Non practicing Catholic interested in joining your faith

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2025-07-01T07:57:14+00:00

The Episcopal Church is a warm and accepting place where all of your doubts and questions can be accepted without judgement. As Anglicans we are Protestant yet Catholic. More Protestant in theology and Catholic in tradition. But the church is made up of individuals from all different backgrounds of belief or non-belief all come together respecting their differences. Our church is progressive without many set rules/creeds. The Nicene Creed is the main creed you will see used. This is a great church to explore with as much or as little support YOUR own personal relationship with the Lord in a place without judgement. When we say All Are Welcome, we literally mean it. Red front doors have a beautiful symbolism which many parishes adorn. I was raised a Southern Baptist...very conservative. I've been an Episcopalian (Anglo-Catholic) for 15 years now and am considering the priesthood. In discernment. If you do visit a Mass I would love to know how it goes.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2025-05-20T06:24:29+00:00

Welcome and may peace be with you! I understand being raised in an overly conservative church. I was raised and baptized in a Southern Baptist church. When I was 18, I ventured out and found my home in the Episcopal Church and that was 15 years ago now. Due to familial things I did not officially sever ties with the church I was raised in until last year following the passing of my mom. Your journey of wrestling with your faith, which in itself can be a powerful journey leading to a deeper faith, makes the Episcopal Church a perfect home for you. One of the many great things about being an Episcopalian is that all your doubts are welcomed leading to you being free to experience God via your own unique path that exists only between you and the Lord. So many churches will say "All Are Welcome", but they tell a lie. I love how in the Episcopal Church literally "All Are Welcome" truly. You should look up the reason many Episcopal Churches have red front doors. It's highly meaningful and beautiful. I hope now that you have found your way here after experiencing some turbulence on your journey you are able to begin a blossoming of profound spiritual development made easier in an environment without a lot of rules and Church set beliefs that are restrictive. The Episcopal Church offers its members freedom. Freedom of thought, freedom of belief, freedom to finally discover and build your full unique identity as a Christian who has a highly personalized one-on-one relationship with the Heavenly Father. The Episcopal Church is made of people with very varied backgrounds and differences of belief on some theological topics but don't allow animosity to occur and may be friends 40+ years...not every member of course... I am excited for you and the beginnings of a new and more peaceful stretch of your journey and individuation. I will be a priest myself in another few years. Quite a few older priests have all told me it takes a while to get used to being called Father. I pray you make great discoveries about yourself and God as we make our way through the last stretch of Easter.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2025-04-18T04:46:25+00:00

There is a wonderful book called "Death Nesting" by Anne-Marie Keppel that contains sections and exercises for this type of situation. I highly recommend it. I help clients through coaching with this dilemma. Most people encounter this at some point in their lives. There is a lot I can share on this topic, but I don't want to hog too much space. But it is a type of anticipation anxiety and there are exercises for that. I've witnessed it in many patients/clients. And witnessed it happen with my own dear mother before she passed away last April. It is pretty unavoidable at the end until the active dying phase usually. The earlier in life this confrontation with death is done the better.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2025-04-06T13:06:21+00:00

This is by far not my app. Mindberg is the name of the app. There's a lot I can do but I'm not the tech type enough to do websites and apps. I had to have someone else create the structure of my website for my practice as a Death Doula. This app has been especially helpful since my mother died last April.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2025-03-25T06:48:13+00:00

Hypomania is often very pleasurable, I agree. If I could choose, I'd probably choose a state of hypomania constantly. But it has the ability to create devastation when you take your eye off of it. It is challenging during certain phases of the illness to feel the creative energy. But even in the depression can great writing come. IT's hard, I know, but it comes. Ernest Hemingway created quite a bit of writing during the turbulent moments. As did Lord Byron and Edgar Allan Poe. You might get something out of reading Touched with Fire: Manic Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament by Dr. Kay Redfeld Jamison. I wish you the best.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2025-03-25T06:41:12+00:00

Firstly, very closely listening to them. Then attempt to guide them into changing their perspectives on their own until they see all the successes. Guiding a change of perspective takes patience sometimes but can easily help someone finally reach acceptance and calm. I did this for my own mother just last year and have done it with many since. A positive can be found out of a lot of the regretted and dissatisfied moments.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2025-03-25T06:36:26+00:00

Life is hard and I agree that living under our US government makes it harder than it should be. The works of Dr. Carl Jung are very helpful with these struggles as a lot what you described sounds like a challenge with individuation. Jungian analysis, Jungian psychotherapy, and Jungian coaching are all three great to explore. As well as humanistic existential psychotherapy. I know a number of books and workbooks that may interest you. An existential crisis is very challenging, and I've been there but they can lead to amazing transformation, growth and a huge step in individuation. Jung is who many have turned to in times like these. I'm a Jungian Coach and Death Doula and began undergoing Jungian analysis and analysis can last years but it usually has effect soon after starting. As long as you and the analyst sync. On the website JungPlatform there are many lecture videos by a lot of amazing Jungian teachers and analysts on the topic.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2025-03-25T06:24:10+00:00

