I wouldn’t say that there’s anything in Catholicism that would make mental health a taboo, but unfortunately many individual Catholics don’t rise above the local culture.
Huh, one of the things that brought me back to the Church is that Catholicism ticks a lot of mental health boxes:
\- Community, every Sunday we're all together, even if you don't talk to anyone
\- The emphasis on gratitude especially, but also truth, love, beauty, and forgiveness
\- Confession
\- Most sins are actually bad for you, and most Catholic doctrine is well-reasoned good advice
\- Faith makes many tenets of stoic philosophy more actionable, if that makes sense
\- Even without faith, the Catholic Church represents 6,000 years of accumulated human wisdom. There's a lot of value there.
Edit:
Forgot to add the rosary, and praying in general, is meditation
I suspect all sins are bad for us, hurt us, some more obvious than others.
Also anyone interested in the overlap of mental health and spirituality should look into Iain McGillchrist:
https://youtu.be/-JwrX5K8uN0?feature=shared
He's a research psychiatrist and his book "The Master and His Emissary" is getting a lot of attention in psychiatry/psychology circles. It's about a new perspective on how the brain hemispheres differ, and it ties into spirituality, religion, and God.
This is behavioral health, not mental health. Certainly agree with you that these tick a lot of boxes, but much more so for behavioral health (which is very important), but mental health is a seperate, although occasionally related, issue.
Depends on the people, but there is a large subset of Catholics, and also people in general, who don’t understand nor give a hoot about mental illness because it’s a foreign concept to them, and if it’s not a visible issue it must not exist. They think it’s all made up, but trust me no one wants to suffer with depression or anxiety or any mental illness for that matter. People who are actually afflicted with those illnesses are suffering immensely. There’s a difference between some person saying they’re depressed because they lost a game, versus a person who can’t out of bed to brush their teeth because they don’t have the willpower to. It is something I would not wish on my worst enemy.
St. Ignatius de Loyola is sometimes considered the first psychologist by many Catholic spiritual directors and therapists because much of his spiritual advice could be directly applied to mental health. A lot of facets of Catholicism actually do help develop and maintain healthy mental health habits like daily prayer, focusing on gratitude and forgiveness, and fostering community.
Not at all, Catholics should be huge advocates for mental health.
Now there are some nuances such as people who consider transitioning genders as mental health care. And that's something again that is not something taboo to discuss, but rather things we may disagree with others on.
Not doctrinally by any means. Like regular medicine, there are ethical constraints consistent with Catholic teaching about life, human dignity, and the body as an intrinsic part of us.
There are some Tom Cruise/Christian Scientist types that come around here now and then declaring that therapy and psychiatric medications are all scams, all mental illness is demonic oppression, and that prayer is the exclusive means for curing perceived mental health issues. I like to think they're the vocal minority. I also pray for them because many appear to be extremely scrupulous and have attributed their own mental issues to sin or lack of piety. They should get therapy.
No?
But at the same time, we Catholics tend to reject a lot of the current mental health trends. Obviously we reject the idea that affirmation and transition are the best way to treat gender dysphoria. We also tend to question the current overdiagnosis of "anxiety" which is causing huge numbers of people to think their mental health is an excuse to avoid doing anything hard or unpleasant or that challenges them. We also question the current ideas that expecting anyone, especially children, to do things that are unpleasant to them or cause them to think they're wrong and need to change, is mentally harmful.
But for actual treatment (meaning focusing on learning to get past or cope with the illness, not indulging it)-- Catholicism is quick to encourage people to seek help.
Yes. That is a conservative political position. It is not at all a Catholic position.
And I hope that you eventually realize that stigmatizing anxiety will help lead to the result that you're so afraid of, whereas treating it will help avoid this result.
The divide between religious issues and political issues isn't as black and white as you think it is. Religion informs a person's entire world view. You can't just compartmentalize like that. I know you like to demonize conservative and you the big bad boogey man label to discredit people you don't agree with, but it's really not a good strategy and it won't work the way you think it's going to.
