Christians with Mental Health Issues

[humble soul]

Are these started by an unexpected 'thought'?

One of the problems I read about in posts is ' intrusive thoughts' where a ' thought' sys something, often horrible or tells them to do something or implies if they don't do xxxxxxx something nasty will happen.
They report that they struggle with these thoughts and what they want them to do.

Apart from professional help there is a lot of self help available.
I suggest that OCD+intrusive thiught suffers find and read the online article :- 25 tips for successfully treating your OCD, it has a useful section on intrusive thoughts and was written by a practicing psychologist to help his patients.

May I suggest you have a look at it and discuss it with your own therapist.

I think we have to be careful giving each other specific mental health advice here as none of us are professional. This thread is mainly for sharing and encouragement.

 

[dashboardchic19]

I have anxiety that has worsened since having kids. I am responsible for lives and the world is scary ?! I also get depressed at times. I had horrible postpartum depression with my first baby. I’ve been trying to work out and eat healthy which really helps me. Been feeling better lately, but my anxiety is still there.

 

[Who Me]

I think we have to be careful giving each other specific mental health advice here as none of us are professional. This thread is mainly for sharing and encouragement.

Read my last line, "read and discuss with your therapist!"
They can discuss an article written by a physcologist to help his patients,faith there own doctor , councelor, therapist etc.
The article and the encouragement implies if one is hearing things that one should be seeing a doctor.

If advice is being given it should b practical.

 

[Corn Pop]

I struggle with selfishness but not intentionally.

 

[humble soul]

Read my last line, "read and discuss with your therapist!"
They can discuss an article written by a physcologist to help his patients,faith there own doctor , councelor, therapist etc.
The article and the encouragement implies if one is hearing things that one should be seeing a doctor.

If advice is being given it should b practical.

I'm not above apologizing. In fact I might owe you one. Let me think about it ........

 

[Edward]

Now I am no mental health professional but this is an interesting thread. It made me wonder how believers dealt with these issues before the witch doctors took over the world and built hospitals and pill factories?

How many Brothers & Sisters in Christ who deal with these problems have ever taken it to the Lord and give it to Him? Isn't Jesus called the great physician and counselor in the Bible? And are we not born again believers and have faith in our God?

Now please, don't any sensitive Sisters take offense, but come on, can anti-depressants & antipsychotics ever really be good for you? I don't think so. I'm scared of those drugs and have never taken even one of them.

I'm just saying sit down and talk to the Lord about it in depth. And listen when He talks to you. Scripture says, you have not because you ask not. So I think, that they way to get off of drug(s) is to take it to the Lord, every morning.

His name is above all names. He is Almighty GOD, so...yeah, I know He is above all of these disorders.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Famous Christians like Charles Spurgeon and Martin Luther are speculated to have suffered from mental illness. It's always existed, we just haven't always had the knowledge and terms for it.
Getting help isn't anti-faith, anymore than going to the Dr for physical illnesses is.

 

[Christ_empowered]

i dunno. antipsychiatry is just as much a dead end as psychiatry + mental health (in general) have been, for me, so...I'll type this...

1) -even- assuming that disturbing behaviors, unwanted thoughts, and problems in living have their root in the brain...the available drugs, on a -good day- are just palliatives. take xyz , abc, maybe the behavior will be more acceptable, the thoughts less burdensome, the problems in living easier to bear. maybe. meanwhile...

keep in mind, i -do take- my prescribed drug. note, i say 'drug,' not medication, because a) whether over the counter or by prescription, -all- the substances from laboratories that one consumes are drugs. I think one must be especially aware of this when dealing with the drugs that are -designed- to alter behavior, mood, outlook, sleep, activity levels, etc.

ok, guess what? a lot of studies show that 'antidepressants' (what -is- an antidepressant, anyway? antibiotics kill off bacteria. antivirals attack viruses. antidepressants...??? attack misery?) are often only minimally effective at reducing sadness on the various scales used by 'experts,' there seems to be an increased risk of attempted suicide, suicide, self-harm, and...although -quite- rare...acts of violence. and...they're advertised on tv, here in the us.

the benzodiazepines wax and wane in popularity, at least in the us. right now, prescribing has been on an uptick for about 10 years +/-, and covid seems to be making Mother's Little Helpers even more popular. dependence, genuine addiction (dosage escalation, the -need- to continue use despite adverse consequences, etc.) seem fairly common after not to extended (3-4 weeks is all it takes for some) use, by prescription. and...

the benzodiazepines are often co-prescribed with opioids, making for a lethal mix. many opioid deaths could be avoided if, say, xanax or ativan or klonopin had not also been prescribed. true story.

