OR, use the internet. Look at someone’s face when they are on the Internet. Their eyeblink rate goes way down. Classic sign of being in a trance state.

Folks on the Internet are in a trance state and receiving continuous subconscious suggestion.

 

[rwoehmke]

It probably would be prudent to go to a Christian, preferably Catholic therapist for treatment by hypnosis.

 

[bcuster]

I am not aware of this. The Church believes that sometimes, due to severe psychological trauma, that the mental state of a person needs to be healed first before the spiritual state can properly be taken care of. There is nothing that I know of where the Church prohibits Catholics from using hypnosis or biofeedback by a professional mental health specialist to alleviate and heal psychological traumas.

This is my understanding also. There are professionals that are trained in using EMDR for children and adults with histories of trauma. (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprogramming) Again, make sure you have a trained professional for these therapies.

 

[Christy_Beth]

Being mentally ill myself, I am somewhat familiar with different forms of treatment. Not that many, but I’ve run into a few. In the fall of 1994 I was admitted to a VA hospital due to mental illness. When I was first there, two men were receiving electric shock therapy. I had thought that that bit was done away with many years before, so I was shocked to find it still in use.

I did some therapy through the biofeedback clinic at the VA here in Topeka. Including Alpha theta biofeedback. Now, I can see how that could have left me open to negative influences. Which I still think that hypnosis leaves one open to the same thing. And I’m not comparing it to mass hysteria. They are two different things.

I know that there needs to be different kinds of therapy. Sort of like there needs to be different drugs to treat each one. No one medication is a “one size fits all.” Often times it takes a combination of meds/therapy that works. I have finally found a therapist that is an actual help. Too many years were wasted on therapist who never listened and/or didn’t want to go beyond the superficial.