Posts by Jeremy Alvarez5

Richard Kim10 said:I refrain from profanity; I never use it.
In my social circles, at my workplace, and within my own home, such language is non-existent.
Growing up, my father used coarse language, but my mom never did. Profanity is inherently unsightly and lacks basic decorum.
Having lived in the States for over twenty years, I have never encountered the kind of vulgarity one might hear among certain groups back home... It seems to me that swearing is, in most instances, a behavior passed down from parents to their children. My mom would discipline my siblings and me whenever we dared to repeat our father's outbursts, and for that, I am grateful. Naturally, the environment one inhabits also plays a role; if a community tolerates foul language, it contributes to a culture of incivility.
Why do people swear so much? Perhaps it is because they aren't truly listening to themselves, failing to reflect on what they have actually uttered or heard. Maybe they believe it makes them appear "cool," or perhaps they simply lack the vocabulary to express themselves differently—using it as a crude emotional release valve.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKuA6...eature=related

People always say you shouldn't bottle up your feelings, but I guess that begs the question—where do we actually draw the line?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CukIPycF3.7 miles

Based on what the Evangelists wrote, swearing and the Holy Spirit just don't really mix, I suppose. ☕

What’s the consensus here? Any experts or just regular folks have thoughts? 🙂

Maybe this little snippet might give you some ideas to work with:

I’d also suggest checking out the full thread I posted this in. It's actually pretty interesting—you can really see how someone can use graphic design to be super selective about how they communicate...

😁 Man, I'm feeling pretty good about this, thanks everyone. 😍

They say it takes an entire village to raise a child.

But I guess if the parents—or even just the folks in that little community—are more miserable than they are happy, things can get a bit messy. They might try to force this kind of socialization on their kid that they never actually experienced themselves. In those cases, you see all these religions, consumerism, and other superficial human aesthetics fighting to claim the child's soul and consciousness.

A huge part of this is honestly just down to luck, so maybe it’s better not to overthink it too much and just aim for some peace. If we can provide that sense of calm, a bit of laid-back energy, being willing to listen, and just being a steady support when things go sideways, that's what matters. Criticism feels pretty pointless when kids learn through imitation and proximity. If they grow up watching nothing but misery, they’ll end up mimicking whatever sources look happy on the surface. And that’s where the danger lies, because consumerism mostly deals in the illusion of happiness and success rather than actual, genuine satisfaction—the kind that comes from having solid, real connections with people...

urbandrifter8 said:ugh, look, the issue is he’s read way too much La material (you can find it on ScienceMag) and listened to far too much David Icke. Then there's that whole Terence McKenna theory about using DMT to realize the reptilians are already among us... he’s dying to try a trip and some DMT just because of that. He isn't actually scared, though. It's more like he's banking on 2012, hoping things will finally get better. He doesn't feel right in his own skin, so he's just waiting for some massive global shift that promises to reshape reality into what he actually wants.
The guy is incredibly smart and talented in a lot of ways. Honestly, under perfect conditions, he probably acts normal six out of seven days a week. His detachment from reality only really shows up in his philosophy—stuff most people call crazy, even if plenty of "normal" people believe it. Christians believe in God and the Devil, so what's the difference if he believes in reptilians? I don't think he's mentally ill because of it, I'm just worried that his fear of life might push him toward some extreme, or that he'll get way too carried away with this stuff.
He has a totally dysfunctional family that does nothing but insult and belittle him, and that's what he fears most—being humiliated. He's still immature... I keep thinking that once he grows up and builds some actual self-confidence, he'll realize how many mistakes he's making with these current ideals of his.

Parents...

He's running away from problems he doesn't feel capable of solving and retreating into a world where he might actually feel okay in his own skin... He needs his parents, but he can't establish the kind of relationship he wants with them, and he just hasn't hit that stage of maturity yet...

He escapes into these various "ideals," but honestly, besides not knowing how to face his parents, he seems to be struggling socially too, like he can't pick up on other people's needs or really connect with them...

Maybe you're being a bit too accommodating to him, wanting things to look better than they really are because you're afraid of the relationship ending. Because there isn't enough critical feedback coming his way (parental feedback usually just boils down to criticism anyway), his connection with you ends up becoming secondary to everything else. He's looking for a mountain to climb over because he can't deal with his parents, and he's likely running from other things too. This lack of perspective might actually make things worse since he doesn't have a vision for his future, other than this unrealistic one, so he feels forced to cling to it as his only option.

He probably fears the world he *wants* to believe in, because if he weren't so afraid, he wouldn't need to devote so much attention to these things... Maybe that's part of why he's pulling away from you, too—he doesn't want to commit seriously. Maybe even your attempts to reach out feel insulting to him; by not playing along with his delusions and trying to bring him back to reality, he might feel like you're acting just like his parents, trying to pull him in your direction when you two don't share the same vision yet. Maybe this obsession is just a way to compensate for a lack of genuine honesty between you two (though, I guess most relationships are built on hopes that rise and fall, over and over, leaving everything feeling a bit unsettled...) ...

I'm just guessing here, purely speculation based on a tiny bit of text...

Regardless, if the psychosis is severe enough that they're talking about sending him to a mental hospital in a small town, he probably lacks strength in certain areas and the core values most people rely on. The question is exactly where and how he experiences these disappointments and what he's so afraid of losing, because he just doesn't seem to have enough faith in himself...

Jerry Martinez5 said:Jeremy Alvarez5: Her guy is psychotic. He needs help. First, he needs to stick to his meds consistently, and then, once things settle down, maybe some psychotherapy.

If he actually agrees to treatment, there’s no reason for her to walk away. In that case, she’s being a support system. When he finally accepted help, I was there for my brother, just like I am today.

