God And The Mentally Ill

[rkwright]

I started my new job about 4 weeks ago working with mentally ill people. I work on the legal side, committing people to the state hospital who need treatment.

It is very surprising to see that about half and maybe as many as 75% of the people claim to see or hear God, Jesus, and occasionally the devil or demons. For me as a Catholic christian, it can be difficult to really to determine whether these are simply delusions/hallucinations or are in fact real. Just wanted to get the phamily's thoughts on this. Obviously the doctors know more about this than I do, so I leave the treatment up to them. But I can't help but wonder about it.

Here are some other things I've observed that tend to push me closer towards delusion or reality -

When some of these people are medicated the delusions stop. I find it hard to believe that if God was in reality speaking to them he would stop simply because of medication. Then again, these are powerful meds which pretty much incapacitate a person.

I am 99.99% sure that the people who claim that God is telling them kill themselves or hurt others are delusional. How about this case though: God tells someone to fast for the salvation of souls (patient was only eating 10-20% of daily food).

One of the scarier ones was a patient who was seeing the devil and dark shadows around. This occurred after playing with a ouija board. Patient also had prior drug abuse problem, but claimed to have been sober for 2 years. Delusion?

People telling them that God was telling the apocalypse was close. God telling people to perform an exorcism on family/other people.

One thing that I have learned for sure - these people, all of them, need prayers. Whether its delusional or not, they don't choose this. I don't think anyone wants to wake up hearing voices to kill themselves or others. I can't imagine what it must be like to believe something so firmly when everyone is telling you what you're perceiving is not reality.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote]One of the scarier ones was a patient who was seeing the devil and dark shadows around. This occurred after playing with a ouija board. Patient also had prior drug abuse problem, but claimed to have been sober for 2 years. Delusion?
[/quote]
It was said by Fr. Amorth that mental illness often is comorbid with possession or oppression or obsession. That is, the demonic attacks appear to make one more susceptible to mental illness. He also specifically mentions drug abuse as a 'gateway' for demonic activity. In that case they'd require both mental treatment and exorcism. Unfortunately many of them may never get the spiritual help they need, and in the case the medical treatment wouldn't have a permanent effect.

[rkwright]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1297897748' post='2213098']
It was said by Fr. Amorth that mental illness often is comorbid with possession or oppression or obsession. That is, the demonic attacks appear to make one more susceptible to mental illness. He also specifically mentions drug abuse as a 'gateway' for demonic activity. In that case they'd require both mental treatment and exorcism. Unfortunately many of them may never get the spiritual help they need, and in the case the medical treatment wouldn't have a permanent effect.
[/quote]

I often pray for the patients if they start going into details or if I start to feel very sorry for them - but when that patient began describing the incidents I found it difficult to pray. Like my thoughts/words were disjointed. Almost like I would forget the words. Honestly it was a bit scary, but again I don't know whether to attribute that to something demonic, or me just trying to pray and listen to the patient at the same time.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='rkwright' timestamp='1297898589' post='2213104']
I often pray for the patients if they start going into details or if I start to feel very sorry for them - but when that patient began describing the incidents I found it difficult to pray. Like my thoughts/words were disjointed. Almost like I would forget the words. Honestly it was a bit scary, but again I don't know whether to attribute that to something demonic, or me just trying to pray and listen to the patient at the same time.
[/quote]
Instead of trying to do both, simply keep your rosary in your pocket and reach in and hold it wihile getting to the scary parks of the interview.

[CatherineM]

Been there, done that. First, take people where they are at. Don't go along with a delusion, but don't just tell them they are seeing or hearing things that aren't there. Affirm that you understand they are experiencing it, even if you don't. Second, separate the person from the illness. Getting aggravated at someone for a symptom is easy, but it is the equivalent of getting mad at someone with high blood pressure because their pressure is up. It's okay to get mad at the illness instead. Lastly, try to make a point of seeing people when they are leaving the hospital. It's important for your own mental health to see that you are making something positive happen in their lives, eventhough you are basically temporarily taking away some of their personal freedoms.

Oh yeah, don't try to argue or even get into deep discussions with someone who is really drunk or high. They won't remember it, and it will just drive you nuts.

[Chamomile]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1297897748' post='2213098']
It was said by Fr. Amorth that mental illness often is comorbid with possession or oppression or obsession. That is, the demonic attacks appear to make one more susceptible to mental illness. He also specifically mentions drug abuse as a 'gateway' for demonic activity. In that case they'd require both mental treatment and exorcism. Unfortunately many of them may never get the spiritual help they need, and in the case the medical treatment wouldn't have a permanent effect.
[/quote]

I think this is pretty true.

However, it will drive [i]you[/i] crazy trying to find the line between demonic influence and mental illness. Personally, I think it can be very fine, and almost fluid sometimes...

rkwright, I'm praying for you. That's a tough job. Be God's love and mercy to these people. When they're in a state like that, you can literally save their souls by just being kind and gentle and not making them feel worse off. Especially those who are suicidal.

[Chamomile]

P.S. I just re-read what I wrote, and I didn't mean to imply that you would normally make them feel worse off and need to stop doing that! Just offering some encouragement