Yesterday I went to the doctor.
I posted about how fun it was on FB and included some of the more frustrating details for my friend. I forget how very sensitive FB friends can be. What follows is my post with an exchange between meself and me friend...
It was interesting. While involved with medical professionals this past week, many questions arose and for a couple of questions I simply responded, "I'm Catholic." Even when my Dr. had to ask about depression, one of the questions was about feeling suicidal and I said, "Nope. I'm Catholic." He knows me BTW - I've seen the same doctor since 1995.
Friend's comment: Being Catholic doesn't make us immune from suicidal ideation and attempts. It's a devastating reality of the disease of mental illness. I've been there and I am convinced Jesus has so much mercy in this area because a "normal/healthy" person doesn't go down this path. It is part of the disease.
My response: It works for me. "You would play upon me. You would seem to know my stops. You would pluck out the heart of my mystery?" Listen Gina, it also puts an end to questions I consider a matter of conscience and for me alone to divulge to whom I choose and when I may or may not be seeking treatment for any sort of mental health issue. These questions are routine for adults my age - or so I'm told - I expect to comply with some Medicare or insurance regulation. It's just my personal response to a banal check list for my Internist Dr. who incidentally, couldn't give me a cortisone shot for severe arthritic knee pain before sending me to an Orthopedist, yet he can give me a script for off-label use of a psychotropic drug.
Yesterday I went to the Dr. with real ailments, only to be referred to a specialist - it makes me crazy.
Of course I know Catholics have episodes of suicidal ideation and attempt suicide. St Therese did. Nuns in India killed themselves. I know there is mercy for suicides and so on. It's a very human, rather common disease right now. Telling the Dr. 'I'm Catholic' was my 'sick' humor response - and he gets it. He's often told me in the past, being Catholic was my main problem - although I hope I convinced him it isn't being Catholic that poses a problem, it's the Inquisitors, the rigid, ideological Catholics who try to tell others how to live their lives. As the Pope said, 'There are many schools of rigidity in the Church - often masking serious problems, hiding something else.' Each of us can maybe ponder that in our heart.
I got your dark sense of humor. Next time I see my doctor and she asks something like what yours asked you I may reply with your same answer.
ReplyDeleteHope your friend is doing better.
He is and he isn't. Very difficult - as you know - being a nurse.
DeleteWe nurses call the "he is and he isn't" the roller coaster. It refers to the ups and downs of an illness and all of the emotional ups and downs that accompany it.
DeletePraying ...
I too went to the Dr today. He is of Irish heritage so I assume Catholic. He did the Medicare annual assessment with me last visit. Seems they want to know if I feel safe in my home. I get all those are you happy asked 10 different ways when I get my knee shots. They hand me an IPad every visit. I do not think anyone reads them. Insurance questions whether or not to cover cost. Maybe I am too happy in my safe home. I threaten my wife that I will report her to these people who have so many questions about my safety. She gets them too and she says she’ll report that I am threatening to report her. I know this is important for some who need help but it sure is done as a rote routine and pretty uncaring way. I may use your approach and just say, “I am Catholic.”
ReplyDeleteHaha - threatening to report your wife - she's gotta laugh at that. My whole thing began as a joke and one of my friends just didn't see the humor. My Dr. is not religious, obviously, so it's fun to see him roll his eyes.
DeleteFrom my heart surgeon: ‘I’m not a person of faith but my favorite poet is Gerard Manley Hopkins.’ And then he started to recite from memory. He is an extraordinary heart surgeon: interviews both before surgery and after. I trust Fr Hopkins will take care of him. Stay well!
ReplyDelete