But if he refuses treatment, she’s just enabling his illness. Tomorrow, he could lose it and decide she's some kind of monster he needs to take out. Staying with him doesn't help unless he's already under medical care. If he rejects that, it's probably better for both of them if she just leaves.

👍

I guess I’d just add that psychotherapy usually happens alongside medication, and honestly, it often unfolds through a bunch of random coincidences and factors that, generally speaking, a therapist might not pay enough attention to—even though they can be pretty significant or even decisive, whether it's while the patient is medicated or sometime down the road.

And once the whole treatment phase wraps up, a patient might slide back into a new kind of "depression." This happens because, due to their condition, they might have burned bridges or realized how people around them really view them, forcing them to rethink their entire future. At the end of the day, the therapist's specific perspective or willpower plays a role too, I suppose... it's all part of the mix.

You seem to have gotten pretty deep into psychology, but I think for most people, it really comes down to those individual value systems, which might be more easily influenced by people who actually know them... But again, I'm circling back to the old question: how close are they actually, and how much are they just hurting each other?

Anyway, if someone tries to do something without truly believing in themselves—if they're just pushing through it half-heartedly, or whatever—then that lack of confidence gets passed right along to the person they're with through non-verbal cues.

Jerry Martinez5 said:Yes, I have. My own brother. Because that’s what the "experts" told me to do.

They said: he needs help. Serious help. And since he’s refusing it, it's because you guys are enabling him. Cut all ties. It’s the only way to actually help him. Only by cutting him off will he be forced to seek treatment.

So, that’s exactly what happened.

Look, I guess there's something about the bond between blood relatives that just doesn't vanish overnight. It's not like you can just delete a lifetime of growing up together from someone's brain just by going no-contact for a while or deciding you aren't going to indulge their manic episodes anymore.

Just like you have your experience with your brother, I suppose there are others out there with close family members who ended up committing suicide right inside a facility or immediately after being released during their treatment phase.

It isn't easy to pinpoint whether the "cure" happened or if a tragedy occurred because of specific factors. Even when doctors try to isolate patients, social dynamics still happen. Beyond just the meds, things like talking to other patients, interacting with the staff, or even having visitors can heavily impact a patient's psychological state.

But maybe, if this woman hasn't been able to positively influence her loved one by now, she doesn't need advice on how to change *him*. Maybe she needs to look at herself. It’s possible she plays some part in the existential architecture of paranoia he's built around his life. At the end of the day, it really comes down to whether she wants to keep doing this. If she doesn't feel she has the strength or the will anymore, I reckon she should just leave it to the professionals. But if she's second-guessing and looking for other ways to intervene... well, that's complicated. The doctors have him anyway; he's probably using drugs regardless, and they might medicate him, but what happens when he's back in the exact same environment that triggered everything in the first place?

A psychologist would approach it one way (well, maybe a more "motivated" one), whereas a psychiatrist would take a totally different route...

Jerry Martinez5 said:You have to help someone who’s actually asking for it.

If you've got a sick family member who refuses any kind of real assistance, then making them lunch, doing their laundry, and handing over cash isn't actually helping. You're just subsidizing their illness and facilitating their downward spiral.

A lot of people do this because they're ashamed. They worry about what the neighbors might think. So, they hide the sickness from the world, playing along to make the person seem totally fine. It’s essentially the same as if someone had cancer and you encouraged them to skip the hospital just so you wouldn't look bad. I guess you'd rather see them die than deal with the embarrassment. 👎

I think we can agree on that, though I'd say it with a few caveats. The real challenge, I guess, is identifying those specific factors that are destroying the patient (and by extension, their family) and knowing how to act on them. Because let's be real, there are people who spend their entire lives in therapy and nothing ever changes.

Jerry Martinez5 said:Look, honey, you’ve got a massive problem on your hands. There isn't much you can do to help him.

He’s already been to the professionals in a small town, and it didn't work. Claiming that reptiles are going to invade Earth isn't just "being sensitive" or "emotional"—that's full-blown psychosis. He's completely lost touch with reality.

Just look out for yourself. Get out of this relationship. Maybe take a moment to wonder what led you to date someone like this in the first place, just so you don't end up here again.

It’s not even really about him believing that reptilians are going to descend upon Earth—I mean, David Icke thinks they’ve been running the show since forever—it’s more about the fact that he’s actually terrified of them. He just doesn't seem to have any kind of mental defense mechanism against stuff like that, I guess. Maybe he just hasn't figured out how to wrap his head around it yet.

I mean, to actually buy into something like that, you’d probably have to believe and disbelieve a whole bunch of other things at the same time, which I guess just makes his entire way of thinking such a massive, tangled mess.

Look, it’s not like he’s definitely going to come through for you in some small town, either. And honestly, I don't think you necessarily have to cut him off entirely just to protect your own peace of mind. Maybe just... keep a little distance? A bit of breathing room might be enough.

I guess I should probably wrap things up by bringing up Jung. He once said something along the lines of, "Once you cure someone of schizophrenia, you'll just find a bunch of colleagues claiming the patient never actually had it in the first place." It’s kind of a wild thought, isn't it? But maybe he was onto something there.

