Would a convent accept me with my mental disorders which are well managed by medication?

[Holly3278]

Hi everyone. Would a convent accept me with my mental disorders which are well managed by medication? My medication is covered by my Medicaid. I only pay a $3 copay per medication. I have depression, ADHD, and borderline personality disorder. Do you think any convent would accept me? If not, would a third order be a possibility?

 

[Trishie]

They probably wouldn’t accept you in a convent, sweetie, but you have us as your community. However, it’s not usual for Third Orders, Lay Orders, In my experience of the Franciscans and the Carmelites, to require a psychological assessment, though there is a process of discernment.
I ask the Lord to help to resolve the difficulties that are plaguing you at present, so you can live in peace. :grouphug:

 

[Holly3278]

They probably wouldn’t accept you in a convent, sweetie, but you have us as your community. However, it’s not usual for Third Orders, Lay Orders, In my experience of the Franciscans and the Carmelites, to require a psychological assessment, though there is a process of discernment.
I ask the Lord to help to resolve the difficulties that are plaguing you at present, so you can live in peace. :grouphug:

Thank you Trishie. It is ok if I cannot join a convent and be a nun. I kind of want to get married anyway. But if I can join a third order, that would just be absolutely great! Thank you for your prayers! :grouphug:

 

[LilFranciscan25]

Hi everyone. Would a convent accept me with my mental disorders which are well managed by medication? My medication is covered by my Medicaid. I only pay a $3 copay per medication. I have depression, ADHD, and borderline personality disorder. Do you think any convent would accept me? If not, would a third order be a possibility?

I have found one convent that is willing to try out applicants with MANAGEABLE disorders. I told the Prioress that I have depression, anxiety, and ADD, and she asked if it was manageable with medication, to which I said yes. She said that anyone who comes to her asking for permission and is able to manage their symptoms with medication is no different to her than a diabetic needing insulin or hypertensive needing blood pressure medicine. They don’t make the decisions for God. I thought this was very supportive.

It is VERY important to be honest and forthright with her about your illnesses. She told me that they had someone that had a chronic condition that came in with it, and they had to dismiss her because she wasn’t honest and would not take the medication necessary.

The question is, do you think you have a true vocation? This convent is a cloistered Carmelite order and is in need of new vocations. The Prioress was VERY sweet, and is willing to work with anyone interested in their order. However, I would make sure that you know at least 95% that you are interested in discerning there before contacting her as I felt I got her hopes up and then had to tell her I wasn’t interested right now in joining.

This is their website:

savannahcarmel.org/

They are also within the Mary, Queen of Carmel Association. Here is their profile on the association:

mary-queen-of-carmel-assoc.org/savannah/index.php

The two women shown with the different habits are the transfers from Kenya. They have 2 or 3 other women that are probably novices now (if they stayed, that is). The other woman is the Prioress, Sr. Joann.

I hope this helps! God be with you!

 

[Holly3278]

I have found one convent that is willing to try out applicants with MANAGEABLE disorders. I told the Prioress that I have depression, anxiety, and ADD, and she asked if it was manageable with medication, to which I said yes. She said that anyone who comes to her asking for permission and is able to manage their symptoms with medication is no different to her than a diabetic needing insulin or hypertensive needing blood pressure medicine. They don’t make the decisions for God. I thought this was very supportive.

It is VERY important to be honest and forthright with her about your illnesses. She told me that they had someone that had a chronic condition that came in with it, and they had to dismiss her because she wasn’t honest and would not take the medication necessary.

The question is, do you think you have a true vocation? This convent is a cloistered Carmelite order and is in need of new vocations. The Prioress was VERY sweet, and is willing to work with anyone interested in their order. However, I would make sure that you know at least 95% that you are interested in discerning there before contacting her as I felt I got her hopes up and then had to tell her I wasn’t interested right now in joining.

This is their website:

savannahcarmel.org/

They are also within the Mary, Queen of Carmel Association. Here is their profile on the association:

mary-queen-of-carmel-assoc.org/savannah/index.php

The two women shown with the different habits are the transfers from Kenya. They have 2 or 3 other women that are probably novices now (if they stayed, that is). The other woman is the Prioress, Sr. Joann.

I hope this helps! God be with you!

Oooh thank you! I am at least 95% sure that I am called to be a nun. I contacted this convent.

 

[LilFranciscan25]

Oooh thank you! I am at least 95% sure that I am called to be a nun. I contacted this convent.

You’re welcome, Holly. I hope it goes well. She gets in touch really quick, so be on the lookout for an email to whatever response you sent. You’ll basically be like penpals. I liked her a lot. I may even consider going there to visit, even if I am not called there.

 

[Holly3278]

You’re welcome, Holly. I hope it goes well. She gets in touch really quick, so be on the lookout for an email to whatever response you sent. You’ll basically be like penpals. I liked her a lot. I may even consider going there to visit, even if I am not called there.

Ah ok. I don’t think she’ll respond this late in the day though do you? Anyway, thanks again!

 

[LilFranciscan25]

Ah ok. I don’t think she’ll respond this late in the day though do you? Anyway, thanks again!

She might! I once got a response at 7pm, though her normal time for email is in the late afternoon. If you don’t hear from her tonight, you’ll probably hear from her tomorrow.

 

[Holly3278]

She might! I once got a response at 7pm, though her normal time for email is in the late afternoon. If you don’t hear from her tonight, you’ll probably hear from her tomorrow.

Ah ok. Thank you for this information LilFranciscan!

 

[Holly3278]

You know, I never did get an e-mail response back from them. I wonder what’s going on?