Hieromonk Gregory (in the world Hadziemmanuel Panagiotis) was born on the island of Metilene in 1936, graduated from the Faculty of Theology at the University of Athens, then studied patristic theology in Strasbourg. Returning to his homeland, in 1966 he took monastic vows, was ordained a deacon, and a month later - a priest, and went to Mount Athos.

In 1968, following the holy elder Paisius and Archimandrite Vasily, Fr. Gregory settled in the Stavronikita monastery. In 1971, Fr. Gregory was ordained as a confessor and carries out this obedience to this day in Greece and Germany. Since 1980 Fr. Gregory lives with his monastic community in the holy Kutlumush cell of St. John the Theologian.

Are all diseases the result of our sins? Of course not. Sometimes the Lord allows illness to educate or sanctify His beloved children. As it is said in the “Response of the Holy Great Elder Barsanuphius to the novice brother who was sick and could not patiently endure this sorrow,” “there is an illness that is sent for testing. And this test is given to make us worthy children of God. A husband who has not been tested by temptation remains inexperienced and immature. He who has been tested by adversity is experienced and skilled, like gold refined by fire. BecausePatience brings experience, experience gives hope, and hope does not shame (Rom. 5:4-5) the one who has it.” In these cases, a person gains a heavenly reward through his patience. Christ assured us that every believer, when he has spiritual fruit, is pruned like a vineyard to bring forth more fruit. (see: John 15:2). And, as St. Cyril of Alexandria writes, “if some pruning of branches on the mental vine is done, this will not happen without pain... Because our merciful God guides us through pain and suffering... But this small suffering makes us blessed, for it presents Divine guidance. And this is witnessed by the prophet David, who says:Blessed is the man whom You admonish, O Lord (Ps. 93:12).”

God is love, and His guidance is wonderful and unknown. The Venerable Elder Paisios gave a very clear example when he was asked why the Lord gives many tests to some people, but does not give others: “What does the Holy Scripture say?The Lord loves him and punishes him (Prov. 3:12). For example, some father has eight children. Five live at home with their father, and three leave home and forget about their father. If the children living with their father are guilty of something, he can pull their ears, or slap them on the head, or, if they are reasonable, caress them, give them a chocolate bar. But those who live far from their father have neither affection nor a slap on the head. God does the same. If people who live with Him make a mistake, He punishes them with a “slap on the head,” and they pay for their sin. Or, if He gives them more “slaps on the head,” they accumulate heavenly rewards for themselves. And to those who live far from Him, He gives long years of life so that they will repent.”

Other causes of illness

While exploring the causes of disease, we must not forget that characteristic our time is despondency and stress. Our life is full of sorrows. A person who approaches the difficulties of his life without faith and hope in God lives in constant stress. On the contrary, the one who entrusts his life to the love of God lives in peace and tranquility. Saint John Chrysostom says that “the cause of our anxiety and worries is not a sudden change in external circumstances, but ourselves and our thoughts. If we have them right, then we will always remain in peace and quiet, even if countless storms arise from everywhere.”

Thus, it is completely natural for a person who does not resort to God to suffer and be in constant worry, to complain about everything and everyone around him, and in the end all this can result in some kind of physical or even mental illness.

Saint John also speaks about the causes of bodily illnesses - “gluttony, drunkenness and inactivity.” All this “also produces disease.” Indeed, it has been observed that a pampered person who lives in luxury is more susceptible to illness and lives less than a person who loves work. Thus, the multiplication of various diseases is natural for our time of striving for an easy life and pleasures.

* * *

Finally, there are cases among holy people when a person himself asks God for an illness. He asks to atone for his sins, or to respond to the great love of God, or to help other people. Those who asked for such a gift from God were motivated by great love for Him and for people. And this love made them beloved children of God. We must be careful not to try to imitate them while we are on a much lower spiritual level. Because there is a danger of grumbling against God, who allowed us to be tested, although we ourselves asked for it.

Elder Porfiry of blessed memory said: “I thank God, who gave me many illnesses. Often I tell Him: “My Christ, Your love is limitless!” It's a miracle that I'm alive. Among my illnesses is pituitary cancer... It hurts terribly. But I pray, patiently lifting up the Cross of Christ... Very severe pain, I suffer, but my illness is beautiful. I perceive it as the love of Christ. I am moved and thank God. This is for my sins. I am a sinner and God is trying to cleanse me. When I was sixteen years old, I asked God to give me serious illness, cancer, so that I could suffer for the sake of His love and glorify Him in suffering... God did not forget my request and sent me such a blessing after so many years! Now I am not asking God to take what I asked Him for. I rejoice in what I have, so that, out of His great love, I can share in His suffering. God is raising me.The Lord punishes whomever he loves (Heb. 12:6). My illness is a special favor of God, which calls me to enter the mystery of His love... That’s why I don’t pray for God to make me healthy. I pray that He will make me good.”

Benefits of diseases

Let us now consider the benefits that illnesses bring us. Illness is a visit from God, it is an expression of His love for the sake of healing our soul from the disease of sin. “God gives illnesses for the health of the soul,” says St. Isaac the Syrian.

Saint John, speaking about the paralytic who had been waiting for his healing for thirty-eight years, notes that his illness “revealed God’s love for mankind. Truly, the very defeat of such an illness and the continuation of the illness for so long is a matter of the greatest care of God. Just as a goldsmith, throwing gold into a furnace, leaves it to melt in the fire until he sees that it has become pure, so God allows the souls of people to be tempted by disasters until they become pure and bright, until from this temptation will gain great benefit. And this is the greatest blessing."

The words of St. John may seem to us an exaggeration. Then we must examine why illness is considered a blessing from God. The answer to this question, according to the God-bearing holy fathers, lies in the paternal love of God, who with love and wisdom finds a way to heal our sick soul. Diseases, as well as other sufferings that God allows in our lives, are, as St. Theophan of Nicea writes, “medicines for our soul and for the eradication of sin that has been strengthened in it for a long time; These medicines are bitter and unpleasant, but they have the power, greater than all other means (fasting, vigils, etc.), to cure the soul.”

All the saints of our Church experienced the spiritual benefits of bodily illnesses. That is why, when the Lord visited them with illness, they did not ask for deliverance from it, but for the strength to endure it.

One old man, who suffered from dropsy, said to the brothers who were caring for him:Fathers, pray that a similar illness does not affect my soul. But regarding my bodily illness, I pray to God not to heal me quickly, for although the outer man suffers, the inner man is renewed day by day. (see: 2 Cor. 4: 16). That is, this holy elder felt, following the example of the Apostle Paul, an increasing benefit to the soul from this serious illness.

The holy elder Paisios, after a severe test, said: “When the body undergoes suffering, the soul is sanctified... Christ would have done me a great honor if for the sake of His love I had suffered even more. If only He would strengthen me so that I could withstand this pain. But I don’t need retribution... I received such benefit from my illness that I did not receive from the entire feat of asceticism that I performed before I got sick.” “Health is a big thing, but the good that illness brings to a person, health cannot give him! Illness brings spiritual good to a person. Illness is a great blessing. She cleanses a person from sin, and sometimes collects heavenly rewards for him. The human soul is like gold, and illness is like the fire that purifies this gold. Look, Christ also said to the Apostle Paul:My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). The more a person suffers from illness, the more pure and holy he becomes - as long as he endures and accepts the illness with joy... After all, physical illness helps in healing mental illness. Physical illness brings humility to a person and thus eradicates his mental illness.”

Korytko E. S.

At all times, starting from ancient times, many thinkers, and then scientists, paid great attention to the issue of diseases. This issue was not ignored by thinkers and theologians such as the world-famous doctor and archbishop St. Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky), St. Theophan the Recluse, St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, teacher. John Climacus and many others. etc. The essence of their theological thinking boils down to the following.

Illnesses come as punishment, as admonition, as a test of patience and faith. But they all have our sins as their basis, starting with original sin. Experience shows that sin and passions destroy the health of the soul and body, and victory over passions brings peace to the soul and health to the body.

Thousands of years before scientific development, the Bible made the connection between sin and disease simple and clear. “A man with evil tongues will not be established on earth; evil will drag the oppressor into destruction” (Ps. 139); “A gentle heart is life for the body, but envy is rottenness for the bones” (Proverbs 14); “A merry heart does good as medicine, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17); “The crown of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, which produces peace and unharmed health” (Sir. m1:18), etc.

In the 20th century illness began to be understood narrowly, usually only as bodily suffering, and in the old days, they say, the doctor greeted the patient with the question: “How long ago have you taken communion?” - and did not begin treatment until the patient confessed and received communion. Let us try to analyze the relationship between sinful passions and the somatic and mental illnesses that result from them. Let's start with gluttony. The concept of this sin includes abuse and excess in nutrition (overeating, breaking fasts, drunkenness, delicacy), smoking and, in general, any immoderate pleasure of the flesh. Holy Scripture repeatedly warns about the harmfulness of gluttony. “A well-bred man is content with little, and therefore he does not suffer from shortness of breath on his bed. Healthy sleep occurs with moderation of the stomach... Suffering from insomnia and cholera, and pain in the stomach, the Wise One emphasizes, occur in an insatiable person” (Sir. 31).

It is an obvious fact that this sin is one of the causes of obesity, gastrointestinal diseases, metabolic disorders in the joints, diseases of the cardiovascular system, alcoholism, respiratory diseases, etc. According to statistics, the average life expectancy of obese people decreases by approximately for 7 years.

The sin of fornication is organically connected with gluttony. Skin and venereal diseases, AIDS, infertility, impotence, accompanied by neuropsychic disorders in most cases stem from sexual perversions and sexual promiscuity. Such people destroy both bodies and souls, both their own and others. The sin of fornication entails the sin of infanticide in the womb. Its consequences are various complications of abortion, infertility, inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system, etc.

The sin of love of money seriously disfigures the image of God in man and harms health. The biblical example of a money lover is Judas Iscariot; classical literary examples - Gogol's Plyushkin, Balzac's Gobsek. Archbishop Innokenty of Kherson paints the image of a money-lover, consumed by anger because of his neighbor’s wealth. The pallor of the face, the grave-like hue of the eyes and lips, the merciless heart prove that the whole order of mental and physical forces is perverted. Truly, “vigilance over wealth exhausts the body, and care for it drives away sleep” (Sir. 31).

The behavior of someone obsessed with the love of money depends on many social factors and manifests itself in various forms of antisocial behavior (theft, extortion, racketeering, bribery, etc.). Such people often develop various neuropsychic disorders (neuroses, depression, psychoses). All this eloquently testifies that money lovers, like other sinners, are spiritually sick people.

One of the most harmful sins to health is anger. Modern Swedish and American researchers have independently shown that angry and power-hungry people, if due to objective circumstances they do not fully express their passions, are prone to developing hypertension. Also contributing to sharp surges in pressure are aggressive personality traits that cannot find an outlet (suppressed hostility, rancor, hidden and unforgiven resentment, etc.).

Apparently it is not without reason that the Bible says: “Jealousy and anger shorten the days, but care brings old age before its time” (Sir. 30).

In the same chapter of Wisdom there is another wonderful instruction regarding another sin: “Do not indulge in sadness in your soul and do not torment yourself with your suspiciousness; the joy of the heart is the life of a person, and the joy of a husband is a long life... comfort your heart and remove sadness from yourself, for sadness has killed many, and there is no benefit in it” (Sir. 30). Sadness and despondency are accompanied by laziness, idleness, lack of faith, doubts about God, and idle talk. Clinically, sadness and despondency appear as asthenia, various forms of depression (apathy, melancholy, anxiety), etc.

Depression reduces immunity. It, like smoking and alcoholism, increases vulnerability to cancer, provokes gastric ulcers and duodenum, neuropsychiatric disorders. The Apostle Paul distinguishes between “Godly sorrow” and “worldly sorrow.” The first produces repentance leading to salvation, and the second produces death (2 Cor. 7; 10).

Along with worldly sadness and despondency, vanity and especially pride have a catastrophically adverse effect on health. Their manifestations: lust for power, selfishness, excessive conceit, contempt and humiliation of people, unbelief and blasphemy against God.

Six hundred years before Christ lived the richest and very famous king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. He was famous for his military victories, colossal power and magnificent buildings (for example, one of the seven wonders of the world - the so-called Hanging Gardens of Babylon). Historical fact - on all the bricks preserved in the stone ruins, the only inscription “Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon” is read. The book of the prophet Daniel tells how he never ceased to admire his greatness. God punished the proud man. For 7 years, in fits of madness, the king considered himself an ox. Truly, the Monk John Climacus is right: “The punishment of the proud is his fall, and the sign of his abandonment by God is insanity.”

Vanity and pride are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, primarily coronary heart disease, hypertension, and neuropsychiatric diseases. Angina pectoris and heart attack are a typical result of stress; inability to respond adequately, “without scenes”, without outbursts of anger and rage, injured pride and ambitious ambitions to others and oneself. People who treat their loved ones in a Christian manner, all other things being equal, are less susceptible to cardiovascular diseases.

Thus, we see that many diseases have among their causes an incorrect (in theological terminology - sinful) lifestyle. But illness itself is not a sin, but its consequence. A doctor, having a correct understanding of the spiritual roots of an illness, has no right to blame and condemn a sick person. The spirit of a Christian attitude of a doctor towards suffering people is taught by many holy fathers of Orthodoxy. They advise that when we see someone in suffering and illness, do not slyly explain to yourself the cause of his illness, but accept it with simplicity and selfless love and try to heal it as you would heal yourself. Orthodox medicine based on mercy, love of humanity and love of Christ. It is combined with the ability to competently apply medical knowledge, as well as take into account the influence of God’s Providence on health and illness.

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Literature

St. Luka (Voino-Yasenetsky). Spirit, soul and body / St. Luka (Voino-Yasenetsky). Simferopol. 2005.

Zorin, K.V. Do you want to be healthy? Orthodoxy and healing / K. V. Zorin. M.: Russian chronograph. 2000.

Priest Valentin Zhokhov. Christian attitude to illness and healing / Priest Valentin Zhokhov. M.: Danilovsky evangelist. 1997.

Priest Sergius Filimonov. Church, hospital, patient / Priest Sergius Filimonov. M.: Society of St. Basil the Great. 2001.

Illness is a matter of God's Wisdom

God's mercy be with you! If everything is from the Lord, then your illness is also from Him. If everything is from the Lord for the best, then the illness is yours.
Your illness prevented you from going to Moscow. Therefore, it is better for you not to go to Moscow at this time. And calm down on this - and don’t think about going despite your illness. Moscow will not leave, and the road to it will then be as open as it is now. The illness will pass, and go to Moscow.
Here we received Holy Communion. Christ's Mysteries. God bless. If there were a hindrance here, it would be worthy of great pity. But the other thing is that everything is trivial.
The enemy inspires: you won’t be able to stand it. And you answer: I don’t undertake to stand it alone, but I hope that the merciful Lord will not leave me alone, but will help me to stand, as he has helped me before.
(No. 1381 letter 848 issue 5 page 4)

Disease

Disease again! Lord give you patience and complacency, and deliver you from sinful grumbling! Do not look gloomily at infirmities. They indicate rather the mercy of God and God’s attention to you, rather than disfavour. Whatever comes from God is for good.
July 12, 1888
(No. 1384 letter 864 issue 5 page 6)

There are diseases, the cure of which is prohibited by the Lord when he sees that illness is more necessary for salvation than health. I can’t say that this didn’t happen in relation to me.
(No. 1385 letter 1018 issue 6 p. 18)

God sent the disease. Give thanks to the Lord; therefore everything that comes from the Lord is for good.
If you feel and see that you yourself are to blame, then start with repentance and regret before God for not taking care of the gift of health that He gave you. And then boil it down to the fact that illness comes from the Lord, and nothing happens by chance. And after this, thank the Lord again. Illness humbles, softens the soul and eases its usual burden from many worries.
May God grant that your high school student also recovers. Let him walk more...tea and bathing are good. Solder with milk. God save painful love!
I am treated with milk, and apart from milk there is no food. - This is for blood renewal.
(No. 1383 letter 1298 issue 8 p. 57)

I am very sorry about Chernichka’s illness. God help her cope. - It’s good that they captured it soon. This must be inflammation of the liver, or some other lesion.
The only danger here can be from neglect. But as the doctor is at hand... and treatment begins; then in five days everything will pass. Just give me patience... I looked at Homeopaths. They do not shy away from this pain. Their main ones are Aconite, Belladonna, Kolokinth, Homomila, Mercury. But when the doctor indicated his means, it’s all the same. Be grateful!
May the Mother of God come closer to you with help! and may your Guardian Angels cover you with their wings!
I knew a general in St. Petersburg who caused all his illnesses from mental states. – But still, this is God’s mercy, although not sweet, but soul-saving.
There was another doctor who did not undertake to treat until the patient had confessed and received Holy Communion. Christ's Mysteries. It happens that illness seizes in order to awaken a sleeping soul.
I wish you and the sick all the best.
(No. 1382 letter 1368 issue 8 p. 58)

Disease! What to do? Be patient and thank God, saying to yourself: “This illness is a sin for the sake of my great and countless. The Lord takes away my strength in order to at least calm me down. He doesn't know how to fix me. Both mercy and sorrowful visits - everything has been re-experienced, and everything is of no use. The hour of death is approaching; and when it comes, what should my curse do? Oh my God! Have mercy on Your weak creation!” In an illness, even if it is mild, all death will come to mind in order to let the soul experience in action how true the word of the All-Wise is: “Remember your last, and you will never sin” (Sir. 7:39).