'antipsychotics' are still regarded as absolutely necessary in "schizophrenia," and have become increasingly popular in "Bipolar-spectrum disorders," and...blah blah blah, long term they're rough, toxic, and can result in loss of IQ, weight gain, diabetes, facial tics, and it does appear that those who remain on them (I'm typing this as someone who is on a newer one, btw) seem to become more reliant on disability and other forms of safety net pay outs, develop more overall problems (long term illness, poverty, social isolation, and...based on brain imaging studies...brain damage), and...

blah blah blah. im typing all this out because 'treatment' has proven to be an absolute horror show for me, or...i should say...it was a horror show, till The Lord changed things, Romans 8:28 -- style , for both my parents and me. thing is...

-eek- it isn't that im "super special" or anything, but...-despite- having been just another (junkie, over-medicated psych casualty, etc.), The Lord has seen fit to make me remarkably whole, flaws and sins and sin patterns as all. so, what's the problem?

-sigh- again, it isn't that I'm amazingly unique or anything, but...His work in my life has made me something of an exception to the rule, a case that kinda shows (by going against "business as usual," and only by His grace)...

the way the world (usually) works. buyer beware.

 

[evenifigoalone]

My experience with mental health professionals has been good. But you have to educate yourself, too, in order to receive the best care.

 

[Edward]

Famous Christians like Charles Spurgeon and Martin Luther are speculated to have suffered from mental illness. It's always existed, we just haven't always had the knowledge and terms for it.
Getting help isn't anti-faith, anymore than going to the Dr for physical illnesses is.

I didn't mean to sound like you should not get help. The Lord has given the medical industry many cures and revelations to help save lives. Not all medication is bad. Not all treatments are bad. Just saying to be wise and do your own researching and learning about it to understand it all better and to take it before the Lord, the great Physician, and ask Him for guidance on what all you should and shouldn't do for it.

 

[humble soul]

Now please, don't any sensitive Sisters take offense, but come on, can anti-depressants & antipsychotics ever really be good for you? I don't think so. I'm scared of those drugs and have never taken even one of them.

I was afraid an ignorant opinion like this would surface.
The answer is an emphatic "yes". Let's imagine a world without antipsychotic drugs. Hell, in a word. Chaos.
I've worked in a mentally ill facility. When residents stop taking their medicine, they gradually spiral. We end up calling the police for our own safety.
Anti depressants are less dangerous withdrawals ...I'm talking about anti psychotics mainly here.

 

[Link1983]

This is a good insight. Impressive.

Thanx! Actually sounds a bit simple when i read my own post. But understand me right..)
Anyway.. if i am helpful, it is God.
I like to give Him honor.
So faith (freedom, peace and all good things) comes by hearing. And hearing by the Word..

 

[Link1983]

I was afraid an ignorant opinion like this would surface.
The answer is an emphatic "yes". Let's imagine a world without antipsychotic drugs. Hell, in a word. Chaos.
I've worked in a mentally ill facility. When residents stop taking their medicine, they gradually spiral. We end up calling the police for our own safety.
Anti depressants are less dangerous withdrawals ...I'm talking about anti psychotics mainly here.

I think if anything helps a person, i won't speak against it.
Yet i think people in general should focus more on prevention, than diagnosis and answers to them that many times might add problems in the end, rather than focusing on the cause.
I like what one guy told me once. He said; one must be of good health to be able to deal with sickness..
And be rich to deal with poverty...

 

[Link1983]

I think that there is a very thin line between insanity and freedom and happiness...
Just a thought...

 

[Link1983]

Like Bob Marley sang in a song "total destruction, only solution"... ??

 

[Edward]

I was afraid an ignorant opinion like this would surface.
The answer is an emphatic "yes". Let's imagine a world without antipsychotic drugs. Hell, in a word. Chaos.
I've worked in a mentally ill facility. When residents stop taking their medicine, they gradually spiral. We end up calling the police for our own safety.
Anti depressants are less dangerous withdrawals ...I'm talking about anti psychotics mainly here.

Well like I said, I'm no doctor nor do I play one on tv, but Im pretty sure those drugs will have a certain calming effect and make them more controllable...but don't really do anything to help cure people or the underlying problem. They just treat the symptoms.

 

[Edward]

Like Bob Marley sang in a song "total destruction, only solution"... ??

I was talking to a chemist once, and he said that, technically, alcohol is a solution. Lol.

 

[humble soul]

Well like I said, I'm no doctor nor do I play one on tv, but Im pretty sure those drugs will have a certain calming effect and make them more controllable...but don't really do anything to help cure people or the underlying problem. They just treat the symptoms.

Backtracking now?

 

[Edward]

Backtracking now?

No. Just saying that if you don't like my post, you don't have to believe it or take action on what I say. I'm just talking the very little that I do know.

You've given me an idea for another thread though!

 

[Edward]

I was talking to a chemist once, and he said that, technically, alcohol is a solution. Lol.

Link1983...



Technically it is true but I said it tongue in cheek. Cuz alcohol doesn't ever really help any situation. We know that. I'm not a drinker so maybe that post was in poor taste. Sorry folks. Just kidding a little.