Representatives of Orthodoxy have always believed that depression is one of the mortal sins of man. They call it despondency and have been accumulating remedies for it for centuries. Therefore, in tradition there are many icons and prayers that are directed against despondency, sadness and despair. Even though a sin is mortal, this does not mean that it cannot be forgiven. On the contrary, if the patient himself believes that he has done something terrible, everything is bad with him and there will never be forgiveness, then he is playing in favor of the demons, who inspire such thoughts.

Prayer can help you overcome depression

Only for believers

Forgiveness comes, which means - prayer for depression has a positive effect if the reader believes in God the Father and Jesus Christ, is baptized, has received communion in church, has confessed and reads it with his soul. Then prayer gains power. If you read it without this, then nothing bad will happen. Nothing will just happen at all. When prayer has become smart, it transforms the believer. The Jesus Prayer is no less powerful than special prayers. The simpler it is, the easier it is to remember and pronounce, the more grace the prayer will create.

How does Orthodoxy explain depression? It is believed that a person suffers from it because of pride, which arises when he forgets about God. It leads to the emergence of passions and the creation becomes clouded.

When prayer begins out of despondency and depression, a person turns his mind towards God and thus becomes closer to grace. Ultimate healing depends only on God.

Not like in official medicine

This is the complete opposite of the approach of official psychology. Even if we forget about who performs the healing from the point of view of the Orthodox, then the reasons themselves are different. In modern pathopsychology, several varieties and degrees of severity are distinguished. Doctors are well aware of the existence of depression, which comes from within the mind and has no visible or understandable causes. However, treatment is mostly symptomatic.

Medications alone cannot cure depression.

Antidepressants affect the brain and nervous system in such a way that vigor and optimism appear, and positive assessments arise. Only extremely rarely does a state without sadness and grief last for a very long time. The disease is treatable, but often medications have to be used again. This is the most common mental disorder. It is not entirely clear how this fits with claims that recovery is not difficult.

Buddhism and Hinduism against depression

Buddhism pays no less attention to the topic. In general, the view on the problem is similar. Depression is seen as an extreme form of ignorance. Buddhists believe that the main problem is duality. Man strives to divide everything into “good” and “bad.” He wants to appropriate the good for himself, and push away the bad, or what appears to be bad. But this is impossible, since such division exists only in the human mind.

It is impossible to say which mantra for depression is recommended by the lamas. All are good because reading them brings peace to the mind and clears the consciousness. One can use the Medicine Buddha or Diamond Mind mantra, Om Mani Pedme Hung, which is the name of Chenrezig. As in Christianity, the Dharma does not recommend doing this just like that, without dedication and without having an idea about Buddhism itself.

Hindu mantras can also serve well, for example, Gayatri or the “So-Ham” breathing mantra.

Hindu mantras can help overcome despair

It should be noted that modern psychiatry does not consider this path to be vicious only for the reason that it is not scientific, or rather, it is not written off within the rigid boundaries of medicine. If doctors recommend something like that, it’s completely private.

In addition, religious propaganda is now prohibited in Russia. It is possible that attempts to create a synthesis of science and religion, which would answer the question of how to get rid of despondency and depression, could be called a violation of the law.

Once upon a time, official psychology itself emerged from the foundations of esotericism, magic, mysticism and philosophy, religion. But now this connection is possible only at the level of conversations and recommendations. Some psychologists are trying to develop something of their own. Meditation for stress and depression or something similar may be suggested. Some dare to try yoga, but no one can say that healing depends on God and you need to do mental prayer in the heart.

Who do Orthodox Christians pray to?

Let's return to Orthodoxy. To whom is a prayer read for despondency and depression?

1. The prayer of the Mother of God, which is called “Unexpected Joy,” is considered the most powerful. The iconography of the image is associated with a story about a sinner who prayed to God’s joy every day, and then went to commit evil deeds. One day the Mother appeared before her with the Child of God in her arms and began to reproach. The sinner repented, but Christ did not forgive twice. He will set the conditions - to kiss the sores on the hands and feet, which symbolized the wounds received on the cross. The sinner was forgiven and became a right person.
2. Holy Martyr Tryphon. Turning to it helps not only to cure neuroses, psychoses, but also many other diseases. He lived around 240-250 and, as a child, saved entire villages from troubles and epidemics with his prayers.
3. St. Ephraim the Syrian is one of the teachers of the 4th century church, theologian and poet.
4. Nikolai Ugodnik.
5. Barbara the Great Martyr.
6. Righteous John of Kronstadt.

The position of Orthodoxy on the issue of how to overcome depression, despondency and melancholy is extremely disappointing for materialists and atheists. Believers believe that it arises as one of the ways to abandon lies and come to the truth. This means that no methods of drug treatment, as well as anything that has nothing to do with faith, can help. Vanity pleasures are not able to give pleasure from unity with God, but only increase the amount of inner emptiness. Therefore, medical treatment even intensifies the torture of the spirit. A person becomes despondent, his signs disappear, his lifestyle remains the same, and then everything repeats.

At the same time, Orthodoxy does not claim that antidepressants are evil. While they are in action, you can try to comprehend your condition and begin to move towards God.

Magic and esotericism

Oddly enough, depression is assessed in almost the same way by esotericism. The only difference is that there are two points of view and there is no contradiction between them. Magic and mysticism sees deviation as a problem because it can provoke more serious illnesses. These are phobias, psychoses and even paranoid schizophrenia. On the other hand, internal grief distracts you from the outside world and makes you more attentive to your psyche. In addition, illness is evidence of a crisis, which means that a person is growing, because everything that develops sooner or later ends up in a situation of crisis.

Beware of energy vampires!

One of the possible reasons stands out attack from astral “bullies”. These are all sorts of entities that feed on the energy of people - vampires of the subtle plane. This in itself gives a reason to try not only to read a spell for depression, but also to install energy protection, which may be your first magical experience. Christians once upon a time considered this approach sinful. They pray to God, who protects best of all, to the saints, to the angels. Although making the sign of the Cross can also be considered an attempt to build protection. And religion sometimes correlates neurosis with the manifestation of demonic forces. In general, these are the same astral characters of magicians.

The original approach of the Yaqui shamans

The magicians described in his books by Carlos Castaneda have an interesting approach to the question of how to overcome depression and despondency. In one of them, he describes his life as the most obvious state of depression. He broke up with his beloved, watched all the films, re-read all the books and simply couldn’t find where to put himself. This happened due to the fact that he had lost contact with the Spirit - the enormous power of this world. However, the Spirit makes it so that Castaneda meets the old Mexican Indian Don Juan Matus. He begins to make Castaneda’s consciousness more plastic. First, some natural herbal narcotic drugs are used for this, and then the study of stalking, dreaming, and the development of shamanic practices begins. Not a single prayer has been read for depression and despair, but for just a few years the author becomes a different person. He writes books about his training, masters amazing techniques of not doing and doing, and learns the explanations of magicians in theory and practice. As a result, life turns into a “fairy tale” full of danger and adventure.

Don Juan tells Castaneda that you need to live in such a way that you never know from behind which bush a rabbit will jump out.

Don Juan told Castaneda how to deal with depression

Some rules of thumb

It is not necessary to use all of Castaneda's methods, but one set of rules and practices must be used. This stalking, which represents stalking oneself. Here are his main 7 rules and principles. Anyone who can live like this will learn from their own experience how to overcome depression and despondency.

1. You need to choose the place of battle yourself. If you experience discomfort from mental problems, then you need to understand where you will now find yourself. In an armchair and will you watch TV with a sad look? This place was chosen for you by illness. It will be bad, but try to make it happen in a park or grove. So, wherever you personally want.
2. Everything unnecessary should be discarded. Melancholy means melancholy, panic means panic. There's no need to complicate this.
3. You must be ready to fight for your health right now. But you don't have to and can walk away from the battle. Everything depends on you.
4. You need to learn to relax and abstract yourself from yourself. This gives fearlessness.
5. When faced with the manifestation of an illness, you need to relax and do something else. At the same time, you need to allow your thoughts to wander aimlessly and not solve any problems.
6. Those who know how to compress time have a great gift. This means that you need to be aware of yourself and everything around you every second of your existence.
7. You should never put yourself first. Instead, you should take a position somewhere behind the stage and watch events unfold.