Illness and mortal memory

B. is sick... Let him learn mortal memory at this time - saving... It is difficult for a healthy person to remember... The Lord sends illness for this purpose, to remind him of death... and transfer memory away so that the sick person finally attends to preparing for death.
(No. 1431 letter 861 issue 5 page 8)

Thoughts during illness

N.N.
Get inspired!
Look your illness in the eye cheerfully... But dream less... Various trifles will start swarming in your head... You will quarrel with just anyone... It’s all in your thoughts... Then everything will pass.
Be grateful! Surely something dangerous would have met you on the road. So the Lord planted or placed you at home... Thank the Lord. But still, pray that He will give you health.
God bless you! Happy holiday and forgot to congratulate you!
Your pilgrim

(No. 1415 letter 642 and 643 issue 4 p. 86)

God bless you!
Your grumbling and loss of spirit are a good sign. This foreshadows the imminent cessation of the disease.
That the doctors went apart is because, I believe, the disease has changed: it was in the liver and went away. And when you caught a cold another time, another disease appeared - catarrhal disease. This is sickness everywhere now: for influenza is a catarrhal kind of disease. If you don’t feel pain in your liver, then you need to trust the second doctor. However, see for yourself. Your thoughts about your seemingly desperate situation are worthless. It's the enemy who's making trouble. Who can say what will happen? There is only God, but the enemy, wickedly declaring himself to be God, interferes everywhere with his evil prophecy, and disturbs faith and drives away peace from the heart. Do not listen to him, but stand in the faith that illness is from God and is for your good, and when it has done its work, it will go away... and you will be healthy, and you will serve the Lord in some monastery.
(No. 1416 letter 643 issue 4 p. 87)

Give thanks to God for everything; and give thanks for ill health. It’s easy for me to say this from the outside; It may not be easy for you to feel this way. Every time you hear a word about patience, I pray that the Lord will allow you to endure your illness graciously and learn something from it. Why did the Lord bind you, who can guess? But there is no doubt that this, too, was allowed to you in order to further the goals of the life that you have chosen, and in which you are trying to at least somehow maintain yourself. From this point of view, you don’t have to torture your illness anymore. In addition to what has been said, seek courage for complacent patience in moments of heaviness of suffering in remembrance of the patience of all the saints, and especially the martyrs. How long and how did they endure?! And it's hard to imagine. Yes, and for everyone, “through much tribulation it is necessary to enter into the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
And what is promised by the Lord is called the crown. For what? Because it is impossible to climb there without suffering. There is only one road there - a cross, voluntary or involuntary.
May the Guardian Angel bring you comfort and complacency! Don’t complain that the noise in your head doesn’t allow you to keep your thoughts. God judges the soul by what depends on it, and not by what it has no control over. Keep the intention in your heart not to depart from the Lord, and He will accept this matter.
Now you need to abandon your fasting rule. Afterwards, fast, if it pleases God to raise you up: and now, in illness, in the form of medicine, you can eat anything, on the advice of a doctor.
(No. 1390 letter 746 issue 4 p. 63)

In days of illness

Christ is Risen!
May the risen Lord give you consolation and courage: one to calm the sorrow of the situation, the other to have the strength to lift and bear its burden.
The Lord is near us, and the Mother of God, and heaven with ambulance helpers embraces us. But we still get sick and don’t see an outcome. Is this really a coincidence?! Can't they really see?! And seeing, they are not compassionate, and are ready to help, and yet they leave us to languish. If they are all love, then, of course, everyone allows this not out of hostility. If so, then what is it?!
The same thing that happens between a pie fried in the oven and between the hostess. Give the pie a feeling, a thought, a language... What would it say to the hostess?! Mother! You put me here and I’m frying... Not a single grain of me is left unfrying, everything is burning, to the point of intolerance... And the trouble is that I don’t see the outcome, and I don’t have an end to the tea. I’ll turn to the right, I’ll turn to the left, forward, or back, or to the top, it’s locked in from everywhere, and the heat is unbearable. What did I do to you? Why such hostility... and so on... and so on... Give the hostess the ability to understand the speech of the pie. What would she answer him?! What kind of hostility is there?! On the contrary, I care only about you. Be patient a little... and you will see how handsome you will turn out! Can't get enough of it!.. And what aroma from you will spread throughout the house?!.. Eco-wonderful! So be patient a little longer and you will see joy. – You wrote down Pirogov’s speech. Now take over the hostess’s speech and move on complacently to the expectation of a beneficial outcome. I think this can put an end to all your troubles. Put yourself in God's hands and wait. You are still in the hands of God, you just move your arms and legs... Stop doing this and lie still.
What's the point of driving around? (A blessing was asked: should I go to some doctor). We've already gone... I wish you good-natured patience. Save yourself!

April 11, 1892
(No. 1391 letter 31 issue 1 p. 66)

About illness and lifestyle

God's mercy be with you! Are you sick? – But thank God that you are getting better, or have already gotten better. Thank God for the fact that the illness was not without benefit. The lessons that you have learned from these circumstances are very significant in life and in general, especially spiritually. Expect nothing from people, and place all your care on the Lord, and constantly wait for death... and believing that the Lord has left you to live for the cleansing of sins, turn all your care to that. These points are the levers of spiritual life and guides. Do not judge your spiritual father strictly, without knowing for sure why he behaved so inattentively. God save the Athonite fathers! They did well. - Your brother and son... sophisticated judges... how does everything work out for them?
The illness was not due to lifestyle; therefore, it should not be changed due to illness. The type of food in restoring strength is a secondary matter... The main thing is fresh, unspoiled food, clean air... and most of all peace of mind. Restlessness of spirit and passions spoil the blood and significantly harm health. Fasting and fasting life in general - the best remedy to maintaining health and its prosperity. – The German Hufeland wrote a science for a long life, where he extols the fasting life. Scientists must listen to him, but we have other teachers more important than this German. Prayer brings the spirit into the realm of God, in which is the root of life, and from the spirit the body partakes of the same life... The spirit is crushed, repentant feelings and tears do not reduce strength, but add it: for they put the soul in a joyful state. You did well not to give in to their suggestions. However, in order to restore health as quickly as possible, in order to work more extensively for the Lord, you can, without sin, condescend a little to the infirmities of the body - in sleep, work, standing, in food. This is after the passionate one.
It’s summer... you can sometimes drink milk, and even broth, and eggs too... go out of town, because there is no clean air in the city. There is always an impurity in it. The ancient elders wrote that they treated the body harshly: not to kill it, but to mortify passions through the mortification of the flesh.
(No. 13971 letter 694 issue 4 p. 74)

The mental mood of a person suffering from consumption

God's mercy be with you! The desire to live is naturally alive. And there is no sin here. – But the real disposition in this regard is: “God’s will be done!” Whether to live or die, let it be as God pleases. This disposition must be strengthened and brought to the point that it does not allow any concern regarding this to arise.
What to come with? It is best to appear before God with this lack of anything.

About cholera

And cholera came to you?
God bless you! We can't hear much around here. And you have it right away and in the same number. Let us pray and ask the Lord for mercy. However, it is also true that God protects those who are protected. There are books that tell you what precautions to take, and they wrote in the newspapers. Read and do. Do not eat raw foods, drink boiled water, cool it a little, and similar instructions.
You did well that you did not go to the region of cholera, so as not to fall under its evil hands, but now there is nothing to do. You must endure and hope for God’s mercies... May the Merciful God protect you.
August 23, 1892
(No. 1380 letter 80 issue 1 p. 56)

Serving the sick is serving Christ

N.N.
We worked hard for the sick! Blessed work: for even here the consoling word is applicable: “I was sick and visited Me.”
For this, the Lord visits souls with mercy and kindness towards those in need. And if he sees someone who is sick, like Petrov’s mother-in-law once, he takes them by the hands - readiness to submit to Him - and raises them up.
(No. 1423 letter 616 issue 4 p. 97)

Caring for the sick is pleasing to God

Christ is Risen!
Although your strength has not completely returned, it turns out that it is enough to take care of the sick, who are not worth such care. But the merciful Lord will not look at the unworthiness of the sick person and will take this care to Himself. And then he will send consolation for that, or complete recovery, or postpone the due one for the next century.
May this be for your benefit!
(No. 1430 letter 649 issue 4 page 9)

At the convalescent bedside

God's mercy be with you!
And I was starting to worry that there was no news of the sick woman. Well, thank God that the danger has passed. Now only caution - in everything, especially in food, drink and air movement around the sick person.
The sick woman did very well to receive Holy Communion. The Mysteries of Christ, which are true medicine for soul and body. May God grant her complacency and patience. Peace of mind is a great aid to recovery. How well she would do if she could stop thinking... So many trifles pop into her head. - Let him pray a short prayer to the Lord Savior, Mother of God and Guardian Angel.
Then let him read from memory any psalm that he knows, and meditate on it slowly. It would be good to read the Gospel to her a little, and she would listen.
Don't leave her alone. Sit nearby, and then work on something... and others would be here. She would have more fun... and her thoughts would not be boiling... These are big enemies now.
You are very tired. Now you will rest. - And it’s fun to look at someone recovering...
August 27, 1885
(No. 1426 letter 1350 issue 8 p. 124)

Thoughts on recovery

Have you recovered?! God bless! But do not put off that disposition and aspiration that death is about to happen... And as a result, remain in a state of constantly preparing to depart... May the Lord grant you to still work for His glory.
(No. 1427 letter 997 issue 6 p. 52)

Prayer update for recovery

I am very glad that you are finally back on your feet. The recovered person usually feels refreshed. I think you had the same feeling. It is necessary to ensure that bodily renewal is accompanied by spiritual renewal. God gave it to you or indicated it - in short prayer, which you were creating then. It occurred to me to suggest to you: take up one short prayer, and do it all... both while doing and without doing, and walking and sitting, incessantly. First, you will force yourself to do this prayer, and then it will read itself... Just take it and work without interruption... This is the prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
At the same time, keep your attention not in your head, and not in the sky, but in your heart, there inside, under the left breast.
When you get used to it, you will dispel everything that confuses you and call for peace in your soul.
(No. 1428 letter 647 issue 4 page 94)

Sayings of the Holy Fathers ABOUT DISEASES*

* Spiritual warfare. M, Pilgrim, 1993. P. 28-303.

DThe enemy tempted jealous Christians with tormentmi, and the current ones - with illnesses and thoughts.

Prp . Ambrose Optinsky

TOjust as medicine benefits the body, so and illness - to the soul.

Hthen she’s sick, it doesn’t matter: sinful peoplethis is purification; how fire purifies ironfrom rust, just as illness heals the soul.

Prp . Anatoly Optinsky

Billness relieves many mentalpassions. The Apostle Paul says: ...if our outer man... is smoldering, then our inner man... is being updated.

(2 Cor. 4, 16)

Git not only strikes the soul, but also those lo.

In other cases it is quite obvious; Vothers, although it is not so clear, but the truth remains I share the truth that illnesses of the body are all and allyes from sins and for the sake of sins. I commit a sinresides in the soul and directly makes it sick, butSince the life of the body comes from the soul, then from a sick soul, of course, life is not healthy.

Already one but the fact that sin brings darkness and darkness(cm. grieve– approx. A.P.), must but has an unfavorable effect on the blood, inwhich is the basis of bodily health. But when you remember that he is separated from Bo ha - the Source of life and places a person indiscord with all laws in force andin himself, and in nature, then still marvelit is necessary how a sinner remains alive after sinHa. This is God's mercy awaiting repentance tions and appeals.

Therefore, the patientbefore anything else, we must hurrycleanse yourself from sins and in your conscience withmake peace with God. This will pave the wayto the beneficial effects of drugs.

From it is known that there was some significant doctor who did not begin treatment,until the sick person confesses and receives communionXia Holy Mysteries; and the more difficult the illness was,the more insistently he demanded it.

St. Feofan the Recluse

BIllness is a mercy for a person God's.

And if a Christian accepts like Bohomo sent for the benefit of the soul and the goodit will be good to endure his painfulstanding, then he goes straight to heaven...Diseases - threshing: the more blows, theThe more grains will be knocked out and the richer the grind will be.Then you need grain for the millstones, then flour in mixing the dough and leavening it, then inin the form of bread - into the oven and, finally, for the meal God's

St. Feofan the Recluse

Bthank God that you are on good terms ty: your illness is a great gift from God. Dan but nightly for this and for everything you praise and goodgive - and your soul will be saved.

Elder Arseny of Athos

TOwhen will they bother you inconvenientlypain or painful suffering, or somethingor similar, then try not to missfrom the memory of the words of Holy Scripture: Mno With these sorrows it is fitting for us to enter Tsarst Vie Heavenly.

Prp . Ambrose Optinsky

Bog does not require the patient to perform heroic deedsforest, but only patience with humility and thanksgiving

Prp . Ambrose Optinsky

TOwhen, for example, the patient settles downbear your illness complacently and not resents...

The enemy, knowing that in this way he utbelieves in the virtue of patience, he begins to upset such goodwill. Formany things begin to come to his mindgood deeds that he could do,if I were in a different position. ANDtries to convince him that if he were healthy,how well God would work and how muchI would bring zy to myself and others: I would go to church, have conversations, read and write inedification of neighbors and under.

Noticing that suchthoughts are accepted, the enemy brings more oftenthem on the mind, multiplies and colors, provosreaches the point of feeling, evokes desires and impulsesto business topics, imagining how well things wentif he had this or that business, and excitingpitythat is bound hand and foot by disease nuyu.

Little by little, with frequent repetitionI love such thoughts and movements in my soul, I wishdissatisfaction turns into dissatisfaction and annoyance.

The former complacencypatience, that's how it iszom, gets upset, and the disease representsno longer as a medicine from God and a fieldfor the virtue of patience, but as something notcommitted to the cause of salvation, and the desire to masterthe fear of it becomes uncontrollable, still in the form of obtaining through this space for doing good and pleasing God in every way.

Having brought it to this, the enemy steals from his mind andhearts this good goal of desire to get wellniya and, leaving one wish for health ashealth, makes you annoyingly look at illness not as an obstacle to good, but assomething unpleasant in itself. This causes impatience, which cannot be cured. good thoughts, takes power and goes into grumbling, and deprives the patient of his former peacefrom complacent patience. And the enemy rejoicesthat managed to upset him.

Invisible abuse

BWhether you are old or poor, be patient.

Neither What does God require from you other than patience?By enduring complacently, you will not beuninterrupted in good deeds. Whenever he looks atGod will see you, what you do is goodro or remain in goodness if you are complacentbut you endure, whereas a healthy thing has moreSome come at intervals.

Why [therefore],wanting a change in your situation, you wantedeat to exchange the best for the worst.

Invisible abuse

Blonely and poor - don’t complain and don’t murmurcabbage soup to your fate, to God and people, not forsee other people's happiness, beware of despondency andespecially despair, submit completely to the Providence of God.

One old man who suffered from water sickness nuyu, spoke to the brothers who came to him with a desire to treat him: “Fathers, moTake care so that you don't get sick like thisneither my inner man, but as for the real illness, I ask God that He does not suddenly free mefrom her, because how much our outer man ...smolderingso internal...updating (2 Cor. 4, 16)

Prp . Seraphim of Sarov

ABOUTone old man spoke about poor Lazar:“Not a single virtue is visible in him, buthe would have done. And only one thing is found dil in him - that he never complained aboutLord, as if he were not showing mercy to him tee.But he endured the illness with gratitudehis own, and therefore God accepted him.”

Patericon of Athos

INIt’s a great feat to endure patientlyillnesses and among them to sing songs of thanksgiving to God.

