Religion

for mental health reasons and religion played a major part in it. The internist who admitted me told my family and I that those who came from a strict religious upbringing were more likely to experience temporary psychosis when severally depressed.

One of my therapists also told me that Catholics have one of the highest rates of depression and a large number seek therapy.

My mother was a strong believer in the faith, but wasn't strict about it.However she and my grandmothers, and my Godmother insisted on sending me to Catholic School from grades K through 8 that's where the primary damage was done. There were beatings, belittlement, and we were made to feel guilty for even drawing breath. The possibility of our being doomed to hell was brought up constantly. I have been in treatment for many years and I am still not totally healed from it.

I still believe in God, Jesus, and the Saints, but I no longer have faith in any organized religion. I believe they pervert the message of Jesus for their own power and financial gain.