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Doctor Says to Pray Away My Ailments

Sigh ... I just got back from the Doctor. Apparently the best way to get rid of my anxiety disorder and panic attacks is to pray them away! Ridiculous.

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Comment by Jeremy Raines on August 19, 2011 at 12:00pm: Picturing Jenny in Forrest Gump:

"Pray with me Forrest! Dear God, make me a bird, so I can fly far, far, far away from here!"

Comment by Richard Healy on August 18, 2011 at 2:11am: Agree with a pleasent nod

and then in a serious tone and level tone request that they bring to you in a live goat for a blood-sacrifice while you make an offering to the GREAT GOD IM-HO-TEP.

And really boom that last part, and possibly roll your eyes and gesticulate strangely.

Comment by Elyse on August 17, 2011 at 6:45pm: He doesn't happen to do some rotations at a local hospital system, does he? If so and that hospital is secular, I'd be on the phone with them complaining. I've had a similar experience (I was told I need to pray more to get rid of a painful, 4cm cyst pushing against my sciatica), and the doctor was fined, and later the next year he was fully dropped from the hospital. I chose him because his office was listed with affiliation with that hospital.

Comment by cyndi rocha on August 17, 2011 at 6:23pm: My son was operated last week and the staff that was there kept on insisting that "we pray together. " what a, bunch of crap. I said so if he comes out fine it's a miracle or if something bad happened it's gods will rigjt. Just leave me alone. I confide in my sons doctors and the training they have gotyen. Thank you but no thx. Agh

Comment by Taryn Pen on August 17, 2011 at 4:21pm: You guys are hysterical!! I have only seen him a few times but I should have known by the new patient questionnaire. The last series of questions had to do with religion, abortion, aids etc. The medical center is not advertised as a "god facility". Even the medical assistant talked to me about god. After an hour and a half wait, I began to panic. It may have been anger that couldn't find an outlet. The receptionist had called and asked me to come in a half hour early ... to then wait an hour and a half. After I had an episode the doc finally popped his head in and said "Just a minute". 20 minutes later, I flipped. All I wanted was my ears checked and some med refills.

He apologized and said he had a gift for me. Through my tears I could make out the title "May God Bless You". He began to tell me how the holy spirit came down and forced his hand to write. I was silent. He inscribed the book to me and asked me to pass it on and share the web site with my family and friends. hmpf I know why I didn't speak up about being an atheist. The anxiety forces me to seek out allies, not make enemies. I was trying to avoid confrontation at all costs.

I actually feel a little bad about writing this because he seems like a nice man. But this is what happened and I don't think it's okay. I should have explained in my previous post that I am already on meds and perhaps his suggestion to pray was meant as a relaxation technique? I dunno.

Comment by Grace Fitzpatrick on August 17, 2011 at 12:37am: That was not very helpful. No offers of anti depressants or anti anxiety meds, I take it. I hope you find a good psychotherapist to help you through this.

Comment by Karla on August 16, 2011 at 11:59pm: I do believe that slowing down one's system via meditation and/or a learned breathing technique, can help your body take over and heal naturally. I used these techniques sometimes to sleep, I asked a NYC psychologist-friend-neighbor to teach me and she made a recording for me to listen to. She calls it "Calm Focus" and I can see this working. Attributing a positive outcome to some ficticious entity floating around the sky is beyond pathetic and he/she should really be written up by the local Medical Board for such a stupid suggestion.