WITHtarets to his sick friend grandsonshal: “We need to pray more often: “Lord! mi Here is patience, there is forgiveness."

EIf you've had enough here, you won't tolerate itin the next world of eternal torment, but, on the contrary, you willenjoy such bliss in front ofFor whom present happiness is nothing.

INverily, bodily illnesses of the souldraws closer to God.

St. Gregory the Theologian

Psomehow came to visit Fr. Abbot Anthonyone is sick with his legs and says: “Father,My legs hurt, I can’t lay downus, and it confuses me.” O. Anthony answeredtold him: “Yes, the Scripture says: son,give me a shoutMi heart, not nose."

Prp . Ambrose Optinsky

NSome woman has an illness in her chestdi, called cancer, and hearing about Abba Longinus, she was looking for an opportunity to meet him.

He lived nine miles from Alexandria to the westdu. When the woman was looking for him, it happenedblessedtherefore to collect firewood by the sea;and, seeing him, the woman says to him: “Ab va“Where does Abba Longinus, the servant of God, live?” –not knowing that it was himself. He said: “What what do you want from this deceiver? Do not goto him, for he is a deceiver. What do you needBut?" The woman showed illness. Elder,signifyingsign of the cross that place, released her, saying: “Go, the Lord will heal you. Longinus cannot help you."The woman left, believing her word, and would soonLa is healed. When did I tell someabout this the signs of the old man spoke, they learnedthat it was Abba Longinus himself.

Patericon of Athos

Nekill

By the way, they also kill lies.chi from ignorance of the patient’s illness, drinkgiving him harmful drugs.

Those who do not want to be treated or treat pain also killnogo who needs the help of a doctor.

Ubi are those that irritate a patient for whom irritation is fatal, for example, a person susceptible to consumption, and thereby accelerate it death.

They kill those who do not serverum of time, due to stinginess or otherwisegood reason, medical benefits hurtmu, bread to the hungry.

BRat asked Abba Arseny: “There is someone those are good people. Why are they on time? death are subject to great tribulation, beingstricken with bodily illness?”

“Because,” answered the elder, “so that we, as if saltingHaving finished salting here, we went there clean.”

Patericon of Athos

ABOUTDean of the parish priests didI am sick, and, already approaching death, seemade his bed surrounded by demons whowere preparing to kidnap his soul and bring him down to hell.

Then three Angels appeared. One of themstood at the bedside and began to argue about the soul withthe most cunning demon who held froma full book in which everything was written downsins of the priest.

Meanwhile a friend camegoy priest to admonish a brother.Confession began; sick, directing hisfrightened glances at the book, pronounced his sins with selflessness, as if spewing them outfrom myself. And what does he see? Sees clearly thathardly uttered any sin like this sindisappeared into the book, which left a gapinstead of recording. Thus, confessionhe blotted out all the sins from the demonic bookhi, and, having received healing, spent the rest of his days in deep repentance, telling his neighborshim for their edification, vision, sealednew miraculous healing.

St. Ignatiy Brianchaninov

Eshe also said (blessed Syncletikia):The devil has many sharp weapons.

When it's not okay he poor the soul with poverty, brings richessusceptibility to seduction.

Didn't overcome her with insults andvilification - lavishes praise on her and glory.

A person is not defeated by health - thoselo he is affected by diseases. Because you couldn'tto seduce him with pleasures, attemptsto seduce the soul with involuntary labors, it’s timepresses a person with serious illnesses due to the fact thatthrough this, in the careless, the love for God.

But whenever the body is struck yours or ignites with a strong fever,also languishes with unbearable thirst - if yousinner, then bear it, remembering the boo future punishment, oh eternal fire and executions by court and don't neglect real [punishment yami] ( Eur. 12, 5). But rejoice that God hasTil you, and repeat this beautiful sayingtion: The Lord punished me severely, but death didn't betray me(Ps. 117, 18). You are iron and fire will cleanse your rust.

If you, boo being righteous, he fell into illness, then through this from With less you succeed with more. Yougold - and through the fire he became purer.<...>

Are we losing our eyes? - let's move it withoutburdens, because through this we are deprived of opgans of gluttony and enlighten ourselves internally with early eyes.

Have we gone deaf? - We willthank God that we are completely sweatingthey heard vain rumors.

Are your hands weak? – But we have hands inside ourselves, destinedready to fight the enemy.

Weakness will prevail whole body? - But because of this, on the contrary, ageThere is health according to the inner man.

Patericon of Athos

WITHthe taret said: like unheated wax and unsoftenedcannot accept cash on deliverythere are stamps on it, so is a person, if notthe child is tempted by labor and illness, cannotaccept the power of Christ. That's why Lordsays to the divine Paul: pretty for you of My grace, for My power has perfected is in weakness.And the Apostle himself boasts,vorya: And therefore I will be much more willing to praise pour out your weaknesses so that you may dwell in the power of Christ to me (2 Cor. 12, 9).

Patericon of Athos

WITHthe Tartar said: “Do not be faint-hearted whenmay bodily illness befall you. Because, esIs it the Lord's pleasure that you should suffer in body,then who are you, burdened by this? Isn't heis everything about you? Isn't it Him you live by?

So, bear the disease and pray to Him, yes yesHe works everything for your benefit, that is, according to His will;sit (in the cell) patiently, eating alms."

Patericon of Athos

ABOUTfather will not give children stones instead of breadand snakes instead of fish.

If natural father doesn't do that, especially since he won't do thatdo Heavenly Father. And our petitionsoften resemble the request of a snake and a stone.It seems to us that “this” is bread and fish, what we ask, but the Heavenly Father sees that what we askthere will be a stone or a snake for us - and it won’t give requested.

Father and mother pour out before BoGod's warm prayers for his son, may he arrange the best for him, but at the same time they also express thatconsider it best for their son, namely,so that he is alive, healthy and happy. StateGod hears their prayer and arranges fortheir son is the best. Just not for the conceptshining, but as it really is fortheir son: sends a disease from which you die the son barks.

For those who are running out of thingsreal life, this is not hearing, but dedefiance or provision of face, oto whom they pray, his fate; for believersbut real life is just in preparationto another life, there can be no doubtknowledge that the son for whom they prayed was ill anddied precisely because a prayer was heardand that it was better for him to leave here,than to stay here.

You say: so what?and pray? No, you can’t help but pray, butIn prayers about certain objects, one must always contain in one’s thoughts the following condition: “If,Lord, You Yourself find this saving.”

St. Isaac the Syrian advises shortening every prayer like this: “To you, Lord,I know what is good for me: createwith me according to your will.”

Set. Feofan the Recluse

Nsomeone lived somewhere far away in the desert.

Behind his insides ached: whether his lungs, orheart, or liver, or all together. Pain, at leastdie. There is nowhere to expect human help,I ran to God with all-powerful prayer.

Us the Lord heard. One night, falling asleep, he sees such a vision. Two Angels came with butpressed, cut it, took out the diseased parts,cleaned them, washed them and lubricated them with something. Then they put everything in its place and sprayedsomething, and - everything grew together, as if there was no call.

Having woken up, the elder stood uphealthy, as if I had never been sick,new, like a young man in his prime.

St. Feofan the Recluse

... Rgreat harm to the soul in both cases - andwhen the flesh is rebellious, from excess healthindulging in violent impulses, and whenexhausted from painful illnesses, relaxed on and motionless.

Because the soul is therethe state of the body does not have time to transportgazes at grief, but when necessary, is occupied with the sensation of pain; and weakens, suppressed by the suffering of the body.

All Let life be a time of prayer.

St. Basil the Great

Z“Health is a gift from God,” said the saint. XieRafim Sarovsky, - but this gift is not always useful: like any suffering, illnesshas the power to cleanse us from spiritual filth,make amendssins, to humble and soften oursoul, make you think again, realize yourweakness and remembering God. Therefore the diseaseneither we nor our children need.

BIt happens that illness seizes to awaken a sleeping soul.

Nit is impossible that when we walk the pathtruth, sadness would not have met us,the body would not be exhausted in illness and labor,and remained unchanged, unlessWe love to live in virtue.

BIt happens that God covers others with illnessfrom trouble, which they would not have escaped if they had been healthy.

INillness, before any other matter,must hasten to be cleansed of sins in Tathe ministry of repentance and accept in your conscience fight with God.

St. Feofan the Recluse

IN dangerous diseases, take care first of clearing your conscience and peace of mind of your soul.

BOur illnesses mostly occurredchildren from sins, why is the best remedy forprevention and recovery from them consists ofso as not to sin.

INall the most severe sorrows and misfortunesare carried more easily by people than serious illnessesbodily. An undoubted expert in the field of tormentsuffering, torment of people - Satan - before the face of God Himself testified that the bodynew diseases are more unbearable than all othershappiness, and that man, courageously and innocentlyhe who endures other calamities may weaken in his patience and waver in his devotion to God, having been subjected to severe pain. climb.

GThis is why the Lord sends illnesses,to remember death and from memory newsso that the sick person is concerned aboutend, and preparation for death.

MThe Lord heals many diseases throughdoctors and other means. But there are diseasesfor the healing of which the Lord imposes forrushes when he sees that the disease is more necessary forsalvation than health.

TOwhen illness weighs us down, there is no needwe must grieve that from pain and ulcers wewe cannot sing psalms with our lips. Becauseillnesses and wounds serve to destroy lust ny, and both fasting and prostration are prescribedWe need us to conquer passions. If illnesses also drive away these passions, then not about than to care.

Billnesses reconcile us with God and indraw back into His love.

St. rights John of Kronstadt

BSome people need to console themselves by readingDivine Scripture and the suffering of Spa holder.

TThe Lord accepts the patience of illnessthen fasting and prayer.

B uduchisick, don't force yourself throughstrength to church, and lie under the blanket and yours ri Jesus Prayer.

Prp . Anatoly Optinsky

ABOUThowever, at those hours when he goes to churchyou service, it’s better not to lie down, but to sit onbed, leaning, if infirmity overcomesyes, to the wall, and so pray intelligently and heartily,with full desire and cheerfulness of spirit.

St. Feofan the Recluse

Bhaving killed the weak, and the rule, as I canyou eat it, fix it, even at ten o’clockemov. When the head is unhealthy, bow to the ground don't put new ones.

NDon’t grieve if sometimes you don’tyou can fulfill the prayer rule, andthank God for the disease, for it is the sameWhat is prayer if without grumbling and with gratitude? we tolerate nothing.

Elder Arseny of Athos

Gthe main cause of cowardice and murmuring on God in days of suffering many people havelack of faith in God and hope in HimDivine Providence. True chrisTheanin believes that everything that happens toWhat we do in life is according to the will of God; Whatwithout the will of God and a hair from our headsdoesn't fall to the ground. If God sends him suffering and sorrow, then he sees in this either punishment sent to him from God for his sinshim, or a test of faith and love for Him. And therefore he is not only not faint-heartedand does not grumble against God for this, but humbles himself underthe mighty hand of God, still thanks Godfor not forgetting him; what about merciful diyu With all God wants temporary sorrowwe replace the eternal ones for him; affectedsorrow, he speaks to the righteous David:It is good for me, Lord, for you have humbled me, so that I'm studying your justification.

Hwe eat more in this life we ​​suffer fromillness, persecution, enemy forces orpoverty, the more we will inherit rewards in the future life.

Blzh . Jerome

GGod sent you illness for a reason, and notas much as punishment for previous sins, asout of love for you, to tear you away from a sinful life and put you on the path to wellnessSenia. Thank God for this, who takes care of you.

Hegumen Nikon (Vorobiev)

ABOUTthe ease of fasting for the weak is permissible according to the church rule (Apostle, 69th rule).

St. Filaret, Metropolitan of Moscow

BIt happens that some patients useThey eat fast food as medicineand then they repent of this, whichthe diseases violated the rules of the Holy Church aboutpost. But everyone needs to watch the actionact according to your conscience and consciousness... Best of lean food, choose a nutritional supplement for yourselffresh and digestible to your stomach.

BSometimes there is temptation when you are sick.Prp. Simeon New Theologian says: "DuhSha cannot free himself from temptationwhat, as calling on Jesus Christ and runningto the spiritual father."

INI do not want to show bodily illnessesthere is sin, but there is humility.

Prp . Barsanuphius the Great

EIf you are sick, then invite an experienced doctorcha and use the remedies prescribed by himstvami. For this purpose, they arise from the groundso many beneficial plants. IfIf you reject them out of pride, you will speed upyour death and you will become a suicide.

Eif you are in long-term painclimb and have any consolation fromserving you, then look at those who those inside suffer grief and sadness, outsidethe lives are covered with wounds, and have no one to help themserved, fed, gave drink, raised, washedwounds - and they endure.

St. Tikhon Zadonsky

Bbeware lest the hater of goodnesslure you into ingratitude or murmuring, thenyou will lose everything.

St. rights John of Kronstadt

Eif a person grumbles about illnessnor sorrow, will look for the culprit by thissorrows among people (bewitched, made), demons, circumstances, will become all meanswe try to avoid them, then the enemy will helphim in this, will show him the imaginary culpritskov (bosses, orders, neighbors, etc., andother). Arouse enmity and hatred in himtowards them, the desire to take revenge, insult and about what, and through this will lead the soul of such a person century into darkness, despair, hopelessness, desirego to another place, hide even underground, just not to see, not to hear imaginaryenemies, but actually listening and delightinghis actual mortal enemy -the devilwho instills all this in him and I wishto destroy him.

Gout of love the Lord sends usthe strength of each illness and sorrow, but also gives them patience, so that we too may participate kami From my suffering; who is not scared heregave for Christ's sake, he will have remorse in the next century, - after all, it was possibleshow your love for Christ by patience I eat illness and sorrow, and [you] did not do this, trying to evade and avoid anysorrow... Not in anger, not for punishmentThe Lord sends us illnesses and sorrows, and from love for us, although not all people and do not always understand this.

WITHsuffering, if it makes you more embitteredgo, without transforming it, without giving goodnessno reaction [corrections and thanksgiving] –only pure evil.

WITHIt should also be mentioned thatThese fathers offer to sanctify what is receivedmedicine: yes, Venerable Barsanuphius VeLykiy recommended to one student to takemother's medicine - rose oil with holy waterdoy. The same old man does not advise against illnessesstrenuously ask for healing, for we do notwe know what is good for us.

IN illness, don’t wish yourself death - it’s sinful.

TOwhen we see someone who is sick, we won’tbefore explaining to ourselves the cause of his illness, but we will try to console him.

Pvisiting the sick on their beds and delivers those possessed by the sorrow of the flesh fromthe demon of pride and fornication.

PVisit the sick, may God visit you.

RThe sick person and whoever serves him receives the same reward.

Prp . Pimen Multi-painful

EThere are severely ill patients (after surgery,severely exhausted by illness, with overworknervous system, etc.), which gravitateare eager to visit and suffer when people visit themask questions, inquiries, etc.more talk. Therefore, before youto treat a patient, you need to find out firstfromclose to him, will they be pleasedvisiting a sick person.

XIt’s also a good thing to care about painnykh and visit them, but you need to have ajudgment: where the mental structure is damagedIf you trust me, then the matter will work out without you.

GLord, the lack of our good deedsreplenishes either illnesses or sorrows.

St. Dimitry Rostovsky

WITHthe best gratitude to God for yourecovery from illness is toserve Him the rest of your life to the fullestignorance of His commandments.

Disease and death entered human life as a result of the Fall. Before this, the person was not sick and did not know death. Likewise, in the life of the next century there will be no illnesses and old age. A person will be forever young, happy, full of creative forces. But it's there in eternal life. And here, on this sinful earth...

WHY DOES MAN SUFFER?

Experiencing pain and suffering, a person begins to understand how imperfect and fragile he is in this world and that sooner or later he will have to leave here.

Man is spirit, soul and body. And this hierarchy is reflected in all his life activities, including various kinds of diseases that visit his life. Illnesses in the spiritual field necessarily affect the psyche and somatics of a person.

By violating God's commandment, a person disrupts the integrity of his body, as if turning on the mechanism of internal self-destruction. And the pain that arises here is often a signal that not everything is in order with us, that we have lost our way.

For example, in the case of alcoholism and drug addiction. The horror and intensity of the suffering of these unfortunates literally forces them to look for a way out. Often the search itself is painful, and this is due to the fact that a person searches as if in the dark, groping, stumbling, falling and getting up again. When this way out of the impasse, from the desperate situation is found, then a person can no longer be ungrateful to the pain and suffering that prompted him to active action, forced him to tirelessly knock on the doors of God’s mercy. “Seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7), the Holy Gospel teaches us, and everyone who sincerely seeks will not be abandoned. It turns out that it is simply useful for an alcoholic and a drug addict, it is literally necessary to feel pain and remember the pangs of a hangover and withdrawal symptoms - they can stop him from breakdowns, remind him of future eternal torment.