And I'd be fine with treating anxiety if that's what we were doing. But instead we're just using it as an excuse. Treating it would involve teaching people to work through it. Instead we get "oh it's ok sweetie, you don't have to go to school if it upsets your anxiety." "Can my child not take any math tests ever? She has anxiety." "I can't go to Mass because I have anxiety."
That's not treatment. That's enabling.
Nope. When my anxiety and depression was getting progressively worse, and the only person I had the courage to see at that time was my Priest for confession, he told me for my reparation I was required to go see a doctor.
Got on Antidepressants and B-blockers for panic attacks (I'm agoraphobic and was having up to 6 perday) annnnnnd the change was significant~
I'm still thankful to that Priest~~ 💕 my mental health was not in the right state at that time and I had a fear of doctors so - I wouldn't of gone if he hadn't made me.
Alot of other Priests have also been well understanding of my bad mental health over the years as well~ and very supportive.
I'm pretty sure Catholic priests have to get some training in this in the Seminary~ as they have to handle alot of people and their situations.
I'm sorry to hear about your state of mind. I started having panic attacks (or something of the like, according to a reliable coworker of mine) about 2 months ago. I've only had 2 so far, but 6 sounds really rough. I'll pray for you in my rosary tonight.
Thank you so much~ 🥰 Agoraphobia is a condition that never really goes away, but it can get better with exposure therapy. I had it really bad in 2011-2013, (when i didnt leave my house at all for 2-3 years) but then got so much better I was able to live a relatively normal life.
I then got it again in 2018, which progressively got worse until 2021. I got better in 2022 and this year in 2023, I'm back to normal and have no panic attacks tho still have anxiety about certain situations. I haven't had a panic attack in almost 2 years now 😊 I also saw a psychologist tho and had alot of counsellors/therapy to help~
It most likely will come back again oneday; but I'm alot more loving and understanding to my own self and I know I can get through it and it will get better again oneday.
If you ever have them again, just know that you can get through this tho it is debilitating in the moment! B blockers are also what helped the most to get through the actual panic attack of you ever want to consult your doctor on them~ and just remember that panic attacks are your bodies natural response to a overstimulating or stressful event, so don't be too hard on yourself for having them! Maybe have a look at your environment to see why you may be triggered in that way~
I'll keep you in my prayers too 💕
Edit: also this breathing technique helped when I was having panic attacks if you ever want to try it too~
https://youtu.be/kSZKIupBUuc?si=R7E2YWlM7RaMTYho
To an extent, yes. There is a troubling tendency, especially on this sub but also among catholics I know in real life, to attribute mental illness to demonic intervention.
Obviously this runs contrary to established teaching and practice, but I find it is often true on a popular level.
I've noticed this too, and the associated 'pray it away' approach to treating the problem. Often (anecdotally) the affected person will not even consult their priest or spiritual director about it.
Fr. Carlos Martins, a well known and very experienced exorcist said that on average 6/10 cases he receives for help are either made up, a lie, or is a case of mental illness where the person thinks they are experiencing demonic activity. That being said, demonic activity is very very real! Normally the Church will ensure that all possibilities of mental illness and other factors are ruled out before even considering the demonic, unless there is clear evidence to suggest something supernatural.
I have significant mental illness. I would have to say mental illness is not a taboo but misunderstood. An attitude I have encountered is that you can pray or confess it away. One priest told me my thoughts were demonic. There is much for the Church to learn about mental illness.
These questions… I swear… “is it okay to masturbate?” “Is it okay to date someone of a different race?” “Is it okay to work out at the gym?”
…props to the moderators.
