valrezza

Would you marry someone who had gone through mental illness (depression, mood disorder, almost-homosexuality) in the past (not anymore), and had a history of schizophrenia in the family ??

Will it significantly make life harder? is it something prayer can overcome?

What do the Writings have to say about this? Personal experiences?

IndistinctDreamer

I would say that is something only you can decide on. There are a few quotes I would link but I cannot remember them off the top of my head. Through prayer anything can be overcome.

Zhang

I have to get back to work, but i'll try to comment as much as possible.

In my field (neurobiology) I have seen some crazy things with regards to schizophrenia. A few studies I found seemed to suggest that patients where able to meditate their condition away (or significantly) through a rigourous mindfullness meditation over 8 weeks or so...

Obviously the science isn't conclusive but it is fascinating none-the-less.
Depression - Therapy. Mood disorder - Therapy and/or Chemical suppliment. Almost-Homosexuality...sorry no treatment there. Not even sure what you mean...bisexual? No problem just go for the opposite sex? xD

But if there is a family history of homosexuality, I would be interested in studying them. And if there is, it really doesn't matter, who cares who you are attracted to!

Probably not, but meditation seems to be worth a shot. Contact a local Bhuddist! (There are tons where I live :P)

Let me know what you think.

-张

Jak08

I have been diagnosed with a variety of different mental disorders (bi-polar 2, dysthymia (this is a chronic form of mild depression), ADHD, and some unnamed sleeping problem). For these I have gone through years of therapy plus chemical supplements. Long term relationships are difficult for me and the knowledge that some if not all of these can be inherited by any children I have is something I have thought a lot about. I very much want a life lasting relationship but it is a little more difficult as far as children go so far the best thing I can think of is adoption.

Obviously these decisions are yours and your SO's alone to make, but I wouldn't take the possibility of marriage off the table.

Pollwr

"Mental illness" is a very wide umbrella! Most people are affected by some mental illness at some point in their lives. Certainly depression is very common and can vary in the way if affects a person and in duration. Lots of people marry someone who has no sign of mental illness only to have one develop later on and we don't always know about family history.

It is a big issue. The decision that you make may depend more on your attitudes to mental illness and your confidence in your own ability to be a support to your friend in times of need. Families are also complex. I don't know what you mean by a family history of schizophrenia in the family. If that involves close relatives such as parents or siblings you may find your friend has a responsibility to help these relatives and that commitment may strengthen or weaken a relationship.

If you are discussing these issues honestly as you get to know your friend and think about marriage that is a good thing.

I have always been intrigued by this quotation

Disease of Two Kinds -- Madness Can be Cured Through Prayer

"Disease is of two kinds: material and spiritual. Take for instance, a cut hand; if you pray for the cut to be healed and do not stop its bleeding, you will not do much good; a material remedy is needed. "Sometimes if the nervous system is paralysed through fear, a spiritual remedy is necessary. Madness, incurable otherwise, can be cured through prayer. It often happens that sorrow makes one ill, this can be cured by spiritual means."

('Abdu'l-Bahá in London, Addresses and Notes of Conversations, 1982 ed., p. 65)

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 281)

I had a friend who suffered a lot with mental illness. I prayed a lot and so did my friend over a period of about 20 years. My friend's life was cut short by a physical disease and certainly in the year prior to this untimely death my friend did seem free of mental illness. However I would observe that prayer certainly has not guarantee of quick cure. My friend was also treated by conventional medical means. There is no way for me to tell if my friend was cured and that the illness would not have returned had they not died. I believe they were but I am not a detatched medical specialist so I don't know for sure. Certainly the illness did not get in the way of our friendship.

Prayer is powerful but sometimes that power seems to me to come from how it helps us cope with a situation rather than necessarily changing the situation.

Zhang mentions meditation and that is also a powerful tool.

valrezza

Thank you SO MUCH Pollwr. This gives me hope. Does anyone know any other Baha'i (or quotes from past religions) about madness/mental illness and the healing power of prayer?
Do you know any Baha'i books that would help or be good to read?

What is Zhang meditation?

Pollwr

Zhang is a member of this forum who suggested meditation futher up the thread. Maybe you misread a sentence!?

Zhang

The most deeply profound meditation of all time. Not even the Buddhas understand it. :P

Well, religion is full of it. Jesus said you could pray for anything. But as for scientific research, I have looked into it in the past and it is an area of research that people avoid, almost no studies have been done on it. The ones that have aren't really relevant.

BUT, on my lunch break I went ahead and looked at the other studies with regards to meditation and schizophrenia, and it really is fascinating. The brain increases the amount of white matter during meditation, which is really remarkable. Controlling the body at the cellular level with the mind. <:O

arthra

The thing I would emphasize is the criteria for marriage in the first place..if that criteria is met then it would seem the rest would not be as difficult ...but here is the criteria:

As to the question of marriage, according to the law of God: First you must select one, and then it depends on the consent of the father and mother. Before your selection they have no right of interference.

Bahá'í marriage is union and cordial affection between the two parties. They must, however, exercise the utmost care and become acquainted with each other's character. This eternal bond should be made secure by a firm covenant, and the intention should be to foster harmony, fellowship and unity and to attain everlasting life...

In a true Bahá'í marriage the two parties must become fully united both spiritually and physically, so that they may attain eternal union throughout all the worlds of God, and improve the spiritual life of each other. This is Bahá'í matrimony.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 372