Beyond, Beyond the Misconceptions About Depression and Anxiety

[Image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay]

I would like to begin by acknowledging Dr. Aaron Kheriaty for presenting many Catholic Truths throughout the latter half of his interview—Truths that directly contradict the errors of modern psychology and psychiatry expressed in the first half of the same article. These errors, or lies, I will address with the following Truths.

The Misuse of the Terms “Disease” and “Illness”

Using the terms disease and illness to describe anything psychological confuses people and perpetuates the falsehood that psychological disorders are biological or physiological diseases of the brain or body, as modern psychology and psychiatry claim.

By their Greek and Latin origin, psychology and psychiatry are correctly defined as the study and healing of the immaterial soul, which includes the powers of the intellect (mind) and the free will to choose—not the brain—as explained by Doctor of the Church St. Thomas Aquinas.

Thus, all psychological disorders are intellectual and abstract concepts arising from the absence of Truth, Love, and Virtue—not from biological defect. Depression and anxiety are therefore not, never have been, and never will be medical illnesses of the brain or body, but rather moral spiritual disorders of the soul which manifest through the body, including the brain.

Misunderstandings in Modern Psychology and Psychiatry

Unfortunately, most “mental health” professionals—especially psychiatrists, including many Christians both Catholic and non-Catholic—are inadequately informed about human nature and the true causes of psychological disorders.

Consequently, they use terms that wrongly imply biological causes, such as mental illness, mental disease, chemical imbalance, genetic predisposition, and even mental health—to describe what are psychologically moral spiritual problems.

There is no scientific evidence demonstrating that depression, anxiety, or any other psychological disorder is caused by brain chemistry or genetics.

No credible scientific evidence has ever demonstrated a biological or physiological cause for depression, anxiety, or any other psychological disorders. False correlations, manipulative research, and assumptions cannot change this reality.

Third party psychological and psychiatric claims such as, “the study shows”, “the research suggests”, or “the evidence supports”, manipulatively lead people away from the path of healing: moral theological education, repentance, and growth in Truth, Love, and Virtue.

The Nature of Psychological Depression

Psychological depression is characterized by despair and hopelessness (vices of distrust in God), a false sense of helplessness (absence of Truth), self-pity (the illusion of being an innocent victim), and feelings of isolation (rejection of God’s Presence).

Thus, psychological depression is fundamentally the absence of Divine Virtue—Humility, Wisdom, Understanding, Hope, Trust in God, Peace, Joy, Acceptance, Forgiveness, Thankfulness, and Charity—all are abstract, intellectual, and morally qualifiable.

The Nature of Psychological Anxiety

Psychological anxiety, to a lessor degree than paranoia, is an extreme degree of worry and fear. Like Depression, it too is primarily the absence of Divine Virtues—Humility, Wisdom, Understanding, Courage, Trust in God, Peace, Joy, Acceptance, Forgiveness, Thankfulness, and Charity—all of which are abstract, intellectual, and morally qualifiable. Anxiety occurs when believing we need our way and thinking we are right, replaces humility and trust in God’s loving will.

The Moral Nature of Psychological Disorders

Depression, anxiety, paranoia, stress, worry, and fear all originate from pride, selfishness, and distrust in God. They develop from a refusal to accept present reality, the false belief that one is a sinless victim with no possible solutions for meeting one’s real needs, the desire to control what cannot or need not be controlled, a lack of forgiveness, and ingratitude toward and distrust in God. These are born of lies about God, ourselves, and others—sin within the intellect and free will.

The absence of Truth, Love, and Virtue is sin.

Therefore, depression and anxiety—like all psychological emotions and feelings—are caused (that is, chosen) by the free will and intellect of the immaterial soul, whether or not the person is aware of this choice. Because the intellect and will freely choose thoughts, beliefs, expectations, likes, dislikes, wants/desires, and attractions, psychological disorders are morally qualifiable.

Any resulting psychosomatic physical effects are a secondary effect and therefore do not negate these truths.

This makes depression, anxiety, and all other psychological disorders immoral acts of the immaterial soul.

True Psychology as the Study of the Soul

Christians are correct to “spiritualize” psychological problems, for all psychological disorders are primarily moral and spiritual in nature, meaning psychological problems cannot originate from brain malfunction. The intellect (mind) and free will being powers of the immaterial soul, function without the use of a corporal (bodily) organ, as affirmed by St. Thomas Aquinas in the Summa Theologica. This understanding aligns with the correct original definitions of psychology and psychiatry—the study and healing of the immaterial soul, as defined in Greek and Latin.

On Suicidal Thinking

If someone experiences suicidal thoughts, it is for one of two reasons:

1. The person believes suicide to be an acceptable option and is not morally opposed to it on some level; and/or
2. A demon is tempting the person toward self-destruction, exploiting their extreme psychological suffering caused by unrepented sin.

Either way, those with suicidal thinking have interiorly rejected God and are blocking His Love and Truth, whether or not they attend church on Sunday.

Depression and Anxiety Are Not Crosses to Bear

Depression and anxiety—like any sin—are not crosses to bear but to be repented of and confessed, at least privately to God, and, if Catholic, also in the Sacrament of Confession as soon as possible.

Whether mortal or venial, it is always beneficial to confess all sins, as taught by the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the saints.

Many people suffering from depression or anxiety are in a state of mortal sin, often through an addiction or vice they refuse to acknowledge and repent of.

