What can psychologists/psychiatrists offer for Catholics?

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NuclearReceptor said:
Doesn’t dissatisfaction with life mean some sort of sin that prevents worthy reception? It may not be mortal sin per se, but I don’t think I can partake of the Eucharist in this state…
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“Dissatisfaction with life” is not a sin. Most of the saints were dissatisfied with their lives at some point and made a change, but for some of them it didn’t happen overnight, and some saints likely had mental health issues back in the days before medical science had reached the point of being able to diagnose and effectively treat them.

Your thinking is likely off because you are feeling bad in general. Please get yourself some mental health help.
 
God does care about you!!!

I have had so many problems with OCD and depression. I find it best to just pray daily and say the rosary a couple times a week if not daily. As soon as your feeling sad start praying. It works.

I don’t think they have much to offer personally, I’ve done so much research and all those meds do is eat at your brain and they can even make you more miserable in the long run. It might be beneficial to talk about it with someone tho.

Also, if you live in an area where it isn’t sunny or if you stay indoors make sure you are taking vitamin D! 5000IU is the best, you can buy them on amazon or at the store. Most people are deficient in this vitamin and it has been linked to depression. God bless
 
You think that people don’t get obese or get cancer on their own lol. What about smokers or drinkers
 
NuclearReceptor said:
I’m just constantly disappointed in life and now, I’m verging on just not caring about anything anymore. Don’t want to feel joy because in the end, it was just a false illusion. Don’t want to feel sadness, well, because it’s sad.
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If joy is a false illusion, then why is sadness not a false illusion?
But, I tell you, sadness and joy are not bad, but true joy transcends all illusion.

We have recourse to God, but let us remember it is His Will and not ours.

I remember seeing a quote by Jung on that he didn’t really have to serve Catholics too much after just reminding them of what the Faith teaches.

However, I know that people have chemical imbalances (that’s the leading hypothesis) and what not, and issues that need others to turn to for help. Sadly or gladly, that’s usually a therapist in this world of ours that’s lost its sense of community.
 
The most jarring part is not knowing what to do next, not knowing what to improve so that this doesn’t happen again.

In the Catholic faith, we just have to accept it without question. No explanation, no reason, nothing.

So we’re just kind of left in the dark not knowing where to go, what to do, just sort of aimless.

We’re supposed to “listen” to God, but I don’t hear Him. I tried praying — but I hear nothing back.

At least saintly people and religious nuns and monks know they are undergoing the dark night.

What about the rest of us? What’s our reason for the silent treatment?
 
I was thinking more along the lines of hereditary illnesses or genetically acquired diseases.

But smoking should probably be ceased…
 
Isn’t acedia/sloth and despondence sin? Due to lack of faith and hope
 
That is sometimes the case, but far from always true. It’s best to have a spiritual director to have you work through these things. Plus there are explicitly Catholic Therapists out there.

Although a knowledgeable human face is preferable, a recommended book I own that is pretty good is called…“The Catholic Guide to Depression.”

https://www.sophiainstitute.com/products/item/catholic-guide-to-depression
 
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This is not true.
Depression is never the fault of the person who is suffering. Please get this idea out of your head, it is what helps keep the stigma attached to mental illness alive.

I see a therapist, have for nearly 10 years. He is a safe place to talk about all the things going on in my life and relationships. He gives me great advice, listens when I need an ear and has been able to give me lots of tools for dealing with difficult people and situations.
 
SacredHeartBassist said:
Why do you think going to a doctor of mental health is different than seeing your typical doctor
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Many mental health problems have spiritual aspects . Secular doctors are not equipped to unearth or understand a spiritual aspect of mental illness and best thsy can do might be to write a prescription. For the patient it might simply numb the pain , but not solve the inner conflict.
 
There’s nothing wrong with going to a psychologist or a psychiatrist, taking medication or anything else associated with treating something like depression.

OP, you don’t have to live feeling this way. Look after yourself.
 
Totally inappropriate advice.
Yes, sometimes it can be spiritual illness that is the root cause, but to dismiss the help of medicine (both the doctor and the prescribed drugs) as unnecessary is dangerous.
 
The causes of depression are different for everyone. Depression runs in my family on my father’s side. We are all spiritually healthy people. Our brains do not produce enough serotonin. In my case, meds have worked well to correct this lack of serotonin. However, some depression responds better to psychotherapy. Some requires both psychotherapy and medication. It is irresponsible to speculate on the treatment of depression without the proper assessment and diagnosis of the depression by a health care professional.
 
Xanax is not typically used for depression. All of you giving out medical advice need to stop. It is against forum rules.
 
Getting help doesn’t make you a bad catholic. People who have problems with their lungs would go and see a doctor and nobody would say that they are weak. The same is true in the case of the brain. If someone has a problem with their brain, like in depression, it’s natural to go see someone who can treat it. It’s no more weak minded than someone who gets help because they have a lung problem.

I have gotten help because I also suffer from depression. It took years until I started to get better. Sometimes God will use doctors as a means of accomplishing what He wants. He took me to many doctors and many types of therapy. He said He’s going to heal me, though, and I believe He’ll do the same for you. Don’t just pray; seek help.
 
NuclearReceptor said:
Isn’t acedia/sloth and despondence sin? Due to lack of faith and hope
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The fact that you’re trying to so hard to make this your fault is itself a symptom of your depression. Stop looking for a reason to blame yourself. You have a medical problem. It’s no less real than if you had a broken leg. Go get treatment and stop looking for reasons to avoid help.
 
I’m not I’m saying that’s about all a psychiatrist did for me when I was having panic attacks.
 
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