What can stop the feeling of darkness when you feel life is pointless?

[guanophore]

For a start guanophore,

I am not your brother, or at least I wouldn’t treat my siblings like this…
I am only capable of being a sister since I am female.

Your “help” here is far from doing any good.

Very well, my young sister in Christ. It is not loving to encourage misbehavior. You have presented yourself in some very unproductive manners here, and I have pointed out to you that there are better ways.

As far as my “help”, CAF is not an online therapy resource. I, personally, find it therapeutic, but the goal of CAF is to provide Catholic answers.

If you start threads that indicate the Catholic Church is full of “lies” as you have done, then it will be more difficult for you to get the help you are seeking.

 

[Verita]

Zundrah, I know exactly how you are feeling, because I am going through the same thing. I too have trauma in my childhood that has caused me years of depression, guilt, anxiety, shame and fear. I too have tried to hide these things from everyone I know.

Sometimes it is easier to be yourself with strangers than it is with people you have known for a long time. When you have been wearing a mask for years, it is not easy to remove it. The internet provides a comforting anonymity. But if you truly want to be healed, this will not be enough. You need to have people in your life who can support you.

One of the things that has helped me the most is praying with my husband. We have a book with morning and evening prayers. I find that on the days when we do start the morning with prayer, I feel much better. On the days we forget I struggle. Going to Church has a similar effect. The grace that is received in the Mass is so powerful.

Recently I picked up a book by Fulton Sheen called Way to Happiness. I can’t even begin to describe how much it has helped me. It has made me see some uncomfortable truths about myself, but it has also given me incredible hope. I recommend it highly.

 

[guanophore]

Recently I picked up a book by Fulton Sheen called Way to Happiness. I can’t even begin to describe how much it has helped me. It has made me see some uncomfortable truths about myself, but it has also given me incredible hope. I recommend it highly.

Excellent! There is also a set of books by Ellen Bass called The Courage to Heal

She has a companion book for spouses of survivors, to help them understand the strange quirks produced by trauma that manifest in relationships.

These books can be found for pennies at half.com

 

[Zundrah]

well thank you for helping every one but I really don’t want to talk to a councilor again. I hated it when I had to talk about the details, I wish I never did because I think it sort of made me more upset.
My police officer who is on the case is asking me to get back in contact with her, but I’m petrified of it. She sent me a letter saying to call her as soon as posssible. But what do I do, I’m so frightened of the court case coming up. He will be in the court room looking at me, I don’t want to see him.

 

[KingAlfred]

I don’t know how personnal you can be on this site but basically I will give this a go;
I had something very bad happen to me when I was a child in a care home, (I don’t really want to say any more detail).

Even to this day it still really haunts me, I can’t seem to get away from the memory of it. It went on for so long and has never left my head. I suffer with bad depression now and that is probably why some of my post and threads seem a little wacky at times…
When this feeling of depression grips me, I don’t know what to do. How do I get away from it? My doctor wont give me medication for it - he says it will do more bad than good.
I stopped seeing my councellor about this. And I am scared of the court trial that will obviously come to surface one day…

I understand. My childhood still haunts me in major ways. The answer is Christ. We don’t live for ourselves, but for Him. We serve Him by serving others. Abandon self, in pursuit of faithful service to others, in imitation of Christ. Our hardships are part of the cross we must bear, as He bore His, unto death. I don’t mean to be insensitive, but after 51 years of struggling with the ghost of my childhood, I found this to be the greatest truth of all.

 

[Zundrah]

I understand. My childhood still haunts me in major ways. The answer is Christ. We don’t live for ourselves, but for Him. We serve Him by serving others. Abandon self, in pursuit of faithful service to others, in imitation of Christ. Our hardships are part of the cross we must bear, as He bore His, unto death. I don’t mean to be insensitive, but after 51 years of struggling with the ghost of my childhood, I found this to be the greatest truth of all.