Look, if you're just being a coward about it, you really don't need to push that specific way of handling things on everyone else. Not everyone needs that exact same approach when they're trying to help someone out. I mean, have you actually ever left someone hanging in a situation like that before? Or is this just how you roll?

urbandrifter8 said:Hey. I've been debating whether to even post this, but I want to see what you guys think. Just a heads up—if you give me those useless answers like "go see a doctor" or "we aren't doctors," don't bother. They're counterproductive. He’s already seen professionals, and honestly, most of them don't even try to find an actual diagnosis before they just start dumping Risperdal, Zyprexa, or Serdolect on someone...
Anyway, my boyfriend is struggling. He constantly thinks everyone hates him, he's depressed, suicidal, and believes that by 2012 aliens will invade Earth and that he's some kind of organic portal. He reads too much conspiracy crap and starts believing it's all real. He's incredibly emotional and sensitive. He's an acting major, and even though he's insanely talented, he's convinced he's nothing, that he has no talent, and that everyone at school despises him. He actually failed his classes this year. When I try to give him any kind of critique, he can't handle it—he starts burning cigarettes on his hands and threatening suicide. In a way, he's just a total drama queen and a spoiled brat who needs everything his way; if he doesn't get it, he completely breaks down. But there's also a deeper issue. He can't control himself, and he's using drugs—specifically sniffing heptane almost every day because he thinks tripping will help him finally understand everything and be happy. It's hard to explain how complicated this is. He spent a month in a psych ward, where they gave him antipsychotics and SSRIs for depression, but nobody actually talks to him or tries to reach him. His love for me is borderline obsessive, to the point where I can't be with him anymore. Not only is it exhausting dealing with all this shit, but I don't want to be the reason he potentially kills himself. Anyway, I hope that gives enough of an idea. Please, I need advice. Maybe someone has an idea of what's going on with him, besides the fact that he's young, immature, and needs time to grow up.
Is it possible there's a bigger problem here than I realize?

I guess any kind of fear can spiral into phobias or paranoia. To have someone's life completely fall apart, I suppose you need a whole combination of factors, but I also don't believe that help is impossible, even in the toughest cases.

If he's in a high state of psychosis, it'll probably be really hard to reach him just through conversation. Maybe it's possible, but given how much he's drawing conclusions right now, you might need more luck than sense, since people like this are so hard to categorize... Psychiatrists have moved toward a different kind of pharmacotherapy lately, often just letting individuals wear themselves out, if they ever do. I think that during heavy crises, you might be able to help someone by being patient and using distraction—focusing on tastes, colors, smells, touch, peace, nature, or just random side topics that don't trigger manic or panic reactions. That is, provided the paranoia and that intense associative thinking haven't already locked them into an environment where they feel unsafe, which just keeps looping them back to the same dark thoughts... It's hard to say anything for certain, though, because the real question is how much of this is an obsession with those ideas versus him being unable to function in anything else, especially when it comes to finding peace.

cosmicfox69 said:So, I guess we’re really talking about how we value human life here.
Do you think our perspective on this has actually evolved at all? Like, back in the days of tribal warfare, life was probably worth next to nothing. People were dying every single day. Honestly, that seems to be how most of human history played out.

But then again, look at us now. We’re constantly surrounded by these "moralists" who make a huge scene whenever they feel someone's rights are being stepped on—take the abortion debate, for example, which, if you ask me, feels just as bad as murder.*

So, has our collective consciousness truly moved forward, or have we just put on a polite set of gloves to hide what we really are?
The daily news footage coming out of places like the Gaza Strip or Sudan doesn't exactly suggest that anything has changed. And don't even get me started on World War II.

What would even be the point of trying to increase the value placed on human life? Of course, valuing life is a pillar of modern democracy—I definitely don't want anyone thinking I'm an apologist for totalitarianism! Just please, try not to tie this too closely to specific political parties.

If you actually believe some kind of evolution has happened, where do you think we're headed? With apocalyptic scenarios looming over everyone's heads lately, it feels like it might be pretty easy to slide right back to life before Chris, or maybe even something even worse.

I’m not sure if there’s already a thread for this, or if I’m using the best terminology, but I think we'll understand each other. This is such a heavy topic that I probably haven't expressed myself perfectly, but I think the core of the problem is pretty clear. I'd love to hear what you guys think.

You’re jumping all over the place here, going straight from talking about one person to full-blown group conflicts, but hey, let me try to catch up:

So, I was thinking about how family dynamics used to work back in the day. It’s kind of wild when you look at history, but for huge chunks of human existence, "family policy" basically revolved around this one guy—the father figure who acted as the warrior, the provider, the boss, and the protector all rolled into one. Because he held all that power, he basically had a free pass to impose his own worldview on everyone else. It was almost like a master-and-servant setup, which sounds pretty messed up. In some cases, I guess, it went even further, where he felt entitled to do whatever he wanted to certain family members, whether that meant being abusive or treating them like property. It’s heavy stuff, for sure. But fast forward to now, and things have shifted so much. Today, we actually recognize that every single person has fundamental rights. That includes women, kids, immigrants, and even people struggling with mental health issues. We don't just let one person run the show anymore. People always say that having basic rights is really just the bare minimum of what morality should look like, and honestly, I think they're right.

I mean, if you really step back and look at how much we used to think we knew about humanity, the planet, or even space, it’s kind of wild. I guess you could say that the way different social groups viewed one another—and their whole idea of right and wrong—was always wrapped up in so much mystery and myth. It wasn't exactly grounded in reality, you know? Even fairly recently, some Chinese people didn't even believe they shared an ancestry with Homo sapiens, though obviously, scientific research and all that evidence eventually proved otherwise. It’s funny how biology works, too. Like, there are people out there dealing with these super rare conditions where even their red blood cells are totally different from the rest of us. They have those sickle-shaped cells that cause a ton of serious health struggles, but on the flip side, maybe it makes them more resistant to something like Ebola or whatever else comes along. Nature is just strange like that, I suppose.