Due to their occurrence, all existing diseases can be divided into two groups:
1. Diseases arising due to violation of the natural laws of nature.
2. Diseases arising due to violation of the spiritual laws of the Universe.

The first group includes diseases caused, for example, by poor nutrition, hypothermia or overheating, overwork, etc.

The second group includes diseases caused by violation of God's commandments.

If in the treatment of natural diseases medical assistance can be quite successful, then diseases resulting from sinful actions cannot be treated medically.

Here is what St. Basil the Great writes about this: “ Diseases arise from material principles, and here the art of medicine is useful; There are illnesses as punishment for sins, and here patience and repentance are needed; There are illnesses to fight and overthrow the evil one, like Job, and as an example to the impatient, like Lazarus, and saints endure illnesses, showing everyone humility and the limit of the human nature common to all. So, do not rely on medical art without grace and do not reject it out of your stubbornness, but ask God for knowledge of the reasons for punishment, and then deliverance from weakness, enduring sections, cauterizations, bitter medicines and all the healing of punishments».

« The cause of illness is sin, one’s own will, and not any necessity", - said Reverend Ephraim Sirin. And at the same time, according to the words of the holy Apostle Peter, illness often leads a person away from sins: “ Christ suffered for us in the flesh, then arm yourself with the same thought; for he who suffers in the flesh ceases to sin, so that the rest of the time in the flesh he may no longer live according to human lusts, but according to the will of God"(1 Peter 4:1-2).

According to Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh, there are very fragile souls who the world can break, cripple. God protects such a soul with a veil of madness or some kind of alienation or misunderstanding. The soul matures in the silence of its inner world and enters eternity mature, mature. And sometimes this “cover” is removed, and the person recovers.

Disease, according to the thoughts of the saints, does not allow passions to arise: « Every illness preserves our spirit from rottenness and spiritual corruption and does not allow passions, like spiritual worms, to arise in us"- writes Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk. " I saw those who were seriously suffering, who, through physical illness, as if by some kind of penance, got rid of spiritual passion“, points out John Climacus.

Illness brings the sick person closer to God through prayer: « ", exhorts Saint Nile of Sinai. The torment of a sick person moves his neighbor to compassion and prayer.

Illness is often attributed to the patient sufferer instead of heroism: « Whoever endures an illness with patience and gratitude is credited with it instead of a feat and even more", stated Saint Seraphim of Sarov. Illness has the power to soften hearts and make one aware of one’s weakness.. Sometimes it is only when we ourselves are seriously ill, in a state of helplessness and suffering, that we fully begin to appreciate human complicity and care. " Saint Athanasius the Great, coming to Saint Niphon, who was lying on his deathbed, and sitting down next to him, asked him: “Father! Is there any benefit from illness? Saint Niphon answered: “Just as gold, kindled by fire, is cleansed of rust, so a person suffering from illness is cleansed of his sins.”».

That is, a disease, if treated correctly, can bring considerable benefit to a person.

So, based on the above, we can draw the following conclusions.

The Lord allows people to suffer from illness and sorrow:

1. For sins: for their redemption, for changing a vicious lifestyle, realizing this viciousness and understanding that earthly life is a short moment, behind which there is eternity, and what it will be like for you depends on your earthly life.

2. Often for the sins of the parents children get sick ( so that grief crushes their crazy life, makes them think and change). In these cases, no matter how cruel it may seem to the modern secularist ( that is, indifferent to religion) a person brought up in the spirit of humanism ( a spirit that deifies the body and places its needs and desires above all else), but the words ring true: such people need illness to save their souls! For, first of all, the Lord cares about the salvation of man’s eternal soul, and for this man must become a new being, the way he was intended by God, for which he must change, cleanse himself of passions and vices. God and the commandments of Christ should be at the head of life, and not temporary, transitory health, well-being, abundance of food and clothing. All this is the golden calf, for which the ancient Jews often exchanged their Eternal God, just as many modern Christians betray Christ.

3. Due to the child’s special calling in life.

4. Often to cultivate our humility and patience, so necessary for eternal life.

5. To prevent evil and disastrous actions. There is a parable about the Lord. One day Jesus Christ was walking with his disciples along the road, and they saw a man legless from birth begging for alms by the road, and the disciples asked why he had no legs? Christ replied: “ If he had legs, he would cross the entire earth with fire and sword.».

6. Often, to save us from a big one with a small nuisance. For if in this situation we had remained healthy and acted as usual, some greater misfortune could have happened to us, but by tearing us out of the normal course of life through illness, the Lord saves us from it.

WAYS OF HEALING

Now let's talk about possible ways of healing from diseases that appear for spiritual reasons, and about the forces by which they are accomplished. First, let's look at this type of healing: healing by divine power, which, like insight, given to a person with a purified heart, completely devoted to Christ, mostly an ascetic and ascetic. Such, for example, are the holy great martyr and healer Panteleimon, the unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian, the holy martyr Cyprian, the holy righteous John Kronstadtsky and others.

Take a look at their lives. They treated the soul first and only then the body. For the soul is an eternal thing, much more valuable than a temporary, transitory body. And the people they healed had their lives changed, their faith strengthened, their souls cleansed of passions.

So, if we look at the healings that were performed by the power of God, we will see that the saints acted not by a biofield, not by pumping energy, but by the Holy Spirit. In this case, first of all, the moral causes of the disease, if any, were eliminated. In the Gospel of Matthew, in the case of the healing of the “paralytic” (sick) by our Lord Jesus Christ, we see that before he was told: “ Your sins are forgiven you,” and then “get up and walk.”"(Matthew 9:5).

One can also cite many cases of healings of the sick that took place near the relics and clothes of saints. Here is one case from personal practice: a mitten that belonged to St. John of Kronstadt was put on the hand of a completely paralyzed patient, V., after a prayer service I had performed. Immediately after this, the patient began to move the fingers of her paralyzed hand and was soon able to walk. The attending doctors were amazed at such a quick healing.

So, The Christian attitude towards illness is:
- in humble acceptance of the will of God;
- in the awareness of one’s sinfulness and the sins for which the disease was tolerated;
- in repentance and changing lifestyle.

It is very important to confess cleanly and often, not to have serious sins in your soul, since sins are the very window through which the unclean spirit affects our soul and body. Periodic communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ fills our hearts with Divine grace and heals mental and physical ailments. In the Sacrament of Anointing (unction) we are forgiven forgotten sins, soul and body are healed. Holy water and prosphora, taken in the morning on an empty stomach, also sanctify our nature. Bathing in holy springs and anointing with blessed oil taken from miraculous icons are very beneficial. Frequent reading of the Gospel and Psalms enlightens our soul and drives away the pathogenic influences of fallen spirits.

Prayer, fasting, almsgiving and other virtues propitiate the Lord, and He sends us healing from illnesses. If we go to doctors, then we need to ask for God’s blessing for treatment and trust them to treat the body, not the soul. You cannot trust your soul to anyone except God.

Having received a miraculous healing from an illness, many did not pay attention to God’s good deed and their duty to be grateful for the good deed, began to lead a sinful life, turned the gift of God to their own detriment, became alienated from God, and lost salvation. For this reason miraculous healings are very rare, although the carnal wisdom respects them very much and would very much like them. " You ask and do not receive, because you ask not for good, but so that you can use it for your lusts."(James 4:3).

Spiritual reason teaches that illnesses and other sorrows that God sends to man are sent out of God’s special mercy as bitter healing treatments for the sick; they contribute to our salvation, our eternal well-being much more surely than miraculous healings.

In addition, many diseases arise as a result of the influence of unclean spirits, and the results of these demonic attacks are very similar to natural diseases.

From the Gospel narrative it is known that the crumpled woman had a spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11-16). She was not possessed, but her illness came from the action of an unclean spirit. In this case, any medical art becomes powerless. That’s why Saint Basil the Great says: “ Just as the art of medicine should not be neglected at all, it is also inappropriate to place all hope in it alone." For such diseases are healed only by the power of God, by expelling the spirit of malice. This happens as a result of the correct spiritual life of the sick person, and if necessary, then a lecture performed by a cleric who has been specially blessed for this by the clergy.

Many Holy Fathers wrote about the correct attitude towards illness. And many of them came to a paradoxical conclusion for a secular person. They recommended rejoicing in illness. This is how the holy righteous John of Kronstadt explains it: “ My brother! Take sincere advice from me: endure your illness generously and not only do not be discouraged, but on the contrary, if you can, rejoice in your illness. What is there to be happy about, you ask, when it breaks far and wide? Rejoice that the Lord has punished you with temporary punishment, “for the Lord punishes whomever he loves, and smites every son whom he receives” (Heb. 12:6). Rejoice that you bear the cross of illness and, therefore, walk the narrow and sorrowful path leading to the Kingdom of Heaven».

The saints prayed during illnesses like this: “ I thank You, Lord, for everything that You deigned to send me for admonition and correction. Lord, glory to You for everything that is happening to me! Thy holy will be done. Do not deprive me of Your mercy! Make this illness a cleansing of my sins!»

According to the teachings of the Holy Fathers, to those who endure an illness with patience and gratitude, it is credited instead of a feat and even more. For a little suffering in earthly life, a person will receive a great reward in eternal life. If you don't deal with pain spiritually, it can become bitter. If you take it as medicine from the hand of God, then the person receives Divine consolation and will be counted among the martyrs.

« “God is faithful,” encourages the Apostle Paul, “who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but when you are tempted, He will also give you the way of escape, so that you can endure it.”"(1 Cor. 10:13).

When a person does not complain, but gives thanks for suffering, he is awarded great glory and is equal to the ascetic desert. But if illness is a very common phenomenon, then the ascetic feats of desert dwellers are the lot of a few.

At the same time, the Holy Scripture testifies that “the health and well-being of the body is more valuable than any gold, and a strong body is better than countless riches; There is no wealth better than physical health. Better is death than a sorrowful life or a constantly continuing illness” (Sir.30:15-17). The Lord protects a truly believing and repentant person from illness. " If you obey the voice of the Lord your God, the Bible instructs, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, then I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon Egypt."(Exodus 15:26). The Lord gave this general promise not only in relation to the “Egyptian plagues.” He promised to remove all infirmity from believers, to deliver them “from the destructive plague... the plague that walks in darkness, the plague that devastates at midday” (Ps. 91:3,6). In the Slavic translation of this psalm it is written absolutely unambiguously: “ Evil will not come to you, and wound will not approach your body, as His Angel commanded you, keep you in all your ways"(Ps.90:10-11). The wisdom of God saves those who serve her from troubles (in the Slavic text - “deliver from illnesses”) (Wisdom Sol. 10:9). As already mentioned, health is the original norm of human existence, and illness is the result of the Fall. Therefore, one can and should desire health, but at the same time an appropriate Christian attitude must be developed towards illness.

« My son!.. pray to the Lord, and He will heal you, the biblical sage teaches. - Leave your sinful life and correct your hands, and cleanse your heart from all sin... And give place to the doctor, for the Lord created him too, and let him not move away from you, for he is needed... Whoever sins before Him who created him, let him fall into the hands of a doctor ! (Sir.38:9-10,12,15). The Holy Fathers also wrote about the need for treatment Orthodox Church. “I was saddened by your illness,” wrote Saint Nektarios of Aegina to his spiritual daughter. - You caught a cold because of the dampness in your cell, since it was impossible to repair it with meager funds. Why didn't you write to me? I would send money... No need to freeze anymore, don’t endanger your life... Illness hinders the spiritual growth of those who have not achieved perfection. You need health for spiritual work. Anyone who is imperfect and who goes out to battle will be defeated, know this, if he is not healthy, for he will lack that moral strength that strengthens the perfect. For the imperfect, health is a chariot that carries a fighter to the victorious end of the battle. That is why I advise you to be reasonable, know the limits in everything and avoid excesses... Let P. together with A. take you to the doctor to make sure that your cold has not left any consequences. You should heed his instructions. Being in good health will help you grow spiritually, otherwise your efforts will be in vain».

« You don’t have to undergo treatment in the expectation that God will heal, said St. Theophan the Recluse, but this is very brave. You don’t have to undergo treatment to exercise patience and devotion to the will of God, but this is very high, and at the same time every “oh!” will be blamed, but only grateful joy is appropriate" So, Neither healing nor resorting to the services of doctors is forbidden for a Christian. However, one must avoid the danger of placing all hope of recovery on doctors, medications and medical procedures. The Holy Scriptures criticize the Israeli king Asa, who “in his illness sought not the Lord, but doctors” (2 Chron. 16:12).

A Christian must remember that whether he is healed miraculously or through doctors and medicines, healing in any case comes from the Lord. Therefore, according to the words of the Optina elder Macarius, “in medicines and treatment one must surrender to the will of God. He is strong both to reason with a doctor and to give strength to medicine.” And accordingly, spiritual means should be placed at the forefront of treatment: “ When you are sick, use prayer before doctors and medicines.", teaches Neil of Sinai.

PASSIONS AND DISEASES

Man is a holistic being. Consciousness and body, soul and spirit are indivisible parts unified system. To achieve complete healing, you cannot treat only the symptoms of the disease, you need to treat the whole person. It is necessary to determine what disorders at the spiritual, mental and physical level led to the onset of the disease. Therefore, with The most important thing for a sick person is reconciliation with God, restoration of correct spiritual life. The second stage of recovery is the acquisition of spiritual integrity, mental balance, peace with oneself, and awareness of responsibility for one’s illness. In the Holy Scriptures we find a number of indications of the connection between passions and illnesses: “ Jealousy and anger shorten the days, but care brings old age prematurely."(Sir.30:26); " Do not indulge in sadness in your soul and do not torment yourself with your suspiciousness; the joy of the heart is a person’s life, and the joy of a husband is a long life... Comfort your heart and remove sadness from yourself, for sadness has killed many, but there is no benefit in it"(Sir. 30:22-25).

HEART DISEASES

According to the patristic concept, the center of a person’s spiritual life is the heart. This is what the Gospel says about this: “ For from within, from the human heart, come evil thoughts, adultery, fornication, murder, theft, covetousness, malice, deceit, lasciviousness, the envious eye... All this evil comes from within and defiles a person"(Mark 7:21-23). The Psalter speaks about it this way: “ Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; You will not despise a broken and humble heart, O God."(Ps. 50:19). The heart is the feeling part of the soul and is considered by the Holy Fathers as the center of a person’s spiritual life. " The heart here is not meant to be natural, but allegorically, as the inner human state, disposition and inclinations». « A heart poisoned by sin does not cease to give birth from itself, from its damaged nature, sinful sensations and thoughts."- writes Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov. Therefore, “the whole strength of Christian life lies in the correction and renewal of the heart,” accomplished through repentance.

Also, many foreign psychologists believe that the heart is closely connected with the area of ​​feelings. In traditional cultures, the heart was seen as a symbol of love, the center of human vitality. The heart beats with joy, contracts with pain, people take many things to heart... It is customary to talk about coldness of heart, heartlessness, kindness. The heart reacts to emotional shocks by changing its rhythm.

We must understand that the heart is probably the most sensitive organ in the body. Our existence depends on its steady rhythmic activity. When this rhythm changes even for a moment, for example when the heart stops or jumps, we experience anxiety about the very essence of our life.

I will briefly repeat the Orthodox point of view on the relationship between passions and heart disease.

Payback for anger (anger)- hypertension, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, strokes, urolithiasis and cholelithiasis, neurasthenia, psychopathy, epilepsy.

Payback for vanity, which is usually accompanied by anger, are diseases of the cardiovascular system and neuropsychic diseases (neuroses, manic states).

Coronary thrombosis and angina pectoris are increasingly causes of suffering for those people possessed by obsessive states and heightened remorse, who are entrusted with great responsibility (medics, lawyers and industrial administrators) - they, according to A. Lowen, are almost occupational diseases. The causes of heart disease are also:

1) fear that I will be accused of not loving;

2) feeling of loneliness and fear. Constant feeling that “I have shortcomings, “I don’t do enough,” “I will never achieve success”;

3) expulsion of joy from the heart for the sake of money, or a career, or something else;

4) lack of love, as well as emotional isolation. The heart reacts to emotional shocks by changing its rhythm. Heart disorders occur due to inattention to one's own feelings. A person who considers himself unworthy of love, who does not believe in the possibility of love, or who forbids himself to show his love for other people, will certainly encounter manifestations of cardiovascular diseases. Finding contact with your true feelings, with the voice of your own heart, greatly eases the burden of heart disease, over time leading to partial or complete recovery;

5) ambitious, goal-oriented workaholics are more likely to experience stress, and their risk of high blood pressure and heart disease increases;

7) a tendency to excessive intellectualization combined with isolation and emotional impoverishment;

8) suppressed feelings of anger.

