The lock up, mental health, and the Church

[Anastasia]

I wonder if anyone feels the same way I do. I have just read:

“Lifeline Queensland is receiving an unprecedented 24,000 calls a week as people struggle with the mental health impacts of living through a pandemic. Lifeline executive Brent McCracken told AAP that the charity recorded its highest monthly total of calls in the organisation’s 56-year history in March. Many are facing circumstances they could never have envisaged they’d be in. Many are feeling their life is becoming worthless.”

I am quite sure that those people are in poor mental sate not only because of the economical hardships, job loss etc. I am sure that the lock up also affects mental health of people very negatively. But I am also sure that closing down the churches contributed to that immensely, even to non-believers and I will try to outline why.

I think it is very important for a human being to have something that “goes on no matter what”, the sense of permanence. Churches has been always there. A person in trouble could always go to a church and get some assistance. Or he could just come there and sit there if depressed and felt that he or she was not alone. But now this sense of being not alone, of something permanent was shattered.

Why am I writing all this? Probably for the same reason another member of this forum began the thread about bipolar disorder, simply to share the thoughts and perhaps ways of coping with this situation. I am battling with depression because of this.

As it is stated under my name, I am Eastern Orthodox but I have been worshiping with the local Roman Catholics for years because there is no Eastern Orthodox church in the area I live. I live next to the Roman Catholic Cathedral where I used to worship, receive communion and adore the Blessed Sacrament; I can see it but I cannot go there, it is locked. I now understand Orthodox Jews who cry at the Wailing Wall.

We are living in insane times. All meanings are falling apart and people are ripe to turn to God and the Church is closed.

[Lilllabettt]

3 hours ago, Anastasia said:

I wonder if anyone feels the same way I do. I have just read:

“Lifeline Queensland is receiving an unprecedented 24,000 calls a week as people struggle with the mental health impacts of living through a pandemic. Lifeline executive Brent McCracken told AAP that the charity recorded its highest monthly total of calls in the organisation’s 56-year history in March. Many are facing circumstances they could never have envisaged they’d be in. Many are feeling their life is becoming worthless.”

I am quite sure that those people are in poor mental sate not only because of the economical hardships, job loss etc. I am sure that the lock up also affects mental health of people very negatively. But I am also sure that closing down the churches contributed to that immensely, even to non-believers and I will try to outline why.

I think it is very important for a human being to have something that “goes on no matter what”, the sense of permanence. Churches has been always there. A person in trouble could always go to a church and get some assistance. Or he could just come there and sit there if depressed and felt that he or she was not alone. But now this sense of being not alone, of something permanent was shattered.

Why am I writing all this? Probably for the same reason another member of this forum began the thread about bipolar disorder, simply to share the thoughts and perhaps ways of coping with this situation. I am battling with depression because of this.

As it is stated under my name, I am Eastern Orthodox but I have been worshiping with the local Roman Catholics for years because there is no Eastern Orthodox church in the area I live. I live next to the Roman Catholic Cathedral where I used to worship, receive communion and adore the Blessed Sacrament; I can see it but I cannot go there, it is locked. I now understand Orthodox Jews who cry at the Wailing Wall.

We are living in insane times. All meanings are falling apart and people are ripe to turn to God and the Church is closed.

I understand.  I feel as though I am starving as well. But, think of the first Christians. They had no building where they could gather. Jesus Himself experienced this when He was thrown out of the synagogue.  Even today there are Christians isolated among pagans who must wait many months for a priest to visit. The hand of the Body of Christ is becoming familiar with the life of the foot. 

I will say, although I take the virus and the quarantine very seriously.  The mental pathology caused by isolation and so much delayed medical care (surgeries, vaccinations, therapies) will be it's own public health catastrophe with many deaths. 

[Anastasia]

Lilllabettt

Thank you for responding. I think the most psychologically difficult aspect of the current situation is that churches are closed around the world in a uniform fashion and often unnecessarily. It is new. First Christians would gather at their homes, remember how they apostles and others would gather and pray "as if they had soul"? Separated and "spaced" Christians also had comfort that somewhere else, in many countries the Church was going on (I have been in this situation, it felt different).

Probably Jesus being thrown out of the synagogues is the most apt and comforting example. 

[CatherineM]

I think it is allowing us with riches of sacraments to learn what it must be like for those who go weeks and months between visits from priests. 

[Anastasia]

About mental health and the lock up.

I think I made a discovery. I have been very fond of viola and pansy flowers but now I developed a huge passion. I bought viola plants and noticed how much they cheer me up. The discovery: it is because they have “faces”. I am serious. Anything that “looks at you” helps.

Some colours and tones are particularly effective, like on this photo from Internet

[islandanchoress]

Interesting. As I have been in total isolation already for years as my immune system is down, maybe I can give a less alarmist response?

We survive and thrive as beings  by being adaptable. Not by yearning after what was. By accepting what is. By talking so much about discomfort as mental illness rather than as a chance and a need to accept a new way of life?  

 

 

 

Prayer life ie   life in Jesus, is richer and fuller in isolation that it ever was before.  I live on a small offshore island  and before that in remote places with little or no access to the sacraments. And I truly and fully believe that receiving Holy Communion once in a lifetime is enough.

For me also my life also is firmly focussed not on my " needs" but on the needs of others. Thanks to the internet I can reach out in ways that feed others. Giving  the love of Jesus in   actions and words.    As a consecrated monastic solitary.  

Many of those we call saints were isolated. It has all gotten too regimented and legalistic. Our real faith is how we live and love.   Why limit ourselves to collecting with other Christians? Jesus lived among all people. 