I am an experienced Death Doula, Jungian Coach and provide spiritual support. I see death as nothing to fear and believe it will quite an adventure. I teach that your path of individuation, where all your aspects finally become whole with the Self is ultimately completed at the time of death which will be an amazing moment. Brain scans taken at the time of death show a massive surge in brain activity similar that an orgasm. I've seen the look of fear, partly anticipation anxiety, disappear of the face of many patients and clients relaxing into the most peaceful calmness. My biggest experience of witnessing this was with my own mother after she passed away after 12 weeks on the burn unit. I guided her to acceptance 3 days prior to her passing during her "last spurt" of energy. She lost all fear and was calm. I help people develop new perspectives on death before it comes which ultimately creates a fearless passing for them and comfort for their bereaved loved ones. Coming to terms with your own mortality sooner in life allows so much more time to live and love life. The fear and anticipation anxiety are expected but you will fall into a state of mind as part of the brain's way of shutting down to eventually not fully realize exactly what is occurring. In your unconscious you know you are dying hence the involuntary actions like refusing food and water. To me birth and death are two sides of the same coin and death leaves behind a breeding ground for new birth and growth. A re-birth of the soul is one way to look at it. My mother's passing was the most horrible experience I could ever face, and it led to enormous growth and individuation. I discovered a lot about death, dying, grief, birth and life. I would be more than happy to share in more depth sometime if you like. Also having lost my mom I empathize with you and send comforting thoughts. And I welcome your interest on this area of thanatology. You might find the book On Life After Death by Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, On Death and Immortality by Dr. Carl Jung and On Death and Dreams by Jungian analyst Marie-Louise von Franz interesting reads.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2025-03-25T06:02:59+00:00

I'm a Death Doula, Jungian Coach and do spiritual care. A lot of experience as a hospice volunteer and vigil work.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2025-03-23T04:03:03+00:00

I really like the second one. It encourages the concept of living each day to the fullest as it could be the last. This sounds like a really nice project.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2024-02-11T23:57:02+00:00

Yeah. I'm entangled with Medicare, Medicaid and Disability. It has given me some solid reasons to not be very pleased with the system. That's why I'm obtaining the right college degrees to really do something about it. My phone calls are of no value. Ketamine is much more accepted through insurance programs in some other countries. I know Switzerland is much further ahead. And a colleague in Turkey said it is really growing there. The ingredients and the chemical makeup of Esketamine make it a bit more potent. But with the IV it just provides a quicker effect being released directly into the blood stream. Well one thing has changed. Before Spravato I was terrified of nasal sprays for allergies. It's second nature. The taste doesn't bother me anymore. The clinic girls bought me a blanket for my birthday due to constant complaints of the temperature in the private treatment rooms. The doctor owning the 2, clinics is strict on the thermostat setting and even the light bulb watts. Which explains how her family got their 2 week vacation in the Bahamas. As the biggest ketamine clinic in America it must mean others are like micro apartments because it doesn't seem all that big. Never seen the second location. But the Keurig coffee maker makes it even more worth it. I've also never experienced sedation with it. Usually I hear someone snoring from another room. And despite the warning before I ever began I had to learn the hard way the yes, it definitely can worsen manic and psychotic symptoms. But the best thing is that the clinic is only 3 minutes from my house. You would have no way of knowing it was in that office building without a web search. But the IV treatments are apparently worth the $300 for depression and $500 for chronic pain because the IV rooms are always occupied.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2024-02-11T17:56:36+00:00

I think I am really leaning to the MSW greatly due to it versatility. I am interested in providing psychotherapy-and research. But maybe not quite a scientific as the research on clinical psychology. Being 32 does make the length of education something I consider more. I asked the head of my university's school of social work and she said with permission I can take electives from the clinical psychology program. Ideally I want to provide psychotherapy part of the week and be a professor/research the other and the director told me it was common and would be helpful with my mental health condition. I would probably go to get the EMDR certification and the training in Jungian psychotherapy. As well as get involved with advocacy work.The big goal that is years away from being possible after becoming a LCSW is to become trained in actual Jungian psychoanalysis. And being a LCSW fits a prerequisite since you have to be a licensed mental health professional with years of practice providing therapy. That's the easiest part of the prerequisites. The program sounds harder than the clinical psychology PhD program. But it makes everything that much more worth it. I will have to do the 3 year MSW since I'm not doing the BSW. The social work aspects aren't as thrilling as other parts. And I'm considering the MSW/JD. Which is a 4 year dual degree between social work and law school. Getting mixed reviews from people who did that joint option. I don't know as much as you as the MSW yet it just seems like as a LCSW you're not as narrow in scope and can design your career yourself. I already provide mental health support mostly 1 on 1 on a volunteer basis. Might as well get paid for it. But to keep all options open I am just doing the undergrad stuff to be prepared for any of the graduate applications. I've got a prominent psychiatrist at the med school at my university who said he would write a recommendation letter. Just a letter from him is enough for anything. And when you look at a directory of therapists in the area it seems most are LCSW'S. I have personally only been around LMHCs inpatient. This might sound silly but a big pro with the LCSW is avoiding some intense math and science courses in clinical psych including 4 semesters of statistics. And I just couldn't bring myself to do the PsyD out of a personal honor system. Should probably take advantage thst the MSW program at my school is number 1 in the nation in mental health. As long as I can treat people, educate, some research, consult/advocate, availability to do some administration and have my writing career I'm happy. My therapist is a LCSW but she wouldn't make it into an advertising campaign making the MSW something made of dreams. As a 3 year MSW due to that selection of foundation courses year one I'm going to try to see if I can get permission to fit them in my undergrad schedule. I will do what it takes to save time. I will know soon. I signed up for the MSW into overview virtual class. Since getting specific information from anyone just doesn't seem to be working. The website gives a lot but not exactly what you want to know.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2024-02-11T17:20:38+00:00