Heart disease often occurs as a result of a lack of love and security, as well as from emotional closeness. Heart disorders occur due to inattention to one's own feelings. A person who forbids himself to show his love for other people will certainly encounter manifestations of cardiovascular diseases. Learning to get in touch with your true feelings, with the voice of your own heart, greatly eases the burden of heart disease, eventually leading to partial or complete recovery. Orthodoxy always calls for sincerity, openness, and spontaneity in expressing one’s feelings. " Be like children", says Jesus Christ (Matthew 18:3). And children, as long as they are not spoiled by improper upbringing, are always sincere and whole. When they feel bad, they cry, when they are happy, they laugh, love and talk openly about everything. This turns out to be necessary to maintain mental and physical health. You can’t push your feelings and emotions inside. They do not disappear, but according to the law of conservation of energy, they rush into the subconscious, from where they have a destructive effect on the person as a whole. One may ask: what to do with negative emotions? Shouldn't they be overcome? Of course, we need to work with them. At the same time, we must remember that hidden, for example, anger, envy or lust have a destructive effect on the sinner’s body. You need to get rid of them. How? For example, by heartfelt prayer and repentance before God. It is good to bow to the ground and read prayers of repentance loudly. To improve your body health, you can do hard housework or sports. Brisk walking or jogging until you sweat, for men - shadow boxing or sport games help remove negative energy. Any kind of creative activity, playing musical instruments or singing will also be useful in this situation. It's all for the body and soul. But we must begin, as we have already said, with spiritual work. If you do not repent of your sins and existing passions, do not resist and overcome them, everything else becomes useless. Since the root of illness, sorrow and misfortune will remain untouched. And temptation will constantly repeat itself, taking possession of a person and destroying him.

RHYTHM DISORDER

Psychosomatic reasons. Interruptions in the functioning of the heart indicate that you have lost your own rhythm of life and an alien rhythm that is not typical for you is imposed on you. You are in a hurry, hurrying, fussing somewhere. Anxiety and fear take over your soul and begin to control your feelings.

The path to healing lies in a change in activity. You need to start doing in life what you are really interested in, what brings you joy and satisfaction. Find time to be alone with yourself, calm your feelings, stay in prayer longer.

BLOOD PRESSURE DISORDERS

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

A person with high blood pressure may appear friendly and reserved on the surface, but it is easy to discover that these surface traits are reactive formations aimed at suppressing aggressive impulses. That is, external goodwill is not sincere, but superficial, covering up internal aggressiveness. The latter, having no external outlet, bombards the cardiovascular system with accumulated energy, causing an increase in pressure. Hypertensive patients who are chronically ready to fight have dysfunction of the circulatory system. They suppress free expression of hostility towards other people out of a desire to be loved. Their hostile emotions seethe but have no outlet. In their youth they can be bullies, but as they get older they notice that they alienate people with their behavior and begin to suppress their own emotions. If they do not have repentance, prayer, or a directed struggle against their passion, then self-destruction will continue more and more intensely. Unresolved, including old, emotional problems can also cause high blood pressure. It is imperative to find them out, perhaps resorting to the help of a psychologist, bring them out, experience them, rethink them and thus resolve them.

Hypotension (low blood pressure)

Psychosomatic reasons. Often this is despondency or a defeatist mood: “Nothing will work out anyway,” as well as a lack of faith in oneself, in God’s help, in one’s strengths and capabilities. A person suffering from hypotension often tries to avoid conflict situations and evade responsibility.

The path of healing. It is necessary to live an active life, set realistic goals and achieve them, learning to overcome obstacles and possible conflicts. We must remember that despondency is a mortal sin. " I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.", said the Apostle Paul (Phil. 4:13). And every believer should make this statement his credo. The Lord is omnipotent. And if He is love incarnate, and I am His beloved child, what is impossible for me? The Lord provides for every person: “ And a hair from your head will not disappear"- said Jesus Christ in the Holy Gospel (Luke 21:18). Therefore, there is no place for despondency in the life of a believer. And if one is found, it means there is a demonic attack, which should be resisted with prayer, confession, reading Holy Scripture, communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Hypotension can also be caused by a lack of love in childhood. If a child did not receive enough maternal love, was lonely, spiritually and emotionally abandoned, at the bodily level this can be expressed in hypotension. Again, a full spiritual life, saturated with love, when a person knows how to give and receive love, is the fundamental basis for healing from this disease. Physically, sports, massage, active recreation are useful - everything that will make life more eventful and fulfilling.

STOMACH DISEASES

Dr. Flander Dunbar of New York Presbyterian Hospital was convinced that certain diseases affected people with certain personality types. People of the “gastroulcer type” may outwardly appear ambitious, strong-willed and persistent, but underneath this they hide weak will and character. That is, a person, violating his natural nature, adopts a style of behavior that is not typical for him. He wants to appear to be something other than what he really is. And he constantly forces himself to do this. This emotional discomfort and the experiences associated with them, even if driven into the subconscious, give rise to disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract at the bodily level. Complete healing is possible only with awareness and repentance of one’s sinful tendencies (pride, vanity, conceit), humbly accepting oneself as one is, and in natural, sincere behavior expressing true emotions and feelings.

Stomach problems: ulcerative colitis, constipation, according to psychotherapists, are a consequence of being “stuck” in the past and unwillingness to take responsibility for the present. The stomach reacts sensitively to our problems, fears, hatred, aggressiveness and worries. Suppressing these feelings, unwillingness to admit them to yourself, an attempt to ignore and forget them, rather than comprehend, realize and resolve them, can cause various gastric disorders. Prolonged irritation, manifested in a state of stress, leads to gastritis.

Often people suffering from gastric diseases try to prove to others that they are indispensable, experience envy, and are characterized by a constant feeling of anxiety and hypochondria.

People with peptic ulcer disease are characterized by restlessness, irritability, increased efficiency and a heightened sense of duty. They are characterized by low self-esteem, accompanied by excessive vulnerability, shyness, touchiness, self-doubt, and at the same time increased demands on themselves, pride, and suspiciousness. It is noticed that these people strive to do much more than they can. They are characterized by emotional overcoming difficulties combined with strong internal anxiety. Such people constantly control themselves and their loved ones. Rejection of the surrounding reality and hostility to anything in this world, constant fears, and an increased sense of disgust can also lead to peptic ulcer disease. The path to healing lies in strengthening faith in God and trust in Him. It is necessary to learn to endure, forgive and love, enjoy life more and not focus on its negative manifestations, cultivate positive emotions, love and calmness.

Nausea, vomiting

Psychosomatic reasons. There is something in the patient’s life that he does not accept, does not digest, and from which he wants to free himself. It is characterized by intransigence, a categorical reluctance to accept one or another state of affairs, and subconscious fears.

The path of healing. It is necessary to accept everything that happens as God’s Providence, to draw positive lessons from everything, to learn to assimilate new ideas, to fulfill God’s commandment about love for enemies.

Motion sickness in transport (sea sickness)

Psychosomatic reasons. The disease is based on subconscious fears, horror of the unknown, and fear of travel.

The path of healing. It’s about learning to trust yourself and the person driving. Believe in God’s deep providence for you: and a hair will not fall from your head without the will of your Heavenly Father.

Constipation

Constipation indicates an excess of accumulated feelings and experiences that a person cannot or does not want to part with. Their reasons are as follows:

1) reluctance to part with outdated ways of thinking; getting stuck in the past; sometimes sarcastic;

2) accumulated emotional worries and experiences that a person does not want to part with, cannot or does not want to get rid of them, making room for new emotions;

3) sometimes constipation is the result of stinginess and greed.

The path of healing. Let go of your past. Throw out old things from your home and make room for new ones. Work on the psychological attitude: “I’m getting rid of the old and making room for the new.” Remember God's Providence for you, His love and care. Accept everything that happens as if from the hand of God. In confession, talk through the thoughts and experiences that torment you. Overcome the love of money, develop in yourself non-covetousness and love for your neighbors.

Flatulence

Flatulence is often a consequence of constriction, fear and unrealized ideas, the inability to “digest” the growing mass of events and information. The path to healing is to develop calmness and consistency in action.

Learn to set goals for yourself and achieve them. Make a plan and take action, but don't get carried away with the little things.

Indigestion

Its causes include animal fear, horror, restlessness, as well as constant dissatisfaction and complaints.

The path of healing is to strengthen faith in God and His good Providence for every person, regular confession and communion, and the development of humility in oneself.

Diarrhea, colitis

Psychosomatic reasons manifest themselves in strong fear and anxiety, a feeling of the unreliability of this world.

The path to healing: when fear sets in, pray to God and the Mother of God. Read Psalm 90 many times. Learn to trust in God. Bring fears and worries to confession as manifestations of sin.

Heartburn

Heartburn, an excess of gastric juice, indicates repressed aggressiveness, as well as various kinds of fears. The solution to the problem at the psychosomatic level is seen to be the transformation of the forces of suppressed aggression into an active life position, as well as creativity and those ways of overcoming aggression that were indicated above.

INTESTINAL DISEASES

Diseases of the mucous membrane of the large intestine

The cause of this disease may be the mental sphere of a person. A layer of old experiences, sinful daydreaming, thinking about past grievances and failures, a kind of trampling in the viscous quagmire of the past - all this can contribute to the development of this disease. We must remember that our mental sphere is constantly exposed to violent influence from the demonic world. And if we are not sober, that is, we uncontrollably accept all the thoughts that come to us, then we find ourselves defenseless against the destructive influence of fallen spirits. You need to constantly cultivate good thoughts in yourself, and drive away evil ones with prayer and repentance in confession.

Hemorrhoids, abscess, fistula, cracks

Psychosomatic reasons manifest themselves in difficulties in getting rid of the old and unnecessary in life. Anger, fear, anger, guilt about some past events. The pain of loss, unpleasant emotions driven into the subconscious.

The path of healing. Calm and painless getting rid of the old. Work on the attitude: “What comes out of my body is something that I don’t need and that bothers me. This is how things that interfere and hold back spiritual development leave my life.” It is necessary to develop trust in the good Providence of God.

KIDNEY DISEASES

The kidneys symbolize the ability to free ourselves from what can poison our lives. The causes of kidney disease are psychosomatic. They are based on a combination of such negative emotions as harsh criticism, condemnation, anger, anger, resentment and hatred with strong disappointment and a feeling of failure, as well as low self-esteem, seeing oneself as an eternal loser, a feeling of shame, fear of the future, despondency and unwillingness to live in this world.

The path of healing. Controlling your thoughts, overcoming fear and anger, increasing self-esteem, developing patience, humility and love for others.

Kidney stones, colic

Psychosomatic reasons: aggressive emotions driven into the subconscious, anger, fears, disappointments. Renal colic is a consequence of irritation, impatience and dissatisfaction with the environment and people.

The path of healing is in the development of humility and patience, trust in God and His good Providence.

Urinary tract inflammation, urethritis, cystitis

Psychosomatic reasons consist of irritation and anger towards the opposite sex, anxiety and restlessness.

Path of Healing. Trust in God, the ability to forgive, endure and love.

Nephritis

Psychosomatic reasons:
1) too strong a reaction to disappointments and failures;
2) feeling like a worthless loser who does everything wrong;

The path of healing. We must accept everything that happens as a condition for our salvation, as a medicine sent by God Himself. We must realize: “I can do all things through the Lord who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). Psychological work to improve your internal self-esteem.

Adrenal diseases

Psychosomatic reasons. Depressed mood; an overabundance of destructive ideas; disregard for oneself; sense of anxiety; acute emotional hunger; self-flagellation.

The path of healing. It is necessary to cultivate a creative spirit within oneself, to develop the ability to love and sacrifice oneself for the sake of one’s neighbor. Regularly participate in church services and actively contribute to works of mercy. Be realistic, tune in to positive thoughts and emotions.

PANCREATITIS

Psychosomatic reasons. Acute rejection of people, events, situations; anger and feelings of hopelessness; loss of joy of life.

The path of healing. Developing love, patience and compassion for people; trust in God in everything and life according to God’s commandments.

DIABETES

There are two types of diabetes. In both cases, the blood sugar level is elevated, but in one case insulin administration is necessary, because it is not produced in the body, but in others it is enough to use sugar-lowering substances. In the latter case, it may be caused by atherosclerosis. Diabetes most often occurs in older people who accumulate a lot of negative emotions in the subconscious: grief, melancholy, resentment towards life. They get the impression that there is nothing good (sweet) left in life; they experience a severe lack of joy. Diabetes is terrible for its complications: glaucoma, cataracts, sclerosis, narrowing of blood vessels in the extremities, especially the legs. Often the patient dies from these complications. The basis of these diseases is a lack of joy.

The path to healing lies in faith in God as the source of life, joy and love; in trusting in Him; thanksgiving for everything; in repentance for all past sins. It is necessary to remember and implement the words of the Apostle Paul: “ Always be happy. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks for everything"(1 Thess. 5:16-18). Learn to rejoice, see the good, and ignore the bad. Learn to give joy to others.

EYE PROBLEMS

On a psychosomatic level The basis for eye problems can be a reluctance to see something, a rejection of the world around us as it is, as well as the accumulation of negative emotions in the soul: hatred, aggression, anger, anger. The eyes are the mirror of the soul, and if the indicated sinful passions are alive in the soul, then they cloud the internal and then external vision. To overcome this tendency, we must remember God's Providence for each person and for everything existing world. Everything that the Lord has allowed can play a positive role for our salvation if we perceive it correctly. The sinfulness of other people should be perceived with pity, love and compassion. By committing a sinful act, they destroy themselves first of all, moving away from God and surrendering to the power of demons. An Orthodox Christian should not turn away and hate, but endure and pray for them. With this attitude, the cause of psychosomatic illness will disappear. At the same time, people often say: “I hate you,” “my eyes wouldn’t see you,” “I can’t see you,” etc. Pride and stubbornness prevent such people from noticing the good in the world around them. Mistaking demonic thoughts for their own, they see the world in a black light, through the eyes of fallen spirits. Naturally, with such a vision, their vision is destroyed. It is necessary to cultivate good thoughts in yourself, without accepting demonic ones, to live in communion with God, and psychosomatic reasons will be removed.

Dry eyes

Dry eyes (conjunctivitis, keratitis) can be caused by our evil gaze; reluctance to look at the world with love; sinful attitude: “I would rather die than forgive.” Sometimes the reason can be gloating. The stronger the negative emotions (anger, hatred, resentment), the stronger the inflammation of the eyes. According to the “boomerang law,” aggression comes back and hits its source in the eyes. Accordingly, healing from this disease occurs along with the eradication of sinful actions and attitudes, repentance in confession, development of kindness, the ability to forgive and benevolence towards everyone around you.

Barley

Psychosomatic reasons. Most likely, you look at the world with evil eyes. Inside yourself, you cultivate anger towards someone.

The path of healing. It is necessary to reconsider your attitude towards a hated person or circumstances. Learn to forgive, tolerate and love. The eyes are the mirror of the soul, and their condition largely depends on thoughts. Learn to accept good thoughts and drive away evil ones.

Strabismus

Psychosomatic reasons. One-sided view of things. Strabismus that occurs in childhood reflects certain parental behavior. Most likely, they are in deep conflict and act contrary to each other. For a child, parents are the two most important people in the world. And the conflict between them literally tears the child’s soul in half, which can also manifest itself in eye diseases.

The path of healing. Reconciliation of parents and immediate relatives, like-mindedness of father and mother, their love and attention to the child.

Glaucoma

With this disease, intraocular pressure increases and severe pain appears in the eyeball. It becomes difficult for the patient to look at the world with open eyes.

Psychosomatic reasons. A person’s subconscious is pressed by some old grievances against people, fate, circumstances. Heartache and an unwillingness to forgive are always present. Glaucoma signals to a person that he is subjecting himself to strong internal pressure, bombarding his nervous system with negative feelings from the subconscious.

The path of healing. You need to learn to forgive and accept the world as it is. In prayer, turn your feelings and thoughts to God, ask Him for help and intercession. Don't be afraid to express yourself positive emotions. Wash your eyes with holy water several times a day, ask for help Mother of God and saints. We can recommend light physical activity, long walks in the fresh air, taking air and water baths, and some breathing exercises.