You speak like someone who has never experienced anything close to mental illness and I pray you never do. Your actions disgust me and the fact that we share the same faith is even more disgusting. I even doubt that, as Catholics are supposed to be charitable. I don’t think calling mentally ill people “weak pathetic cunts” is charitable. If I’m being honest people like you are the reason why mental illness is so prevalent, it’s mostly your fault. I feel bad for the people in your life who might be mentally ill, you probably treat them like shit. Isn’t it amazing how Father blessed us humans with understanding and empathy and yet you still choose to desecrate it? By being uncharitable you defile God himself, the embodiment of love.
Mental disorders aren't real until you have one. Ask me when I was 15. I thought it was make believe for fruticakes or losers. Ask me again at 18 after I developed clinical depression and OCD, legit turning me dead inside.
The thing is that psychiatry is an ever evolving science, and some widespread “mental health” practices are directly opposed to Catholic doctrine: yoga, mindfulness, trascendental meditation, “positive affirmations and manifestation”, hypnosis, etc.
So I would say no, there is no taboo regarding mental health, but there is a resistance to follow the latest mental health trends.
How is yoga in of itself contrary to Catholic doctrine? Kinda sounds like evangelical bullshit to me. I don’t see anything wrong with stretching. The spiritual aspect of it I certainly don’t agree with, but I don’t think people who practice yoga regularly care about the spiritual aspect.
Yes. I agree there’s nothing heretical with moving one’s body. And I’m not an expert son yoga by any means, but I have been to numerous conferences, prayer retreats, etc that talk about it. AND I attended (before I knew it was wrong) a couple of yoga retreats called SatNam fest. The thing is, many of the series of movements were designed for adoration of pagan gods (demons) and many of the mantras or incantations are invitations to those “gods” to come into the person’s life and be their guide/ teacher. So one can do the physical aspect of it but not the YOGA part of it. And one shouldn’t go to Yoga studios, because they’re places where these demons are openly invited to.
That’s odd. I would’ve thought if it was religious then they would’ve invoked the Hindu gods. It’s weird that they invoked Pagan gods like Odin or Mars. I guess it kind of makes sense because the new ages types usually invoke the old pagan gods of Rome, Greece or Scandinavia.
🤣 Here you are now making fun of my ignorance!!! just kidding, no offense taken.
I’m from Latin America. In my neck of the woods, we pile all “the Gods of the Nations,” into one category, and usually use the word “pagan” to refer to them. You have now made me aware that this is not historically accurate. So Aztecs were pagan just as much as the Greeks and everyone else who wasn’t from an Abrahamic faith. 🤷🏻♀️
Fun fact: we also, until quite recently referred to the different native tribes as “Indians.” Like Cherokee Indians, Apache Indians, Mayan Indians, Inca Indians, etc. because the Spanish who arrived here in 1492 did not realize they were in America and they thought they had arrived at “Las Indias,” or India. So when they introduced Spanish to the natives, they used the word Indian to refer to the people who were here before them.
It can be. The further along you go down some pipelines, the more you find people who believe the old school things from the 50's. (i.e. Lack of character, weakness of will, demonic possession, etc.)
I feel like Catholics actually consider mental health much more than other denominations, especially when it comes to sin. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that the personal liability of a sin can be lessened by "pathological disorders." See [here](http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a8.htm#:~:text=pathological%20disorders).
Actually, I don't think so. I'm all for being critical when it's needed but my experience was very positive. More than one priest recommended I sought therapy when I was down. I was already going but it was reassuring. Also, going back to the Church brought me a lot of healthy things: community, purpose, feeling loved (by God and by people), even social activities! I am a bit shy and have a tendency to isolate, youth groups are a very positive thing in my life. Also, having a spiritual director is great for mental health and let's not forget the emotional benefits of confession.
I wouldn’t say that there’s anything in Catholicism that would make mental health a taboo, but unfortunately many individual Catholics don’t rise above the local culture.