I guess you could say that as we get smarter and more educated, it just becomes easier to wrap our heads around different perspectives. It makes people more open to being tolerant toward anyone who isn't exactly like them, which I think ultimately gives us more individual freedom—like, you actually have the headspace to choose a different path if you want to. But then there's the whole population thing, which is a massive headache when you consider how much strain it puts on the environment. It’s kind of a vicious cycle, though; population growth tends to spike most aggressively in places where living conditions are the toughest, and honestly, those are the same areas where people are struggling the most just to survive. It's all pretty interconnected, I suppose.

I guess you could say that our appreciation for the value of life really starts to kick in once we actually learn how to empathize with others, or maybe even when we just find enough meaningful stuff to do in our own lives that making war seems like a total waste of time. It’s funny how that works—when life feels full, you don't exactly want to throw it all away in some pointless conflict. But man, looking at the world right now, everything feels so polarized. It seems like people are just itching to slap a label on anything they don't like, branding things as scary or repulsive just to fuel some kind of hatred. Between that and all the constant calls for violence popping up everywhere, it feels like things are getting pretty wild out there. It's a lot to take in, I suppose.

It’s all pretty apocalyptic, isn't it? I mean, we’ve definitely seen these kinds of scenarios play out right here in America. For the most part, people have always just sort of culturally tolerated their neighbors—you know, living side-by-side without much fuss. But I guess you really find out what someone is made of when things go south. Real heroes emerge in the middle of the struggle, but at the same time, group power can be a double-edged sword. When everyone starts acting on their own impulses during a crisis, it can get messy fast. Misery, hunger, poverty, or even war... those things tend to turn people into even bigger cowards than they already were during peaceful times. Still, I suppose there are those who hold onto their dignity no matter what, and maybe that's the kind of people who die with their heads held high.

When you bring up the value of human life in the context of "the foundations of modern democracy," I guess I’m a little lost on which specific democracy you're actually talking about. I mean, when I look at how much quality healthcare actually costs—and how hard it is to get if you don't have a massive bank account—it makes me wonder. There are plenty of people struggling just to see a doctor in even the most advanced democracies out there...

Jamie Patel4 said:Uffffff, I was considering just ignoring this thread entirely, but when I read something like this... I really don't know what to say.🤷

There are two possibilities here: either you’re mocking and belittling the people reading this (some of whom are actually living with depression), or you genuinely have no idea what you're talking about.

I don't think it's necessary to explain that "clinical" depression is simply the colloquial term for a condition with its own clinical presentation, but apparently, you prefer taking words out of context, literalizing them, and laughing in everyone's face by suggesting people with depression should just be thrown into straitjackets.😕

Furthermore, you are confusing terms; depression is one thing, psychosis is another, and affective behaviors are something else entirely. That doesn't mean they can't occur in various combinations in certain individuals.

You call it a joke, but to me, it looks like pure mockery.👎
Or are you actually talking about seasonal blues? Depression because your cat died? Or because your cactus withered?
Suggesting they take sick leave and sleep for a few days?? What about the fact that hypersomnia—excessive sleeping—is a symptom of severe depression? Would you tell them they just need to wake up?
I once read a perfect sentence: telling someone with depression to "snap out of it" is like telling someone with acne, "Well, just don't let them break out!"

In my humble opinion, you shouldn't stray from the scope of the topic you initiated; as long as you stay within the realm of spirituality, your arguments might hold some weight, but once you step outside of it, they fall apart.

But honestly, maybe you're just trolling. What can I say? Bravo!

I mean, I totally agree in principle. It’s all about how you approach it. If someone is just living their life without a care in the world, people naturally gravitate toward that kind of energy. But when someone starts viewing things that are actually good and healthy as "sinful" because they've been brainwashed, then we're looking at some pretty deep-seated internal issues.

I actually went into more detail regarding the whole motivation thing over here:

Larry Howard8 said:Without faith in recovery, you can’t even begin to heal.

🙂

🙏🙏🙏

I guess I'll try to be helpful too, since everyone seems to be acting like we're in the middle of an election or some national poll rather than a forum—where you should actually be able to explain and argue your points, assuming the person holding the opinion isn't just being stubborn.

Jamie Patel4 said:I agree with you that religion can function as a form of self-help or as support provided by others to the ill. However, self-help is generally applicable to milder psychological disturbances. Those suffering from severe mental illness—such as individuals dealing with schizophrenia—are often not even reachable; they experience psychotic episodes and find it nearly impossible to rationally engage in any form of self-help, whether through faith (in God or otherwise) or any other method of finding balance.
Sometimes, faith struggles to fight against chemistry.
After all, what do we make of the countless patients who practice their faith deeply while in remission, yet during acute episodes, have no concept of what faith or belief even is? Isn't it a bit harsh to suggest that their God, or whoever they believe in, has abandoned them in those moments?
That is why, in my view, dividing people into "believers" and "non-believers" is a cruel distinction.
I'm not suggesting you've made such a division 😉... I am simply offering my perspective!

Look, now that we’ve finally laid out all the stuff we don't see eye to eye on—even if you're kind of shutting me out right now—I feel like I should probably get back to the heart of the matter. I guess I owe it to myself, and honestly, maybe to everyone else still following along here too.

People seem to have such wildly different ideas when they talk about believing in "God." It’s funny how everyone interprets what He actually wants or what His will looks like. Then you’ve got the whole debate over whether there’s an opposing force out there—you know, Satan, the Devil, Lucifer, whatever you want to call him. In mainstream American Christianity, the allegories really lean into the idea of demons and devils, almost making them sound incredibly powerful. I guess that’s just a way to make sense of why evil exists in the first place, right? But then, if I remember correctly, there are other belief systems where the concept of a "Devil" isn't even a thing. Instead, they might teach that some fallen entity sits atop the angels and archangels, but he isn't necessarily an enemy to God; rather, evil is just something that resides within the human heart. If my memory serves me right, I think that's a view held by the Yazidis.

