LDS Support Groups

[_Bond...James Bond]

Support groups for members who can't pray and get their act together. Do they all huddle up and watch Oprah and Dr. Phil together and massage each others shoulders and pass around a box of tissues?

The only support those people need is the same kind Steve Martin got from Michael Caine when he couldent walk in the Movie Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Just because a person "has their act together" doesn't mean they can't have problems. Some problems can't be fixed with a few prayers Gaz. At least no doctor I ever heard of said, "say two prayers and call me in the morning".

Dr. No (more insensitive posts)

[_Coggins7]

I hope they start a twelve step program for battered masterbaters so Loran can get some help.

(or am I making an assumption here?)?

You just stepped over the line into the Nortinsky, PP, Coffeecat, Vegasrefugee, and GIMR hall of shame, and you may take your place on the podium. Remember, don't use drugs abusively... Oh, I forgot Cricket. I wrote a song about her some weeks ago sung to the tune of Hell On High Heels by Motley Crue.

Ah yes, another one of my masterpieces.

[_Bond...James Bond]

I hope they start a twelve step program for battered masterbaters so Loran can get some help.

(or am I making an assumption here?)?

You just stepped over the line into the Nortinsky, PP, Coffeecat, Vegasrefugee, and GIMR hall of shame, and you may take your place on the podium. Remember, don't use drugs abusively... Oh, I forgot Cricket. I wrote a song about her some weeks ago sung to the tune of Hell On High Heels by Motley Crue.

Ah yes, another one of my masterpieces.

Coggins,

You totally need to start a blog on this site and call it the "Mormon Discussions Hall of Shame". We need a pro-Mormon blog for balance.

Edit: Sorry TD for derailing your thread.

[Dr. Sunstoned]

Gaz, I'm not sure what your driving at here, but addiction is not your normative "bad habit" and the really entrenched ones are extremely difficult to root out. Even with the gospel, they may take years and decades to finially purge. That is how "hardwired" addictiion/complulsive behavior can be. Take it from me, because I know.

However, you do bring up a point that should be expanded upon. The church does need to be careful it doesn't go to far into the recovery/therapy aspect of personal problem solving because this, of itself, has a number of serious weaknesses that have been made pretty plain over the last thirty years of so. The culture of therapy that has largly replaced the culture of personal responsibility and a concomitant sense of shame for the bad things one does, has not been in and of itself, positive (even if many theraputic insights have themselves been valuable). The medicalization of psychology (personality "disorders", ADD and ADHD etc.) covering every conceivable kind of bad or dysfunctional behavior, the disease concept of addiction, the attempt to pin every form of evil and anti-social conduct on genetics, and the pervasive concept of seriously screwed up people who engage iin and pursue behavior destructive to themselves, society, and other individuals as hapless victims of some medical condition beyond their control (or, perhaps even more popularly, of their environment; especially of parents), are all a part of this cultural melieu.

The problem is not the concept of therapy in and of itself, but of the replacement of a healthy sense of shame and moral outrage at one's own behavior with a passive victim orientation toward impersonal and uncontrollable genetic, psychological, and environmental forces. Yet, I don't see why a balance between the negatives and positives of modern psychology cannot be reached by the church. Its a wheat and chaff thing again.

[_Yoda]

Support groups for members who can't pray and get their act together. Do they all huddle up and watch Oprah and Dr. Phil together and massage each others shoulders and pass around a box of tissues?

The only support those people need is the same kind Steve Martin got from Michael Caine when he couldent walk in the Movie Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Gaz....I truly hope that you never have the misfortune of suffering from a clinical depression. I know several upstanding members of the Church who DO pray, and do all of the things to "get their act together", but still need further help. How about the gospel principle of being proactive? Faith without works is dead? Remember that?

You really do need to take your blinders off and be more sensitive to what others go through. Contrary to what Coggins seems to think. It's not the liberal thing to do. It's the human....and the Christ-like thing to do.

[_Coggins7]

Contrary to what Coggins seems to think. It's not the liberal thing to do. It's the human....and the Christ-like thing to

Huh??

[_Yoda]

Contrary to what Coggins seems to think. It's not the liberal thing to do. It's the human....and the Christ-like thing to

Huh??

I apologize, Cog. I didn't see your prior post. I was referring to your comments on your "A Fouler Nest Could Not be Imagined" thread.

What you said in response to Gaz is right on the money. Please accept my apology.

[_Coggins7]

Thanks. But I still stand by everything I said in the "Foul Nest" thread. The whole bru ha ha over Packer's statements, statements that have been being made since I was young enough to remember them, are completely pedestrian by LDS doctrinal and philosophical standards, and I consider the hysterical reaction to them simply silly (if not malignant, which some of them, and the attitudes behind them, are).

Loran

[_moksha]

For some time now I have been toying with the idea of approaching the Church's Family Services department about expanding their presence online in several ways (support/discussion groups, resource material, preventative counseling, and even counseling for mild to moderate cases of depression, anxiety, panic, etc., as well as addressing various marital and parenting issues).

I see this as a way of reducing cost to potential recipients, making the resources more accessible and available to potential recipients, providing some level of confidentiality (people can read and post anonymously), and off-loading more rudimentary interventions from the more skilled professional to the para-professionals.

I am aware that you (truth dancer) have a web site for your practice. It has been a while since I visited it (and lost the web address--perhaps you could post it again), so I am not sure what you have to offer online. But, I am wondering what you and others here think about the idea of expanding Family Services online?

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

I think it's a great idea! :)

Best of luck Wade. This seems like an excellent idea. I also like the idea of groups being offered at the local level.

I also like the idea of a group called something like The Walking Wounded who could openly discuss the difficulties they are having with a variety of issues relating to the Church and spirituality. Perhaps this could also be an on-line group.

[_truth dancer]

Hi Gaz...

Support groups for members who can't pray and get their act together. Do they all huddle up and watch Oprah and Dr. Phil together and massage each others shoulders and pass around a box of tissues?

With all due respect,

This attitude has caused more pain than you can possibly imagine. Do you know how many people have been harmed because they haven't received help due to their belief that prayer or "getting their act together" is going to solve the problem?

How many women have suffered from depression believing if they just pray enough all will be well...

Children who think prayer will stop their abuser...

Men who think prayer alone will remove their need for porn...

Families who think prayer alone will heal the wounds of violence...

I feel so strongly about this Gaz. I feel quite certain many of the brethren are aware that there are difficulties that need the help and care of a professional doctor or therapist.

The old belief that one goes to a bishop, gets advice, prays and goes to the temple and one is magically healed has not proven to be reality.

My understanding is that most (or many) bishops today will encourage members to get help (certainly not all but some I personally know).

I would really encourage you to rethink your position... find a place of care and empathy in your heart for those who suffer and need serious help.

~dancer~