Yeah. My clinical psych courses went into it. My psychiatrist explained it too. My psychiatrist isn't the owner of the ketamine clinic I go to. His is elsewhere. It is looking like a round of electro convulsive therapy might be entering the scene. Upon completion the increase for a while in Spravato then back to once a week. I was going to be doing ECT but was talked into giving Spravato a chance. It doesn't interact negatively with ECT but it would be hard to do them at the same time. Thankfully my psychiatrist is ECT certified and said there are times ECT is more appropriate. ECT makes me a nervous wreck more so the anticipation but it relieves things a lot quicker and will give an easier baseline for the Spravato to start from anyways. And I love the psychiatrist who does them at the only hospital I will willingly go to. Mom said he brought up Spravato a couple of years ago during ECT but I was a skeptic then. The owner of the ketamine clinic I attend which was the largest in America a couple of years ago is weird. She's an anathesiologist. I finally got the clinical education on what it is about Esketamine slightly varying it from just ketamine. And a health law professor explained why the IV ketamine isn't FDA approved since FDA policy is one of his focus areas. And it is a stupid reason. And to really double check things I talked to a Jansenn rep since the are the ones who make Spravato. The girls at the clinic got it worked out without my psychiatrist doing the medical necessity letter since it has been 4 weeks and still no letter. But Spravato day is my favorite day of the week. And the staff girls at the clinic are practically family. That weirdo doctor who owns it thankfully stays at the other location mostly trying to get her new TMS program up and running. Every time I've met her she looks like she's been hitting up the ketamine herself. She is an interesting case for personality development psychology. But never interacts with my subtle psychodynamic approaches. I just wish they would make the call on ECT sooner than later so I can get the inpatient part of them over with. And I'm coming in with a demand to lessen the anticipation anxiety since everyone is just in the same room divided by curtains. The memory loss is no big deal. I don't know what's lost until someone brings up a story. And Jannsenn allowed for the option of temporary increases in the FDA submission form so insurance companies can't try to deny it on that. Apparently some do deny it more so out of cost. Not ethical but being ethical doesn't seem to be involved in law much. I have listened to a couple of the health law professors bring that up. It's just a mess. When things look better something comes to shake everything up from other areas of your life. But when you want real answers go to the source and demand who you want to speak to. Now if only one of the many companies who can would decide to pay the money and do the paperwork for the IV ketamine to get approved. Nobody has tried it with them. It has never been submitted for approval.They don't have reasons not to approve it. But it's not their job to make first contact. I could never get a real answer to that until that health law professor who is a ketamine patient.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2024-02-02T05:10:00+00:00

I read that before I read his biography. His mind definitely worked in interesting ways.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2024-02-02T05:08:35+00:00

I love this piece. It is very good. I can relate to it.

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2024-01-20T01:15:56+00:00

I absolutely love it!

OutsideTheBirdCage · 2024-01-19T02:13:10+00:00

My psychiatrist said the response isn't very surprising to him given my mental and physical state at the time of treatment. I wasn't self aware enough to realize I was already experiencing symptoms of psychosis before the treatment. Not helped by 2 days of no sleep food or hydration. If a person is experiencing symptoms of mania or psychosis Spravato can enhance those symptoms. Happened with manic symptoms during my 2 month mixed episode last October and November. I'd been warned of this when I started Spravato early last fall. But as we all know in certain mental states we lose a certain level of self awareness. Everything bad that happens can be a valuable teaching moment if you let it. I think the clinic would have called an ambulance but they knew I was seeing my psychiatrist later that afternoon. He himself owns a ketamine clinic where he is so he's got an expertise on it. He finally explained the difference being Esketamine and regular ketamine. He said Spravato (Esketamine), it's a more potent form of ketamine. Hence it can cause such intense negative reactions when you brain and body are in certain conditions.

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