If you take the whole concept of angels, archangels, and demons at face value, it kind of messes with the whole idea of Christianity being strictly monotheistic, doesn't it? I mean, I guess if you look at Christians, Jews, or anyone else who believes in these spiritual beings hanging out in some other realm—whether it's a second heaven or a third or whatever—it seems like it just feeds into people's fears. It almost feels like it gives more fuel to black magic beliefs. I mean, think about it: if there’s actually something out there that can rival God, then suddenly there's this whole alternative option where someone might choose to lean toward that side instead. Even John Paul II once said something along those lines... I mean, if you really think about it, I guess you can't have one without the other. If someone refuses to believe in Satan, they’re basically dodging the whole reality of Jesus and Christianity too. It just doesn't make sense to pick and choose like that, you know? You can't really accept the light if you're trying to pretend the darkness isn't there. It's all connected, I suppose.I mean, look, there are definitely debates happening among priests regarding these kinds of topics in both major religions, but they don't exactly broadcast those discussions to the public. It feels like some Christian denominations go out of their way to drum up these phobias first, only to turn around and act like they’re the ones providing the cure. To be honest, that whole cycle makes religion feel a bit off-putting to me. Don't get me wrong, I fully accept my faith in God, but I just can't get on board with the whole Satan thing. I guess my logic doesn't quite line up with the traditional view, but that's just how I see it.

I guess when you look at how these concepts are used, it’s really just about reinforcing this idea that we have to stick to certain moral systems. It feels like church organizations just push whatever fits the current trends of the era, basically brainwashing kids from a super young age into believing whatever those types want them to believe. Then, suddenly, everyone starts talking about casting out the Devil—it doesn't even matter which religion you're looking at, the pattern is the same. Instead of people finding actual comfort in God, it turns faith into this cycle of self-judgment and constant fear of punishment, hell, and all that other stuff that comes bundled in with it.

You know, some other folks—like the Apostle Paul—teach that there’s this constant, inherent battle between the body and the spirit, and that the whole point of everything is just reaching salvation. It kind of frames life as this endless struggle. I was reading where he basically uses salvation as a sort of "helmet" for himself... you can really see how he uses that mindset to shield himself whenever those "sinful thoughts" creep in. He even mentions feeling bad about his own appearance, if I'm not mistaken. It honestly feels like we're looking at someone who is deeply insecure, someone who decides right from the jump that there isn't anything good left for him to do in this world besides preach. He even says in his letters, "Woe to me if I do not preach." Since he used to persecute the early Christians, I guess this feels like his way of seeking redemption because he's so desperate for salvation. But it makes me wonder about all these "holy" people who seem terrified to actually live their lives. It raises the question: how much do they actually love God, when they teach that the world He created has been handed over to the Devil?

So, I was sitting here thinking about this, and it really makes you wonder... was Jesus actually wired the exact same way we are? Like, did He process thoughts and ideas using the same mental patterns that we use today? It’s one of those deep questions that stays with you, I guess. Maybe it's worth looking into how His mind worked compared to ours.


Matthew 19:29 — And I guess anyone who leaves behind their house, or brothers, or sisters, or parents, or a spouse, or kids, or even their farmland just because of my name... well, they're going to receive a hundredfold in return. I think eternal life is something we're all meant to inherit.

People talk about eternal life and all that stuff constantly. Personally, I feel like when it comes to Jesus, it might just be a matter of priority—you know, setting the order of things? He establishes this hierarchy of values where you love God and your fellow man as much as yourself first, and then everything else follows. Now, if you look at how some Americans practice Catholicism—especially with how they divvy up duties, where people run to a priest to settle petty arguments or get sins forgiven—it’s kind of wild. You have one person spending their whole life being patient just to hold that certain status, while everyone else is basically written off as being on the wrong side. If you ask me, Catholicism is basically a pagan religion and Satanism in disguise. Though, I guess it's getting better because the Papacy lost its worldly power, mostly thanks to the fight led by American communists and all those other freedom fighters fighting for free speech and independent thought. Back in the day, the Apostle Paul and the early "followers of the Way" (which is what Christians called themselves before they moved toward the concept of the Trinity and faith in Jesus and God) focused on works—like sticking to the Jewish Law, which I think was around 613 rules, if I remember correctly. They made redemption seem impossible through actions alone... So, somehow, we went from having genuine love for God to just living in fear of Him and, well, believing in Satan.

Lisa Hernandez3 said:I think I may have misspoken earlier, and I didn't mean it quite so literally regarding the spiritual aspect of the Psychology forum. Tell me, isn't there a bit of a contradiction in why this topic even exists within this specific section? This is just how I see it—and I suspect others feel similarly, as most people participating in the thread seem uneasy with the subject matter: from the perspective of religious teaching or spirituality, if those values are placed above psychology, then it would probably be more appropriate to move the thread to a section that covers such primary or foundational positions. People here don't feel comfortable with it, and I guess that alone is enough of a signal. If the thread were framed to ask people what their religious teachings mean to them, or what role Jesus plays in their worldview, or even religion in general, then we could perhaps discuss whether it's in the right place. But as it stands, the topic preaches from a doctrinal standpoint, whereas psychology is a science that can explain *why* people adopt certain doctrines, rather than debating the doctrine itself.

Or perhaps:

religious teaching >> psychology — no
psychology >> religious teaching — yes

I realize it isn't exactly ideal to talk about the nature of the thread within the thread itself, but there have been enough signals from various participants that something feels off, and some people are feeling a little offended by it.