In this context, you can create your own special technique. Such meditation for depression should be funny, ridiculous, unexpected and therefore effective. In the stalking system, this is called “controlled stupidity.” The point is that we are always filled with importance and expect some kind of prayer for depression to appear - powerful, beautiful, filling everything with meaning. This approach does not always work. Sometimes it even brings the opposite effect. Depression is inside the consciousness, and an artificial search for strength can strengthen it. Try playing with it. For example, describe your experiences and immediately make paper airplanes out of them and send them out the windows. Picture depression as something beautiful and pleasant. To surprise herself...

Come up with a cheerful ritual of contemplating illness in the form of a heron that stands on one leg and sings funny couplets. There is no point in all this. And you didn’t expect it, because ordinary people work only when it gives them benefit, and you can do it anyway.

Contemplate illness like a heron on one leg

Unexpected decisions

Whatever gentlemen psychologists might think, they don’t know 100% how to overcome despondency and depression, so let’s not rely only on a standard medical approach or on a conspiracy for depression, which you need to read three times a day, and everything will go away. There is no absolute certainty, so you can relax. If we don’t cure it, then at least we’ll have fun.

The methods and principles mentioned in this article are not universal. Human development takes a difficult path. Someone is simply not yet ready to perceive Christian truths. There is no need to blindly rush to surround yourself with theological literature. A prayer for neurosis that would help a person with one character would be inappropriate in the mouth of another. But the runes against depression will also help him.

Let's try to highlight the main complexity of this topic. It seems that God is our heavenly Father who loves and saves. This is so, all believers are convinced of this, but sometimes it’s not so easy to say “ I place my hopes in You. I myself am helpless and insignificant. Help me God and free me from fear" We think that we will succeed, but here’s the twist - we need to admit out loud our insignificance. Nevertheless, this is the most powerful prayer for panic attacks.

Turning to magic to treat panic can harm yourself

No less disappointment is hidden by magic, which even appreciates panic attacks. Esotericism of any school is a complete destruction of stereotypes. The master will tell you that you need to concentrate on the body and be aware of it. The person who is affected by the attack is trying to avoid this, because the body sends too many alarming signals. The concept of “entering your fear” suddenly turns out to be not some kind of meditation in which it is cut out and thrown away, but a close observation of everything that happens to the body and consciousness. However, there is good news. The palette of possibilities is so rich that everyone can choose something.

In this chapter we will try to dwell in more detail on ways to heal nervousness, talk about a spiritual approach to this problem, talk about psychotherapy, introduce you to some techniques of psychological self-help, and provide recommendations for health benefits.

Spiritual healer

The only correct path to healing from neuroses lies through the true Orthodox faith, repentance and correction of one’s life according to the commandments of God. The main thing for a person is to understand the sinful origins of his illness, to deeply understand his weakness, to hate the demonic sins of pride, vanity, anger, despondency, lies, fornication; want to change yourself, turn to the Lord with sincere repentance.
It is absolutely necessary for the sick to attend Orthodox services, especially on Sundays and holidays, and to participate in the Sacraments of the Church - Repentance (confession) and Communion. In the prayer that the priest reads before confession, there are these words: “You came to the spiritual hospital, so that you do not leave unhealed” - that is, “You came to the spiritual hospital, so you do not leave unhealed.” One must resort to the Holy Sacraments often and with contrition of heart, deep faith and trust in the mercy of God.
It is imperative to read the Holy Scriptures, especially the Gospel, and fulfill the commandments of Christ that are contained in them. “Of all the ailments that burden human nature, there is not a single illness, either mental or physical, that could not receive healing from Scripture” (St. John Chrysostom).
Invaluable help is provided by patristic literature, which provides ideal role models, shows the true purpose of man, the greatness of moral beauty, patience and perseverance when encountering difficulties.
Spiritual life is impossible without fasting and prayer. “This generation is driven out only by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). It is good, with the blessing of your confessor, to memorize individual psalms and prayers. The role of prayer in finding and maintaining inner peace is very great. Elder Sampson (Sievers) argued that the peace of mind of one who constantly prays is completely independent of the external situation.
Visiting holy places and Orthodox monasteries will strengthen the soul. Commemoration at the Divine Liturgy and prayer services will bring great benefit; regular consumption of Epiphany water with prosphora, a piece of artos; sprinkling with holy water the home, the patient himself, and his personal belongings. Frequent communications with pious Orthodox Christians will have a beneficial effect.
It is necessary to develop vigilant attention towards yourself. Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov) wrote: “The soul of all exercises about the Lord is attention. Without attention, these exercises are fruitless and dead.”
Constant self-control is required, including monitoring your thoughts, because every bad deed is usually preceded by a bad thought. You should resolutely cut off everything negative, sinful, abominable, not enter into any conversations with sinful thoughts, but immediately turn to the Lord in prayer for help, asking Him for help and support. In the Orthodox Church there is a whole teaching on how to fight sin at its very origin, at the level of thought.
"...The method of the formation of sin from thought into deed is defined with precision by the Holy Fathers, and the guilt of everyone in this course of action of the moment is also determined with precision. The whole course of the case is depicted as follows: first there is an excuse, then attention, then pleasure, followed by desire , from it determination, and, finally, action (see Philotheus of Sinai. Philokalia, vol. 3, chapter 34 ff.) The further a moment is from the outcome and the closer to the end, the more significant, depraved and sinful it is. guilt is in the case, and it is almost not in the pretext.
A preposition is a simple representation of a thing, whether from the action of the senses or from the action of memory and imagination, presented to our consciousness. There is no sin here when the birth of images is not in our power. Sometimes, however, guilt passes here indirectly, when, for example, a seductive image comes to mind because of the permission given to dreams. An image is often evoked spontaneously; then, according to its quality, this matter becomes a sin, for a person is obliged to keep his mind in Divine things.
Attention is the establishment of consciousness or the eye of the mind on the born image in order to examine it, as if to talk with it. This is slowness in a single or polysyllabic thought. This action is more in the power of man, for an image born against the will can be immediately expelled. That is why it is more guilty. He who inwardly looks at a criminal object exposes the bad mood of the heart. He is like one who introduces an unclean animal into a clean living quarter, or places a disgusting wicked person together with honest guests. Sometimes, it is true, an object attracts attention with its news and astoundingness, but everything, after its impurity and charm is recognized, must be driven out, for otherwise consent will be involved, and from being involuntary, this matter will become voluntary.
In general, this moment is very important in moral life. He stands at the transition to business. He who drove away thoughts extinguished all warfare and stopped all production of sin. That’s why it’s advisable to pay all your attention to your thoughts and fight them. All the rules of the holy ascetics are primarily directed here. From here it goes without saying what price the sins of imagination and self-willed dreams bear. Where it pleases them, there they sin. But this sin is more sinful if some external means are used, for example, reading, hearing, seeing, talking. These latter are also assessed as cases of sin.
Delight is an application to an object following the mind and heart. It comes when, as a result of attention to an object, we begin to like it, and we find pleasure in looking at it intelligently, cherishing it in thought. Delight in sinful objects is already downright sin. For if our heart must be devoted to God, then any combination of it with other objects is a violation of fidelity to Him, a break in the union, betrayal, spiritual adultery. One must keep one's heart pure, because because of it the thoughts of the mind become evil (Matthew 15:18), when, that is, it begins to delight in them lawlessly.
There are, however, delightful movements of the flesh and heart, which are in no way dependent on arbitrariness, as are all movements of needs. But even they, innocent at the beginning, immediately become not innocent, as soon as they are recognized and hide behind favor towards them, or consent to illegal satisfaction with them. At first they are natural movements, and then they become moral. Therefore, they say, if you notice them, become indignant. From here it follows naturally what we should think about aesthetic pleasures. They are criminal to the extent that their content or form is incompatible with the purity of heart and morals. The same applies to the masterful works of artisans: to approve them with the mind for their suitability for the purpose is a proper thing; and surrendering oneself to their effect, for the sake of empty momentary pleasure, is bad. And in general, when going to bed, we pray for forgiveness if we saw someone else’s kindness and were wounded in our hearts by it - so that we can thereby cleanse our hearts of all hobbies during the day. In many cases, however, pleasure bursts forth either necessarily or uncontrollably. There is one rule: do not deign, reject, be indignant.
From pleasure there is one step to desire. The difference between them is that the soul that delights remains in itself, on the contrary, the soul that desires inclines towards the object, has a desire for it, and begins to look for it. It cannot in any way be innocent, for it is accomplished by consent or is born contemporaneously with it, as if from under it; consent is always in our will.
Determination is distinguished from desire by another feature, namely in that the composition or condition of its birth includes confidence in possibility and a vision of means. The person who wishes has expressed his consent to the matter, but has not yet come up with anything and has not taken any steps to achieve his goal; For the one who has decided, everything has already been examined and decided; all that remains is to set in motion the members of the body or other forces to carry out affairs accordingly. When, finally, this too is accomplished, then all the work of sin ends and the work appears - the fruit of corruption, conceived within and giving birth to lawlessness without" (St. Theophan the Recluse).
You should definitely avoid all kinds of “far-fetched ideas,” fantasies, and sterile imagination, especially of a sensual nature. Remember the Gospel: “But let your word be: yes, yes; no, no; and anything beyond this is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37).
Everything that happened must be accepted as a fact that happened, and not torment yourself with a useless struggle with ghosts. “What happened, happened, Lord, Thy will be done.”
We must try, with God's help, to develop meekness and humility in ourselves, for which we must never raise our voices unless absolutely necessary. “The proud, the self-praising, the narcissistic dead man and the one abandoned by God raises his voice” (Elder Sampson Sievers). You cannot allow yourself to use rude and obscene words, scream, or ridicule anyone.
You should unlearn judging and discussing others (except for cases that are useful in edifying and pedagogical terms, as well as naturally arising judgments about something or someone, which is not condemnation). If in your presence someone is reproached or condemned, then you must admit that you yourself suffer from the same shortcomings, and turn away the conversation, and if this is impossible, simply leave. The Holy Fathers allowed only righteous anger, that is, directed at their own sins and imperfections.
For everything that happens, you should blame only yourself, then balance, mental peace and tranquility will be established in your soul. “If everyone reproached themselves, then peace would prevail,” wrote Archbishop Arseny (Zhadanovsky), “self-reproach allows us to calmly endure insults and not feel them.” One must consider oneself fully worthy of mistakes, criticism, mistakes, falls, and, moreover, realize oneself is worse and more unworthy than others. In this case, any desire to be angry with anyone around you really disappears.
It is important to get rid of the habit of verbosity, arguing over trifles, and entering into word disputes. “It is always undesirable to enter into a dispute” (Metropolitan Filaret (Drozdov).
It is imperative to renounce everything false, deliberate, theatrical, all pretense, exaggeration, insincerity, that is, everything sinful, even in small things.
Archbishop John (Shakhovskoy) said that achieving true spiritual peace is unthinkable without deep metaphysical dissatisfaction with this earthly life. Indeed, the search for blessings and heavenly life on earth sooner or later leads to deep disappointments and constant fluctuations in the spiritual world.
And of course, it is necessary to improve your lifestyle as much as possible. This refers to the daily routine, reasonable fasting, abandonment of the habit of alcohol and tobacco and other excesses; liberation from TV drug addiction, political or other addictions, etc.

