Comments on: Going Crazy

By: a random John

a random John — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:56:22 +0000

I should note that I survived without any lapses in sanity that I am aware of.

By: Rusty

Rusty — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 17:48:18 +0000

Ugh, too bad we can’t be moving goons by proxy. Sorry man, that sucks.

By: a random John

a random John — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 15:16:48 +0000

An update:

There is no such thing as Mormon Moving Karma!

During three years here I have been EQ 1st councilor for a year and EQP for 2 years. I’ve done moves during my work day and moved people that I had never seen before or since. I can say with some confidence that I’ve been to more moves in the last three years than any other individual in the ward. When I move how many people respond?

One.

Hired goons it is then!

PS If I go crazy it will be today.

By: Rusty

Rusty — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 23:39:35 +0000

ARJ,
Good! We hope it continues that way. You’ll have to make an announcement once you reach Utah.

By: a random John

a random John — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 22:40:08 +0000

Packing is going well! Still able to function!

By: annegb

annegb — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 18:27:34 +0000

I struggle all the time with the differentness that being a little crazy labels me with in a solidly Mormon community. When, as a gray-haired grandma, I should be calm and serene, instead of telling people routinely to go to hell.

However, I do get away with a lot, I am not making light. Because I am a little crazy, people just expect me to act differently, and I can pretty much do what I want. It’s very freeing.

By: ML

ML — Wed, 10 Aug 2005 00:07:00 +0000

I think the guaranteed exaltation stuff is for individuals whose mental age never crosses the age of accountability. If you have the mental capabilities of a 5 year old, Heavenly Father won’t hold you accountable.

That being said, severe depression and other mental disorders are very real and can be completely debilitating. Speaking as a wife of an abuse survivor and severely depressed husband, it requires a lot of love and charity to help and prod along the right path. These individuals have their agency and should be held accountable, but they should also be loved and guided just like any wayward sheep.

Understanding goes a really long way.

By: SeptimusH

SeptimusH — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 09:38:25 +0000

Thanks, arJ, for writing this and I want to thank the commenters for sharing their experiences as well. It’s helped put some things in perspective for me. Just knowing there’s a lot of us that suffer from occasional moments of inability, for lack of a better word is comforting. It’s not even necessarily mental illness, maybe it’s just life.

Anyhow, thanks. Reading this thread cheered me up.

By: a random John

a random John — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 22:14:21 +0000

How about this… Prior to seeking any medical help I’ll see how I handle this upcoming move. In fact, if I am still sane once we reach Utah I will post an update here. I should probably clarify that the earlier move was from Utah to Boston, and the upcoming move is from Boston to Utah.

By: Hanna

Hanna — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 23:31:00 +0000

I’ve had the same questions about how agency works in the face of mental illness – my questions mostly come from not understanding the church’s view (if there even is one?) on the cause(s) of mental illness.

I’ve struggled with occasion episodes of mild depression, and wondered how God views my actions at these times. Am I supposed to exercise my willpower and cheer up (which is mainly what I tell myself to do), or am I less/un-accountable for my actions. I doubt I would be excused from murder, suicide, etc. as a result, but am I excused for wallowing around the house in my bathrobe and snapping at my family? And how would this change if I had a more “serious” clinical depression or other mental illness?

Without derailing this thread too much, can anyone tell me whether the church believes mental illness is a failing of willpower/demonic possession/chemical imbalance/etc? And is there any credence to the idea I hear from some church members that those with certain mental illnesses are guaranteed exaltation (i.e. those with Downs syndrome or those who are severely autistic)?

Again, I’m not trying to derail the thread, as I’m very interested in future responses to aRJ’s post.