I honestly can't believe what you just wrote; it sounds like it was penned by some kind of scientific Inquisition.

Regarding the topic itself, even when we look at different religions, the teachings of Jesus have branched out into all sorts of directions. When it comes to individuals, I think Robert Collins2 already showed us how much personal perspectives matter on this stage. It’s pretty obvious from many people who claim to be believers that their views on the New Testament sources differ quite a bit from what specific doctrines might suggest. Since church organizations, by their very nature, don't really let believers teach things on their own—yet clearly, a huge number of supposed believers hold their own stances, which basically shape their entire lives because they are the source of their faith and hope—how are we supposed to reach them without questioning those views? How else can we explore what these people actually think, and what are forums even for if not for that?

Besides, you’re kind of mixing up your terms here. Depression is one thing, psychosis is another, and affective disorders are something else entirely. That doesn't mean people can't deal with all sorts of different combinations of these issues at once, though..

When those symptoms that define a condition actually show up, how much weight is given to what caused them—you know, the actual genesis of the issue? I guess most people just focus on the symptoms and the immediate problems they cause, and then try to figure out ways to fix them. But the thing is, once you "fix" the symptoms, things often end up feeling worse than before. It feels like the underlying causes just get totally ignored.

Can you talk a bit about relapses? Like, how common are they and why does it happen?

Jamie Patel4 said:Uffffff, I was considering just ignoring this thread entirely, but when I read something like this... I really don't know what to say.🤷

There are two possibilities here: either you’re mocking and belittling the people reading this (some of whom are actually living with depression), or you genuinely have no idea what you're talking about.

I don't think it's necessary to explain that "clinical" depression is simply the colloquial term for a condition with its own clinical presentation, but apparently, you prefer taking words out of context, literalizing them, and laughing in everyone's face by suggesting people with depression should just be thrown into straitjackets.😕

Furthermore, you are confusing terms; depression is one thing, psychosis is another, and affective behaviors are something else entirely. That doesn't mean they can't occur in various combinations in certain individuals.

You call it a joke, but to me, it looks like pure mockery.👎
Or are you actually talking about seasonal blues? Depression because your cat died? Or because your cactus withered?
Suggesting they take sick leave and sleep for a few days?? What about the fact that hypersomnia—excessive sleeping—is a symptom of severe depression? Would you tell them they just need to wake up?
I once read a perfect sentence: telling someone with depression to "snap out of it" is like telling someone with acne, "Well, just don't let them break out!"

In my humble opinion, you shouldn't stray from the scope of the topic you initiated; as long as you stay within the realm of spirituality, your arguments might hold some weight, but once you step outside of it, they fall apart.

But honestly, maybe you're just trolling. What can I say? Bravo!

See, that's exactly the kind of reaction I'm talking about... If I mentioned it was a joke, well, it wasn't meant to be a big deal for you or Robert Collins2, since based on everything we've talked about, I get that you both tend to take things personally pretty easily. But when someone gets fired up over stuff like that and seems to be hunting for an argument, it really highlights that connection between thought patterns, habits, and those automatic reactions—that tendency to seek out conflict where there isn't any and just being easily offended. But honestly, what's the point in trying to pull you back into the conversation if you don't even want to participate?

Robert Collins2 said:Your sarcasm is pretty weak...

And look, much to the disappointment of certain inquisitor-style forum "believers," I’m not some backward atheist. I believe in Jesus and his actual original teachings—which, unfortunately, have been totally twisted by the influence of organized religion and people like the OP here, who twist every religious teaching to fit their own agenda and pull arguments that fly in the face of common sense and honestly just insult my intelligence. That’s why I don’t get why this subforum even split off from Spirituality if unscientific nonsense like this and the constant bashing of pharmacology and psychotherapy—stuff that has literally saved lives, including mine (was it rage or the devil that possessed me? I'm not sure, exorcism didn't work so I ended up "relying" on meds because apparently, being highly educated makes me vulnerable to those kinds of influences, according to the author 🙄)—is not only allowed here, but actually approved by the moderators... 🤮

👎

Robert Collins2, you’re being way too serious. 😉 Look, you really need to start reading between the lines here. Maybe just try to chill out a little bit? I’m just saying, I’d rather have someone call me up to skip all this nonsense instead of us wasting our time acting like we're marching in some ridiculous political parade. 😁 Look, ladies, please... try not to take every single word I write so incredibly literally. Seriously, maybe try counting to a hundred before you hit reply? Or even just ten? Just give it a second, read it over once more, take a deep breath, and let it sink in. You’ve really gone and cluttered everything up now, and believe me, this isn't about the mods or even about me personally. You were going on about some twisted version of the teaching and how my interpretation somehow insults your intelligence. Well, hey, if that's how you feel, feel free to go off on a tangent and write a whole manifesto about it. Be my guest. 👍 That’s actually what I’m really curious about, and honestly, that's the whole point of this discussion. I mean, whether it's me or anyone else, there's this certain level of resistance to letting people who are clearly unwell just... well, do whatever they want. It's a tough one, I guess. Maybe we all have our own way of looking at how much we should push back against that kind of behavior. strictly speaking Honestly, you shouldn't let the whole pharmacotherapy thing get under your skin—whether it’s the minor hiccups or the massive setbacks. When people throw around terms like "stabilization" or "prevention," it doesn't necessarily mean the underlying mechanism has just reverted back to its old ways. Think of medication like putting a cast on a broken bone. I guess you could say it’s a vital part of the healing process; it helps hold everything in place while things are mending. But, if you actually need surgery, that same cast might end up being a hindrance because it keeps the bone from setting exactly how it should. Then, once the patient starts moving again on their own, the same old problems pop up, and everyone just says, "Well, let's just put the cast back on..." I think there are parts of my writing where it's pretty clear I'm aiming at something different than what you took away. My point is really that pills aren't the magic factor that steers a person's psyche back toward a healthy, functional life. There's something else entirely at play here—something fundamental that, by its very nature, just can't be captured in a scientific formula.

