Contemplative life and Mental Illness

[Guest]

On ‎17‎/‎08‎/‎2016 at 8:00 AM, Gabriela said:

The monastery is often likened to a pressure cooker, for two reasons: (1) You're in there all day, with no break, with a whole lot of silence in which to stew in your own thoughts. With a mental illness, and no distractions, this could really tip a person. (2) You're in there all day, with no break, with a whole lot of women who can drive each other crazy. With a mental illness, and sharp objects, this could be very bad.

 (Only I'm serious.)

I agree with you.  Just one point - not every person with a mental illness in an extremely stressful situation with no means of escape (pressure cooker) is a risk around sharp objects as an inevitable likelihood.  The wording could convey the wrong impression completely and incorrect facts on the subject of mental illness.  Unless I have read your meaning incorrectly.

On ‎17‎/‎08‎/‎2016 at 11:23 AM, Gabriela said:

Well, I should imagine that the "always" case would be rejected more readily, whereas the "only since that thing" case may be told to go off and heal, the come back when better. But while either is in the grips of the problem, I can't imagine entrance would be permitted.

I do not mean at all to be contentious, Gabriela, as a deliberate motivation and my sincere apologies if it might seem that I am being deliberately contentious.  I entered a monastic religious order in my early forties though suffering bipolar.  The reasoning was (by leadership) that if I did have a monastic vocation, God would heal the situation (bipolar symptoms) for me - and the community.  I wasn't long into my monastic journey when I realised that there was no healing whatsoever at that particular point and that if I should have a serious episode, it would not only be disruptive to the community generally - they probably would have no idea how to handle the situation since a serious bipolar episode has a build up to the an actual psychotic state and disconnection from reality.  I left - not only for that reason alone however.  Bipolar was a contribution to my reasons.

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On ‎21‎/‎08‎/‎2016 at 0:58 AM, TheresaThoma said:

One thing that I reminded myself is that God would not call me to something I cannot do.

The above is a very important disposition.  If God is calling and no matter to what or where, He will provide absolutely everything necessary - and that is including health requirements.  Sometimes that awakening can take a shift of motivation from what I want and desire and for wonderful and excellent reasons, to what God is indicating.  In my own case, my shift of awareness had to be off myself and what I wanted, to an understanding that because of bipolar, God was shutting a door that, simply, He did not want me to enter.  I could feel confident about that once the shift was taking place because I did have a serious type of bipolar disorder complete with psychotic state - that state did not include heavenly voices nor visions, nor was I ever aggressive in any way no matter the situation in which I found myself and sometimes they were extremely stressful in the extreme.  I was neither a risk to myself nor others......in or out of a well stocked kitchen with all necessary sharp implements. 

I do think however that if a person feels that they have a religious vocation then they should discern it very carefully and prayerfully, even if they do have some sort of mental problem - and discernment with direction if at all possible.  I think they should be free to discern as however discerning unfolds until they can feel comfortable reaching the point, if they do, that they are not called to RL.  The problem can be that directors with some understanding and training in mental health issues seem to be very far and few between for sure......here in South Australia anyway.

[Guest]

On ‎17‎/‎08‎/‎2016 at 2:49 PM, Antigonos said:

I've noticed, over the years I've been here on this phorum, a number of discerners who admit to having struggles with depression.  Could it be related to the anxieties and/or frustration resulting from the deep desire to enter religious life, which often takes years to identify and the often the long period of discernment itself?  In which case, finding a compatible community and being accepted by it may actually reduce those factors leading to depression, as one gains a sense of fulfillment

I think that there might well be some truth in the above and I have reflected on my own journey as a result.  Undoubtedly, picking up on my own personal experience again, once I was living a lifestyle under private vows with many a misstep along the way, I began to feel an increasing sense of much Peace and Joy in the vocation and a deep sense of fulfilment and a belonging, call and vocation, despite a few adverse factors.  This was not an overnight event, it was a gradual happening.  Following that, the serious psychotic episodes of bipolar eventually ceased completely and now probably 12 years ago in the past.  Following that, I was granted a real place in my family of birth as they became more confident I was not going to be severely psychotic once more, which they had found impossible to handle (and rightly so).  At first on realising I had made private vows, they lapsed into suspicion once more until after a time, they realised I was still quite sane and 'normal'.  

Hence I do feel that the above comments by Antigonos might have very real value and that a sense of fulfilment etc. might well bring about healing in whatsoever the healing situation might be, and it could include religious life in certain cases.  Quite possibly some may have been turned away from religious life despite having an actual vocation to the life - and due I am convinced to widespread misunderstandings re mental illness in all the different garments it can wear and the potentials very possibly for healing situations as potential and as an understood possibility.  That is, of course, if there is such a thing as healing situations for certain types of mental illness.  Antigonos has raised a good question in my book. 

There is the problem too that discernment continues right up to final vows; whereas in actuality the moment a person enters postulancy in Catholic cultural consciousness generally still, they are said to have a religious vocation - sometimes too and prior to a person leaving to enter postulancy there are great celebrations by family and friends, the parish too, and to celebrate the 'religious vocation'.  It is said too that if a person leaves a community it is a disruptive situation to the community - I wonder if a community knowing it has postulants, novices and those in temporary vows in their midst should be prepared for someone to perhaps leave.  I do like that term "discerned out" as difficult as it is for the person and the community.  But to be expected as a potential on a discernment journey and where those still on that journey are in the community.