Can a blind man lead a blind man?

Traditionally deals with the treatment of neuroses psychotherapy. In ancient times they said that the art of medicine rests on three “pillars”: a knife, medicinal herbs and the word. A knife is a prototype of surgery, a medicinal herb is a collective image of medicinal forms, and a word is understood as a living, emotional attitude of a doctor towards a patient.
The Holy Orthodox Church has at all times denounced various kinds of occult and witchcraft practices. In the "Book of Rules", based on the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils and the instructions of the holy fathers and which is a set of church Orthodox canons and dogmas, this activity is clearly and clearly defined as satanic, destructive. And naturally, no confessor will ever advise you to seek help from a healer, fortune teller or sorcerer. But turning to a professional psychotherapist for help might be a blessing. And here the patient often faces serious danger.
Psychotherapy is a special medical specialty associated not so much with treatment in the usual sense of the word, but with the impact on the personality of the sick person, on his soul. She sets good goals for herself, strives to console a grieving person and help him find peace of mind. However, in practice, a difficult situation has arisen due to the fact that, while being in close contact with the human soul and trying to heal it, this area of ​​medicine turns out to be spiritually bankrupt and has no moral guidelines. You cannot ease the spiritual burden of another person without having your own spiritual values. "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will not both fall into a pit?" (Luke 6:39).
A doctor may have a doctorate, the title of professor or academician, but this does not change the essence if he is a non-Orthodox person, of an alien spirit. His efforts will not give the soul the necessary guidance; moreover, they can lead it into the abyss of grave sins, and the sorrows of the sick person will only increase. How many times have people who have suffered from grief-psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, hypnotists, etc. turned to us for help?
Spiritual uncertainty, the inconsistency of psychology and psychotherapy, based on moral “pluralism,” allowed the penetration of a huge number of occult psychotechnologies - Western, Eastern and “home-grown”, which can clearly be called morally unacceptable.
One of the principles of modern psychological practices is “the end justifies the means.” Doctors often give “advice” that, instead of benefiting the soul, brings obvious harm to the soul. More than once we have encountered situations where doctors suggested that patients have extramarital affairs - with the goal of supposedly normalizing family conflicts, that is, fornication was simply recommended. A person is advised to lie or manipulate people if it will bring him some benefit (there are many similar recommendations in Dale Carnegie’s books).
The tragedy of modern science about the soul is that it indulges a person’s sins and passions, strives in every possible way to raise his self-esteem, or focuses on meditation, mental self-regulation through states of altered consciousness. The training of future psychotherapists is carried out on an immoral basis. Thus, the computer exam test is literally replete with all sorts of obscenities. In order not to be unfounded, we will give an example. To the question: “What would you advise a patient with psychasthenia to read to revive his sluggish subcortex?” - correct answer: "Works by Guy de Maupassant." Comments, as they say, are unnecessary.
We conducted an interesting and in many ways revealing study several years ago during a seminar on psychology and psychotherapy. Its participants were asked to remember and write down 10-12 events of the last five years that left the most vivid trace in their memory. These records were then distributed into four sections: health, activities, contacts, and spiritual values.
The first section consisted of events related to health, physical activity, sports, etc. The second - with professional, creative, scientific, pedagogical activities, as well as self-education, hobbies, etc. Contacts included a wide range of diverse communication, from business to personal. Spiritual values ​​included everything related to the problems of religiosity, worldview, as well as impressions of spiritual books read, spiritually beneficial meetings, etc.
A total of 205 responses were received, of which only 4 were classified in the sphere of “spiritual values”, and only in two cases was it about Orthodox spirituality.
This is such a gloomy picture. Specialists called upon to heal the soul are least interested in this very soul (their own and others’). The spirituality of Holy Rus' once again was not in demand; the light of Orthodoxy did not attract the attention of pundits and most practitioners.
The doctor does not choose his patients. Most often, people who come to see us are non-believers or those who do not know the true God - infidels, neo-pagans. But there are many who are in search of the Truth. That is why the psychotherapist has great responsibility as a doctor and a person. His task is to help the patient, constrained by illness and conflicts, troubles and losses.
For a doctor who has devoted himself to psychotherapy, it is important to have his own spiritual values ​​that would determine his work with patients. Without his own, let us add, Orthodox, spiritual platform, he will not be able to distinguish situational (psychosocial) and biological causes of diseases from existential, ideological ones. If at the reception there is a person whose soul seeks to find the Lord, then the Orthodox psychotherapist should help him in this.
The doctor, of course, does not replace the priest, he only precedes him, sometimes representing a “barrier” that prevents the patient from falling into even greater temptations and sins - drunkenness, fornication, suicide.
Archpriest G. Dyachenko, in one of his theological books, published for the laity at the beginning of the century and now republished, wrote lines that can define the essence of Orthodox psychotherapy: “Confess your sins to each other,” said the holy Apostle James. What do we do from this commandment? We are told that it is enough to confess to God through the sacrament of repentance. To be forgiven - yes, without a doubt. But besides this, you will see that in the essence of a person there is a secret but urgent need to be directly in front of a person.
The Light sees only the outer and superficial side of our life, the side under which it appears in a favorable form. But there are moments when it is necessary for reality to be revealed, for the essence of this life to be revealed, so that at least one of our kind knows everything that is hidden in us by need and temptation. What pushes us to do this is not frankness, but a deep need to be understood, relieved, consoled; and don’t we know how much beneficial and saving there is in such confessions? Don’t we know that some temptations that surround us, vague and vague, lose their power and charm just by conveying them in words? Don’t we know how much strength and consolation a well-educated heart that listens and understands us can give us?..
Will he find it with you, my brother? Will he find mercy willing to listen enough to keep his confession? Will he find that serious attention that no one shies away from and which alone deserves trust?
Unfortunately, today Christians are a minority among psychiatrists and psychotherapists. This, in our opinion, is one of the reasons for the low effectiveness of help for neuroses. Psychotherapy, which tries to help a restless soul in various ways, today has about a thousand psychocorrectional techniques, but quality cannot be replaced by quantity. True healing from spiritual grief can only occur through repentance, which requires spiritual effort and is unusual for a large part of our contemporaries, including doctors. In this regard, it becomes clear why various rational and emotional therapeutic influences are far from omnipotent and bring only a temporary effect.
To summarize, we can say that only that psychotherapeutic help will be truly effective and useful, which leads to Christ and is carried out by an Orthodox doctor or psychologist who repents and corrects his life. In this case, the specialist’s word will be supported by the gracious power of God and will comfort the sick person and show the way to the One who is the Truth, the Way and the Life!
Give us, Lord, wisdom and strength to heal spiritual ailments for Your glory!