Cataract

Most often occurs in older people.

Psychosomatic reasons. Lack of hope for a happy future, gloomy views of the future, anticipation of old age, illness, death. This is how self-programming for suffering in old age occurs.

The path of healing. Belief in God and immortal life. Understanding that God is love and will reward everyone who chooses the path of light with joy and happiness. The realization that there is a need and its own charm at every age.

ASTHENIA, FEELING OF POWERLESS

Today, these diseases affect many people. Anyone who does not find sufficient strength in himself to overcome the disease is, in fact, simply avoiding responsibility for his own life. Behind all this lies distrust of God, fear of making mistakes, and lack of boldness. The beginning of getting rid of asthenic manifestations will be the realization that God is Love. He provides for every person. Opening up to His holy will and living in accordance with it is the task of every Christian. And when you are with the Lord, nothing is impossible for you.

Mentally Asthenia may be the result of past unsuccessful endeavors. Having been defeated several times, a person labels himself a loser and in advance gives up the idea of ​​​​the possible success of his intentions. As a result, low self-esteem dominates his entire life.

Here you need to increase your self-esteem. We need to remember our successes and successful endeavors. Connect them with the upcoming activity and tell yourself: “As it worked out for me then, so it will work out today.” And after praying to God, start your own business. To avoid self-confidence, which can also be a cause of failure, a person must constantly remember that he is neither better nor worse than others, but like everyone else. And if others succeeded, then he will succeed too.

ONCOLOGY

Cancer has long been considered a disease beyond individual control, irreversible and incurable. Cancer strikes without warning, and the patient seems to have little control over the course or outcome of the disease. Recently, there have been several well-publicized attempts in scientific circles to change this perception. According to modern theory This disease involves the constant production of cancer cells in every body. The immune system successfully resists, flushing them out of the body, until one or another factor reduces the body's resistance, causing susceptibility to cancer. Much evidence suggests that stress reduces resistance to disease by affecting the immune system and hormonal balance.

According to the psychosomatic theory, cancer is generated by unforgiven grievances, excessive fixation on some loss, hatred, loss of the meaning of life. Hidden grievances of the past, anger and malice, hatred and the desire for revenge literally devour the body. This is a deep internal conflict. The place of manifestation of the disease also depends on spiritual reasons. For example, damage to the genital organs indicates that our femininity or masculinity is affected. Damage to the digestive tract is associated with rejection of events and unwillingness to forgive; respiratory organs - with deep disappointment in life.

Path of Healing. To avoid this disease, you just need to live according to Christian commandments, be able to endure, forgive and love. Jesus Christ Himself commanded this in the prayer to God the Father, which He gave to people. “And forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors.” Just as the Lord forgave everyone everything and even prayed for His crucifiers, so He commanded His followers to do the same. For healing, a complete change of one’s worldview to a Christian one is necessary. You need to take responsibility for your life, illness and health. Determine the meaning of your life and rid your consciousness of everything alien. Try to enjoy life more.

NERVOUSNESS

Nervousness often manifests itself as a state of internal restlessness - urges and impulses for disorderly activity due to chaotic emotional outbursts. A person is aware of the need for change, but does not understand what exactly he should change. Being nervous, he experiences internal pressure, constantly feeling that reality is not what he would like. He either rushes about in search of solutions to problems, or painfully adapts his requests to reality. Most often this happens because a person has not gained faith in God and has not rebuilt his entire life in accordance with God’s commandments. Nervousness can also arise due to a discrepancy between what is desired and what is actual.

In this case, the person should calm down and analyze the reasons for his nervous state. Having found out, take spiritual and emotional actions to overcome them.

PSYCHOPATHY

Let us now consider the main types of psychopathy and their moral reasons, indicated by Academician D.A. Avdeev.

1. Excitable psychopaths, epileptoids: the cause is pride, passion of anger, malice, intolerance, rage.

2. Hysterics: the reason is pride, the passion of vanity. Common signs are the desire for external effect, posturing, capriciousness, egocentrism.

3. Schizoids: the reason is the passion of pride, emotional coldness, alienation, lack of contact, lack of love, preoccupation with oneself.

4. Unstable psychopaths: the reason is the passion of pride and anger. Extremely strong criminal orientation, lack of any mercy.

5. Cycloids: the reason is pride, despondency, vanity. (Change of phases - increasingly shorter than the phase of euphoria and longer than the phase of depression. Lack of moral guidelines, their replacement by moods.)

A serious mental illness that darkens the mind and will frees one from responsibility for one’s actions. People suffering from Down syndrome, mental retardation, autism, schizophrenia and similar diseases are judged differently by God than those who are mentally healthy. And what is forgiven first, will not be forgiven second. Therefore, one of the ways to save the soul that the Heavenly Father chooses is a congenital pathology of the brain, which limits or completely deprives one of legal capacity. Elder Paisius the Svyatogorets speaks very categorically on this matter: mentally underdeveloped children are saved. " Without much difficulty they go to heaven. If parents look at this matter in this way, spiritually, then they themselves will benefit and will have a spiritual reward." In one of the letters of St. Theophan the Recluse there is a remarkable phrase about feeble-minded people: “ Idiots! Yes, they are idiots only for us, and not for themselves and not for God. Their spirit grows in its own way. It may happen that we, the wise, will turn out to be worse than idiots».

Epilepsy, seizures, convulsions, spasms

Psychosomatic reasons. Often these diseases are caused by severe mental stress, which can be generated by causeless panic fear, persecution mania, a feeling of strong internal struggle, and a desire to commit violence. A person inflates himself so much with “his” thoughts that the body at times refuses to listen to him and makes disorderly movements. During a seizure, consciousness is partially or completely lost. This once again emphasizes that the causes of the disease are hidden in the subconscious and external influences. Often, but not always, these attacks are the result of obsession and demonic possession. Epilepsy is often discovered during adolescence, just as puberty begins. This is the so-called crisis of adolescence, when children have minimal control over emotions and thoughts. Patients often experience high level subconscious aggression towards the outside world and other people. This aggression can be expressed in hatred, contempt, jealousy. All this testifies to the deep spiritual defeat of such people.

The path of healing. Awareness of one's sinfulness. Deep repentance. Overcoming the passions of pride, anger, rancor. Control over your thoughts and feelings. Prayer, participation in church sacraments. Verbalization of your feelings and experiences, developing openness to the world and people, trust and love for others.

Hyperactivity, nervous tics

Psychosomatic reasons. A common cause of the disease is parents’ rejection of their child for who he is, their lack of trust in him and lack of love. Perhaps the mother of such a baby had abortions in the past, or the parents considered the pregnancy untimely and unwanted. Perhaps, after the birth of a child, the parents were visited by thoughts that the worries that had arisen were preventing them from being realized in life, moving up the career ladder, or getting a job. personal life. Often the cause of a child’s illness is resentment, mutual claims, and lack of love for each other among his mother and father.

The path of healing. When parents change their behavior and begin to truly love the child and each other, the child calms down and relaxes. Prayer for the child, giving him communion in Church, teaching him holy water, spiritual reading and prayer helps a lot.

Insomnia

Psychosomatic reasons. Fears, anxiety, struggle for a “place in the sun,” vanity, strong emotional experiences. All this makes it difficult to relax, calm down and disconnect from the worries of the day. A bad conscience and feelings of guilt can also contribute to the formation of insomnia.

The path of healing. It is necessary to change the approach to solving emerging problems. Learn to trust yourself, other people and, most importantly, God. Trust in His good Providence, transferring oneself completely into His hands makes a person free from fear. You need to cleanse your soul with repentance, make peace with your neighbors, and your sleep will improve.

RESPIRATORY DISEASES

Asthma

Asthma and lung problems are caused by the inability (or unwillingness) to live independently, as well as a lack of living space. Asthma, convulsively holding back the air currents entering from the outside world, testifies to the fear of frankness, sincerity, and the need to accept the new that every day brings. The skill of accepting God’s Providence in sad and joyful circumstances of life, trusting God and, as a result, gaining trust in people are an important psychological component that contributes to recovery.

We will only list some typical causes of asthma.

1. Inability to breathe for one's own benefit. Feeling depressed. Holding back sobs. Fear of life. Reluctance to be in a certain place.

2. A person with asthma feels like he has no right to breathe on his own. Asthmatic children are usually conscientious. They take the blame for everyone else.

3. Asthma occurs when the feeling of love is suppressed in the family. The child suppresses crying, experiences fear of life and does not want to live anymore.

4. Compared to healthy people Asthmatics express more negative emotions, are more likely to be angry, offended, harbor grudges, and seek revenge.

5. Suppressed sexual desires and at the same time mental immersion in them. On a spiritual level, repentance for impure desires and thoughts is necessary here. When they attack, it is necessary to read the Gospel, Psalter or the Theotokos rule (read “Rejoice to the Virgin Mary” 12 or 33 times). Direction is also needed sexual energy into a creative direction.

6. Asthma in children is most often caused by fear of life, strong unmotivated fear, reluctance to “be here and now,” and self-blame.

Pulmonary diseases

Their psychosomatic reasons- depression, sadness, fear of taking life as it is. Patients often consider themselves unworthy to live a full life and have very low self-esteem. The lungs are also a symbolic ability to take and give life. Those who smoke a lot usually deny life. They hide their feelings of inferiority.

Tuberculosis

Psychosomatic reasons. Depression, excessive sadness, despondency, severe melancholy, originating in subconscious aggression aimed at the world and people, life and fate. Lack of a full life and meaning of existence, fear of breathing deeply.

The path of healing. Finding faith and spiritual meaning in life. The ability to forgive and seek God’s Providence in everything. Develop patience and humility in yourself. Constant reading of the New Testament. Full Confession and Communion.

Bronchitis

Often its cause is a nervous atmosphere in the family, continuous arguments and shouting. To overcome this disease it is necessary to establish the correct family relationships, achieve a peaceful, spiritual atmosphere in the family.

Runny nose

Psychosomatic reasons may be: the body’s request for help, internal crying; self-perception that you are a victim; lack of recognition of one's own worth in this life.

Psychosomatic reasons. Feeling of loneliness, abandonment; the desire to attract the attention of others: “Look at me! Listen to me!" On the other hand, cough acts as a kind of brake. A cough can interrupt an emerging conflict and help shift the negative emphasis of the conversation.

The path of healing. In the first case, you need to learn to express your feelings in a dignified way, not to push emotions inside, especially positive ones. Be able to correctly analyze negative feelings.

Attacks of suffocation

Psychosomatic reasons. Strong fear of life and emerging problems, distrust of life. Frequent states of anger, resentment, irritation caused by unwanted events, fear of their repetition.

The path of healing. Faith in God, trust in His good Providence. The fight against the love of money. Regular reading of the Gospel and Psalms, frequent confession.

ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Often its causes are stubborn resistance to current events, rejection of them, as well as constant tension and fierce persistence. Refusal to see the good, constant pessimism.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

It is often generated by maximalism, hardness of heart, iron will, lack of flexibility and fear that not everything will go according to plan.

Psychosomatic roots sclerosis and its varieties are often hidden in a lack of joy. Learn to rejoice - and your blood vessels will be cleansed! Metabolism largely depends on a person’s emotional mood.

Rejection of the surrounding reality and hatred of what is happening, constant tension - all these processes negatively affect the condition of blood vessels and often lead to atherosclerosis. Often people with vascular sclerosis are very stubborn. They stubbornly refuse to notice the good in life, constantly insisting that this world is bad, and life is hard and unbearable. This state arises from lack of faith and demonic influence on the individual. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything,” the Apostle Paul teaches us. If we live in a world without God, without hope, without the help of God’s grace, then our lot is sorrow, sadness and illness. Only having found the highest meaning of life, fulfilling the commandments of God, do we feel the joy of the presence of God in our hearts and receive grace through the church sacraments.

To change a destructive mental state, you must learn to perceive the world and events as they are. If I believe in God, then I know that He is looking out for me. Therefore, everything that happens to me happens according to God’s Providence and is aimed at my good. For example, in order to acquire the necessary virtues or overcome pathological passions, I learn to change not the world, but my attitude towards current events. I try to promote the triumph of good with my prayers and righteous behavior. Reading the Holy Scriptures and especially the Gospel greatly helps in acquiring such a dispensation. You need to learn to enjoy life, see its positive sides and thank God for everything.

RHEUMATIC DISEASES

Rheumatism

It is generated by a sense of one’s own vulnerability, the need for love, chronic pessimism, and resentment. Rheumatism is a disease acquired from constant criticism of oneself and others. Patients with rheumatism usually attract people who constantly criticize them. They have a curse - their desire to constantly be “perfection”, and with any people, in any situation. In Orthodoxy, this sin is called man-pleasing, based on vanity.

Treatment of the disease should begin with overcoming these sins.

Rheumatoid arthritis

The reason for its occurrence may be an overly critical attitude towards ourselves during various life dramas, which we often create for ourselves, not noticing the joy that surrounds us. First of all, this is the sin of despondency, excessive self-examination, and low self-esteem.

PHLEBEURYSM

Psychosomatic reasons. Often this disease is caused by being in a situation you hate, fear and anxiety for the future, disapproval of people around you, and often self-disapproval. Trying for some time not to notice the feeling of overload and oppression, a person builds up a feeling of constant dissatisfaction with himself, which finds no way out and forces him to “swallow resentment” every day, mostly far-fetched. One of the causes of this disease is the wrong direction in life.

The path of healing. Think about whether you have chosen the right profession. Does it allow you to unleash your creative potential or does it hinder your development? Work should provide not only money, but also the joy of creativity and the opportunity for self-improvement. The way out of this situation is either to come to terms with the circumstances and try to accept them, or to change your life at once. The spiritual path is the acquisition of humility, the calm acceptance of what the Lord sends. Pray for help and for those around you.

THROMBOSIS

Psychosomatic reasons. Stop at internal development, clinging to some dogmas that are outdated for you and, possibly, false principles.

The path of healing. Spiritual development and self-improvement.

OBLITERATING ENDARTERITIS

Psychosomatic reasons. Strong subconscious fear of the future, lack of self-confidence, worry about one’s financial situation, hidden grievances.

The path of healing. Trust in God and His good Providence. Repentance for lack of faith. Warming up your faith in the Lord.

HYPOGLYCEMIA (LOW GLUCOSE CONTENT IN BLOOD)

Most often this is the result of depression from the hardships of life. Overcoming it with faith and prayer is the way out of this situation.

ANEMIA

Psychosomatic reasons. Lack of joy, fear of life, inferiority complex, old grievances.

The way to overcome. You need to determine where exactly (work, money, relationships, love, faith, prayer) life does not bring joy. Having discovered existing problems, begin to solve them. The most important thing is to find living communication with God, the source of joy and happiness.

BLEEDING

Psychosomatic reasons. Joy leaves your life, replaced by old grievances, mistrust, hatred, and anger driven into the subconscious.

The way to overcome. It is necessary to forgive all insults, learn to endure, forgive and love; remember that God is love, light and joy. Thank God for everything as often as possible, drive away unkind thoughts.

LYMPHATIC DISEASES

Many experts consider them a warning that one should refocus on the most important thing in life - love and joy. The Holy Scriptures, Christ Himself, and many saints of God call for this.

Inflammation of the lymph nodes, mononucleosis

Psychosomatic reasons. This disease signals that love and joy are leaving a person’s life. Most often it occurs in children. In this case, the reason is rooted in the relationship between the parents, their constant irritation, resentment, and anger at each other.

The path of healing. We need to find the reasons why love and joy disappeared from life, and eliminate them. Parents of a sick child should make peace, maintain a favorable family atmosphere, and pray together for the child. It’s good to go to church together, as a family, to confess and receive communion from the same confessor.

SLEEP DISTURBANCE

Insomnia

Psychosomatic reasons. On the one hand, there is fear, distrust of life and a feeling of guilt, on the other - flight from life, reluctance to recognize its shadow sides.

The way to overcome. Trust in God, prayer, confession and Communion. Possibly unction.

HEADACHE

Often occur as a result of the following reasons.

1. A person suffering from headaches underestimates himself, gnaws at himself with excessive self-criticism, and is tormented by fears. Feeling inferior and humiliated, such a person treats others in the same way.

2. Inconsistency between thoughts and external behavior.

3. Headaches also often occur from the body’s low resistance to even minor stress. A person complaining of constant headaches is tense and tense, both psychologically and physically. His nervous system is always at its limit. And the first symptom of future illnesses is a headache. Therefore, doctors working with such patients first of all teach them to relax. It is also necessary to try to control your thoughts, not accept hostile thoughts, bring your thoughts and actions to unity, learn flexibility and tact in communicating with other people. You should say what you think and avoid communicating with those who are unpleasant to you. Accept yourself as you are. Learn to notice only the good in people. Try not to see the bad, or at least don’t focus on it.

