Why is it that Eastern spiritualities seem to help mentally ill people better?

[WoundedIcon]

I can’t help but wonder why even Orthodoxy and Byzantine Catholicism seem to work better for me as a sufferer of mental illness. I mean, if you’ve looked at therapy today, it’s grounded in a lot of Eastern-style psychological approaches. But why is it that even Eastern Christendom developed these kind of therapeutic approaches but not the West? Or is it just that the West conceived of these things as something more along the lines of spiritual exercises (which calls to mind St. Ignatius and his scruples) and not psychology?

 

[twf]

I pointed out in a recent thread how unwise it is to paint the Latin Church and Western spirituality with one brush - please see here: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=9059181#post9059181.
There are many Latin priests who had PhDs in psychology and I have found most Latin priests to be gentle, pastoral, and very understanding of the challenges of mental illness in the spiritual life.

I am sorry for your bad experiences with Latin spirituality (I’ve seen some of your other posts on this forum)…but if you find that Byzantine theology suits you, as an individual, better, than that is perfectly fine! The Church teaches that all rites are equal and there is certainly no sin in following Our Lord according to the tradition that best nourishes your spiritual life.

 

[WoundedIcon]

I pointed out in a recent thread how unwise it is to paint the Latin Church and Western spirituality with one brush - please see here: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=9059181#post9059181.

Yes. Forgive me, due to what I’m suffering from I have a very black and white manner of thinking right now. When I’m sane I’m a lot less… dualistic? I know that our Father drew me to Catholicism, but for some reason my mind has been completely scrambled in my efforts to learn and practice beyond the conversion stage. I can’t go into details (and besides, you can look at my other posts to see the mess) but I really think the Devil’s been beating me senseless these past few months. Anger, hatred, just a general dark fixation started to set into my mind, then I had a breakdown and during it every time I sought help the door would shut in my face in one way or another. Being known as mentally ill, I can’t seem to get spiritual help. Right now all that helps me is my Benedict medal.

 

[Splagchnizomai]

Right now all that helps me is my Benedict medal.

By the intercessory prayers of St Benedict, may God bless you and keep you.

Vade retro satana!

Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur!

As you know, the Benedict Medal is a wonderful sacramental of the Western Church.

 

[John_of_Patmos]

Yes. Forgive me, due to what I’m suffering from I have a very black and white manner of thinking right now. When I’m sane I’m a lot less… dualistic? I know that our Father drew me to Catholicism, but for some reason my mind has been completely scrambled in my efforts to learn and practice beyond the conversion stage. I can’t go into details (and besides, you can look at my other posts to see the mess) but I really think the Devil’s been beating me senseless these past few months. Anger, hatred, just a general dark fixation started to set into my mind, then I had a breakdown and during it every time I sought help the door would shut in my face in one way or another. Being known as mentally ill, I can’t seem to get spiritual help. Right now all that helps me is my Benedict medal.

We’ll pray for you.

 

[Wesley1982]

To simplify and avoid writing long posts, Eastern practices are holistic and therapeutic in prayer and worship.