Psychological self-help

Very important on the roads psychological self-help is the patient’s correct assessment of the causes of his own falls and blunders. Often we try to justify ourselves and look for reasons in other people or external circumstances. Patristic wisdom teaches us never to engage in self-justification, for man is by nature selfish and will always find a way to distort the true state of things to please his alibi (for example: even if I got excited and was rude, but I am also a living person, but he should have... . etc., gradually becoming more and more convinced of the guilt of the other and justifying oneself).
Instead of self-justification, it is more correct to blame yourself, to sincerely try to understand the reasons for the fall, which usually lie in selfishness, vanity and especially pride. “Where the fall occurs, there pride first takes root; for pride is the harbinger of the fall” (Reverend Nicodemus the Holy Mountain).
One of the effective psychological techniques is rationalization. First of all, you need to calm down and pray; then take a blank sheet of paper, a fountain pen and carefully, soberly analyze the current difficult or conflict situation, write down the main causes of the conflict and possible ways to resolve this conflict, weigh the pros and cons, consider the needs and concerns of all participants in the current misunderstanding, find the right arguments in favor of endurance, self-control, humility.
Along the way, you can discern some previously unnoticed circumstances and significant psychological nuances. The final stage of rationalization should be the adoption of a definite decision, since the longer the vague, ambivalent attitude towards the conflict persists, the more difficult it is to resolve it, and therefore, to restore mental balance. The enemy of our salvation is always trying to deprive us of spiritual peace, confuse us, and incline us to despondency. Let us remember this and be sober.
Forethought. Despite all the diversity of life events, many of them are repeated many times and represent a kind of “cliché”. We know from experience that you can “stumble,” lose peace of mind, or fall into sin regularly, in the same situations. Therefore, you need to prepare yourself in advance for difficulties, important conversations, meetings, and important steps. Of course, it is impossible to take everything into account, but much can be foreseen. Moreover, one should prepare not only by reflection, but also by prayer, conversation with the confessor, his advice and blessing.
Saint Theophan advises: “In the morning, through prayer, sit down and figure out what you need to do during the day, where to be, what and with whom to meet, and in relation to this, determine in advance what to think where, what to say, how to hold your soul and body, etc. This means that a true Christian must control himself, be in charge of all the movements of his soul, and not allow them to happen by themselves, as if without his knowledge. He must be the ruler of everything that happens within him, the ruler of his own strength."
Switching- a simple and effective technique. Who doesn’t know how pleasant it is to walk along a forest path, listen to birds singing, and admire meadow flowers. One person enjoys working in the country, another enjoys meeting with friends and spending an evening in cordial and soul-beneficial communication, etc. There are many similar recommendations; With careful attention to oneself, everyone can continue this list. The ability to relax for the benefit of the soul is wisdom that is worth mastering.

Medication assistance

A few words about the use of medications for neuroses (tranquilizers, antidepressants). In the case of neurotic conditions, when the symptoms of the disease directly depend on psychological causes and life circumstances, medications play a supporting role, easing internal tension and dulling the severity of complaints. They are usually prescribed for a short period. The main condition for recovery will be the search for an optimal solution to the conflict, and in spiritual terms - humility and repentance.
Helps well with neuroses and neurosis-like conditions phytotherapy, that is, the use of medicinal plants for medicinal purposes. However, we note that it does not eliminate the causes of neuroses and is only a good symptomatic (eliminating symptoms) remedy.
Traditionally, valerian root, peppermint (leaves), hops (cones), motherwort (herb), cudweed (herb), hawthorn (flowers), chamomile, caraway fruits are used. Here is an approximate list of sedatives that you can use yourself - they are available without a prescription: valerian extract (or tincture), valerianahel, persen, glycine, motherwort extract (or tincture), novo-passit, deprim, valoserdin, sedative preparations No. 2, 3 , Corvalol, Corvaldine, Adonis-bromine, Validol, Valocardine, Zelenin drops. The method of administration and dosage are indicated in the inserts for the drug or on the packaging.
Raisins, dried apricots, and honey have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. Let's say a little more about medical treatment. Its effectiveness is well known; it gives very good results with neurasthenia, nervous overstrain, after performing long and psychologically difficult work.
Bulgarian scientist Stoimir Mladenov proposes the following medical treatment regimen: 100-120 g of flower bee honey per day for 2.5-3 weeks. In the morning and evening you should take 30 g of honey, and in the afternoon - 40. In the evening, honey should be diluted in a glass of cool water and drunk half an hour before bedtime. After 10-12 days from the start of treatment, patients or persons with pre-morbid disorders, as a rule, sleep well, they become more energetic, and their performance increases.
It would be useful to remind you about the benefits of hardening the body. Achievable physical labor plays an important role, especially for young people. Unworked flesh confuses the soul with irritability and worthless thoughts.
Let's look in more detail at insomnia, since complaints about it are found in the majority of patients suffering from neurotic disorders. Sleep is a sensitive moral barometer. It changes (worsens, improves) depending on our spiritual and mental state. I have trouble sleeping after unkind conversations and sins that torment my soul. The Lord provides good, sound sleep.
To those patients whose hearts are open to faith, we repeat well-known truths: it is necessary to pray morning and evening (it is known from experience that if for some reason you sacrifice prayers for the coming sleep, you will sacrifice sound sleep), read the Gospel, baptize before going to bed, your room and bed, drink consecrated water and sprinkle your home with it, call upon the saints and your guardian angel for help, invite a priest to the house to bless your home if it is not consecrated. And the most important thing is to confess and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Many people who begin to do this with faith and trust in the Lord feel a significant improvement in their well-being and gain peace of mind.
Psychological advice may be like this. Firstly, allow yourself to stay awake, do not overload yourself with thoughts about sleep and its speedy onset. After all, often a person suffers more not from insomnia, but from worries about it. Late evening is a time for quiet affairs and leisurely conversations. Take a walk before going to bed, avoid a large dinner, and ventilate the room. Take a warm shower or soak your feet in the bath.
Here's another tip: brew two teaspoons of hop cones in a glass of boiling water, leave for 4 hours, strain, drink a glass at night. Before going to bed, you can anoint your temples with lavender oil or place 3-5 drops of lavender oil on a piece of sugar and suck on it before going to bed. It is useful to attach a linen bag with dried valerian roots at the head of the bed. There are observations that a dark-colored bed helps calm the nervous system.
Pharmacies sell sedatives that can be used to calm and improve sleep. A medical consultation would also be useful. Sleeping pills should only be used as prescribed by a doctor; You can use decoctions and sedative infusions yourself.
Remember, mental and physical health is a gift from God, and it should be treated with care and attention.

