But when it comes to my mood disorder, I think that "spiritually incorrect" is the better term.
There are lots of "spiritual" approaches to treating depression, each of which has a devoted following. There are "The Secret"-loving folks (and half of Oprah's viewers) telling me that all I have to do to feel good is think positive thoughts--to throw the intention of personal sanity and well-being into the universe and fetch it when it returns to me. Then there are the Tom Cruise disciples warning me about those toxic pharmaceuticals I'm putting into my body (they say fish oil and vitamins are enough). Then there are the New-Agers claiming that mental health is only one yoga class, acupuncture session, or hour of Tibetan meditation away. (FYI: I believe in all these things--positive thinking, fish oil, vitamins, yoga, acupuncture, and meditation--but they alone could not treat my clinical, suicidal depression.)
And then, even more dangerous (in my opinion), I have intelligent, theologically-trained pastors, priests, and ministers of every denomination advising me that God alone is what I need--that if I read the Word, and lay my head on Jesus, then I can stop seeing both my psychiatrist and therapist.
Because prayer alone will be enough heal me.
In the face of such ignorance I say this, a prayer a priest friend recently taught me: "Jesus, save me from your followers." (Or, my secular version: "I'm sorry. My fault. I forgot you were an idiot.")
If I sound angry, it's for a good reason. These attitudes not only perpetuate the stigma of mental illness--they worsen the depression of millions of people around the globe because, in addition to their other symptoms, the depressives now feel responsible and guilty for having brought on the pain themselves. And in trying to overcome it by themselves (with the help of their prayer beads), they stay stuck in the Black Hole, or resort to suicide.
I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that religious leaders who are uninformed about mental health are plentiful.
Back when I was a sophomore in college, a priest preached in his homily that "the world needs God, not Valium, and that the place to go with problems is the confessional, not a psychologist's office." I stood up and walked out. Every now and then I'll hear a variation of it, and I'm tempted again to walk out again (but with kids, that's not so easy).
In the psych ward--where I thought I was free of judgmental, evangelical lunatics--I was accosted by an ignorant pastor. After the chapel service, where we read psalms and sang "Amazing Grace," he told me to stay put (because I couldn't stop crying?).
Pointing his holy finger at me he said, "Honey, all you need is the Word. I was right where you are. I was down and out too, and then I picked up the Bible and God cured me. Praise the Lord! All you have to do is believe." I was so doped up on sedatives at the time that I don't remember what I said to him, but I don't think it was nice.
The other day I found another warm fuzzy when (what was I thinking?) I Googled my name. It was a response to an article about depression I wrote for Catholic News Service. I have no idea who this guy is, and I'm not anxious to meet him, but this is what he said on his blog:
It wasn't easy dealing with crazy people a hundred years ago, and it still isn't. Medication helps a lot of people and it is kind of an "Oh, crap what do I do now" kind of solution. But here's the kicker: melancholy is a gift that this culture desperately needs. Those of melancholic temperament tend to be a little bit deeper than the average person. It is a gift and a cross that the depressive has to bear. So what do you do on the days that you just can't do anything at all? When you are so damn sick that you can't get out of bed? You ask for the strength to go on. Look at Jesus, who is on the next cross over, and cry to Him. Tell Him this really sucks and you don't want to do it. Maybe He will tell you to stay in bed. He's really cool like that and He won't push you too hard. But maybe His love will give you the strength to go on. And that's what makes a hero.
I hope his heroes stay alive longer than the ones I know. Because plenty of folk--like Holocaust survivor Primo Levi--have perished on their knees.
Somehow Christians and God-fearers of all religions are programmed to believe they are "above" mental illness and depression. Faith conquers all.
Even though these devout individuals don't feel morally weak when coming down with a stomach bug, or something more serious like a viral pneumonia or arthritis, they absolutely do feel morally bereft if anything (genes, stress, illness, trauma) disrupts the structure and function of brain cells, destroying nerve cell connections--resulting in neural roadblock to the processing of information (which happens with depression).
Thank God for the few examples, like Archbishop Raymond Roussin of Vancouver, British Columbia, who have gone public with their struggles.
I remember the afternoon my guardian angel Ann forwarded me the news clip stating that Roussin was taking six months off in order to treat his depression. I was buried in the Black Hole myself, and, empowered by his courage, asked for a six-month leave myself from my writing responsibilities--especially from the regular column I write for Catholic News Service.
I felt as though I had another believer in this with me, and we were going to rest and get well together, even maybe using this horrible pain to teach and instruct others who may experience it later in their lives.
The spiritual bond I felt with Roussin has deepened as I've seen him emerge publicly as an unbelievable honest, vulnerable, caring, and brave religious leader. Because of him (and others like him), I am proud to be Catholic.