No, your not being insensitive, you are right. We suffer as did the son, our savior. He suffered too, look at the garden of Gethsemane. He suffered like we all do too. We have in him the understanding of what terrible trials we must face as people.
He felt our pain, and we feel his.
He consoles us, and certainly we consoled his concern for our salvation by coming to him!

 

[juliasmith]

My, this is very curious. You claim to have a Rosary, and pray to Mary, yet on another thread I just read where you wrote that you never met a priest, went to Mass, or knew what holy water was for. Hope you are enjoying entertaining yourself here.

I carried a rosary (given to me by friends of the family) and prayed to Mary for **11 years **before I converted…meaning before I ever went to mass, ever met a priest, or knew what holy water was really for.

Could you try to be a little more charitable, please?

 

[holly_potter]

Zundrah,

((((hugs)))) I went through a similar trial (still going through it…) all last winter I was very depressed and was feeling similar feelings that you are feeling. I went to the counselor, but have been scared and unwilling to go back, though I know I probably should…my doctor gave me Zoloft, thank God, and it helped me function again.

Like others have said, I encourage you to see a different doctor or two, and see what they think about the pros and cons of medication.

And please, consider contacting the police officer and share with her your concerns about seeing the perpetrator in court–sometimes they can help you with that or make accommodations. The same person who harmed you might still be harming other children, and the police officer wants to prevent that from happening ever again to another child, and she needs your help. Feelings of darkness are awful, and I hope that putting that person on trial will help prevent anybody else from having to experience what you are experiencing.

Strangely enough, as hard as it is to consider the possibility of enduring the trial of bringing the person to justice, it’s cathartic, and may even help you to heal your emotional wounds faster. And keep on praying as you have done–it will give you strength to get through the days ahead. One day at a time!

 

[mrpathetic]

Consider the readings of Dr. Raymond Lloyd Richmond on this topic. He is a practicing Catholic psychologist in San Francisco. He writes specifically on the topic of clinical depression and anxiety, and how to cope with it.

Look at his article here:

chastitysf.com/depanx.htm

He is extremely controversial. He has rejected most of traditional Freudian psychology, in favor of an approach that is based in traditional Catholic beliefs.

I have battled anxiety and depression for most of my adult life. I have found his articles to be the most helpful of any online source, as I continue in this struggle.

I strongly recommend you check this out, Zundrah.

 

[Zundrah]

Consider the readings of Dr. Raymond Lloyd Richmond on this topic. He is a practicing Catholic psychologist in San Francisco. He writes specifically on the topic of clinical depression and anxiety, and how to cope with it.

Look at his article here:

chastitysf.com/depanx.htm

He is extremely controversial. He has rejected most of traditional Freudian psychology, in favor of an approach that is based in traditional Catholic beliefs.

I have battled anxiety and depression for most of my adult life. I have found his articles to be the most helpful of any online source, as I continue in this struggle.

I strongly recommend you check this out, Zundrah.

This site is very good!
Thank you, mrpathetic!:bounce:

 

[Zundrah]

The police officer handeling my case has told me that the court case will be in feburary. The “offender” (as I will not mention his name) is trying to pretend that he has brain damage and cannot communicate properly, so that he can skip the trial altogther. The police officer has told me that she has got medics and therapist to annalise him to see if it is true or not, if it is then the whole case will be dropped, but if he is found to be lying then the case will just go on as usual.

 

[slyboots]

Zundrah is posting on another thread disputing the reality and truth of the Eucharist. She is insistant upon her disbelief of Catholic teachings which one must hold to be a Catholic. I am sorry for any one who is in a difficult situation. But it is probable that it is not necessary to feel you need to convince her of Catholic teachings.

 

[Zundrah]

Zundrah is posting on another thread disputing the reality and truth of the Eucharist. She is insistant upon her disbelief of Catholic teachings which one must hold to be a Catholic. I am sorry for any one who is in a difficult situation. But it is probable that it is not necessary to feel you need to convince her of Catholic teachings.

