LenaB Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Does anyone know how the church feels about anti-depressants, and anti-anxiety medications? Does it approve of counseling from people outside of the faith tradition? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 My husband has written articles on this subject for the Western Catholic Reporter. He has schizophrenia, so staying on his psychiatric meds is pretty important. In his opinion (and he isn't an infallible source of church teaching), not taking meds when you know you need them is a form of self mutilation and a sin. I'm not sure I would go that far, but if he stops taking his, he'll be in the hospital so fast his drawers will have to take the next bus. He does workshops for priests and chaplains on how to deal with psychiatric patients. God has given us the minds and abilities to develop treatments, so why wouldn't he want us to use them? Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Depression, are all chemical imbalances just like Diabetes, except they are in the brain instead of the Pancreas. Just like Diabetes, they require a lifetime of medication, monitoring, and occasional hospitalization. We are all given crosses, some are heavier than others. Mental illnesses are some of the heaviest. God wants us to be as healthy and happy are we are capable of, and these medications can lighten the cross of a sufferer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LenaB Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Is it possible for chronic or situational stress to trigger a chemical imbalance temporarily, in which case medication might prove beneficial? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AccountDeleted Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 [quote name='LenaB' post='1820950' date='Mar 30 2009, 11:50 PM']Is it possible for chronic or situational stress to trigger a chemical imbalance temporarily, in which case medication might prove beneficial?[/quote] The simple answer is yes, but be careful here - many of the anti-depressants, for example, can be addictive, especially the SSRI range (Prozac, Zoloft, etc) when taken over long periods of time. Getting off of them can make things seem almost worse than when you started! Work with a doctor who knows their psych meds and can work out a plan for getting off the medication as well as for taking it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 [quote name='LenaB' post='1820950' date='Mar 31 2009, 12:50 AM']Is it possible for chronic or situational stress to trigger a chemical imbalance temporarily, in which case medication might prove beneficial?[/quote] Absolutely. 25% of people originally diagnosed with schizophrenia are able to eventually wean off their medications. Extreme stress causes my husband's symptoms to increase dramatically. We are all capable of chemical depression after the death of a loved one or other type of trauma. The one thing I know for sure, is that I'm not a psychiatrist, and each person is different. The best thing to do is discuss this stuff with your doctor. If you don't like your doctor's recommendations, or think that you would like to try a different therapy, see another one until you feel comfortable. The important thing is to never go off psychiatric meds abruptly. That can actually cause harm. You need to come off them slowly under a doctor's supervision. The most important thing is to not feel as if you are defective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bone _ Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 As my father always said, "Shiny clean boots and a spanking short haircut, and you can cope with anything." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LenaB Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 [quote name='T-Bone _' post='1820955' date='Mar 31 2009, 02:08 AM']As my father always said, "Shiny clean boots and a spanking short haircut, and you can cope with anything."[/quote] No offense, but I don't think it's that simple. A good attitude can only help, but sometimes that's not enough. Sometime's people have a tough time, even though they may desperately not want to feel they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bone _ Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 [quote name='LenaB' post='1820970' date='Mar 31 2009, 12:42 AM']No offense, but I don't think it's that simple. A good attitude can only help, but sometimes that's not enough. Sometime's people have a tough time, even though they may desperately not want to feel they do.[/quote] It was a joke to show that it's not that simple. There was a second line to it (That was right before that whole unfortunate suicide business...). I guess it doesn't make as much sense without it. I'm on medication for depression, so I know how it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LenaB Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Oh, I'm sorry for misunderstanding what you said. I guess my whole "beef" with it is this: I can't help but feel like if I can't just "be happy," and function normally on my own, that somehow my faith isn't strong enough. Even the idea of going to counseling regularly makes me sort of feel like my open-ness to God's grace isn't working or enough. I'm also sort of afraid that I won't be able to express myself properly even to the counselor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archaeology cat Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 [quote name='LenaB' post='1820972' date='Mar 31 2009, 07:52 AM']Oh, I'm sorry for misunderstanding what you said. I guess my whole "beef" with it is this: I can't help but feel like if I can't just "be happy," and function normally on my own, that somehow my faith isn't strong enough. Even the idea of going to counseling regularly makes me sort of feel like my open-ness to God's grace isn't working or enough. I'm also sort of afraid that I won't be able to express myself properly even to the counselor.