Roussin's recovery from depression reminds me of the wisdom of that joke about the guy who dies in a flood despite his prayers for God's rescue.
As the floodwaters rise, a man named Sam calls for God's help.
First a neighbor offers him a ladder.
"Nope, my God is coming," Sam replies.
Then the police arrive with a rescue boat. "Hop on board!" they instruct him.
"Thanks but no thanks," Sam says, "God will save me."
And finally the national guard provide a helicopter, and he tells them to go away, too.
Sam dies, goes to heaven, and asks God, "Why didn't you rescue me?"
"I sent a ladder, a lifeboat, and a helicopter...what more could I do?" says God.
Today it seems to me that anyone who suffers from depression (and admits it) is a tad spiritually incorrect. And especially if she accepts the help of the ladder, lifeboat, and helicopter (medication, psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and so on). But hopefully, with enough people like Roussin educating religious leaders, that will soon change.
Or maybe I'll just have to hang on to the sign around my neck.
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I also have had well meaning christians tell me that praise,confessing the Word, fasting, deliverence etc are the answer to my depression.I work in health care, and health care workers can be just as full of unhelpful advice to.
I have treatment resistent depression and find things hard going at times.I believe however, that God is with me in the midst of the darkness,and enfolds me with His love. It's no cure, but it helps.
Jeffrey
Can someone outthere talk about the physical symptoms. The well meaning Christian people that advise me, tell me I have to not pay attention to the diziness, the lighthead, blurry vision, when I get afraid and shake, and that I have to rebuke the devil instead of thinking I am sick, when my heart is palpitating fast I get terrified. Is this physical or Spiritual? I have been told "close all doors to the devil so he has no right to come in your life". WHICH MAKE ME FEEL SO GUILTY!! LIKE WHAT AM I DOING WRONG? I have repented for everything that I can remember.
I too have suffered with depression and have felt the spiritual guilt. It was actually my mother, very devote in her faith, who pointed out to me that many people in the bible also suffered through depressions and mental illness...namely Job, but there have been others as well. When I hear sermons on how unbiblical it is to be depressed because we are Christians and therefore MUST be happy, I want to stand up and protest. I do believe that God threw us a ladder (medication) and a life boat (therapists) and the helicopter (knowing the Word-so that I know that I am truly loved even when I don't love myself and feel nobody else does either). People who tell you to pray it away are not realizing that maybe they actually were supposed to be an answer to your prayer by giving you a kind word, a smile, a hug, a kudos for a job well done or a that's ok, you'll get'em next time. Jesus did not send people away telling them to go pray for help...He actually helped.
to "No Name": You have done nothing wrong. depression is an illness, a chemical imbalance in the brain, over which you have no control. there are some clergy who are very supportive and understanding. There are more it seems who judge, and try to deny it as a serious illness. god loves you and wants you to be happy. You have not caused your depression. There are people who work for God who specialize in mental & emotional conditions. There is hope for depression. It is not your fault. You have nothing to feel guilty about. you need the right help, which you are not getting.
Some of the signs of depression are fatigue, sadness, sense of low self esteem, loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, feeling that no one cares. a critically serious sign is wanting to harm yourself, especially if you want to end your life. do not ignore these signs.
there is probably a mental health agency or social service agency in your location. they should be able to suggest the proper help you need.
Yes prayer is a powerful tool. Sometimes the answer to those prayers is to ignore people who no little about it, and try to get you to "get over it", and to seek help from professionals who can help.
I don't pray away a high fever. I call a doctyor. The doctor is God's answer to my prayer. The same is tru with mental or emotional conditions. The answers are frequently, or usually, in other people doing God's work.
I appreciate the pastor who knows of many people in her care who are depressed, who wants to work with them. You too are one of God's helpers.
This is a comment on the priest who said 'what the world needs is Jesus not Valium.' It is not altogether clear how genetics and environment interact with mental illness. the U.S. reports high levels of all kinds of mental disorders, including extremely levels psychopathy, which is supposedly 100% genetic. I think there is more than enough evidence to say with confidence that there are things in American culture that exacerbate mental illness. It's not all genetic, it's also the fact that we are the most individualistic country in the world (this has actually been measured) and we are encouraged to do what feels good and question everything. I think that what this priest is driving at is that we need to rethink our tendency to focus on the symptoms of mental illness while ignoring the way our culture fuels neuroticism and antisocial behavior. I am doing a Master's in Cultural Studies and believe me, America is fundamentally different from the way most cultures socialize their people. Just as one example: the idea of living alone is alien to most countries, even in Europe, and when they come over here for school, some of them break down. Btw, I say this as someone who has Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Depression.
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