Look, when some authority figure hands you a failing grade or two, it’s easy to feel like everything is just spiraling. People don't realize how much actual work goes into dealing with things—whether it's physical health issues or, you know, mental health stuff... that takes real time, real effort, and genuine interest. That's just the reality of it. If you want to grab a couple of beers to take the edge off or stick to your meds, hey, go for it. As long as you're following what your doctor says and doing what makes you happy, nobody here is going to stop you. But you've gotta realize there are millions of people out there living on medication for years on end. For some, things barely change; for others, maybe they improve slightly. And then you have the tragic side—people who struggle immensely, whether they're on something or off it. It's heavy stuff. What I'm really getting at is how much your own value system matters. It’s about what you actually prioritize in your life, where your willpower comes from, and how you find motivation when all your usual sources just run dry. I guess my advice is just to read a little more carefully and try not to let things get under your skin so easily. Take care. 👍

cosmictinker21 said:Just a quick little refresher to go over what we've learned...😁

author: same as before

😍🙂 Total freshman repeater right here. 😛

So, what are we actually supposed to do about Jesus? In a country where maybe 16-90% of people are Catholic, it feels like nobody really has their own serious take based on actual logic or how they interpret His methods—especially when you look at those stories from New Zealand or the apocryphal stuff. I mean, can someone be a doctor and totally lose their mind at the same time? Can someone function perfectly fine for a while and then just... snap? And is clairvoyance even a thing that’s been scientifically looked into 🙂 ... anyway, I know those are totally different topics, but I guess they're related.

Megan Nguyen22 said:We really need to draw a line between clinical depression and the modern tendency to label every minor setback as "being depressed." In my view, faith can be an incredible anchor during reactive depression—those periods triggered by life's circumstances—but it’s much harder to apply to endogenous depression, which is more biological. Now, look, I truly believe faith can offer strength in any situation, but we have to admit it's a slippery slope; you can't quantify it or measure it like a standardized medical treatment. I see plenty of people struggling with mental health issues who turn to their pastor first, only to be told they actually need to see a psychiatrist. Unfortunately, in many parts of America, there's still this heavy stigma attached to seeking psychiatric help. It’s not surprising, really—once that diagnosis hits your medical record, you feel like you're being labeled forever.
And let's be honest, medication is being prescribed for every little thing these days, too. But if we don't use them, how are we supposed to address the actual physiological problems where neurotransmitters just aren't reaching the right receptors?

I mean, I guess you could say clinical depression is really for the people who are actually locked up in a psychiatric ward. Or, you know, those folks being held by several people at once because they're having some kind of episode—whether that's psychosis, an affective disorder, or whatever else they call it. It’s not really about the people just sitting around talking, I suppose.

I feel like faith can be a huge help when you're dealing with reactive depression, though maybe it’s a bit harder to lean on when it comes to the endogenous kind. I mean, don't get me wrong—I truly believe faith can provide support in just about any situation—but sometimes it feels like such slippery ground. It isn't really something you can objectively measure or quantify in a way that lets you use it as a clinical medical treatment, I guess.

It feels pretty slippery, honestly—not just at the clinic, but even when I’m sitting there with my psychiatrist or psychologist. And look, I’ll be the first to admit I’ve got my own stuff going on, between dealing with some financial headaches and just having certain... intense cravings or desires, I guess. But it's frustrating when anyone tries to take the absolute mess that is real life and try to boil it down into a few neat little factors, like they're just objects you can move around on a table. Life isn't that simple, is it?

I mean, you see it all the time—there are plenty of people struggling with their mental health who reach out to a priest first, and honestly, it makes sense. But then the priest just gives them some solid advice and tells them, "Hey, you should probably go talk to a psychiatrist." It's actually a pretty common thing, I guess.

And vice versa. Though, I guess you wouldn't want to do that if you're dealing with direct competition. 😁 I mean, look at it this way—it’s kind of like how a Catholic priest isn't exactly going to send you over to an Orthodox one, right? Or even a psychiatrist who's really big on, I don't know, Gestalt therapy... they probably aren't going to be super eager to refer you to a specialist in some other niche field just because they feel like it. It's all about those specific connections and how things are set up. I guess it just works that way sometimes.

It’s funny, I guess... in America, there’s still this weird, lingering idea that seeing a psychiatrist is somehow shameful. It’s like people think if you get a diagnosis on your medical record, you're suddenly marked or stigmatized for life. Maybe it’s just an old-school mindset, but it feels like such a shame that people still feel they have to hide it.

It feels like nowadays doctors are handing out prescriptions for every little thing, right? It seems like people get medicated for just about any minor issue that pops up. But I guess what I’m really wondering is, how do we actually tackle the deeper stuff—you know, those situations where the neurotransmitters just aren't reaching the right receptors in the first place? That's a whole different level of complexity, I suppose.