Fear can also cause headaches. It creates excessive stress and anxiety. Find the phobia that is bothering you. Learn to trust the world around you - God's creation, believe in the good Providence of the Lord for you. Living in harmony with yourself, love and trust in the world around you dissolves any fear.

Often a headache occurs when it is constantly simulated. For example, a link to it helps to evade some responsibilities. So, a woman, trying to avoid sexual intercourse, refers to a headache. She does this once, twice, and then as evening approaches, she regularly begins to have a headache. And pills won't help here. Here you need to calmly sort out your relationship with your husband and make an informed decision.

Learn to treat your headaches carefully and calmly. Take it primarily as a signal that something is going wrong in your life. Don't suppress it with pills. They can only bring temporary relief. Suppressing pain does not mean curing it. Find the true causes of your headache and eliminate them. In spiritual terms, the actions should be as follows: forgive yourself and accept yourself as you are, ask for forgiveness from God, rely on His Holy Will, and your headache will disappear by itself.

Migraine

Migraine is a neuralgic headache that is most often localized in one place and tends to appear with a certain frequency. Often arises as a result of hatred of coercion, resistance to the course of life, sexual fears. Migraines affect people who want to look perfect in the eyes of others, as well as those who have accumulated irritation with reality. Simple painkillers do not help here. As a rule, such pain is calmed with tranquilizers and antipsychotics. But only temporarily, since medications do not eliminate the immediate cause of the disease. And the reasons for the appearance of migraines are most often the same as in the case of a regular headache, but here certain neurotic character traits are also layered. Spiritually, a person suffering from this disease must fight people-pleasing, overcome vanity, and develop humility and patience.

AMNESIA (MEMORY LOSS), MEMORY WEAKNESS

Fear that has passed into the subconscious can be one of the main causes of amnesia, or memory weakness. And not just fear, but escape from life. A person strives to forget everything. What advice is most often given to loved ones in unpleasant situations? “Forget about it!” And if you follow this advice, then over time you may experience memory deterioration.

Sometimes the subconscious mind protects a person with the help of amnesia. Events associated with physical pain or severe mental suffering disappear from consciousness. But the negative experiences driven into the subconscious do not disappear, but continue to bombard the human body with negative impulses. You need to pull them into the conscious area, relive them and develop a constructive attitude towards them. You need to speak your feelings out loud, take them to confession, express them in prayer to God, ask for His help and protection.

BRAIN DISEASES

Brain tumor

Brain tumors often occur in people who want the entire world to correspond to their ideas. Such people are very stubborn and refuse to understand and accept the point of view of others. Everything around should be built according to their will. This leads to aggression towards people and surrounding circumstances. Such individuals are characterized by condemnation, hatred and contempt for people, which, in turn, is a product of pride and selfishness. Healing from illness must begin with repentance, humility and meekness. We must understand our humble place in this world and not try to remake it, but first of all work on ourselves, overcoming our selfishness. “Save yourself, and thousands will be saved around you,” said the Holy Fathers. And only on the path of such self-improvement can this disease be overcome.

THROAT DISEASES

The following reasons can cause throat diseases.
1. Inability to stand up for yourself, express your thoughts and feelings.
2. Swallowed anger.
3. Crisis of creativity.
4. Reluctance to change and accept ongoing life processes.
5. Resistance to life changes.

Throat problems arise from the feeling that we “don’t have a right” and a feeling of inadequacy. Sore throat- the result of constant internal irritation. If he is accompanied by a cold, then in addition to everything there is confusion and some confusion. The condition of the throat largely reflects the state of our relationships with loved ones.

The way to overcome. Realize yourself as a beloved child of God. Believe in God's Providence, His protection and protection. We need to understand that we are no worse and no better than others. You should develop the ability and desire to change for the better.

Sore throat, pharyngitis, laryngitis

Psychosomatic reasons. Fear of expressing your thoughts out loud; swallowing, suppressing anger and other emotions. A feeling of one’s own inferiority, dissatisfaction with oneself, one’s appearance, actions, constant self-flagellation and, at the same time, condemnation of others.

The path of healing. Learn to express your thoughts and feelings directly. Try to overcome low self-esteem and inferiority complex. Eradicate pride and vanity in yourself. Refuse to judge your neighbors. Accept and express yourself as you are.

NOSE DISEASES

Symbolizes self-esteem and personal uniqueness.

Stuffy nose

Psychosomatic reasons. Inability to recognize one's own worth, doubt in one's masculinity, cowardice.

The way to overcome. Increased self-esteem, trust in God, His mercy, Providence and love. Cultivating masculinity.

Runny nose (allergic and children's)

Psychosomatic reasons. Suppressed feelings, tears, internal crying, disappointment and regret about unfulfilled plans and unfulfilled dreams. Allergic runny nose indicates a complete lack of emotional self-control and may be the result of severe emotional shock. Sometimes a runny nose is its own...
a figurative request for help, more often from children who do not feel needed and valued.

The way to overcome. Learn to express your feelings freely and independently and to adequately evaluate yourself. Strengthen your faith and trust in God. For children: more parental attention and love, more praise and encouragement.

Adenoids

This disease most often occurs in children and is characterized by the proliferation of lymphoid tissue in the nasal cavity.

Psychosomatic reasons. Dissatisfaction with the child on the part of the parents, reproaches, frequent irritation on their part, perhaps their disagreement with each other. Absence true love between husband and wife (or one of them).

The path of healing. Parents must change by developing love and patience. More love and patience for the child, less reproaches. You need to accept and love him as he is.

Nose bleed

Psychosomatic reasons. Blood represents joy. When people have the feeling that they are not loved or recognized, then joy disappears from life. This disease is a unique way in which a person expresses his need for recognition and love.

The path of healing. More attention and love from others. Developing love and faith in God. We must realize that He always loves us and never leaves us.

ORAL DISEASES

The mouth symbolizes the perception of new ideas. Oral diseases reflect an inability to accept new ideas and thoughts.

Gum diseases

Psychosomatic reasons. Inability to implement decisions made. Lack of a clearly expressed attitude towards life.

The path of healing. Strengthening faith, living according to God's commandments.

Bleeding gums

Psychosomatic reasons. Lack of joy, dissatisfaction with decisions made in life.

The path of healing. Search always and in everything for the will of God, faith in His Providence for us. Introduction into practice of actions that correspond to the instructions of the Holy Scriptures: “ Always rejoice, give thanks for everything, pray unceasingly».

Sores on the lips and in the oral cavity, stomatitis, herpes

Psychosomatic reasons. Prejudicial attitude towards someone. Poisonous and caustic words, accusations, swearing, bitter and angry thoughts are literally driven into the subconscious.

The path of healing. Forgive insults. Speak out negative emotions, confess them. Develop love for your neighbor.

Smell from the mouth

Psychosomatic reasons:
1. Angry thoughts, thoughts of revenge.
2. Dirty relationships, dirty gossip, dirty thoughts. In this case, the past, false attitudes and stereotypes of action clearly interfere.

The path of healing. Acquiring the virtue of meekness. Repentance for the sins of anger and vindictiveness. Diligent struggle against these passions. Speech control. Stop the judgment and bad language. Sobriety and the fight against bad thoughts.

Language

Problems with the tongue indicate a loss of taste for life. Psychosomatic reasons. Negative emotions and feelings enslave a person and prevent him from seeing the positive aspects of life.

The path of healing. Forgiveness, reconciliation with enemies. Developing love and Christian forgiveness in yourself. We must remember the words of the apostle: “Rejoice always, give thanks in everything.”

Dental diseases

Psychosomatic reasons:
1. Constant indecision.
2. Inability to grasp ideas, analyze and make decisions.
3. Loss of vital activity.
4. Fear.
5. Instability of desires, uncertainty in achieving the chosen goal, awareness of the insurmountability of life's difficulties.

Path of Healing. Overcome lack of faith, always seek the will of God in everything, live according to the commandments of the Lord, actively participate in church sacraments.

EAR DISEASES

Ear inflammation (otitis media, mastoiditis)

Psychosomatic reasons. Reluctance or inability to listen and perceive what others say, to listen to the opinions of other people, which is a product of pride and pride, an attempt at self-affirmation. As a result, anger, irritation, and frustration accumulate in the subconscious, which leads to ear inflammation. If this disease occurs in children, then most likely they cannot or do not know how to express their feelings. Most often, the disease occurs as a consequence of a recurring state of fear, fear of others. For example, when parents often quarrel and argue, the child reacts to this with ear disease, as if telling his parents: “Be attentive to me! I need peace, tranquility and harmony in the family.”

The path of healing. For an adult - overcoming pride and selfishness, developing the ability to listen to others and admit your mistakes. For children - a change in the situation in the family, peace and love of parents, increased attention and signs of love for the child from loved ones.

Deafness, tinnitus

Psychosomatic reasons. A clear rejection of someone or something. Reluctance to listen, understand, or accept other points of view due to stubbornness and pride. The result is strong aggression towards the outside world, which leads to hearing loss. If a person does not want to hear and understand something, then the body, following his orders, tries to isolate itself from the outside world, which causes deafness.

The path of healing. Ear inflammation always indicates the presence of an internal conflict. Here you need to listen to the voice of your conscience, check the compliance of your behavior with the commandments of the Lord; resolve internal conflict based on gospel truths. It is also necessary to work on acquiring humility and patience, and learn to overcome aggression and pride.

Acoustic neuritis

Psychosomatic reasons. Nervous overstrain as a result of the perception of negative emotions, thoughts (requests, complaints, crying).

The path of healing. Transfer everything you hear to God. Inner prayer during such communication, prayer for those in need of help, regular confession and Communion - this is help with this illness.

THYROID

Goiter

Psychosomatic reasons. You feel a lot of pressure from outside, you feel like the world is against you, you are constantly humiliated, and you are a victim. There appears a feeling of a distorted life, resentment and hatred of the imposed way of life, negative thoughts, emotions, minor grievances, complaints that form a lump in the throat. If the disease occurs in children, this indicates destructive behavior of parents towards the child, possibly excessive severity and pressure.

The path of healing. Learn to be yourself, openly express your desires, forgive and tolerate, be lenient towards your neighbors. Parents of a sick child must change their attitude towards him and each other.

COLD

Psychosomatic reasons. Too many events at once; confusion, disorder; minor grievances. If a cold is accompanied by strong nasopharyngeal discharge, then the cause may also be childhood grievances, unshed tears and worries.

The path of healing. Forgiveness, repentance, prayer and reading the Gospel.

STOMACH ULCER

Psychosomatic reasons:
1. Longing for something unfulfilled.
2. A strong need to control current events, which is often accompanied by an increased craving for food absorption. This craving stimulates gastric secretions, and chronic increased secretion in a predisposed individual can lead to the formation of ulcers.

The path of healing. Change your attitude towards life, stop controlling every action of your neighbors. Realize that everyone chooses their own destiny and is responsible for their own life. Strengthen faith in God’s providence for our lives, develop regular prayer rule.

WOMEN'S DISEASES

Women's diseases often occur for the following reasons.
1. Rejection of oneself or rejection of one’s own femininity.
2. The belief that everything connected with the genitals is sinful or unclean.
3. Abortion.
4. Repeated fornication with different partners.

The path of healing. It is necessary to realize your gender and live according to feminine nature. To understand that I am who I am, and God accepts and loves me as I am and is ready to help my spiritual transformation. Everything depends only on my choice. It should be realized that fornication is sinful, but not marital relations, because God initially created man and woman and commanded them to multiply and populate the earth. It is necessary to repent of abortion as a mortal sin that kills the child in the womb, and to bear the appropriate church penance (punishment). Repent of prodigal sins and feelings and continue to lead a chaste life.

Vaginitis (inflammation of the vaginal mucosa)

Psychosomatic reasons. Anger at a partner; sexual guilt; the conviction that a woman is powerless to influence the opposite sex; vulnerability in one’s feminine side.

The path of healing. Refusal from unrighteous life, from prodigal sins; overcoming selfishness. It should be understood that love and prayer can change any person for the better.

Endometriosis

Psychosomatic reasons. Feeling of insecurity, feeling like a potential victim, expecting only bad things from men, inability to realize yourself as a woman. Replacing true love with some other feelings.

The path of healing. Love and trust in God and people. Strengthening our faith in God’s good Providence for us.

Uterine fibroids

Psychosomatic reasons. Grudges towards the husband or other men, strong touchiness, selfishness, constant replaying of previous grievances.

The path of healing. Try to learn to forgive, endure and love. Develop humility in yourself and pray for your neighbors. Change your behavior with your husband.

Cervical erosion

Psychosomatic reasons. Wounded female pride. The feeling of being inferior as a woman.

The path of healing. It is necessary to change thoughts and behavior towards yourself and men, to overcome the inferiority complex. We must not forget that you are the way God created you, which means you are beautiful. Remember that love and a kind attitude make a person attractive and necessary to others.

Dysmenorrhea (menstrual irregularity)

Psychosomatic reasons. Hatred of one’s own body, doubts about one’s femininity. Male-directed aggression, guilt and fear associated with sex.

The path of healing. It is necessary to accept yourself as you were created by God, and remember that everything created by God is good. One should maintain chastity and purity, but remember the blessing of the Lord on marriage and offspring.

Toxicoses of pregnant women

Psychosomatic reasons. Strong fear of childbirth, hidden subconscious reluctance to have a child (at the wrong time, from the wrong person, etc.).

The path of healing. Faith in God and His good Providence for our lives and the life of the unborn child. Since the Lord allowed it, it means it’s better for us. You need to want and wait for a new person to appear in the world.

Miscarriage

Psychosomatic reasons. Strong fear of the birth of a child and the future associated with it, uncertainty about the trustworthiness of the child’s father, a feeling of untimely pregnancy.

The path of healing. Trust in God. Cultivate responsibility for yourself and your future children.

Infertility

Psychosomatic reasons. Distrust, contempt for men, prodigal life in the past, resentment, jealousy, hatred, aggression towards the opposite sex. Unclean thoughts, passion for pornography, erotica, etc. Fear, uncertainty about the future, lack of readiness for the birth of a child. Fear of spoiling your appearance and figure during childbirth.

The path of healing. Changing inner beliefs, overcoming fear of childbirth and the future. Change in value orientation. Surrendering oneself to the will of God, developing in oneself love for God and neighbors.

Breast disease, cysts and lumps

Psychosomatic reasons. Caring too much about someone, living someone else's life. State of codependency.

The path of healing. Changing your attitude towards yourself and the world around you. Overcoming codependency.

Mastitis

Psychosomatic reasons. Fear and excessive concern about the child, lack of faith in one’s strength. Fear of not being able to cope with the responsibilities of caring for a child.

The path of healing. It is necessary to surrender the child to the good Providence of God, to raise one’s own self-esteem, to strengthen faith in one’s strengths and capabilities.

MEN'S DISEASES

Impotence

Psychosomatic reasons.
1. Fear of not being up to par.
2. Sexual harassment, guilt.
3. Social beliefs.
4. Anger towards your partner.
5. Fear of mother.

The path of healing. Refusal from a vicious life, from prodigal sins. Marital fidelity or maintaining chastity in case of loneliness. Refusal of passionate thoughts, relevant films and reading, avoidance of masturbation. Repentance for past sins, confession and Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

Prostate gland, external genitalia

Psychosomatic reasons. Long-term resentment, anger, claims and dissatisfaction towards women. Fear for one's masculinity, subconscious fears. Feelings of sexual guilt (cheating).

The path of healing. Changing your worldview, forgiving offenses, developing love and compassion in yourself. It is necessary to realize that women are a “weak vessel” and require special love and condescension. Prayer to God and pure confession of the sins committed.

BODY ODOR

Psychosomatic reasons. Self-dislike, fear of others.

The path of healing. Strengthening faith in God and His Providence for our lives. If God is with us, then who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31).

WEIGHT, OBESITY

Psychosomatic reasons. Fear and need for protection; dissatisfaction and self-hatred; self-criticism and self-criticism; excessive concern for children's health; filling emotional emptiness or worries with food; lack of love and satisfaction in life.

The path of healing. Bringing your thoughts into a state of harmony and balance; increased self-esteem; strengthening faith in God; life according to His commandments.

SKIN DISEASES

Psychosomatic reasons. This is old, deeply hidden inner spiritual dirt, something disgusting, striving to come out. These are deeply suppressed negative emotions, anxiety, fear, a feeling of constant danger. Or anger, hatred, guilt, resentment, a thought like “I have stained myself.” Other possible reason- feeling of defenselessness.

