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Psychiatry on monasteries

YacababyYacababy
edited April 2011 in General Banter
Just wondering does anyone know if nuns and monks are able to receive psychiatric medicine while on a monastery? How do they afford it? I hope to become the nun and this is a great concern for me... Any insight would be beautiful
With love Jen

Comments

  • VincenziVincenzi Veteran
    Why would monks want to use neuroleptics?
  • YacababyYacababy
    I'm not saying they want to. I am saying I need psychiatric drugs to function but I want to become a nun so I want to know if this is possible.
  • VincenziVincenzi Veteran
    I guess it is part of medical expenses, which (I think) are paid by the community in buddhist countries.

    ...but it is weird thinking of a buddhist monk on prozac.
  • YacababyYacababy
    I know .... But it is my dream to become a nun. I cannot help that I am chemically imbalanced. .... I just fear the worst I suppose. Sorry if I seemed snippy I am just used to people questioning my mental health and telling me I'm not really sick... I was on defense before anything happened. :rolleyes:
  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    edited April 2011
    Why would the nunnery deny you medication that you need in order to function? That would hardly be compassionate, would it? Of course you can get what you need.
  • RenGalskapRenGalskap Veteran
    Check with the individual organization or individual monastery. As far as I know, no major Buddhist groups have any rules against medicine prescribed by a qualified physician, but there may be exceptions. Also, a monastery with limited funds may be reluctant to take on a new member who needs expensive medicine. (I don't know what your medicine costs; I'm just pointing out that there are economic factors involved.)
  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    Couldn't she have her family mail her prescription to her?
  • Malachy12Malachy12
    @Vincenzi ... neuroleptics? Those are anti-psychotics... quite different from SSRI's or MAOI's
  • Malachy12Malachy12
    The monastery near me has a healthcare plan for the monks... I'm sure you would be covered.
  • Malachy12Malachy12
    If you take SSRI's then Celexa out of pocket is like... 4$ a prescription. It depends on the med, but they aren't usually that expensive. I'm sure you could afford it (sorry... I'm getting all nurse student on you lol).
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited April 2011
    I am interested in raising consciousness for the mentally ill. I believe that much like other people who are considered as elements of diversity the mentally ill do also. Violence and mental illness are not synonoymous. You can look at the DSM IV to see what mental illnesses and personality disorders typically exhibit.

    My meds cost about 400 - 500 dollars a month. About 150 with my insurance which the premium is much less than what I save.
  • Malachy12Malachy12
    I'm sorry again. I take issue with the implication that Buddhism solves all psychiatric problems. There are chemical imbalances out there that are not simply solved by religion. It really reminds me of the Jehova's Witness parents that refused a blood transfusion for their child because their beliefs were at odds with the treatment. Yacababy... please remember that personal beliefs are one facet to health, and the other is biology. The brain is a complex organ, just like other organs in your body. If you do well on medication, then stick with it. There are a lot of amateurs out there that read news articles online, and convince themselves that nobody needs medication. However, you know your body better than anyone else. If you have a family history of depressed seratonin or an imbalance of norepinephrine... then please follow the advice of your doctor. The monks near me see dentists, doctors etc. When they need a surgery they go home to Thailand... because it's more affordable.
  • Malachy12Malachy12
    One more time I apologize. I wish people who do not have any background in biology, anatomy, health,or pharmacology would refrain from making assumptions. Many people do not seek the help they need because society is quick to pass ill-informed judgment, or give ill-informed advice. Yacababy, nothing is stopping you from being a nun if you wish. If you are truly curious, you should call the monastery you are interested in and ask them how they handle health problems. Some places have insurance, and others struggle to pay out of pocket. It really varies. You should also find out the cost of your current medication, and if it something that could be switched to a cheaper form. Best wishes to you, don't get discouraged and think you are not proper or good enough to become a nun if you wish :) Remember that monks and nuns are human, not divine creatures that are better than the rest of society. They are regular joes like everyone else.
  • YacababyYacababy
    Thanks guys! I feel so much better now :) I agree that Buddhism will nor solve my chemically confused brain but perhaps by learning to deal with anxiety better I can cut down(I take 5 different pills a day) but anyways I feel much more hopeful. I take mostly generics so I don't think the cost would be terrible.
  • SabreSabre Veteran
    edited April 2011
    Dear Jen,

    Buddhist meditation has shown in various research to decrease anxiety, so maybe after some time you can indeed cut down on your pills.

    I'd advise you to not get worried about the future as a nun. I'm sure there will be many monasteries that accept ordination of people who are on medicine. Besides that, most monasteries give the opportunity to practice along, living the nuns life while still being a lay person. That way you can check out for a while if it suits you. Maybe it won't be that great after all, who knows? :)

    If you really want this, I think it can be a great step, but don't worry about it too much. Take it easy, gently let your life flow into a monastic life I think is better than a sudden change. At least, that's what I'm doing now personally. :D

    With metta,
    Sabre
  • YacababyYacababy
    Thanks Sabre, with your calming words ^_^ so you plan on being ordained? I never thought in my life I would be a nun but gee golly gosh I hope I hope I can be. I will just try to relax, practice my meditation and let it happen.
  • SabreSabre Veteran
    edited April 2011
    Hi Yen,

    Yes, I am thinking about it. It feels like the best step to cultivate my peace and love towards others, but still have many stuff to take care of first. It would be a life changing step of course. Not something one should just jump into as a blind leap of faith, so I'm gently working towards it. It's sometimes easy to get caught up in the idea, planning all kinds of things, imagining what it will be like and what the difficulties will be, etc, while totally forgetting I still have a life to live and I can do that mindful too. Probably you recognize this. ;)

    The Buddha said: Don't worry about the future, you can never know what it is going to be like. But our mind often works by planning all kinds of things and we can slowly overcome that by meditation.

    The right directions and decisions will come when they are needed. No need to hurry :) Keep meditating in daily life, and that daily life itself will become more peaceful.


    Metta,
    Sabre
  • VincenziVincenzi Veteran
    @Jeffrey

    the DSM is not scientific, why follow its "advice"?
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited April 2011
    The DSM is a carefully compiled directory of different psychiatric and mental disorders. It doesn't have to be 'scientific' it is merely required to be informative, accurate and up to date. Which it is.

    @Vincenzi, we all pretty much know that you completely refute the idea of any mental disorder being genuine, and any professional medical body being reliable, trustworthy or honest.
    So please don't start being argumentative, controversial or contrary.
    Leave it be, ok?

    Thanks.
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    Buddhist meditation has shown in various research to decrease anxiety, so maybe after some time you can indeed cut down on your pills.
    Is it possible to do that with bipolar disorder? Are there studies on Buddhist meditation and bipolar disorder?

  • YacababyYacababy
    Sherab, I am not sure and by that mean positive that Buddhism could not treat bi polar. I do believe however that it could make certain aspects of it more manageable. It has already helped my anxiety and depression quite a bit. It's still there but I don't allow it to own me. :)
  • PeaceandLovePeaceandLove
    Why would they not be able too.... err
  • YacababyYacababy
    What do you mean P&L?
  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    Yacababy, I have only one question for you. You speak of becoming a nun and going to a "monastery". I hope that what you mean is a nunnery. In the instances I know of where monks and nuns were housed in the same facility, even if in separate wings, the arrangement worked out disasterously for the nuns.
  • YacababyYacababy
    I apologize CW you are correct ^_^ ...... I still have a lot to learn. This may make me sound flimsy and unsure but I am more than sure of what I want to do... I just need to do more research. I appreciate the correction.
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