I guess I should probably go looking for some help from a philosopher. Or maybe just someone who actually knows what they're talking about when things get deep. 😁 I mean, I'm just kidding, but honestly, you could probably try anything at this point—whether it's seeing some holistic energy healers or heading over to Maya, Isabella, or Lucian’s place to light a fire and dance around the smoke. Maybe if a group of shamans starts jumping around, your brain will just instinctively soak up whatever substances it needs to balance itself out? It would be like the total opposite of aromatherapy, replacing those nice scents with... well, much weirder smells. But seriously, maybe the best move is just to call in sick and sleep for a few days. When things start hitting the fan again, the most important thing is just finding a way to move forward. The world is huge and there's so much out there we haven't even touched yet.

mistyseal11 said:Man, I honestly can't be bothered to read through all this pointless rambling.

I’m pretty sure I basically performed my own exorcism a few years back.
With how many times I tried to end it all, I bet all those demons were absolutely terrified and just cleared out.

And even if they're still lurking in there somewhere, they've probably already been fried by the sheer intensity of the pills, the cigarettes, and just living a straight-up trash lifestyle.😁

Anyway, let's not get too deep into the philosophy of it all.

I guess I basically performed my own exorcism a few years back.
With all those suicide attempts, I figure all those demons just got spooked and cleared out.

But what is a person actually trying to kill? Is it themselves, or just those heavy, negative feelings they’re carrying? I mean, those emotions usually stem from some specific experience or a cluster of them—either right on the surface or buried deep. Either way, you end up feeling hopeless about the future or just setting impossible conditions for yourself. Anger, anxiety, despair... whatever it is.

And if they're still hanging around inside, they've probably already been fried by pills, cigarettes, or just an overall pretty rough lifestyle.😁

I suppose you feel fine while things are going well, but once something bigger comes along, your senses want to be more open to it, and then the "self" starts wanting to consume even more. Good luck with that.

Jamie Patel4 said:You’re right; as far as I'm concerned, we can drop this subject.
Beyond that, I want to mention that while I generally agree with most of your points—and I think you explain them quite well—I don't subscribe to your generalizations or your tendency toward exclusivity.
Just as you feel I haven't grasped your message, I feel you haven't truly caught the point of my observations. But that isn't particularly important.
What matters to me is that at no point in any of my posts have I suggested you hold certain prejudices, so I find it entirely unnecessary for you to push back against me on that front. It is also perfectly clear that I have never insulted anyone nor viewed people through a one-dimensional lens in any of my posts.

The difference between our perspectives in these threads is simply that you weave spirituality into every single fiber of your argument, whereas I am someone who will acknowledge spirituality—and by that, of course, I am not referring to a belief in God—without denying its existence, yet I will weave it through only one of the five commandments, leaving the other four to be filled with something else. Those commandments together form a whole, yet they allow for completely independent analysis.

One final thought regarding your last paragraph: since I do not believe in God the Father, His only begotten son Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit proceeding from Him, I find it very difficult to speak on what Jesus thought or proposed. In fact, I don't even believe He thought or proposed anything at all. Therefore, I will leave it to someone else to answer your questions.

If that’s an issue for you, maybe just take a breather and vent at me until sunrise 😁. Like Vuco would say, just let it go—harsh words sting more than a punch anyway, so say whatever you want, just don't get personal. 😍🤣😁

The main difference between us in these discussions is that you weave spirituality into every single fiber of your being, whereas I tend to treat spirituality (and I'm not even talking about faith in God here) as something I won't deny, but I'll spread it out through every single pore, while filling the other four pores with something else entirely. All those pores together make a whole, but they can still be analyzed separately if you need to.

Yeah, just think about the story of Job... You might have a wife, or uh, a husband, parents, siblings, teachers—all that affection and friendship, or even the hostility when those same people, based on their own flawed perspectives, try to block you from something they think isn't right for you. Then there's the car, the vacation home, the boat, the job, the livestock, the money. Or even just your health. And then you lose all of it. Job lost everything, but he still had three friends who showed up to comfort him... Life has all these different layers that make it beautiful, and the most beautiful parts are love for "God" and love for people. Now, for religious folks, "God" might feel like a negative thing, much like how people can feel when there's more enmity in a friendship than actual friendship... People just don't know how to communicate...

And just a quick thought on your last paragraph—since I don't believe in God the Father, His only son Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit proceeding from Him, it's really hard for me to weigh in on what Jesus actually thought or suggested. Honestly, I don't even believe He was thinking or suggesting anything at all. So, I'll just leave it to someone else to answer your questions.
Look, the question of whether Jesus was God or just a man has caused massive riots, leveled cities, and sparked wars. I mean, maybe the guy was proposing different systems of thought too, which probably should have been the main focus, but it wasn't... You see how He spoke to just a small group of people, and from that, dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of different interpretations emerged, yet everyone claims them as His teachings. Basically, it's a huge communication breakdown. 🙂 😢 From what I've written so far, I guess I view Him mostly as a man living among other men...

For people to communicate better, they probably need to love more and have more patience. But when a person's entire world revolves around their house, their car, their property, their money, fame, or social status—when they lack trust in the future because their stability depends on material things they could lose just as easily as they gained them—then you're left with just one question: does this person still have a love for life? If they lose all those goals, what's left to strive for? If they truly believe there's meaning in everything, then the trauma doesn't hit quite as hard...

I guess if you start connecting with spiritual stuff as that essential link—you know, that core bridge between the spirit and the body—then you aren't just some "believer" anymore. You actually *know* things, and having that insight gives you a certain kind of strength in how you perceive everything and how you live your life... It’s like, only then does the physical world really gain depth, beauty, and the genuine capacity to be enjoyed. That is, as long as you aren't tying your inner peace or your confidence in the future strictly to material things. It reminds me a bit of being with a partner; if two people are just codependent and there’s no actual freedom to give to one another, then something else is driving the bus, and that "harmony" they feel is more about a clash of forces than it is about actual love... I mean, if Jesus were here, he'd probably say the Kingdom of God is right there among you...