Posted on 01/03/2013 7:15:35 AM PST by marshmallow
A new book co-authored by a psychiatrist and a priest offers faithful wisdom and learned guidance in dealing with depression and anxiety.
Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, MD, is the author, with Msgr. John Cihak, STD, of the book, The Catholic Guide to Depression: How the Saints, the Sacraments, and Psychiatry Can Help You Break Its Grip and Find Happiness Again (Sophia Institute Press, 2012). Dr. Kheriaty is the Director of Residency Training and Medical Education in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, Irvine. He co-directs the Program in Medical Ethics in the School of Medicine, and serves as chairman of the clinical ethics committee at UCI Medical Center. Dr. Kheriaty graduated from the University of Notre Dame in philosophy and pre-medical sciences, and earned his MD degree from Georgetown University. Msgr. Cihak is a priest of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon who currently works in the Vatican. He helped to start Quo Vadis Days camps promoting discernment and the priesthood at the high school level that now operate in several U.S. dioceses. He has been a pastor and served in seminary formation.
Their book “reviews the effective ways that have recently been devised to deal with this grave and sometimes deadly affliction — ways that are not only consistent with the teachings of the Church, but even rooted in many of those teachings.” The authors were recently interviewed by Carl E. Olson, editor of Catholic World Report, about the serious challenges posed by depression and how those challenges can be best addressed through faith, clinical science, and other means.
CWR: The topic of depression is fairly commonplace, but you note that there is no simple definition of "depression". What are some of the major features of depression? Is it just an emotional state, or more?
Dr. Kheriaty: Depression....
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicworldreport.com ...
Get rid of the guilt = get rid of depression
stop feeling guilty about being a normal human being and start being more thankful for being one and for what God has blessed you with
Guilt in moderation is healthy. I would hope people would have at least some guilt after sinning. It’s when the guilt becomes overwhelming and leads to despair; then it becomes a problem.
It's what comes after sin and is the first step on the road to repentance.
stop feeling guilty about being a normal human being
Feeling guilt about legitimate sins is a good thing that one should use to urge oneself to confess them. Feeling guilt about sins one has already confessed sincerely is a bad thing and prevents spiritual growth.
If my memory is correct, being guilty about past sins confessed is called being “scrupulus”.
yes
stop feeling guilty about being a normal human being
God desires us to recognize our sin, and to repent.
1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
as a Catholic, this story depresses me
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/01/02/priest-to-be-sentenced-on-child-pornography-charges/
The very most powerful element to fighting depression is to have a personal relationship with Jesus, and to understand our identity in Christ.
When we are convicted of our righteousness, we are powerful spiritual beings who can ward off depression.
“Take a moment for God “
check it out ..helps in these trying times ..believe its a Catholic prayer.. you should be able to google it .
Yes...it depends mainly on what an individual considers to be guilt-worthy
Too much of anything is not good
Conscience: that still, small inner voice that tells you that you’d better start thinking up a good alibi.
;^)
Dr. Kheriaty says that depression and the dark night of the soul are not the same thing, but either one can bring the other in my experience. I like how he makes distinctions between neurobiological, spiritual, emotional states. Again IME, grief is not depression, but when it takes on an obsessive character, it is.
There is a book called A Stubborn Darkness by a Dr. Welch (IIRC) from a Christian perspective, who points out that our modern society has an expectation, a standard, that you will be happy - and that is a false expectation. Life is hard and there are times of grief and suffering. It is a relief to give up that expectation.
My wise priest said that even when you don’t feel belief, you can live belief. Obedience is better than sacrifice. And you can offer your up your suffering for someone who has even less, has no one to love them.
Mother Teresa lived most of her long life in the dark night, and she served and obeyed nonetheless. Therese of Lisieux spent too much of her short life there, but she offered up her suffering for those who could not believe.
Saint Thomas who doubted, Saint Peter who denied, Saint Martha who fretted, my saints! My intercessors.
If I belonged to a religion in which it says you can never be assured of your salvation (even though the Bible states it to be so many times), I’d be depressed too.
“If I belonged to a religion in which it says you can never be assured of your salvation (even though the Bible states it to be so many times), I’d be depressed too.”
Why does Paul talk about backsliding and not being saved if he thinks he is saved once and for all? Why does Jesus say that only those who persevere to the end will be saved? Why does Jesus say that if the final trial were not shortened no one would be saved? Why does the Scripture say a mother will be saved through childbirth if she is already saved before giving birth to a child?
Feeling assured of salvation is pride and arrogance.
“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ “
“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ “
“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ “
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