Mental disorders are, in a broad sense, diseases of the soul, meaning a state of mental activity that is different from healthy. Their opposite is mental health. Individuals who have the ability to adapt to daily changing life conditions and solve everyday problems are generally considered mentally healthy individuals. When this ability is limited, the subject does not master the current tasks of professional activity or the intimate-personal sphere, and is also unable to achieve the designated tasks, plans, and goals. In a situation of this kind, one may suspect the presence of a mental abnormality. Thus, neuropsychiatric disorders are a group of disorders that affect the nervous system and behavioral response of an individual. The described pathologies may appear due to abnormalities in metabolic processes in the brain. For prevention and treatment, you can use the following presented conspiracies:

For intercostal neuralgia

Amphibian knotweed root - 2 tbsp. spoons
Northern breaker - 2 tbsp. spoons
Sabelnik - 2 tbsp. spoons
Brew everything with boiling water (0.5 l) and leave for half an hour. Drink half a glass 4 times a day. Soon you will forget about your illness.

Heal your nerves

With this prayer you can calm your nervous system. A person gradually begins to be less nervous, becomes kinder, has a lighter character, and treats others more calmly. It has long been known: the less nervous a person is, the less sick Melt the church candles in an iron mug so that there is about half a half-liter mug of wax.
Place the patient so that the mug with wax and the cup are above his head.
Turn his face towards the door. Pour wax into the water and say: Just as wax pours from a candle in Mother Church, so the soul of God’s servant (name) is not given to demonic evil. Just as the throne stands in the church, does not shake, does not cry, does not swear, does not rush at people, so you, servant of God (name), be quiet and calm. The Lord is great. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

From nervous breakdowns

If a wife or mother or someone is suffering from the scandals of psychos and asks for help, then wet the patient’s shirt with holy water, tell him and hang it outside to dry, and when it dries, let him put it on so that the patient becomes calm.
The plot is this: The river does not splash, the star does not shine, the moon does not sway, the servant of God (name) does not eat away. Doesn't grumble, doesn't scream, doesn't wave his arms. His soul is at rest and knows no malice. Sleep, sleep, in the doors, in the windows, in the walls, sleep quietly, there is no dashing and crazy. Amen. Amen. Amen.

For seizures in adults and children

Take the smoldering coals in the ash pit. Throw them into the water, they will hiss, and you whisper:
Lord, help, Lord, bless. Bless, God, my prayer for the help and healing of God’s servant (name). I, God’s servant (name of the healer), speak to this soul and body: from beating, stabbing, shaking, demonic dancing. From the eyes, hands, legs, elbows, nails, blood, breasts, under-breasts, from the brain, stomach, all joints and semi-joints, go away without returning to the body, without looking back, demonic seizures, stabbing, shaking, devilish dances. I'll flog you with a knife. I draw you out with the cross, I whisper, I speak, I reprimand you on hot coals. There is an old oak tree by the sea, go there, have a fit, live there on an old oak tree, and leave the soul and body of the servant of God (name). In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Cretinism

They lay a sheet on the floor, two more on it and a towel on which the coffin was lowered into the grave, and then they lay the patient down. They put as many candles on the table as the patient is old, and light the candles. If at least one candle goes out while others are being lit, then they do not treat that day, but put it off until the next time. While the candles are burning, read: Verb your speech, your thoughts flow. The river of blood and brain is flowing, the brain is alive and well, and not mux and not dashing, and not bad, but flowing. Not one, not two, but three. Most Holy Trinity, wipe away all sickness from the head, from the brain, from the crown of the head, from the back of the head, from the temples, from the sick bodies. The thought flows, but the Lord heals. Amen.
This method always gives good results. The patient's head is wiped with a sheet and towel. Rags are burned in the evening after sunset.

For weak nerves (calming words)

They slander the water, give it to drink, or wash the patient with it. They do this when there are stars in the sky (at least one). In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. You, water, you wash and wash away, you, water, are everywhere: in the lake and in the river, in the ocean and in a bucket. Calm the servant of God (name): from shouting and anger, from rude words, from vain tears, from a thousand angry thoughts. He wouldn't suffer, he wouldn't scream. Cool his anger, calm his anger. Wash, drain, rinse off his wild head. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Be you, my words, strong, be you, my words, sculpted. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Soothing words

It happens that a person starts a scandal and will not calm down, not giving peace to others. It's not far from trouble here. Who knows how such a scandal could end. Whisper words into the water and give it to that person to drink. He will calm down immediately.
Calm down, walk away from the dead man quietly, take him away dashingly. The tongue is angry - the lock, and the key - under the threshold Amen.

For diseases of the nervous system

Speak to the water and sprinkle it on all the corners in your son’s room and his bed. They chant the water like this: In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. I, God's servant (name), reprimand my son. I gave birth to him, I gave him a name. I breastfed him, I baptized him in Mother Church. I reprimand him: nerves from the bones, nerves from all the relics, from the ruddy body, so that not a single nerve vein hurts. I will get up, blessing myself, I will go out, crossing myself, I will walk along a green meadow, along a steep bank. There a willow tree grows on the sand, and a golden hut stands under it. There the Mother of God reads the Bible, corrects the nerves of the servant of God (name), takes away everything that is bad and throws it into holy water. His anger melts like a candle, his anger disappears. Christ reigns, Christ commands. Christ saves, Christ heals. Christ himself takes away the anger from the servant of God (name). Key, lock, tongue. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Relieve nervous fever

Sprinkle the charmed water on the patient. They chant the water like this: The Lord raised Lazarus, the Lord helped the suffering. My God, God, help me too. On the sea, on the sand, at great depths, a gray stone lies, on that stone Adonai himself stands, waving an iron rod, knocking the crap out of (name)’s head. My words, my lips, and the help of Jesus Christ. I say those words, and the Lord God helps. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Key, lock, tongue. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Relieve trembling hands

If a person’s hands are shaking, he needs to wipe the dust in the church. And do this for three days in a declining month. Such people should not count money, spin, knit or sew after sunset. Another way helps. Take gloves or mittens and, turning them inside out, hang them on a tree in a thunderstorm, let them dry and wear them without washing them.

From trembling hands

If the patient's hands are shaking, then you need to trace his hand on paper with a pencil. Light the stove in the bathhouse, throw this paper in there and, looking through the open door at the fire, say three times: In the green valley, in the gray smoke, the devil's finger is growing. Whoever touches my smoke will have his hand shake. Go, shaking, seventh devil, to the gray smoke, to the bathhouse shelf, to the damp mother, shaking shaking. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

For stuttering

Speak into the water, let the patient drink, and you lightly hit him on the back with your right palm and read what you said into the water, again, but to yourself. The Lord’s speech is pure, the Lord’s lips do not falter, the words are not interrupted, so you, servant of God (name), speak, do not falter and do not be interrupted by hiccups or tossing. Amen.

Stuttering from fear

Read the “Our Father” with water, and then these words: For the first time, at good o’clock, the Mother of God walks across the golden bridge. “Where are you, Mother of God, going?” - “I’m going to the servant of God (name) to utter my fear, to speak my tongue.” - “Most Pure Mother of God, help me. I ask You, I pronounce from the crown, from the forehead, from the neck, from the eyes, from the ears, from the tongue, from the subtongue, spine, from the lungs, liver, kidneys, from the chest, from the dewlap, from the heart, from the stomach, from the hands, from legs, of 77 joints. You can’t stand here, you can’t have blue veins, you can’t burst yellow bones, you can’t rage with red blood. What kind of fear are you? Please stop, don't be scared anymore. Lord, help me, Most Pure Mother of God. Amen".

For stuttering

Read on the young, newly born month. A total of 12 times. At this time, no bread, no money, nothing at all is given from home. An old forest man walks through the forest, he doesn’t stumble, the servant of God (name) doesn’t stutter, he doesn’t get tired of talking, to our joy, to the grief of our enemies. Speak, don’t stutter, don’t stumble in words, just like the old forest man doesn’t stutter, doesn’t stumble. Amen.

Anti-stuttering for men

From a man’s letter: “I don’t want to live. I stutter very badly and avoid everyone. The girl I love will never marry me because to her I’m just a stutterer.”
I give three strong spells against stuttering: for a man, for a woman and for a child. I remind you that all slander is read for a declining month. If a master is treating, then it is necessary that his patronymic does not coincide with the patronymic of the patient. If a person heals himself, then all mirrors should be turned to the east.
Take a rod from a man’s tree, draw a Solomon’s star on the ground with it, circle it, move the patient around in a circle and say: Six, not five, five, not four, four, not three, damn, wipe it off your tongue. Did you take it from the servant of God (name)? I took it. Did you take it on yours? Amen.