Excuse me but this has nothing to do with catholic teachings. It is nothing to do with christianity even. This is about earthly life.

 

[slyboots]

I knew this would happen.
Priest, mass, holy water - what in God’s name has that got to do with depression.
I can see that you think this is just a sick twisted joke.
I shouldn’t have made this thread - If I can delete it, can some one tell me how to?

This is the kind of thing that I referred to.
You are in a Catholic Forum. Your disbelief and disregard fro our faith makes it extrememly difficult to be helpful to you.

 

[Zundrah]

This is the kind of thing that I referred to.
You are in a Catholic Forum. Your disbelief and disregard fro our faith makes it extrememly difficult to be helpful to you.

Religion and life are two different things. This thread is about my past. You are going to give me a load of verbal hassle on this thread just because i do not follow your beliefs? This is quite abusive.

 

[slyboots]

Religion and life are two different things. This thread is about my past. You are going to give me a load of verbal hassle on this thread just because i do not follow your beliefs? This is quite abusive.

Religion and life for us are NOT two different things. Our Catholic faith is part and parcel of who we are and how we cope what happens to us in life.
If we are dying a priest is called for prayers and anointing.
When a child is born a baptism is carried out to bring that child into the family of God as soon as is possible.
Our marriages are blessed by priests.
We pray for our priests and religious and hope for more to hear God’s call.
At an age of reason we are encouraged to be confirmed in our faith.
At an early age a child is taught the prayers a Catholic prays.
Our elementary children learn of the truth of the Eucharist and receive for the first time.
Our faith is our life. Our lives are full of Catholic activities which grow our faith.
This is a forum to discuss our lives in light of our Catholic faith. Others are always welcome but they need to know that our answers, just as the title of the Forum states, will be “Catholic Answers.”
As for pointlessness and darkness, Christ through His Holy Catholic Church gives us many answers. And I am sad for you.

 

[Zundrah]

Religion and life for us are NOT two different things. Our Catholic faith is part and parcel of who we are and how we cope what happens to us in life.
If we are dying a priest is called for prayers and anointing.
When a child is born a baptism is carried out to bring that child into the family of God as soon as is possible.
Our marriages are blessed by priests.
We pray for our priests and religious and hope for more to hear God’s call.
At an age of reason we are encouraged to be confirmed in our faith.
At an early age a child is taught the prayers a Catholic prays.
Our elementary children learn of the truth of the Eucharist and receive for the first time.
Our faith is our life. Our lives are full of Catholic activities which grow our faith.
This is a forum to discuss our lives in light of our Catholic faith. Others are always welcome but they need to know that our answers, just as the title of the Forum states, will be “Catholic Answers.”
As for pointlessness and darkness, Christ through His Holy Catholic Church gives us many answers. And I am sad for you.

So this is a catholic answer to child abuse? After all that is what this thread is about.

 

[slyboots]

Zundrah, Christ through the sacraments can heal these things. You certainly know you are not alone in having been abused. “When I grew up” ( I was in my 40s) I began working as a social worker in the Child Welfare system. I became a Catholic that same year. And being a Catholic Christian infitrated my life and helped me finally deal with the anger and pain and confusion of my childhood and young life.

 

[Zundrah]

Zundrah, Christ through the sacraments can heal these things. You certainly know you are not alone in having been abused. “When I grew up” ( I was in my 40s) I began working as a social worker in the Child Welfare system. I became a Catholic that same year. And being a Catholic Christian infitrated my life and helped me finally deal with the anger and pain and confusion of my childhood and young life.

I found this help too when I became a christian just only one year and eight months ago! You were abused then? I don’t want to fight with you any more, can’t we just settle our dissagreements at all?

xxx zundrah xxx

 

[txzimmer]

I too have become disenchanted once I clicked on your name and began reading your other posts.At first I became angry as I felt you had been “playing” us. Now I feel sad. It is not a good way to get attention. I will not further contribute to this. I hope you find healing if that is truely what you need. Either way, you need some help. God Bless.