As Dr. Kheriaty rightly stated, depression is not the “dark night of the soul,” which is a holy trial. Depression and anxiety are the absence of holiness.

Too many Catholics rationalize their “dryness”, emotional sins, lack of desire to pray, or inability to hear God as the “dark night of the soul,” rather than asking God daily to make them self-aware of their sins.

Why Modern Psychiatric Treatments Are Psychologically Harmful

Medical treatments for psychological problems are ultimately harmful because they divert individuals from developing self-awareness of their sins, properly discerning truth with Jesus Christ, repenting, and seeking the Truth, Love, and Virtues necessary for lasting healing.

Psychological healing requires proper moral formation of the intellect, daily repentance of sin, and the habitual practice of virtue—not medicated symptom management.

The Role of False Beliefs and Unvirtuous Desires

Feeling that God has abandoned them—because they believe He has—is part of the irrational belief system contributing to depression or anxiety, along with other false beliefs, unrealistic expectations, and unvirtuous wants/desires, harmful likes and dislikes, and distorted attractions.

Self-loathing, shame, excessive guilt, and feelings of worthlessness are not effects or symptoms of depression, they are some of its causes. They are forms of pride and selfishness.

Psychosomatic Effects

The soul being the form, animator, and primary principle of the body and brain, as St. Thomas Aquinas states—when the soul suffers, so does the body.

As a result, when emotional suffering is present, psychosomatic problems—such as appetite changes, sleep disturbances, weight fluctuations, gastrointestinal distress, headaches, or chronic pain—are physical consequences of the psychological conditions.

Biological factors such as hormonal changes can exacerbate psychological disorders—including depression, anxiety, and anger—but they are never the cause.

Christ and the Meaning of Suffering

Depression, anxiety, and all other irrational psychological emotions are not opportunities to share in Christ’s suffering, for Christ does not sin and does not will us to sin.

Since these states of the soul are absences of Truth, Love, and Virtue, they are sins.

Christ said:

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)

Christ never intended us to carry our sins as crosses. Christ calls us to carry the cross of virtue—self-denial and obedience.

Suffering is not a mystery, and Christianity’s answer to suffering is clear. It only appears obscure to those who do not understand it. For more on the Truth about suffering, see the article Innocent Suffering link below.

Innocent Suffering

Why Prayer Alone Does Not Heal Psychological Disorders

Prayer, Scripture reading, or receiving the Sacraments alone do not “magically cure” psychological disorders because healing also requires recognition and repentance of sin, and a sincere effort to seek and obey the Truth, Love, and Virtues of Jesus Christ in daily practice.

Likewise, when spiritual direction, formal prayers, and Bible reading bring no relief it is because the person fails to learn how to recognize and repent of their sins, including irrational intellectual acts in the forms of beliefs, expectations, wants/desires, likes, dislikes, and attractions that are the cause of their psychological suffering.

Those who engage with God superficially, commit some form of idolatry, and fail to become self-aware and repent of their sins will remain spiritually—and therefore psychologically—unhealed.

False Solutions: Self-Esteem and Positivity

Depression and anxiety or any other psychological disorder cannot be healed by secular remedies such as—rediscovering “self-esteem” (a selfish misnomer), confidence in one’s abilities, or renewed interest in life.

Many people without such problems still suffer from depression and anxiety, because these stem from deeper sinful, false, and irrational beliefs, expectations, and wants/desires chosen by pride and selfishness.

Anyone engaging in idolatry (making anything or anyone more important than God)—knowingly or unknowingly—will eventually experience depression and/or anxiety, for these are the absence of Truth, Love, and Virtue: the absence of God.

The Path to Healing: Truth, Love, and Virtue

True healing begins by learning Who and What Love truly is, from Whom Love originates, and by primarily seeking Him—God.

Love comes from learning how and practicing living virtuously in every detail, guided by the moral and theological Truths inseparable from Love. Most people, however, mistakenly believe they already understand or sufficiently practice this.

These intellectual acts of Truth, Love, and Virtue gradually replace depression, anxiety, and all other psychological disorders, intellectual layer by intellectual layer. All Virtues—Love, Hope, Trust in God, Faith, Gratitude, Forgiveness, Acceptance, Tolerance, Perseverance, Strength, Fortitude, Charity, Wisdom, and Humility (the ability to recognize and accept Truth)—originate only from God. If we desire any Virtue, we need to repent of lacking it, ask God daily for it, and practice it in obedience.

Hopelessness, self-pity, desperateness, overwhelm, fear, worry, and stress exist only where irrational thoughts and beliefs, unrealistic expectations and wants/desires, wrong likes and dislikes, and distorted attractions are chosen.

By asking God to make us self-aware of these errors, repenting of them, and asking for His Truth, Love, and Virtues to replace them, one can cease to experience depression, anxiety, and all psychological disorders—one layer at a time.

Conclusion

And people still wonder why their depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders never heal, and why these problems continue to increase worldwide!

Perhaps it is time to stop believing the lies of modern psychology and psychiatry—expecting different results—and instead believe the Truth, recognizing and repenting of our sins rather than rationalizing them as acceptable, stop blaming everything but our own intellect and free will to choose, and return to the One Who alone is Truth, Love, and Virtue.

Contact

To find a counselor who understands these Truths about psychological disorders, ask Jesus to send one to you—or message me, Lara Katherine Miller, to schedule a virtual session at +1 (828) 310-0159.