[/quote] As others have said, depression and chemical imbalances are illnesses that at times warrant medication. It isn't a reflection of a lack of faith, any more than needing pain medicine or therapy for chronic pain is a reflection of a lack of faith. Now, if we were not also trusting in God, that would be a problem, but God gave us the knowledge and ability to treat these things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puellapaschalis Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 (edited) [quote name='LenaB' post='1820972' date='Mar 31 2009, 08:52 AM']I guess my whole "beef" with it is this: I can't help but feel like if I can't just "be happy," and function normally on my own, that somehow my faith isn't strong enough. Even the idea of going to counseling regularly makes me sort of feel like my open-ness to God's grace isn't working or enough. I'm also sort of afraid that I won't be able to express myself properly even to the counselor.[/quote] I understand how you feel. I don't know what could help. Edited March 31, 2009 by puellapaschalis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LenaB Posted March 31, 2009 Author Share Posted March 31, 2009 Thank you all for your input. It's something I'll continue to pray and think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Wednesday Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 (edited) I got put on the happy pills when my thyroid died and it killed my mood. I got some new ones recently because so much stress and changes in life was bottoming me out. A pill does not make you happy, and it does not solve your problems. It does not take the place of spiritual well being and a healthy lifestyle. However, they CAN help put YOU in a better situation where you are more able to function and deal with things and confront your problems. I liken it to not being able to concentrate or get things done because you have a headache. You take a pain killer to alleviate the symptoms so you CAN get things done and get on with your life. The same goes for antidepressants. They help you retain seratonin to keep the mood from plummeting, but mood is not the same as life outlook and personality. Of course I'm speaking of run of the mill unipolar depression -- not schizophrenia or bipolar disorders where NOT taking medication isn't an option! I don't think the Church has any problem with treatments for depression anymore than she would with treatment of any other medical condition. If you have depression, studies suggest that a combination of medication AND counseling has been most effective -- not just one or the other. It's pretty alarming how many people are prescribed antidepressants nowadays -- I think a lot of it is because we are all collectively under so much stress. The world is moving at a pace that's generally faster than most of us really should be dealing with. Edited March 31, 2009 by Ash Wednesday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Illness can happen in our body, mind or soul. God gave us doctors and medication for the first two and priests for the third. Why not avail yourself of what God has given us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 I don't think it means that I don't have enough faith because I go to an optometrist. I could wander around walking into walls praying for God to heal my extreme near-sightedness. I prefer wearing glasses. I also walk with a crutch. I was in a wheelchair for a long time. I prayed many times for God to heal me. I finally gave up hope. One day I woke up convinced that I not only could get better, but that I would get better. I started trying again at rehab that day. God didn't heal my body, he healed my spirit so that I could find the strength to try again. He also sent a lot of people along to help me. Have you heard the story about a man in a flood? As the flood waters were rising, a neighbor came to get him to safety, he declined telling the man that he was praying, and that God was going to save him. Next came the National Guard in a large truck, also sent away. Later a boat came, and finally as the man is clinging to his roof, a helicopter. He refused help because he knew that God would save him. When the flood waters took him and he ended up at the pearly gates, he asked the Lord why he didn't save him. God said, "I sent a neighbor, a truck, a boat and a helicopter. What more did you want me to do?" We should take the help we are offered. It's a good lesson in humility. As to doctors/therapists who aren't of our faith, that shouldn't be a problem unless you pick a Scientologist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now