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Kevin Culligan, O.C.D. describes his collaborative approach to persons experiencing both depression and dark nights in the same chapter of Egan’s book, “Carmelite Prayer“:
I follow a collaborative approach to assisting others with their spiritual journey. With most persons, this assistance is primarily spiritual and religious. Following the principles of the spiritual masters, I help persons with the dryness, interior pain, and whatever else they encounter in the life of prayer. However, when signs typically associated with clinical depression—major depressive episodes, dysthymic disorders, bipolar reactions, and threat of suicide—also appear, I am prepared to consult with, and possibly make referrals to, medical or mental health professionals. I point out to persons the spiritual benefit of using these resources and assure them that I will continue to walk with them as their spiritual guide.
Following the same collaborative model, I may also point out to other helping professionals, when it seems appropriate to do so, that not all dryness or interior suffering is symptomatic of clinical depression. Medication and psychotherapy are not the best treatments for the losses of the dark nights. Indeed, persons may find that, while Prozac relieves some symptoms of depression, the spiritual dryness and interior pain associated with changing images of God and self remain.
Paradoxically, modern psychopharmacology underscores what spiritual seekers have known for centuries—that, in addition to body and mind, there is also a spiritual dimension in human life. The spirit, while interactive with mind and body, has its own rules and laws of development and is often beyond the reach of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. And it is at this deeper level of human life—sometimes called the substance of the soul or the innermost dwelling places of the soul—that persons of prayer most consistently encounter God.
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Therese J. Borchard writes the daily blog, Beyond Blue, on Beliefnet and is a regular contributor to the award-winning blog, World of Psychology, on Psych Central. Therese is the author of Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes and The Pocket Therapist: An Emotional Survival Kit. Subscribe to Beyond Blue, visit her website, or follow her on Twitter @thereseborchard.
Meet others on the journey in
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Therese J. Borchard writes the daily blog, Beyond Blue, on Beliefnet and is a regular contributor to the award-winning blog, World of Psychology, on Psych Central. Therese is the author of Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes and The Pocket Therapist: An Emotional Survival Kit. Subscribe to Beyond Blue, visit her website, or follow her on Twitter @thereseborchard.
posted September 10, 2007 at 2:53 pm
I am right now depressed due to my living conditions. I live with my two grown daughters and it is a nightmare for me. Even this weekend, I felt like I was going crazy with all the confusion around me. I am a Christian and pray, but this day I could not even bring myself to pray that was how bad I was. I have sisters that you would think I could go to. NO SUCH LUCK..They all for themselves. They don’t worry about me. I have come to my last straw trying to figure this situation out. I have no one, and it seems so lonely out here. I hope no one else has this problem like I do. I don’t even have a soul-mate to talk to either. I have two bad marriages behind me and both of them are not suffering like I am. What can I do and can you help me….GOING CRAZY,Virginia Robles….
posted September 11, 2007 at 8:19 pm
That is true what you are saying. I’m on 3 medicine and my emotional state is still up and down. My depression has had me in therapy, group therapy and psychiatric visits. My diagnoses have been from post partum depression to bipolar disorder to extreme emotional stress disorder. I have realized for some time that God was to play a major part in my living a full, happy and joyful life. I like going to the different things but my greatest need, love, mercy and relief has come from Him. He does bring me the scriptures that are fitting for my situations. The biggest problem is ME. I have committment issues. The realization that God is forgiven, doesn’t betray me or abandoned me was a long time comings. Especially since I have a “father” complex. But God knows that and is working with me. I had suffered many years of the thoughts of God being an angry supreme being. I no longer feel that way. I am growing spiritual positively in the Lord. Thank God for huge favors!