The path of healing. Complete repentance for all sins. Removing negative emotions from the subconscious. Acquiring humility and forgiveness towards others. Cultivating positive thoughts. Awareness of the Lord’s endless love and His forgiveness in case of repentance.

Itching

Psychosomatic reasons. Desires that go against our character; internal dissatisfaction; repentance without repentance; the desire to overcome a difficult situation by any means necessary.

The path of healing. Bringing our desires into conformity with God's commandments; repentance for sinful aspirations; the realization that the meaning of our life lies in searching for the will of God and living according to it; pure and complete confession; prayer to God to change a difficult situation, understanding that God is omnipotent and nothing is impossible for Him.

Rash

Psychosomatic reasons. Constant strong irritation, driven into the subconscious; hiding your true feelings; a feeling of guilt that you have stained yourself with some unworthy actions. A rash in children is a signal to parents about wrong relationship together. Women have negative emotions during pregnancy; lack of calm and affection, attention and tactile emotional sensations.

The path of healing. You should remove negative emotions from the subconscious and learn to openly express your feelings. Pure repentance and faith in the all-forgiving love of God are necessary. With childhood rash - a change in the relationship between parents; unanimity, increased attention to the child and maximum manifestation of love for him.

Neurodermatitis, eczema

Psychosomatic reasons. A child suffering from neurodermatitis has a pronounced desire for physical contact, which does not have the support of his parents, and therefore there are disturbances in his contact organs. There may be extreme antagonism, rejection of someone or something, hidden and overt aggression; mental breakdowns, severe stress.

The path of healing. Rethinking your childhood, forgiving and justifying your parents for the lack of love shown; prayer for them; forgiveness; sincerity, openness, liveliness of expression of positive feelings. Place yourself and your whole life in the hands of God.

Allergy, urticaria

Psychosomatic reasons. Lack of emotional self-control; irritation, resentment, pity, anger, lust, deeply driven into the subconscious and striving to break out; rejection of someone or something, suppressed aggression. In children, illness is often a reflection of the incorrect behavior of their parents, their thoughts and feelings.

The path of healing. Forgiveness; cultivating love and patience; changing your attitude towards surrounding stimuli; always searching for God's will in everything and living according to it.

Psoriasis

Psychosomatic reasons. Strong feelings of guilt and desire to punish yourself; stressful situations; increased disgust caused by hatred or contempt for something in this world.

The path of healing. The awareness that we live in a world created by God whole and harmoniously, and God provides for each of us; complete repentance in confession; acquiring humility and forgiveness.

Vitiligo

Psychosomatic reasons. Self-isolation; a feeling of alienation from the joys of this world; old grievances. Lack of feeling like a full member of society; inferiority complex; stressful situations.

Path of Healing. Strengthening faith in God and His good Providence; overcoming the inferiority complex; forgiveness.

Pimples, blackheads

Psychosomatic reasons. Dissatisfaction with one's appearance, self-rejection.

Path of Healing. Learn to accept yourself for who you are. Clear your mind of dirty, obscene thoughts towards the other sex.

Boils

Psychosomatic reasons. Constant internal tension; anger driven into the subconscious.

Path of Healing. It is necessary to remove negative emotions from the subconscious and control your thoughts; Confess and receive communion often.

Fungus, endermophytosis of the feet

Psychosomatic reasons. Inability to forget old experiences and grievances; reluctance to part with the past.

The path of healing. Forgiveness; cleansing of negative emotions. We boldly move forward under God's protection.

NAIL DISEASE

Psychosomatic reasons. Feeling of defenselessness and constant danger; feeling threatened; contemptuous and disgusting attitude towards many people.

Path of Healing. Trust in God and faith in His good Providence for us; overcoming self-love and pride.

HAIR LOSS, BALDING

Psychosomatic reasons s. Fear, strong internal tension, stress; distrust of reality; trying to keep everything under control.

Path of Healing. Changing your attitude towards yourself, people, the world; acquisition of the Orthodox worldview.

LIVER

Psychosomatic reasons. Hot temper, rage, anger. People with liver and gallbladder diseases often suppress anger, irritation and anger towards someone. Negative emotions driven into the subconscious first cause inflammation of the gallbladder and stagnation of bile, then the formation of stones occurs.

Such people, as a rule, are prone to excessive self-criticism and condemnation of other people, they are characterized by pride and gloomy thoughts.

CHOLELITHIASIS

Psychosomatic reasons. This disease is based on pride, anger, and “bitter” thoughts for a long time. Colic often occurs at the peak of irritation, impatience and dissatisfaction with others.

Path of Healing. Developing humility, patience and meekness in yourself; combating negative thoughts and cultivating good thoughts; repentance and non-repetition of past sins; developing love and compassion for others.

DRUG ADDICTION, ALCOHOLISM

Psychosomatic reasons. Those prone to these diseases usually find themselves unable to cope with life's problems. At times they experience terrible fear, a desire to hide from reality. They are characterized by flight from real world. It is generally accepted that these diseases develop as a result of a person’s conflict with himself (intrapsychic conflict) or with other people (interpsychic conflict).

The path of healing. Strengthening faith, deep repentance for sins committed and frequent confession. A constant prayer rule, daily reading of the Gospel and Psalms, regular communion. Finding the spiritual meaning of life.

BACK PAIN

The lower back symbolizes support and support, so any overload, both physical and emotional, affects its condition.

Problems with the lower back often indicate that you have taken on an unbearable burden (too much fuss, haste).

Lower back diseases

Psychosomatic reasons. Hypocrisy; fear for income and the future; lack of financial support.

The path of healing. Repentance for hypocrisy and love of money. Developing the virtues of truthfulness, sincerity and non-covetousness. Strengthening faith in God and trust in Him. Understanding that everything on earth is perishable and nothing of earthly “good” can be taken with you to the next world.

Mid back pain

Psychosomatic reasons. The patient feels guilty. His attention is focused on the past. He seems to be saying to the world around him: “Leave me alone.”

The path of healing. Deep repentance and confession of the sins committed are necessary. One should live in the present according to the words of the apostle: “Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead” (Phil. 3:13).

Upper back pain

Psychosomatic reasons. The illness can be caused by a lack of moral support, a feeling of not being loved, or suppression of feelings of love. It is characterized by convulsions, tension, fear, the desire to grab onto something, to cling to something.

The path of healing. We need to realize that God is unchanging love. We change, but He is always Love. Pray to the Mother of God, Guardian Angel and saints. Freely express positive emotions. Actively participate in church sacraments.

Neuralgia

Psychosomatic reasons:
1. Hypertrophied conscientiousness, the desire to be punished for one’s “sinfulness.”
2. Hateful situation; the torment of communicating with an unloved person.

In the first case, neuralgia is a kind of self-punishment for supposedly monstrous sinfulness. And here the path to healing lies in the realization that God is Love and desires salvation for every person. God does not need our pain and suffering, He wants us to follow the path of spiritual perfection, and is always ready to help us in this.

In the second case, we need to figure out how and why such tense relationships arose between people. What does your partner want to tell you with this behavior?

Path of Healing. Reconciliation with your neighbor, forgiveness of him, prayers to God for him, work on your own humility and patience.

STROKE, PARALYSIS, PARESIS

Psychosomatic reasons. Intense jealousy, hatred; the desire to avoid responsibility, any situation or person; deep-seated “paralyzing” fear, horror. Rejection of one's life and destiny, severe resistance and disagreement with current events. In this state, a person feels unable to change anything in life; he has literally “paralyzed” himself and doomed himself to inaction. People prone to paralysis are usually rigid and do not want to change their opinions and misconceptions. You can often hear from them: “I would rather die than betray my principles.”

The path of healing. It is necessary to realize the falsity and sinfulness of the thoughts that led to such a state, and to cleanse oneself of them. Realize that there is a way out in any situation, that God is omnipotent and can help us if we turn to Him through confession and Communion of the Holy Mysteries, unction. Sometimes a stroke is caused by a subconscious need to unite the family. When disagreements in the family reach their limit, feelings caused by the “hopelessness” of the tragedy can affect the corresponding centers of the brain. What is needed here is not fruitless experiences, but prayer to God, love for one’s neighbor and a righteous life according to this love.

DIZZINESS

Psychosomatic reasons. Cultivation of fleeting, incoherent, scattered thoughts; lack of concentration, concentration; inability to deal with one's problems. “My head is spinning from problems,” sufferers of this disease often say. Without a definite goal in life, they rush from one thing to another.

Path of Healing. Think about why you live in this world, what is your main goal in life and prospects for the near and distant future. There should be clarity and discipline in your life. This will give you confidence and allow you to stand firmly on your feet. Faith in God, trust in Him, following the commandments of the Lord provide clear guidelines for life.

POLIO

Psychosomatic reasons. The desire to stop someone in their action and the feeling of one’s own powerlessness to do this; intense jealousy.

Path of Healing. It is necessary to realize that God has given man freedom and does not impose His will on him, especially since man cannot control the fate of his neighbor. We must look for ways of agreement and find a compromise, pray for our neighbor, so that God will soften his heart, enlighten him, and our faith and love will create a miracle.

So, from all of the above it follows that passions and sinful habits cause many mental and physical illnesses. As research results show,

• the price to pay for gluttony is obesity, diseases of the liver, gall bladder, stomach, pancreas, atherosclerosis...
• retribution for voluptuousness - diabetes, allergies, dysbiosis, dental diseases, intestinal diseases...
• the penalty for addiction to alcohol is alcoholism, personality degradation, psychosis, degeneration.

The list can be continued, but what has already been said is enough to recognize the direct connection between sinful passions and various kinds of diseases.

ACCIDENT AS SELF-PUNISHMENT

There are people who are especially prone to accidents and fractures. There is a special psychopathology here, the result of inwardly directed aggression.

These include such categories of self-destruction as suicide, neurotic incapacity, some types of alcoholism, antisocial behavior, self-mutilation, intentional accidents and polysurgery (i.e., a pathological attraction to surgical operations). Below we will look in detail at the problem of accident proneness.

More than 20 years ago, the German psychologist K. Marbe noticed that a person who has once suffered an accident is more likely to suffer again than someone to whom nothing like this has ever happened. And Theodor Reik, in his work “The Unknown Murderer,” drew attention to how often criminals give themselves away and even carry out their own punishment through a deliberate accident. Sigmund Freud describes the case of a man rejected by his lover who was “accidentally” run over by a car after meeting this woman on the street, and was killed in front of her eyes.

In 1919, M. Greenwood and H. Woods studied the characteristics of accidents in the munitions plant and came to the reasonable conclusion that most accidents occurred in a small group of individuals - in this study it was found that four percent of the women in the plant accounted for twenty-eight percent of all accidents. The basis for such accident-proneness, Menninger argues, is the prevailing belief in our culture that suffering atones for guilt, and that the individual who applies this same principle to his own personality acts as an internalized judge, demanding suffering for his bad actions. Suffering alleviates the remorse of a guilty conscience and, to some extent, restores lost peace of mind. An accident-prone person is usually one who once held a rebellious attitude towards his parents and subsequently transferred this attitude to those in power, combining it with a feeling of guilt for his rebellion.

In traffic accident statistics, the National Safety Council of the United States found that among car drivers, “there are about fourteen times more people who have been involved in an accident four times than there should be on the theory that the failure could only be an accident, whereas there were nine thousand times more people who had seven incidents during the time taken for the study than the laws of probability prescribe.” Moreover, people who have suffered many accidents, as if under the influence of an irresistible force, fell into the same type of accidents, and Menninger claims that, from his experience, an examination of those who, as the saying goes, “drives like a suicide”, often convincingly proves that this is exactly what they are trying to achieve.

In general psychology, it is believed that traumatic events in early childhood, along with the youthful events of the patient’s life, are the main sources of neuroses and many psychosomatic disorders. In observing patients in unusual states, it has been discovered that their neurotic or psychosomatic symptoms often involve more than the biographical level of the psyche. At first, it might be assumed that these symptoms were related to traumatic events that the patient had to endure in infancy or childhood, as described by traditional psychology. However, as the process continues and the experience deepens, the same symptoms become associated with specific aspects of the birth trauma. In this case, it can be traced that additional roots of the same problem go even further - into transpersonal sources, into unresolved archetypal conflicts and, in particular, ancestral sin.

Thus, a person suffering from psychogenic asthma could, first of all, experience one or more events in childhood associated with suffocation (perhaps he drowned, suffered from whooping cough or diphtheria). A deeper source of the same problem for this person could be a near-suffocation situation while passing through the birth canal. To completely get rid of this form of asthma, it is important to extract from the subconscious the experiences associated with this problem and try to “speak” them out.

Painstaking empirical work has uncovered similar multilevel structures in other conditions treated by psychiatrists. The various levels of the unconscious are large repositories of negative emotions and sensations and are often the source of anxiety, depression, feelings of hopelessness and inferiority, as well as aggression and fits of rage. We can also talk about demonic influence emanating from this source. Strengthened by later traumas of infancy and childhood, this emotional material can lead to various phobias, depression, sadomasochistic tendencies, crime and hysterical symptoms. Muscle tension, pain and other forms of physical discomfort resulting from birth trauma can develop into psychosomatic problems such as asthma, migraines, digestive ulcers and colitis.

According to some reports, suicidal tendencies, alcoholism and drug addiction also have perinatal roots. The accessible use of anesthesia during childbirth appears to be of particular importance; Perhaps certain substances used to relieve the mother's pain teach the newborn at the cellular level to perceive the state caused by the drug as a natural way to escape from pain and anxiety. These discoveries have recently been confirmed clinical studies, which linked various forms of suicidal behavior to specific aspects of biological birth. Among them, the choice of drug-assisted suicide was a consequence of the use of anesthesia during childbirth; choosing suicide by hanging - with strangulation during childbirth; and the choice of painful suicide - with a painful birth.

Traditionally, the roots of all these problems can be found in the transpersonal sphere: direct demonic influence and propensity to sin. And through it - subordination to the world of fallen spirits, going along the line of the family tree. If these people have not brought complete repentance for the sins they have committed, as well as for their disposition towards them and desire for sins, then they are completely dependent on demonic forces.

Our understanding of emotional difficulties is not limited to neuroses and psychosomatic disorders. They can develop into extreme psychological disturbances called psychoses.

Traditional attempts to explain the various symptoms of psychosis in psychological terms have not been very convincing, especially when clinicians have tried to interpret them only in terms of biographical events experienced in infancy and childhood. States of psychosis often include extreme emotions and physical sensations, such as complete despair, deep metaphysical loneliness, “hellish” physical and mental torment, brutal aggression or, on the contrary, unity with the Universe, ecstasy and “heavenly bliss”. During the manifestation of psychosis, a person can experience his own death and rebirth, or even the destruction and re-creation of the entire world. The content of such episodes is often fantastic and exotic, they contain various mythological creatures, visions of Heaven and Hell, events related to other countries and cultures, and encounters with “extraterrestrial civilizations.” Neither the intensity of emotions and sensations nor the unusual content of psychotic states can be rationally explained in terms of early biological traumas such as hunger, emotional deprivation or other mental disturbances of the infant.

Birth trauma, an important aspect of the unconscious, is the consequence of a painful and potentially life-threatening event that typically lasts many hours. Thus, it is definitely a more likely source of negative emotions and feelings than most other childhood episodes. Moreover, the mythological dimensions of many psychotic experiences represent a common and natural characteristic of the transpersonal sphere of the psyche, according to Jung's concept of the collective unconscious. Moreover, the emergence of such episodes from the depths of the unconscious can be considered as an attempt by the psyche to get rid of traumatic consequences and further self-regulation. This may also be a reminder from the mystical realm that the lifestyle of a given individual is disastrous for him. All this brings to mind the fact that many conditions currently diagnosed as mental illnesses are treated accordingly with the help of suppressive means. In fact, such states can be psychospiritual crises, or “spiritual extreme states,” which can also be caused by a person’s mystical affliction, starting with possession and ending with demonic possession. If such states are properly understood and clarified, and the person is helped to achieve spiritual meaning life and direct him along the path of churching, then such measures can lead a person to healing and transformation. I personally know of many cases of mental and physical healing of people after their repentance, changes in lifestyle and participation in the sacraments of the Orthodox Church.

Faith in God and life according to Orthodox canons protects a person from many mental and physical diseases. Compliance with the laws of spiritual life (God's commandments) leads to the harmonious development of the human personality, which determines his mental and physical health.

Archpriest Alexy Moroz