Something horrible happened here on Thanksgiving night. I heard about it when I walked …
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SandyVC
4:03 pm on
December 1st, 2009Thanks for the slap in the face. I was hoping for hope and I get a picture of a murdered child. Now I will have to spend hours avoiding the fear and pain this generated.
This article belongs somewhere where it won’t hurt people. Like religion not psychology.
Faith does not work for the severely depressed because they cannot generate their own brainwaves. Harping on something that cannot be self-generated for the severely ill is cruel.
Kathy
10:20 pm on
December 1st, 2009My brother lost his youngest – his only son – 4 years ago. I can’t imagine how he made it through it. I was hurting so much and I know he was hurting so much more than myself.
Don’t minimize the medication. But I agree that faith can be an incredible source of strength as well.
My heart goes out to this family.
Slothrop
9:51 am on
December 2nd, 2009@SandyVC, I’m sorry this article caused you pain. I do think the title gave some warning. If someone is going to talk about a “worst nightmare,” I would expect the content to be potentially triggering.
As a non-believer, I agree that faith is not a panacea. But faith is a part of psychology, and is a powerful coping tool for some. I’m glad it has been a source of strength for the Sitton family after such a horrible act.
My condolences to the family–Makayla, the world is a sadder place without you.
James
12:24 pm on
December 2nd, 2009I for one found your observations very honest, touching, and not offensive at all. I agree that loved ones can be an important deterrent to suicide and that faith can be another vital deterrent, even in the face of tragic loss. As someone who has dealt with depresssion and suicidal ideation in my own life, I can testify to the value of each. But what about those whose world view doesn’t include a higher power? Although I respect the faith of others, I am now agnostic at best, and leaning more toward the atheistic pole than the believing end of the spectrum. We also have to identify, for those in this situation and for ourselves if we happen to share that perspective, psychological anchors that don’t depend upon faith in the supernatural. But thanks for your article and your valuable perspective!
I have to believe there is a power greater than myself out there. I consider myself more spiritual than religious. I don’t like to debate or defend – I just know – for me – that power is out there.
Ellis Jardine
2:38 pm on
December 2nd, 2009I am not a heartless monster and certainly don’t want to belittle peoples’ fears for their children. However, I find this article to be pretty much the antithesis of psychiatry. Indeed, it’s rather contrary to most principles of good journalism I’ve ever learned. Seems to me editors shold have proposed it for one of those tabloids that are pushed in grocery stores next to the cash registers.
Don DeLong
9:08 am on
December 3rd, 2009Prior to losing my only son, I had always believed if something ever happended to him, I would never be able to survive. I learned so much about myself as a result of his death. Yes, I experienced the pain of losing him, and that pain is still there under the surface, but I discovered I had the ability of survive losing him and still get on with my life, So many of the fears I lived with in the category of “what if” are none gone, and I now know, I can handle what life will bring to me. It is interesting such a terrible even could have ended with my life being better….another gift from him.
Nathen
9:28 am on
December 3rd, 2009The term psche comes from the ancient greek meaning soul.Faith and God have many different meanings for people no matter what their view.One thing for certain is that we all share the gift of being alive,whatever our individual life circumstance is.We are,like it or not,in this all together.When we see eachother in need and reach out to one another with compassion and empathy,we are acting in a most sacred manner.We are all one family of human beings and as with any family really thrive when we all reach out to one another.I beleive that is a good enough definition of faith.
notdepressedtoday
10:44 am on
December 3rd, 2009Faith no more belongs in a tabloid than any other therapeutic intervention. ALL techniques work for some and not others. Things that work for you may not work for me and vice versa. But I’m not going to condemn what you chose to do just because it didn’t work for me. If it worked for you thats all that is important. What matters is finding what will work for each separate individual. Do you use Bactrim for a UTI? Its very effective for most people but I’m allergic to it so I have to use something else. That doesn’t make it any less effective does it? It still cures the infection just not for me.
My thoughts:
The vehicle each uses for his journey is not as important as the success in reaching the destination. Angie L.
Carol
9:48 am on
December 4th, 2009Mr. Sitton and his wife are struggling adn yet they know Truth. Our God gives us a “loan” of children. We are to take care of them and love them and not be angry at God if He takes them back home. Non believers can not feel or understand the power of Mercy and Grace.
My husband and I lost our only son, and only through the knowledge of God’s love , Mercy and Grace could we get through the loss with Peace.
God bless the Sitton family and friends and all involved.
God bless all who read this and peace be with you during this Christmas season.
“I just wanted to let everyone know that she’s in heaven and we know where she is,” Jim Sitton said in his first comments to reporters. ”God packed a lot of sweetness into that little body.”
Then the next day: “She was on loan to me, and now she’s back with her heavenly father, and he took her mercifully, fast, no pain,” Sitton said.
And the next day: “She loved Jesus and he would not abandon her. He brought her home.”
Faith.
tony
1:12 am on
December 10th, 2009faith is hard to keep but it’s a must. I live every day missing my two girls. Without faith I would not be here.
where is god
9:42 am on
December 10th, 2009My therapist is constantly drumming into my head that I need faith that there is something bigger in charge or I have no where to turn when things get bad. It’s not religion and it’s not dogma it is what it is. Even the 12-step programs recognize that you have to have a higher power to fight addiction. I have to have a higher power to deal with manic depression. Mostly the depression anyways because when I’m manic I don’t care but when I’m depressed I have to have something to keep me going. At one time it was my now grown daughter. Now it is my rescued cats and dog. Is there a God, personally I believe so. Is he always in control, not too sure about that but I know he is there.
My son was my life and my joy. And when times were very hard, he was my reason to not commit suicide.
But he is now a victim/perpetrator of parental alienation syndrome. I am still trying to come to terms with his rejection. Reading your article has made me realize that it was/is my belief in myself that allowed me to persevere. By whatever name you want to call it, look inside for your strength, your soul, your faith, your God.
Marsha
10:35 pm on
April 28th, 2010In battling depression, I have found that my own thoughts of self are the ones that are the most hurtful and untrue. Since we cannot count on our feelings that ebb and flow with each day, we only have one steady, true, solid rock on which we can stand- and that is God. I can trust that He loves me because He sent His Son Jesus to die for me! That’s how important I am to Him. He created me and that is what gives makes me valuable!
Sue
12:12 pm on
April 29th, 2010OMG my eight year old daughter was abducted in broad daylight found in a canal the following morning. It has been twenty years since that day. I know and understand depression. I lost my religion but found faith. I encourage those who have not experienced such a loss to consider themselves fortunate. I sometimes say “when I am not in control I feel out of control”. It has been a journey but there were many other parents who have traveled with me. Thank you for the support PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN and Survivors of Homicide Victims. Much love and prayers to the Sittons and all those who know them.
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