On 4/23/2020 at 12:13 PM, Lilllabettt said:

I understand.  I feel as though I am starving as well. But, think of the first Christians. They had no building where they could gather. Jesus Himself experienced this when He was thrown out of the synagogue.  Even today there are Christians isolated among pagans who must wait many months for a priest to visit. The hand of the Body of Christ is becoming familiar with the life of the foot. 

I will say, although I take the virus and the quarantine very seriously.  The mental pathology caused by isolation and so much delayed medical care (surgeries, vaccinations, therapies) will be it's own public health catastrophe with many deaths. 

I feel sad for you. This post shocks for the wrong reasons.  we need to support each other positively.  Yes re the last sentence but here in Ireland that is being addressed. 

Faith please. Light not darkness

 

Signing out for a long time . Off to pray as this has darkened my day    Stay with Jesus in your heart and prayer as He bids us so clearly. Have faith please in Him in all times and step into the light NB Have a look at Irish news, at " confessions Belfast." 

[Anastasia]

Positives… I have been thinking about that for some time. I firmly believe that if someone feels desperate another person must acknowledge this and share this desperation first – and only after that to provide some “positive view”. I have a feeling that when we deny the emotions of the other we not only make them unreal, non-existent, but also make the other non-existent, at least to us. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."

What I mean is this. It is the objective truth that we need Christ, our Life in the Eucharist. If we are deprived, we suffer. The colour of suffering is very much determined by our psyche. But it is completely normal that we suffer. In fact, if we water don of muffle our suffering it does not do good to us. Our practice then is built upon this suffering.

I will share what I do those days. I spend a lot of time in the garden. I also continue with the Divine Office and ‘Divine Intimacy’ and try not to forget to talk to Christ while looking at His big icon – and I also look at violas.

20 minutes ago, islandanchoress said:

And I truly and fully believe that receiving Holy Communion once in a lifetime is enough.

OK, but it goes totally contrary to all the ancient Church practices and all the writings of the Church Fathers.

Edited May 3, 2020 by Anastasia

[Lilllabettt]

11 hours ago, islandanchoress said:

Interesting. As I have been in total isolation already for years as my immune system is down, maybe I can give a less alarmist response?

We survive and thrive as beings  by being adaptable. Not by yearning after what was. By accepting what is. By talking so much about discomfort as mental illness rather than as a chance and a need to accept a new way of life?  

 

 

 

Prayer life ie   life in Jesus, is richer and fuller in isolation that it ever was before.  I live on a small offshore island  and before that in remote places with little or no access to the sacraments. And I truly and fully believe that receiving Holy Communion once in a lifetime is enough.

For me also my life also is firmly focussed not on my " needs" but on the needs of others. Thanks to the internet I can reach out in ways that feed others. Giving  the love of Jesus in   actions and words.    As a consecrated monastic solitary.  

Many of those we call saints were isolated. It has all gotten too regimented and legalistic. Our real faith is how we live and love.   Why limit ourselves to collecting with other Christians? Jesus lived among all people. 

I feel sad for you. This post shocks for the wrong reasons.  we need to support each other positively.  Yes re the last sentence but here in Ireland that is being addressed. 

Faith please. Light not darkness

 

Signing out for a long time . Off to pray as this has darkened my day    Stay with Jesus in your heart and prayer as He bids us so clearly. Have faith please in Him in all times and step into the light NB Have a look at Irish news, at " confessions Belfast." 

Although you may not like to hear bad news, the suffering do not have to shut up to avoid disturbing you - right? 

I was 6 weeks in constant, horrible pain and unable to get medical care. Just last week I finally found a doctor who willing to treat my pinched nerve. Stroke patients are missing therapy. Cancer patients are missing their chemo infusions. People in agony (intestinal blockages, kidney stones) are having their required surgery delayed. Many, many people are suffering due to the quarantine and some of that suffering will be unto death. Thank God that you are not affected!

[Anastasia]

6 hours ago, Lilllabettt said:

Just last week I finally found a doctor who willing to treat my pinched nerve.

I am glad to hear this.

[Anastasia]

The situation in our state re: the shut up = lock down (or up?) is relaxing noticeably. No one keeps much of distance any more – fed up I guess. Now two people can visit one (that immediately brings to my mind the archetypal Russian “sharing one bottle or port between three”. Recently the lingerie shop managed by two old ladies was opened, so as many hairdressers and barbers. But not the Cathedral.

(Trying to be cheerful. Bought more violas. A bunch of seedlings actually were called "Viola "Faces")

Speaking seriously: when all this is over it will be very difficult for me to go to Mass because I feel very stongly that the laity was let down and/but did not try to upraise.

Oh, and the positive: one of parishioners who has been separated from her husband for several weeks because he is in the house for people after stroke etc (it was locked) at last was aloud to visit him.

[tinytherese]

I know that therapists are doing things like Skype and Zoom appointments, but so far I haven't done it because I don't want my family to hear what I'm saying. 

[Anastasia]

4 hours ago, tinytherese said:

I know that therapists are doing things like Skype and Zoom appointments, but so far I haven't done it because I don't want my family to hear what I'm saying. 

They do but I wonder how they can manage via Skype sudden reactions of a client like suddenly emerging memories of a traumatic events etc, something that demands physical face-to-face intervention.

If it is more like counseling I suppose it can be done... Personally I think right now people are craving being in each other's presence more than anything else so I wonder if some therapists offer face-to-face meetings wearing masks for example or in a parking place (empty, standing far away from each other).

If I was a local Bishop I would organize the following: I would oblige my priests to sit inside the parish office, taking turns, with an open window so anyone who would like to talk - Catholics, believers, or non-believers - just to come and talk.

[Anastasia]

Our Cathedral re-opened, kind of, together with pubs and clubs. It is possible now to attend Mass (no more than ten people).