Redefining Isolation (When Faced with a Mental-Health Diagnosis in Your Family)

Janele Hoerner offers encouragement, including a list of patron saints for people facing mental-health challenges, for those struggling with a new diagnosis.

What Is Isolation?

Isolation is not the same for everyone. Some people feel isolated being in a crowd of individuals because they struggle with what to say or how to say it, but at home they feel completely at peace when they have order. In quite the opposite case, some people feel isolated at home when they are not able to leave, but feel freer and at peace being in a crowd of people, talking to multiple people in an afternoon with little chit chat conversations.

Since we are all created differently, we cannot judge those who feel differently, no matter whether they have a mental health diagnosis or not. However, we must understand that individuals who struggle with their mental health feel their feelings more strongly than others. They are not weaker, they are not more inferior, but they are more in tune to their senses and can be held or more weighed down by their feelings. However, these same people can create the most beautiful lives for themselves if they are supported, and they can find peace in different ways.

How About the Logic verses Emotion Argument?

Let’s take anxiety for a second, as an example. Many people will say that a person with anxiety is not logically in tune with the system set up by God and just needs to get over their feelings. This conversation has shifted over the last 20 or so years as we have put mental health more at the forefront of our conversations, but there are many older individuals who still feel this way. Feelings are strong, and when those feelings are so strong that they take over a body and put it in the state of anxiety, life becomes more difficult.

When we have a mental-health diagnosis, either for ourselves or our child, we may feel that God has asked more from us then we can handle. Yet, God in all of His wisdom and justice never will do this. God has allowed this suffering because He alone knows how to bring good out of the struggle.

Conversations about this are so difficult, and we must do what we can to help others understand what diagnoses are and that an individual does not need to just power through them, but needs to be supported and helped. Really, the merciful thing to do is to support the person suffering, but a lot of individuals believe that such support is only for physical suffering.

How Can We Transform Our Way of Thinking When Our Lifestyle Has Changed Drastically?

Isolation needs to be redefined because we think of it in today’s terms. I am not isolated because I do not leave the house and I do not like social events. I do not speak to others daily outside of my home. I would not call a cloistered nun isolated because a cloistered nun has chosen a life of sacrifice and prayer by being alone and away from the world. One could argue that cloistered religious are not serving the Church and community because they live a life of prayer, although they are serving by their prayer.

One must choose to see their life of serving those that have mental illness in their own self or their children. Just as love is a choice, serving is a choice also. Do we want to deny the sacrifice that God has allowed for us during our lifetime? Do we want to run away from the diagnosis and force a life that is contrary to our supreme benefit in the next life? Let’s strive to be the saints God created us to be, even when it is hard and we feel isolated.

Saints We Can Turn to When We Feel Alone:

Saint Oscar Romero was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder at age 49. He sought counseling and psychoanalysis while serving as archbishop, demonstrating that mental health challenges do not diminish holiness.

Venerable Rutilio Grande faced chronic anxiety and was diagnosed with catatonic schizophrenia during his Jesuit formation. Despite hospitalizations, he continued his ministry and was martyred for his advocacy for the poor.

Saint Alphonsa suffered chronic illness and experienced a nervous breakdown after a traumatic event in her convent, yet maintained her faith and dedication.

Saint Dymphna endured psychological trauma from her father’s mental instability and is remembered for her resilience in the face of mental suffering.

Saint Philomena is known for intercessions in healing various illnesses, including mental health challenges.

Saint Margaret of Cortona is the patron saint of those facing depression, guilt, and temptations.

Saint Raphael the Archangel is often invoked as a healer and guide for those suffering physically or mentally.

Saint Christina the Astonishing experienced unusual behaviors and visions, often associated with mental health struggles.

Saint Drogo is the patron saint for those dealing with guilt and emotional distress.

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Copyright 2026 Janele Hoerner
Images: Canva