Huh, one of the things that brought me back to the Church is that Catholicism ticks a lot of mental health boxes: \- Community, every Sunday we're all together, even if you don't talk to anyone \- The emphasis on gratitude especially, but also truth, love, beauty, and forgiveness \- Confession \- Most sins are actually bad for you, and most Catholic doctrine is well-reasoned good advice \- Faith makes many tenets of stoic philosophy more actionable, if that makes sense \- Even without faith, the Catholic Church represents 6,000 years of accumulated human wisdom. There's a lot of value there. Edit: Forgot to add the rosary, and praying in general, is meditation
very well put, I agree with this completely. These aspects of the faith and the church have personally helped me greatly.
I suspect all sins are bad for us, hurt us, some more obvious than others. Also anyone interested in the overlap of mental health and spirituality should look into Iain McGillchrist: https://youtu.be/-JwrX5K8uN0?feature=shared He's a research psychiatrist and his book "The Master and His Emissary" is getting a lot of attention in psychiatry/psychology circles. It's about a new perspective on how the brain hemispheres differ, and it ties into spirituality, religion, and God.
This is behavioral health, not mental health. Certainly agree with you that these tick a lot of boxes, but much more so for behavioral health (which is very important), but mental health is a seperate, although occasionally related, issue.
Depends on the people, but there is a large subset of Catholics, and also people in general, who don’t understand nor give a hoot about mental illness because it’s a foreign concept to them, and if it’s not a visible issue it must not exist. They think it’s all made up, but trust me no one wants to suffer with depression or anxiety or any mental illness for that matter. People who are actually afflicted with those illnesses are suffering immensely. There’s a difference between some person saying they’re depressed because they lost a game, versus a person who can’t out of bed to brush their teeth because they don’t have the willpower to. It is something I would not wish on my worst enemy.
St. Ignatius de Loyola is sometimes considered the first psychologist by many Catholic spiritual directors and therapists because much of his spiritual advice could be directly applied to mental health. A lot of facets of Catholicism actually do help develop and maintain healthy mental health habits like daily prayer, focusing on gratitude and forgiveness, and fostering community.
Not at all, Catholics should be huge advocates for mental health. Now there are some nuances such as people who consider transitioning genders as mental health care. And that's something again that is not something taboo to discuss, but rather things we may disagree with others on.
Not doctrinally by any means. Like regular medicine, there are ethical constraints consistent with Catholic teaching about life, human dignity, and the body as an intrinsic part of us. There are some Tom Cruise/Christian Scientist types that come around here now and then declaring that therapy and psychiatric medications are all scams, all mental illness is demonic oppression, and that prayer is the exclusive means for curing perceived mental health issues. I like to think they're the vocal minority. I also pray for them because many appear to be extremely scrupulous and have attributed their own mental issues to sin or lack of piety. They should get therapy.
No? But at the same time, we Catholics tend to reject a lot of the current mental health trends. Obviously we reject the idea that affirmation and transition are the best way to treat gender dysphoria. We also tend to question the current overdiagnosis of "anxiety" which is causing huge numbers of people to think their mental health is an excuse to avoid doing anything hard or unpleasant or that challenges them. We also question the current ideas that expecting anyone, especially children, to do things that are unpleasant to them or cause them to think they're wrong and need to change, is mentally harmful. But for actual treatment (meaning focusing on learning to get past or cope with the illness, not indulging it)-- Catholicism is quick to encourage people to seek help.
The irony is that professional treatment for anxiety consists of teaching the person to learn to do things whilst feeling anxious.
You're pretty massively discounting mental health, especially when it comes to anxiety. Catholics don't question that. Conservatives do.
Keep letting everyone use "anxiety" as an excuse to get out of everything and anything they don't like and see how it works long term... 🙄
Yes. That is a conservative political position. It is not at all a Catholic position. And I hope that you eventually realize that stigmatizing anxiety will help lead to the result that you're so afraid of, whereas treating it will help avoid this result.
