Ask a Question - or - Return to the Spiritual Warfare Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
praying for help in mental anguish	Lisa	Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Question: First of all, I want to know if it is permissable for me to pray the long St. Michael Exorcism prayer for personal help with mental problems. I am not one to "see" demons at every corner where there are personal problems, but I have noticed a certain sensible relief when I pray to rid myself of destructive obsessions( self-harm and against others) . My second question is connected to the first: How do we know if it really is the work of the devil that causes mental problems? I have tried therapy and medications and now I am at a cross-roads in my life. I always meant to be a good mother (married 16 years, 3 kids) and wanted to raise the kids in the love of God. But it hasn't exactly worked out that way. My husband who is logical in his thinking (as he is a lawyer) wonders if I am not troubled by evil influence, which is not a characteristic conclusion on his part. I have just wasted a good part of my marriage being a basket case, and feel no connection to God. I just practice the faith for the kids. In fact I feel my soul is destined for hell, what with the crazy thoughts and rage. I call it the rage of a hateful being that would get only tremendous satisfaction out someone else's pain. How horrible. But that IS how I feel and express myself---with such hate. It is like a whole other part of me that is black and I live in a grayed world of distrust and horrid fear of God. What a contrast to my state of being 20 years ago when I promised the Lord that I was His, I would live a life of purgation of sins and that all of my children were to be His and not mine to do His Will. Help me. I need to know what is the matter with me. I do not talk to a spiritual director---and have no idea who would even care to talk to me anyway. People would just think I am crazy or just trying to throw blame for my problems on the devil. But believe me when I say that this is just IT, the last resort, for my suffering husband and family.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Lisa: No, the long St. Michael Exorcism prayer should not be used. You can use the prayers that we have listed in our SW Catalog (linked below). As for telling where the line is drawn between the demonic and the psychiatric that is a difficult line to discern. To make such a discernment requires professional assessment of your situation. You are not able to make a diagnosis on your own. To complicate matters, it is also possible for a problems to be both psychiatric and demonic. What I would advise is to follow the advice of your doctors and take the medications they prescribe. It often takes time to find the right combination of medications that will help. Second is to follow the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance and applicable prayers in the SW Prayer Catalog. If after giving that time, there is still no relief, then you may want to contact us for a personal consultation. We will be praying for you. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

praying for help in mental anguish

Lisa

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Question:

First of all, I want to know if it is permissable for me to pray the long St. Michael Exorcism prayer for personal help with mental problems. I am not one to "see" demons at every corner where there are personal problems, but I have noticed a certain sensible relief when I pray to rid myself of destructive obsessions( self-harm and against others) .

My second question is connected to the first: How do we know if it really is the work of the devil that causes mental problems? I have tried therapy and medications and now I am at a cross-roads in my life. I always meant to be a good mother (married 16 years, 3 kids) and wanted to raise the kids in the love of God. But it hasn't exactly worked out that way.

My husband who is logical in his thinking (as he is a lawyer) wonders if I am not troubled by evil influence, which is not a characteristic conclusion on his part. I have just wasted a good part of my marriage being a basket case, and feel no connection to God. I just practice the faith for the kids.

In fact I feel my soul is destined for hell, what with the crazy thoughts and rage. I call it the rage of a hateful being that would get only tremendous satisfaction out someone else's pain. How horrible. But that IS how I feel and express myself---with such hate. It is like a whole other part of me that is black and I live in a grayed world of distrust and horrid fear of God. What a contrast to my state of being 20 years ago when I promised the Lord that I was His, I would live a life of purgation of sins and that all of my children were to be His and not mine to do His Will.

Help me. I need to know what is the matter with me. I do not talk to a spiritual director---and have no idea who would even care to talk to me anyway. People would just think I am crazy or just trying to throw blame for my problems on the devil. But believe me when I say that this is just IT, the last resort, for my suffering husband and family.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Lisa:

No, the long St. Michael Exorcism prayer should not be used. You can use the prayers that we have listed in our SW Catalog (linked below).

As for telling where the line is drawn between the demonic and the psychiatric that is a difficult line to discern. To make such a discernment requires professional assessment of your situation. You are not able to make a diagnosis on your own.

To complicate matters, it is also possible for a problems to be both psychiatric and demonic.

What I would advise is to follow the advice of your doctors and take the medications they prescribe. It often takes time to find the right combination of medications that will help.

Second is to follow the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance and applicable prayers in the SW Prayer Catalog. If after giving that time, there is still no relief, then you may want to contact us for a personal consultation.

We will be praying for you.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.