| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
|---|---|---|
| against psychotropic medications | David | Tuesday, July 27, 2010 |
Question: I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder 1. I am married, have 2 children, work full time, and appear to be a fairly normal Catholic. My problem is this: I HATE the idea of taking psychiatric medications. I accept the mental illness and that I have a problem. But I REFUSE to accept medications as a solution. I try to pray and read the Bible thinking this will rid me of the anger and irritability and the depression. . . but it is not working. I can no longer discern if my anger, etc is a result of the illness or a poor spiritual state. I feel like I am a terrible Catholic because I exhibit the OPPOSITE of the fruits of the spirit. But, I believe psychiatric medications bring about more harm than good--diabetes, weight gain, high cholesterol, liver disfunction, mental blunting to name a few. In short, is there a spiritual solution to my problem? |
||
| Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM
Dear David: Bipolar disease is a disease like any other. It is a disease of the brain in which brain chemistry is not working right. Prayer, Christian meditation, and exercise can help. Exercise can help to balance the brain chemistry a little. But, these techniques work mostly with non-psychiatric mood issues. If you are diagnosed with bipolar disease then medication may be the only relief you may find. Man is mind, body, and soul. Body issues (which bipolar disease is) must be taken care of medically; mind issues (psychological problems) must be taken care of by a therapy or some psychological treatment; spiritual problems must be taken care of spiritually. Bipolar disease is a disease of the body. It must be handled by medical methods. While prayer, meditation, and exercise may help, more-in-likely you will need the medications to relieve your suffering. God had given us the great gift of the Medical profession. People often say, "Why doesn't God heal people like recorded in the Bible." He does heal today, folks. He heals through the hands and skills of the physician. Because of God's gift of the physician "miraculous" healing is not needed as much, though it still happens. There is no certainty that you will experience any of the side-effects you list. Perhaps this is really about pride? You do not really want to admit the problem and the dependency upon medication that you need? Do what your doctor instructs. Take the medication just like you would take the medication if you had an infection. A disease is a disease. You can pray for God to heal you, but in the meantime, take the medication God Bless,
Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum
|
||