this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2023
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Atheism
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I hope you're feeling better.
It's so irritating when people pull this religious BS on sick people. I was diagnosed with three forms of cancer and facing surgery and an uncertain future. The number of people who told me "I'll pray for you" was shocking. Like, I need someone to do my laundry or bring me some groceries, not sit on their ass and feel bad.
I am, thank you.
During my conscription, my depression acted up and I had several episodes of total emotional shutdown.
The very first thing I got offered when I sought help when it first happened, during field exercises, was to talk to the "field pastor". Because apparently that was the only mental health "proffesional" present during. When I explained my lack of faith, and how that'd most certainly do more damage than good, the commander personally drove me back to the barracks, and I got to have sessions with an actual therapist for the next few weeks.
I was impressed with how seriously I was taken, but during the drive the commander made a comment about how he hoped I didn't plan on "using my rifle to harm anyone". I remember just thinking "ah, so that's why the military does this shit 'right', everyone has a gun".
In the end, with how well I aquitted myself in my personal crisis, the therapist judged my coping mechanisms "adequate" for me to not interrupt my service, the bitch. She basically saw my suffering, and wen't "no yeah that's fine, he can take it".
I'm glad you're feeling better, and that at least you didn't have to go to an unqualified clergy "therapist."
It is too bad, however, that they didn't take your mental health seriously enough to give you a break from service.
They we'rent wrong. I could take it, as it turned out. In that it didn't kill me. I guess that makes me one more "trained" body come wartime.
But really, the one thing I was unprepared for was the sheer flood of religious bullshit in the military. At least in school there were alternate classes for nonbelievers, not in the army. The units attending a sermon? March over there, private!
Like for fucks sake, the main brigade auditorium, was just straight up church. Covered in crosses and christian paraphernalia.