Anti-stuttering for women

Read on Women's Day. Neither the master nor the patient should have debts, as well as menstruation. They read at noon, tying knots on the ribbon: 12 devils, brothers, tie and take away from the tongue of the servant of God (name) what she stuttered with, with which she parted. Each devil, his tongue has one knot. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Anti-stuttering for a child

The child is given warm milk to drink by the spoonful. A spell is read on each of the spoons. For a child, treatment day for stuttering is Wednesday. The dog was lying there, the cat came running and licked everything off. You, dog, don’t whine, but you, cat, take it, and you, (name), speak clearly. Amen. Amen. Amen.

From obsessive thoughts

If a person constantly thinks about the same thing (about danger, betrayal, suicide, etc.), he should do this. They tie three branches together, while saying a conspiracy. Then they leave and never return. King Solomon, cunning and wise, take away from the servant of God (name) that about which his thoughts burn, his brains hurt, his thoughts drive him, the devils dance around him. Take him off the black cross. Put everything in its place. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

From apathy

They say morning water and use it to wash the person suffering from apathy. This must be done on Epiphany Sunday. Cover the crown of Christ the Savior, the deliverer of all suffering, with your robe, wash with holy baptismal water. Show the servant of God (name) your salvation. Amen.

From constant melancholy

Melancholic people find it difficult to live not only because they are constantly depressed, but also because such people are usually avoided. They get rid of them in teams because they are difficult to work with. The eternally sad expression on their face brings loneliness upon them. Nobody wants to live with such a person. On Bright Friday (Easter week) you need to wash the melancholic person with water into which three painted Easter eggs, previously blessed in the church, are dipped. They say this: Strengthen my faithful words, Lord, strengthen, Christ, the servant of God (name). Just as people rejoice at the bright Easter, so let the servant of God (name) rejoice in life. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

From angry outbursts

If a person is angry, picky, constantly irritated and makes scandals, you should give him a decoction of the following plants:
Licorice root -100 g
Elm bark - 50 g
Violet root - 50 g
Boil everything and give it to the patient to drink. The inflamed brain and nerves will gradually become stronger. The person will be more friendly, cheerful, and compliant.

From psychosis

Three times a day (morning, afternoon and evening), open and close the hook on the door (latch) and say in one breath the spell: My cross, my strength. The cross is God's symbol. My Baptist is with me. My great cross. The angel held him in his hands, drove out the evil of the demon from the servant of God (name), and subdued him with God’s Word.

From aggressiveness

So, if, for example, you have a son or husband who has an aggressive character, take a tablespoon and bring it close to your lips, read the plot against aggressiveness three times. Give this spoon to the person you read for at dinner.
This conspiracy is ancient. It was used to ensure that there were no quarrels and scandals in the house. Time has shown that he always helped. The plot should be read like this: In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Truly I tell you: no matter how much people ate food from a spoon, they still wanted to eat again. Just as it is true that people will eat and drink all their lives, so it is true that the servant of God (name) will no longer beat the servant of God (name). Now, forever and endlessly. Key, lock, tongue. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Conspiracy against hysteria

For treatment you will need a completely fresh chicken egg, laid on Wednesday.
Place the patient having a hysterical attack facing east. The healer must take the egg in his hand and roll it over the patient’s body from the feet to the head. At the same time you need to whisper:
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. I, the servant of God (name of the healer), will get up in the morning and reach the Apostolic Church in the evening. In this holy church there is a Throne, around that Throne there is a mirror floor, in that floor the whole wondrous sky is reflected, the stars, the Moon, and the Sun are refracted in it. The Mother of God sits on the Throne and smiles. I, God’s servant (name), will come closer to the Throne and bow down to the mirror floor below. I will bow, submit and pray: Mother of God, accept my Jesus Prayer. For all monthly days, for all daily hours. And how, according to God’s will, the small will grow, and the great will be reduced to the small, so that the illness of the servant of God (name) will be reduced and will not return forever and ever. Amen.

From hysterics

If a person is hysterical, then from time to time you can give him charmed water to drink. He also needs to dry himself with a towel on which a live fish has fallen asleep.
The character of a person changes greatly after this. Do this three times a year.
Just as a fish is silent, so the servant of God (name) does not scream. Saint Sava, help the servant of God (name), tie your tongue. Amen.

From a burning tear

If your eyes are constantly watering and tears flow in the wind, this plot will help you. It is read in windy weather at sunset. These days must necessarily be the last days of the month - 29, 30, 31, not earlier. Pay special attention to the fact that when your eyes get better, don’t brag about it to anyone, you could go blind.
They slander the water, pour it into their palms and rinse their eyes. Read like this: Through the sucker, through the moss, stalote, wind, pendulum, unquenchable crying. I will go to the Lord’s forest, there is a willow tree there. Just as a willow tree drinks the juice of the earth, so it would drink from the servant of God (name) a hot, weeping tear. From now on and forever. Amen.

Relieve melancholy

Read, sprinkling three sunsets on the patient: The morning dawn does not cry, the dawn does not grieve for the evening, the fog for the Sun, the rain for the drought, the light at night. So the servant of God (name) does not yearn or grieve, does not shed tears, does not suffer for anyone. Amen.

Out of melancholy

Read on the water: Water from the sand, take away my melancholy. She came from the wind, go to the wind, she came from the people, go to the people. Amen.
Then, having blessed yourself with the cross by hand, wash yourself with this water early in the morning before sunrise.

If a person is tormented and sad, you need to cut off the ends of your hair while reading the plot:
Old age and pain, melancholy and sadness, bad thoughts, bad thoughts I will burn with fire and release with smoke. To the forest, to the wild wind. Amen.
Burn the hair, throw it into the water, look into this water day and night. In the morning, pour the water over the threshold.

Speak sadness on the test

The servant of God (name) made an ear of grain, made of wheat from an ear of wheat, made flour from wheat, made dough from flour, made bread from dough. There was bread on the table and it was gone. So that the servant of God (name) will disappear. Amen.

Bring a person out of stupor

Speak water after sunset, lower the cross into it and sprinkle it on the patient.
Cross, cross cross. Man was born, the cross was erected, Satan got involved, God was glorified. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Allay the suffering

If something happened to you and you cannot listen to reason or the words of your family and friends, the world is not dear to you, tears and suffering plague you, then do this: wash your face with the enchanted water in the morning and evening. Read with the curtains closed and your feet bare.
The Lord suffered on the Cross, his legs ached, his hands ached, there was hellish torment. The holy blood ran, the soul of Jesus suffered. I will pray for his deliverance. Take away, Lord, the torment from me. Bless me with peace of mind. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Relieve the effects of stress

The state of the nervous system varies among people. One will get nervous and forget, and the other will end up in the hospital. If you see a person losing his temper in anger, spit over his left shoulder and say quietly: There is no storm that does not subside. Calm down too, servant of God (name), in the name of the meekness of King Solomon. Amen. But first you need to read the prayer to the holy great martyr Barbara, which helps in despondency and sadness, serves as consolation in sadness: Holy, glorious and all-validated great martyr of Christ Barbara! Gathered today in your Divine temple, people who worship the race of your relics and kiss with love, your suffering as a martyr, and in them the Martyr Christ himself, who gave you not only the hedgehog to believe in Him, but those who suffered for Him, with pleasing praises, we pray to you, known desires of our intercessor: pray with us and for us, God who prays from His mercy, may He mercifully hear us asking for His goodness, and not leave us with all the forgiveness needed for salvation and life, and grant the Christian death of our life a painless, shameless peace of participation in the Divine Mysteries ; and to everyone in every place, in every sorrow and situation, who require His love for mankind and help, He will give His great mercy, so that by the grace of God and your warm intercession, soul and body, always in abiding health, we glorify the God of Israel, wondrous in His saints, who does not withdraw help Its own from us, always, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

On the treatment of neuroses - tips and warnings.

In this chapter, we will try to dwell in more detail on ways to heal nervousness, talk about a spiritual approach to this problem, talk about psychotherapy, introduce the reader to some techniques of psychological self-help, and provide recommendations for health benefits.

