GABRIELA OSORIO VILLASEÑOR PSY. D. WWW.PSICOTERAPIACATOLICA.COM 9 The benefits of Catholic psychotherapy Faith is undoubtedly a great ally in people's emotional stability, giving transcendent and loving meaning to human existence, moral integrity and righteousness, strength in the face of life's painful experiences, and hope of the endless joy of heaven. Ours is a post-Christian society in which new forms of idolatry such as power, pleasure, physical beauty and appearance, possession and consumption, have totally replaced God and the sacraments. The trend away from religious practices is undeniable...the disastrous results, however, in terms of mental health are there for all to see. Yet making a mere utilitarian argument, having faith benefits everyone. There are several scientific studies showing irrefutable benefits in people who believe in God. Those who are religious live healthier lives, free of excesses and perversions that inevitably lead to sin and unhappiness; they open themselves to their neighbors with love, hope and optimism, gratitude and compassion; they tend to surround themselves with strong people and social relationships in a more communal setting (e.g., parish); they engage in volunteer work that generates cascading benefits (especially in the giver). Most importantly, they are more inclined to forgiveness, by far the most healing and "revolutionary" (though difficult) practice there is. Believers intensely love man and creation, and they know they are immensely loved because their God died on the cross for them. It has been proven in PNEI (the science of Psycho Neuro Endocrine Immunology) that people who strongly believe in God have a stronger immune system because they develop norepinephrine and endorphins, get sick less, live better and longer: a rigorous Ohio University study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science5 showed, for example, that believers live an average of 5-6 years longer than atheists. Terminal patients also benefit from faith and strong introspective practices, as Dr. Simonton's Psychooncology has also well demonstrated. Man is not a machine as official medicine still mistakenly believes, but an "embodied spirit," and it is absurd to think that emotions, faith in God and mental attitudes (positive or negative) do not influence the physical body, in the occurrence and remission of illnesses; it is absurd to think that mental problems do not inevitably reverberate into physical problems and vice versa. Rates of suicide, depression and anxiety decrease dramatically in believers and are instead well spread among atheists. While experiencing emotions (such as sadness and fear) intensely, believers are not slaves to them. A true believer is unlikely ever to be depressed because they have a great mission to fulfill that gives their life (seen as the antechamber to heaven) a higher, transcendent purpose. They are also in general more accustomed to sacrifice and commitment, tempered by practices such as fasting, praying the rosary, novenas, sacramental life, strenuous pilgrimages and consecrations (such as St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort's to Jesus for Mary), which fortify the body, spirit and will.
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