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Re: Lou's reply to Dena's post-11K

Posted by Dena on March 6, 2003, at 16:07:41

In reply to Re: Lou's reply to Dena's post-11K » Dena, posted by Lou Pilder on March 6, 2003, at 15:18:15

Lou,

You know, I'm not sure if I ever heard that bulimia is a form of OCD. Funny, I saw over 20 different mental health specialists (psychaitrists, psychologists, LCSW's, etc.) & spent 30 days each in five different in-patient treatment centers, & no one ever referred to me as having OCD. You've given me something to ponder...

In light of this new insight, let's see if I can address your original question: "Could there be,in your opinion, a neurobiological origin for someone to have OCD without environmental influances?"

I'm glad you're specifically asking for my opinion, because I'm certainly no expert. In my own belief system, the human being is a whole: there aren't definitive boundaries between the mind, the soul & the body. They're all interconnected, influencing each other in ways we have barely begun to understand in science.
But I do believe that we can inherit tendencies from our family line. You may have noticed that conditions such as alcoholism, or depression, seem to "run" down the family tree. I've been taught that such things are, in part, biochemical, and, in part, spiritual (as in the many references in scripture to the "sins of the fathers" being passed down through future generations). As far as which caused which (biochemical vs. spiritual), who knows? But my suspicion, my own opinion, is that the spiritual (i.e., sins of the fathers), had an effect upon the biochemical. It's further my opinion that one of the "treatments" for such conditions is to break the curses off the family tree, a generational healing if you will. My own family is undergoing a process of searching through our two different family trees (mine & my husband's), to discover any "inherited sins" or conditions that appear to be curses. We'll then attend a Eucharist service that will be dedicated to cleansing our histories so that any spiritually-inherited tendencies of sin will be broken off from us, and from future generations. I've discovered the following "curses" in my own family tree: alcoholism, depression, gluttony, anti-semitism, & murder (an ancestor in the early 1800's attacked native Americans)to name a few. My husband & I will be confessing & repenting on behalf of our ancestors, repenting for our own sins as a result of our spiritual inheritance, & asking for God's mercy in severing the generational curses.

But then, I still believe (still my own opinion, here) that we will have the responsibility of keeping guard in those areas which were previously a problem. I don't want to take the mercy of God for granted & behave irresponsibly (for instance, even though I've been completely healed of bulimia - it just doesn't even occur to me anymore - I take care to choose to eat wisely, taking care of my body's needs rather than eating in a gluttonous way).

Back to your question, I also believe that we are greatly affected by our environments. I don't know anyone who had a truly "good" childhood. Meaning, I don't know anyone who got absolutely everything they needed (unconditional love, complete acceptance, encouragement, understanding, someone always "being there", never being disappointed or deprived in any way, etc.) Many people sufferred incredible abuse by their parents or others. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that we all get handed a raw deal, one way or another. But we've got to play the hand we're dealt. My belief system helps me here... I believe that God is sovereign, that He sees the big picture (while my own vision/understanding is so limited). I believe that He loves me & has a pefect plan for my life that extends into eternity. I believe that he's given me the life I need in order to learn lessons that will transform me into the person who can best live out the life He's planned for me. I believe that even what appears to be bad, from my perspective, can be worked out by God to be for my good. I believe that even suffering can be used to transform my life into something good. I believe that I prpobablly won't know how this all works out for my good until I meet God on the other side of this life. That's what my faith is about - believing that God is good & that I can trust Him, regardless of what comes my way. That's the essence of my faith - trusting in God's good nature, despite the seeming "evidences" to the contrary. Trusting in Him even when He doesn't make sense to my limited understanding.

So, in my opinion, yes, I believe that our problems (including OCD)can be biochemical/neurobiological in nature, even before we are influenced by our environments. But I believe, again, in my own opinion, that God provides a way of having victory over both our inherited tendancies & our environments, so that we don't have to settle for being a victim of either.

Hope this was clear...

Shalom, Dena


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poster:Dena thread:200824
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20021227/msgs/206565.html