Spiritual healer

The only correct path to healing from neuroses lies through the Orthodox faith, repentance and correction of one’s life according to the commandments of God. The main thing for a person is to understand the sinful origins of his illness, to deeply understand his weakness, to hate the sins of pride, vanity, anger, despondency, lies, fornication, greed and money-grubbing; want to change yourself, turn to the Lord with sincere repentance.

Of course, it is necessary for the sick to attend divine services and participate in the Sacraments of the Church - Repentance (confession) and Communion. In the prayer that the priest reads before confession, there are these words (translated into Russian): “You came to a spiritual hospital, so that you do not leave unhealed (concealing some sins).” One must resort to the Holy Sacraments often and with contrition of heart, deep faith and trust in the mercy of God.

It is imperative to read the Holy Scriptures, especially the Gospel, and fulfill the commandments of Christ that are contained in them. “Of all the ailments that burden human nature, there is not a single illness, either mental or physical, that could not receive healing from Scripture” (St. John Chrysostom).

Invaluable help is provided by patristic literature and the lives of saints, which provide role models, show the true purpose of man, the greatness of moral beauty, patience and perseverance when facing difficulties.

Spiritual life is impossible without fasting and prayer. “This generation is driven out only by prayer and fasting”(Matt. 17:21). It is good, with the blessing of your confessor, to memorize individual psalms and prayers. The role of prayer in finding and maintaining inner peace is very great. Elder Sampson (Sievers) argued that the peace of mind of one who constantly prays is protected from external disturbances.

Visiting holy places and Orthodox monasteries strengthens the soul. Commemoration at the Divine Liturgy and prayer services will bring great benefit; regular consumption of Epiphany water with prosphora, a piece of artos; sprinkling with holy water the home, the patient himself, and his personal belongings.

It is necessary to monitor the processes that occur in the soul. You must watch your thoughts, because every bad deed is usually preceded by a bad thought. You should resolutely cut off everything negative, sinful, abominable, and not enter into any sinful conversations. In the Orthodox Church there is a teaching on how to fight sin at its very origin, at the level of thought.

“...The method of formation of sin from thought into deed is defined with precision by the Holy Fathers. The whole course of the matter is depicted as follows: first it happens adjective (i.e., it is unknown where a sinful thought arises), further attention(“conversation” with a sinful thought - and this is already the beginning of accepting sin), then (sinful) pleasure, behind him wish(carry out sin), then determination, and finally case(see Philotheus of Sinai. Philokalia, vol. 3, chapter 34 ff.). The longer a person allows temptation to take hold in his soul, the closer he is to falling.

A preposition is a simple representation of a thing, whether from the action of the senses or from the action of memory and imagination, presented to our consciousness. There is no sin here when the birth of images is not in our power. Sometimes, however, it gradually turns into guilt, when a seductive image is considered by the mind and a person, as it were, enters into a conversation with it.

Sometimes an object attracts attention with its novelty and amazingness, but after its uncleanness is recognized, it must be expelled, for otherwise permission will be involved. Whoever drove away a sinful thought extinguished the internal war. Delight in sinful objects is already a sin. From pleasure there is one step to desire. From desire comes determination. The person who wishes has expressed his consent to the matter, but has not yet come up with anything and has not taken any steps to achieve his goal; For those who have decided, everything has already been considered and decided; all that remains is to get down to business.

Therefore, you should avoid all kinds of “far-fetched ideas,” fantasies, and sterile imagination, especially of a sensual nature.

You should unlearn judging others. If in your presence someone is reproached or condemned, then you need to change the conversation, and if this is impossible, leave.

For everything that happens in life, you should only blame yourself, then balance, mental peace and tranquility will be established in your soul. “If everyone reproached themselves, then peace would prevail,” wrote Archbishop Arseny (Zhadanovsky), “self-reproach allows us to calmly endure insults and not feel them.”

It is useful to get rid of the habit of talking too much and arguing over trifles. It is imperative to renounce everything false, ostentatious, theatrical, all pretense, exaggeration, duplicity - that is, everything sinful, even in small things.

Can a blind man lead a blind man?

Psychotherapy traditionally treats neuroses.

The Orthodox Church has always strongly opposed all occult and magical actions. The “Book of Rules,” based on the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils and the instructions of the holy fathers and which is a set of church laws, clearly and clearly defines this activity as harmful and satanic. Naturally, therefore, no confessor dares advise turning to a healer, fortune teller or psychic for help. But turning to a professional psychotherapist for help can be a blessing. However, here the patient is often in serious danger.

Psychotherapy is a special medical specialty associated not so much with treatment in the usual sense of the word, but with the impact on the personality of the sick person, on his soul. She sets good goals for herself, strives to console a grieving person and help him find peace of mind. However, in practice, a difficult situation has arisen due to the fact that, while being in close contact with the human soul and trying to heal it, this area of ​​medicine turns out to be spiritually bankrupt and has no moral guidelines. You cannot ease the spiritual burden of another person without having your own spiritual values. “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they both fall into the pit?”(Luke 6:39).

A doctor may have a doctorate, the title of professor or academician, but this does not change the essence if he is a materialistically inclined person or holds non-Christian views. His efforts will not give the soul the necessary direction; moreover, they can lead it into the abyss of sins, and the sorrows of the sick person will only increase. How many times have people who have suffered from grief-psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, hypnotists, etc. turned to us for help?

Spiritual uncertainty, the inconsistency of psychology and psychotherapy, based on moral “pluralism,” allowed the penetration of a huge number of occult psychotechnologies - Western, Eastern and “home-grown”, which are morally unacceptable.

One of the principles of modern psychological practices is “the end justifies the means.” Doctors often give “advice” that causes obvious harm to the soul. More than once we have encountered situations where doctors suggested that patients have extramarital affairs - with the goal of supposedly normalizing family conflicts, that is, fornication was simply recommended. A person is advised to lie or manipulate people if it will benefit him (there are many similar recommendations in Dale Carnegie’s books).

The tragedy of modern science about the soul is that it indulges a person’s passions, strives in every possible way to raise his self-esteem, or focuses on meditation, mental self-regulation through states of altered consciousness. The training of future psychotherapists is carried out on an immoral basis. Thus, the computer exam test is literally full of obscenities. In order not to be unfounded, we will give an example. To the question: “What would you advise a patient with psychasthenia to read to revive his sluggish subcortex?” – correct answer: “Works by Guy de Maupassant.” Comments, as they say, are unnecessary...

The doctor does not choose his patients. Most often, people who come to see us are non-believers or those who do not know the true God - non-believers, neo-pagans. But there are many who are in search of the Truth. That is why the psychotherapist has responsibility as a doctor and a person. His task is to help a patient who is constrained by illness and conflicts, troubles and losses.

For a doctor who has devoted himself to psychotherapy, it is important to have genuine spiritual values ​​that would determine his work with patients. Without his own, let us add, Orthodox, spiritual platform, he will not be able to distinguish situational (psychosocial) and biological causes of diseases from existential, ideological ones. If at the reception there is a person whose soul seeks to find the Lord, then the Orthodox psychotherapist should help him in this.

The doctor, of course, does not replace the priest, he only precedes him, sometimes representing a “barrier” that prevents the patient from falling into even greater temptations and sins - drunkenness, fornication, suicide.

Unfortunately, today Christians are a minority among psychiatrists and psychotherapists. This, in our opinion, is one of the reasons for the low effectiveness of help for neuroses. Psychotherapy today has thousands of psychocorrective techniques. The sheer number of them suggests that psychotherapists do not know how to cure a person. True healing from mental illnesses begins with a repentant appeal to God. And in this area, most psychotherapists are complete ignoramuses.

To summarize, we can say that only that psychotherapeutic help will be effective and useful, which leads to Christ and is carried out by an Orthodox doctor or psychologist leading a Christian lifestyle. In this case, the specialist’s word will be supported by the gracious power of God and will comfort the sick person and show the way to the One who is the Truth, the Way and the Life!

Psychological self-help.

Very important in the path of psychological self-help is the patient’s correct assessment of the reasons for his own falls and mistakes. Often we try to justify ourselves and look for reasons in other people or external circumstances. Patristic wisdom teaches us never to justify ourselves, for man is by nature selfish and will always find a way to distort the true state of things to suit his alibi (for example: I may have gotten excited and been rude, but I am also a living person, but he should have... and etc., gradually becoming more and more convinced of the guilt of the other and justifying oneself).