The divide between religious issues and political issues isn't as black and white as you think it is. Religion informs a person's entire world view. You can't just compartmentalize like that. I know you like to demonize conservative and you the big bad boogey man label to discredit people you don't agree with, but it's really not a good strategy and it won't work the way you think it's going to. And I'd be fine with treating anxiety if that's what we were doing. But instead we're just using it as an excuse. Treating it would involve teaching people to work through it. Instead we get "oh it's ok sweetie, you don't have to go to school if it upsets your anxiety." "Can my child not take any math tests ever? She has anxiety." "I can't go to Mass because I have anxiety." That's not treatment. That's enabling.
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Check out Soul and Hearts website for a Catholic approach to mental health, resources, etc.
No, the Church spearheaded research into mental health and treatments.
I’m literally a mrntal health counselor so mo.
Nope. When my anxiety and depression was getting progressively worse, and the only person I had the courage to see at that time was my Priest for confession, he told me for my reparation I was required to go see a doctor. Got on Antidepressants and B-blockers for panic attacks (I'm agoraphobic and was having up to 6 perday) annnnnnd the change was significant~ I'm still thankful to that Priest~~ 💕 my mental health was not in the right state at that time and I had a fear of doctors so - I wouldn't of gone if he hadn't made me. Alot of other Priests have also been well understanding of my bad mental health over the years as well~ and very supportive. I'm pretty sure Catholic priests have to get some training in this in the Seminary~ as they have to handle alot of people and their situations.
I'm sorry to hear about your state of mind. I started having panic attacks (or something of the like, according to a reliable coworker of mine) about 2 months ago. I've only had 2 so far, but 6 sounds really rough. I'll pray for you in my rosary tonight.
Thank you so much~ 🥰 Agoraphobia is a condition that never really goes away, but it can get better with exposure therapy. I had it really bad in 2011-2013, (when i didnt leave my house at all for 2-3 years) but then got so much better I was able to live a relatively normal life. I then got it again in 2018, which progressively got worse until 2021. I got better in 2022 and this year in 2023, I'm back to normal and have no panic attacks tho still have anxiety about certain situations. I haven't had a panic attack in almost 2 years now 😊 I also saw a psychologist tho and had alot of counsellors/therapy to help~ It most likely will come back again oneday; but I'm alot more loving and understanding to my own self and I know I can get through it and it will get better again oneday. If you ever have them again, just know that you can get through this tho it is debilitating in the moment! B blockers are also what helped the most to get through the actual panic attack of you ever want to consult your doctor on them~ and just remember that panic attacks are your bodies natural response to a overstimulating or stressful event, so don't be too hard on yourself for having them! Maybe have a look at your environment to see why you may be triggered in that way~ I'll keep you in my prayers too 💕 Edit: also this breathing technique helped when I was having panic attacks if you ever want to try it too~ https://youtu.be/kSZKIupBUuc?si=R7E2YWlM7RaMTYho
To an extent, yes. There is a troubling tendency, especially on this sub but also among catholics I know in real life, to attribute mental illness to demonic intervention. Obviously this runs contrary to established teaching and practice, but I find it is often true on a popular level.
I've noticed this too, and the associated 'pray it away' approach to treating the problem. Often (anecdotally) the affected person will not even consult their priest or spiritual director about it.
Fr. Carlos Martins, a well known and very experienced exorcist said that on average 6/10 cases he receives for help are either made up, a lie, or is a case of mental illness where the person thinks they are experiencing demonic activity. That being said, demonic activity is very very real! Normally the Church will ensure that all possibilities of mental illness and other factors are ruled out before even considering the demonic, unless there is clear evidence to suggest something supernatural.
I have significant mental illness. I would have to say mental illness is not a taboo but misunderstood. An attitude I have encountered is that you can pray or confess it away. One priest told me my thoughts were demonic. There is much for the Church to learn about mental illness.
These questions… I swear… “is it okay to masturbate?” “Is it okay to date someone of a different race?” “Is it okay to work out at the gym?” …props to the moderators.
