Catholics and Mental Illness: Are we doing enough? The Conversation Continues…

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St. Dymphna, Patroness of Mental Health, Pray for Us.

Research tends to show that Christians–especially pastors– struggle to know how to support those struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.  Catholics tend to fare a little better than evangelicals in this regard (because we tend to be less suspicious of psychotherapy), but it tends to be a mixed bag.

As part of Faith on the Couch’s ongoing look into how well we, as Catholics, support those who are struggling with depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems, I wanted to share some of the comments that I have received so far.  What is your experience?  Do you or a loved one struggle with mental or emotional challenges?  Please share your story as a way to encourage others both to draw support from our Catholic faith and to do a better job as Catholics of supporting those who struggle.

Joanne  shares:  “that taking medicine shows a lack of trust in God to heal me.”

I’ve had lifelong problems with depression and anxiety. The impression I often get is that religious people believe that if one has anxiety, one simply doesn’t have enough faith. After all, we’re not supposed to have anxiety about anything, but simply faith in God. As far as I’m concerned, however, the two (anxiety and faith in God) are not mutually exclusive. Depression and anxiety are organic disorders of the brain; unless God sees fit to grant us a faith healing, we will continue to have D+A, regardless of how deep our faith is. The misinformation among religious people vis-a-vis mental illness has been a real source of discouragement for me. A few years ago, I discontinued my subscription to a very well known Catholic publication because I found their reporting on mental illness to be almost dangerously ignorant. Just for everyone’s information, I’m a nurse and my impression is NOT that doctors “dole out” anti-depressants in a cavalier manner. In fact, I wish more people were on ADs and anti anxiety medications and in therapy – we’d probably have alot fewer people with substance abuse and obesity issues. Ironically, MDs prescribe countless blood pressure and diabetes meds – doctors probably actually could prescribe fewer of these if people took better care of themselves, but for some reason, religious people never seem to have any complaints about these meds being prescribed.

Everyone should pray. We should pray to praise God and to thank Him and to show trust in him. And I believe that spirituality has beneficial effects on mental and probably even physical health. However, one cannot pray one’s self out of mental illness anymore than one can pray one’s self out of Parkinsons, arthritis, pancreatitis, or gout.

—Janice writes…

I am a Catholic with AD/HD. I also work in special education in the public schools. From my perspective I think most Americans have a suspicious attitude towards mental illness. However, in the culture at large there may be more pockets of those who are compassionate and open towards those diagnosed with a disorder. I think that lay Catholics in general mistrust psychology and view it as a way for people to avoid responsibility for my actions.

The most supportive people in my life, in terms of disclosing the fact that I have AD/HD, have been non-Catholics. That is my experience. I really haven’t come across any Catholic that hasn’t been made uncomfortable when I mention that I have AD/HD. In all honesty, I try to tell people about the fact that I have AD/HD in order to avoid misunderstandings and to let them know that I am working on myself and taking responsibility but they often see it as the opposite. I had one Catholic friend who tried to tell me that I didn’t have AD/HD despite the fact that I struggled with social anxiety, depression and underachievement for years. I have stopped talking about it in general but it feels very isolating to not be able to share something that is a really big part of my life right now. I was actually excited to find out because it explained so much, help me reach greater acceptance and move beyond self-loathing. But in the end America has a love affair with accountability and I don’t share my insights with AD/HD unless they are not Catholic and they have some openness towards understanding to mental illness.

What is your story?  If you or a loved one struggles with mental/emotional challenges, how has your Catholic faith or faith community been a help or hindrance to you?   Share your comments here, or email me privately at gpopcak@catholiccounselors.com

—————Looking for faithful answers to life challenging emotional and relational problems?  Contact the Pastoral Solutions Institute’s Pastoral Tele-Counseling Practice today at 740-266-6461 to make an appointment with a faithful, professional, Catholic therapist.

 

Catholics and Mental Illness: Are We Doing Enough?

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Research tends to show that Christians–especially pastors– struggle to know how to support those struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.  Catholics tend to fare a little better than evangelicals in this regard (because we tend to be less suspicious of psychotherapy), but it tends to be a mixed bag.

Last week, I asked readers who were struggling with depression, anxiety, or other emotional issues to share their experiences with receiving support from the Church and I want to offer my thanks to all who’ve written so far.    One person’s email really stood out.  I asked her permission to share her thoughts with you anonymously.  Here are her reflections.

I saw your post on your blog about seeking help in the Church when you have a mental illness. I have been a Catholic since 2006 and in 2011 was diagnosed with OCD. A new confessor who had heard about 4 of my confessions sent me to a psychiatrist because we were well into major scruples. He is now my spiritual director and main confessor. He has been incredibly supportive in making sure I got help (psychiatrist + therapist) and keeping me going in terms of scruples (such as only allowing me one confession a month vs. every two weeks, telling me to receive Holy Eucharist if I’m “not sure” if I’m in a state of grace, etc). 

I have had priests at other parishes in the past say “you sound as if you have OCD” but always in that flippant way. My SD had said “you sound as if you have OCD and I want you to go to a psychiatrist ASAP.” 

My parish as a whole has awareness of mental illness, one of our Lenten service projects this year is for the local chapter of NAMI. Each year the parish has a group that participates in the NAMI Walk, which our Monsignor participates in (I believe). 

 Catholics “in the pews” tend to be very silent about mental illness and at times it is awkward. I have told a few people about my OCD and have had mostly ‘brush-off’ reactions or a frustration when I get caught up in compulsions. I think there is a lot ignorance in the pews, with the standard “you need more faith/prayer/etc” or ‘I thought good Catholics didn’t get depressed.’ (yes, I’ve heard that which blows my mind!). I have had to drop out of a mother’s prayer group because of OCD and have felt as if the group appreciates that I’m gone. The people who I had counted on for support have done the exact opposite. Thus I feel as if I can’t ever tell more people as the majority act as if I’m contagious or “not faithful enough”.

 All the priests at my parish know of my OCD and are incredibly supportive, cheering me on as I work my way through therapy. The people in the pews, not so much.

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What is your experience of being a Catholic struggling with depression, anxiety, or other mental/emotional health challenges?  Write me at gpopcak@CatholicCounselors.com

Catholics & Depression, Anxiety, & Mental/Emotional Illness. What is Your Experience?

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St. Dymphna, Patroness of those Suffering with Mental Illness, Pray for Us.

For the Christian, mental illness is especially difficult.

Depression, Anxiety, and other mental and emotional disorders are often characterized by Christians as moral, spiritual, or characterological failings.  Christians often feel that we should be able to pray away emotional struggles.  Likewise, we’re often afraid to seek secular counselors because they might not support our faith journeys.  Further, although Catholic pastors tend to be more accepting of the reality of mental illness and more supportive of psychotherapy than many types of Protestant ministers, research shows that Christian pastors, in general,  are often dismissive of mental illness.

One of my goals for Faith on the Couch is to be a place for Christians–and especially Catholic Christians–who are dealing with mental, emotional, and relationship problems can find support and fellowship.

If you are Catholic and have struggled with depression, anxiety, or other mental/emotional problems I would like to invite you to share your experiences of trying to seek help in the Church.  Was your pastor supportive?  Were the people in your parish or bible study or men’s or women’s group understanding?  Overall, how good a job has the Church done of attending to your needs?  Please feel free to email your story/reflections to me at gpopcak@CatholicCounselors.com