Instead of self-justification, it is more correct blame yourself, try to understand the reasons for the fall, which usually lie in selfishness, vanity and especially pride. “Where there is a fall, pride takes root first; for pride is the harbinger of fall” (Reverend Nicodemus the Holy Mountain).

One of the effective psychological techniques is rationalization. First of all, you need to calm down, pray; then take a blank sheet of paper, a fountain pen and carefully, soberly analyze the current conflict situation, write down the main causes of the conflict and possible ways to resolve this conflict, weigh the pros and cons, consider the needs and concerns of all participants in the current misunderstanding, find the right arguments in the benefits of endurance, self-control, humility.

Along the way, you can discern some previously unnoticed circumstances and significant psychological nuances. The final stage of rationalization should be the adoption of a definite decision, since the longer the vague, ambivalent attitude towards the conflict persists, the more difficult it is to resolve it, and therefore, to restore mental balance. The enemy of our salvation is always trying to deprive us of spiritual peace, confuse us, and incline us to despondency. Let us not give in to his suggestions.

Forethought. Despite all the variety of life events, many of them are repeated many times and represent a kind of “cliché.” We know from experience that we are capable of “stumbling,” losing peace of mind, or succumbing to temptation—in the same situations. Therefore, you need to prepare yourself in advance for difficulties... Of course, it is impossible to take everything into account, but a lot can be foreseen and tried to be prevented. You should prepare not only by reflection, but also by prayer, conversation with your confessor, his advice and blessing.

Saint Theophan advises: “In the morning, after prayer, sit down and figure out what you need to do during the day, where to be, what and with whom to meet, and in relation to this, determine in advance what to think where, what to say, how to hold your soul and body and so on This means that a true Christian must “keep himself in check,” keep control over the movements of his soul, and not allow them to creep out anywhere. He must be the master of his inner state.”

Switching is a simple and effective technique. Who doesn’t know how pleasant it is to listen to church singing, read a spiritually edifying article, walk along a forest path, listen to birds singing, admire meadow flowers... One person enjoys working in the country, another enjoys meeting with friends and an evening spent in heartfelt and soulful communication etc. There are many similar recommendations; With careful attention to oneself, everyone can continue this list. The ability to relax for the benefit of the soul is wisdom that is worth mastering.

Medication assistance.

A few words about the use of medications for neuroses (tranquilizers, antidepressants). In the case of neurotic conditions, when the symptoms of the disease directly depend on psychological causes and life circumstances, medications play a supporting role, easing internal tension and dulling the severity of complaints. They are usually prescribed for a short period. The main condition for recovery will be the search for an optimal solution to the conflict, and, in spiritual terms, humility and repentance.

Herbal medicine, that is, use for medicinal purposes, helps well with neuroses and neurosis-like conditions medicinal plants

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Every person has an instinct of self-preservation, and fear is a completely natural reaction of the body to negative manifestations of the environment. However, there are situations when phobias develop into real panic and begin to interfere with an adequate perception of the current situation. At such moments a person can be helped out by the Orthodox Church.- it will not only calm and normalize his state of mind, but will also provide reliable protection from higher powers.

The benefits of prayer in relieving anxiety and fear

It is a rare person who can boast of a life devoid of emotional distress, anxiety, and fear. Fear and anxiety are familiar to anyone who has come into this world. Fear makes you afraid of some phenomena of the surrounding reality; anxiety poisons the human soul with the expectation of something unpleasant, with a bad feeling.

According to the Orthodox Church, every representative of the human race was sent by the Lord to this world to enjoy life, enjoy God's gifts, His mercy, and lead their existence calmly and moderately. However, all kinds of phobias and anxieties hinder a full life, because they belong to negative types of internal state.

Fear and anxiety force a person to be in constant stress, undermine his health, and negatively affect his overall life expectancy. If people want to truly enjoy their existence and stay in this world until they are very old, they should, first of all, learn to live without fear, without experiences that torment and weaken the soul.

Faith in God, on the contrary, takes care of the soul of a layman and strengthens it, bringing it closer to the life that the Creator bequeathed for his sons and daughters. Therefore, Orthodox prayer for fear and anxiety is the best way to get rid of negative experiences. The sacred and wise words of prayer texts instill confidence in a person, give him peace and tranquility, and contribute to a sober assessment of the situation that has caused a feeling of horror and anxiety. Under the influence of prayer, he begins to approach difficult life situations more calmly and quickly finds the right solution.

Prayer for fear and anxiety: the most powerful Orthodox texts

There are several Christian prayers that help eliminate obsessive feelings of anxiety and fear. Many of them are widely known. Prayer for fear and anxiety can be long or short, and can be used in certain situations that deprive a person of calm and serenity.

The most famous and widespread Orthodox prayer texts that relieve anxiety and feelings of horror are:

1. From the short category : “Song of the Mother of God”, “Prayer to the Honest Cross”, , “Prayer to the Almighty for fear and anxiety”.
2. Prayers with longer text : “ “ , “ ” , “ ” , “ ” , “Kontakion of the Most Holy Mother of God from anxiety and fear”, “ ” .

Song to the Mother of God

This is a prayer that helps eliminate obsessive thoughts and fear that arise for no apparent reason. The text should be read at least three times:

Prayer to the Honest Cross

A short prayer that can relieve anxiety and fear. It can be used in any situation:

Prayer for fear and anxiety to the Lord God

This prayer is suitable for reading at any moment, filling the soul with restlessness and making the heart pound in horror. The text is as follows:

Lord's Prayer

“Our Father” is one of the most powerful Christian prayers, the pronunciation of which has no restrictions. If you are overcome by anxiety and fear, read the Lord's Prayer as often as possible. If feelings of horror and anxiety visit you mainly at night, it is recommended to say “Our Father” at least 40 times before going to bed. Text:

Prayer to the Guardian Angel

A prayer directed to your personal heavenly protector - the Guardian Angel - eliminates many phobias and protects you from all kinds of troubles and misfortunes. It should be recited in moments of anxiety and fear, as well as every evening or night, before leaving for the kingdom of dreams. Text:

Psalm 90

“Alive in the help of the Most High” is an Orthodox prayer that has powerful protective properties. In moments of anxiety and foreboding, it can help no worse than the most powerful sedative, put thoughts in order, and give peace of mind. Text:

“May God rise again...”

The prayer “May God rise again” in times of fear and danger can act as a powerful protective shield. Text:

Listen also to prayers for fear and anxiety in this video:

Kontakion to the Most Holy Theotokos from worries and fears

Regular recitation of the Kontakion to the Blessed Virgin Mary helps to get rid of fears and anxieties. Text:

Morning prayer of the Optina elders

The prayer of the Optina elders at the beginning of the day has proven itself well in the fight against worries and worries. You need to read it every day, in the morning (can be part of the morning prayer rule). Text:

When and how to say a prayer for fear and anxiety

A person’s daily life is full of surprises, and not always pleasant ones. It often involves difficult situations, and stress can strike at any moment. It is not surprising that all kinds of fears and anxieties have long become an integral part of human existence. The worst thing is if they develop into panic. At such moments, a person ceases to control himself, his mental and physical strength fails him, he becomes defenseless and weak. All this could end quite badly. Therefore, prayer for fear and anxiety should take its rightful place in the life of every believer. It can help out in a variety of situations, namely:

• when a person experiences fear;
• when the ability to concentrate is lost due to horror;
• when panic overcomes;

• when inexplicable and causeless anxiety attacks;
• when fear becomes paralyzing.

It is better to know prayer texts by heart - this will help you concentrate better in dangerous and critical circumstances, quickly pull yourself together, confront your phobias and worries in time and get rid of them faster. If it is quite difficult to learn voluminous texts, then at least one short prayer for fear and anxiety from those presented above should always be stored in your memory arsenal. You need to pronounce protective words clearly, without haste, with comprehension and understanding, and, preferably, out loud - there will be no benefit from indistinct muttering.

It is useful to include visualization: imagine an image of your fear in your imagination and gradually mentally destroy it in any convenient way (tear it to shreds, dissolve, etc.). It is not forbidden to pray by candlelight - their flame will help you calm down and concentrate.

The most basic thing that is required when saying a prayer for fear and anxiety is sincere faith in God and heavenly powers. A prayer text pronounced with pure and unshakable faith in the soul will certainly be heard by the Creator and His helpers.