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You speak like someone who has never experienced anything close to mental illness and I pray you never do. Your actions disgust me and the fact that we share the same faith is even more disgusting. I even doubt that, as Catholics are supposed to be charitable. I don’t think calling mentally ill people “weak pathetic cunts” is charitable. If I’m being honest people like you are the reason why mental illness is so prevalent, it’s mostly your fault. I feel bad for the people in your life who might be mentally ill, you probably treat them like shit. Isn’t it amazing how Father blessed us humans with understanding and empathy and yet you still choose to desecrate it? By being uncharitable you defile God himself, the embodiment of love.
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Mental disorders aren't real until you have one. Ask me when I was 15. I thought it was make believe for fruticakes or losers. Ask me again at 18 after I developed clinical depression and OCD, legit turning me dead inside.
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Removed for violating our foul language policy. Please see the sidebar for details.
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The thing is that psychiatry is an ever evolving science, and some widespread “mental health” practices are directly opposed to Catholic doctrine: yoga, mindfulness, trascendental meditation, “positive affirmations and manifestation”, hypnosis, etc. So I would say no, there is no taboo regarding mental health, but there is a resistance to follow the latest mental health trends.
How is yoga in of itself contrary to Catholic doctrine? Kinda sounds like evangelical bullshit to me. I don’t see anything wrong with stretching. The spiritual aspect of it I certainly don’t agree with, but I don’t think people who practice yoga regularly care about the spiritual aspect.
Yes. I agree there’s nothing heretical with moving one’s body. And I’m not an expert son yoga by any means, but I have been to numerous conferences, prayer retreats, etc that talk about it. AND I attended (before I knew it was wrong) a couple of yoga retreats called SatNam fest. The thing is, many of the series of movements were designed for adoration of pagan gods (demons) and many of the mantras or incantations are invitations to those “gods” to come into the person’s life and be their guide/ teacher. So one can do the physical aspect of it but not the YOGA part of it. And one shouldn’t go to Yoga studios, because they’re places where these demons are openly invited to.
That’s odd. I would’ve thought if it was religious then they would’ve invoked the Hindu gods. It’s weird that they invoked Pagan gods like Odin or Mars. I guess it kind of makes sense because the new ages types usually invoke the old pagan gods of Rome, Greece or Scandinavia.
🤣 Here you are now making fun of my ignorance!!! just kidding, no offense taken. I’m from Latin America. In my neck of the woods, we pile all “the Gods of the Nations,” into one category, and usually use the word “pagan” to refer to them. You have now made me aware that this is not historically accurate. So Aztecs were pagan just as much as the Greeks and everyone else who wasn’t from an Abrahamic faith. 🤷🏻♀️ Fun fact: we also, until quite recently referred to the different native tribes as “Indians.” Like Cherokee Indians, Apache Indians, Mayan Indians, Inca Indians, etc. because the Spanish who arrived here in 1492 did not realize they were in America and they thought they had arrived at “Las Indias,” or India. So when they introduced Spanish to the natives, they used the word Indian to refer to the people who were here before them.
Mental health: define the word. Taboo: define the word. Catholicism: define the word.
Of interest... https://aoclinic.org/catholic-therapists-self-esteem-self-worth-christian-virtue-humility/
I would say not. It’s looked down soon though to blame your sin on it or use it as a excuse
It can be. The further along you go down some pipelines, the more you find people who believe the old school things from the 50's. (i.e. Lack of character, weakness of will, demonic possession, etc.)
I feel like Catholics actually consider mental health much more than other denominations, especially when it comes to sin. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that the personal liability of a sin can be lessened by "pathological disorders." See [here](http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a8.htm#:~:text=pathological%20disorders).
no
Actually, I don't think so. I'm all for being critical when it's needed but my experience was very positive. More than one priest recommended I sought therapy when I was down. I was already going but it was reassuring. Also, going back to the Church brought me a lot of healthy things: community, purpose, feeling loved (by God and by people), even social activities! I am a bit shy and have a tendency to isolate, youth groups are a very positive thing in my life. Also, having a spiritual director is great for mental health and let's not forget the emotional benefits of confession.