physcosis

[jasoncran]

many christian say these disease are only in the mind and not really an affiction and that the person can be healed by simply stopping and learning how to function, and have faith in the lord to heal
( and diet)
depression
ocd
bi-polar
paranoid schizophrenia
alzheimers
dementia
parkinsion
epilpsy

the latter 4 i add because they use some of the same meds as the former.

now other say that the devil is behind all this. which he may be

my family has had to date;

depression
mental retardation. my aunt as my youngest sister are in this category, my sis was diagonosed with autism(and that wasn't) it. docs really havent understand that illness fully

epilispy

paranoid schizophrenia

ptsd
(myself) very mild

 

[Samara]

I think it is very dangerous to start claiming that mental illnesses are of the devil. While I believe that some are spiritually induced, I do not agree that it is the case for all. I do believe there are biological reasons to most of these illnesses. I do strongly believe that the enemy can take advantage of people who suffer from these illnesses though, even if they were brought about biologically.

I think it shows a lack of understanding and at times also compassion to claim that something is just of the devil. A lot of people suffering from these illnesses have a hard enough time as it is dealing with them, and they can fear talking about them and getting the help they need in case they are harshly judged. I have seen several people suffer from mental illness, and I believe that they can be healed by God.. but it is no different to some one who has an illness like cancer. By Jesus stripes we are healed, yet sometimes, no matter how much we proclaim the blood of Jesus over our lives, we still suffer through illnesses, and we may still die.

Does that mean that the woman with breast cancer did not have enough faith which caused her to die? Did some one pray over her the wrong way? Did she do something wrong that prevented God from healing her? I would hope that people would answer no to those questions.. sometimes, for whatever reason, God will not heal a person of those illnesses.

I see mental illness as no different. It is an illness, and no matter how much we pray and ask God for deliverance, sometimes he says no. I know of people who have been delivered of different mental illnesses, but i know others who still suffer terribly.

One thing I DO believe though, is that if we fix our mind to Christ, he will help us work through the pain of our suffering and he eases our burdens. I think those who have mental illnesses, if they fix their eyes upon God, he will help them through the dark times and their struggles. Some may achieve complete healing.

 

[jasoncran]

somebody understands these things

with pyschosis its the organ( the brain) that is malfunctioning and needs to fixed.

yes the brain is an organ.

if you are curious i can look up the brain regions that affect emotions and post them.

 

[Tina]

.
God does heal mental illnesses through medication coupled with Christian counselling. But the devil also often EXPLOITS those illnesses by putting suicidal thoughts and other thoughts such as leaving Christianity. I have at least 2 Christian friends who suffer from Schizoprenia. One is almost completely healed through medication and Church counselling and deliverance. Praise the Lord ! The other one, unfortunately, is getting worse as she stopped taking medication. Both of them shared with me that they "heard voices", telling them to commit suicide, kill someone, or stop going to church. I believe the "voices" that they heard were from the devil. I have also read some Christian books that mention that Schizoprenia is a demon what needs to be cast out.

 

[jasoncran]

.
God does heal mental illnesses through medication coupled with Christian counselling. But the devil also often EXPLOITS those illnesses by putting suicidal thoughts and other thoughts such as leaving Christianity. I have at least 2 Christian friends who suffer from Schizoprenia. One is almost completely healed through medication and Church counselling and deliverance. Praise the Lord ! The other one, unfortunately, is getting worse as she stopped taking medication. Both of them shared with me that they "heard voices", telling them to commit suicide, kill someone, or stop going to church. I believe the "voices" that they heard were from the devil. I have also read some Christian books that mention that Schizoprenia is a demon what needs to be cast out.

while that is wise to have the christain assistance, are these counselors trained in pshycology and pshychariatry?

remember the chruch also used to think that epilepsy was a demon as well. cleary its not.
as one can be in the right mind and love the lord and have seizures.

my dad fits that category.


do i belive that satan can attack the mind, yes, but we must use wisdom to deal with this stuff.

i will dig up the info what Schizophrenia is and also show the findings of brain functions and abnormatlies with it. and yes its afects the shape of the brain if i recall

 

[Tina]

while that is wise to have the christain assistance, are these counselors trained in pshycology and pshychariatry?

The counsellors are well trained and qualified Psychologists amd Psychiatrists who have led many patients to complete healing and deliverance through intensive prayers knowing that medication and treatment alone cannot do a perfect job.


Matthew 4:24
Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.


In the above passage. epilepsy is cited apart from "demon-possessed" ..... so it is just an illness.

 

[glorydaz]

Things like autism, which is growing by leaps and bounds, are a result of our environment. Many people believe they are a result of too many immunizations. My daughter specializes and works with autistic children. She has one blind, autistic, violent boy of 12...it's sad. These children can show marked improvement with therapy..but not to the level we'd like.

We live in a fallen world that is far from the garden of Eden...filled with pollutants. Brain disorders are often a result of birth...cerebral palsy, for instance, that often comes about through improper medical intervention. There are diseases, just as there has always been, that are in no way a result of sin. Look at Sara Palin's little boy...he is a great blessing to that family. Blessings, like the rain, come on the just and the unjust alike. Of course, God can and does heal...we serve a merciful God, but He doesn't always choose to. It's His call.

 

[jasoncran]

while that is wise to have the christain assistance, are these counselors trained in pshycology and pshychariatry?

The counsellors are well trained and qualified Psychologists amd Psychiatrists who have led many patients to complete healing and deliverance through intensive prayers knowing that medication and treatment alone cannot do a perfect job.


Matthew 4:24
Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.


In the above passage. epilepsy is cited apart from "demon-possessed" ..... so it is just an illness.

my bible calls that the palsy, which isnt actually epiplepsy, but rather something else.

 

[mondar]

Some might discount my opinion in this area. I work in the MH field. However, as a worker in the field, I have pushed many with personal problems (not related to any mental disorder) toward their clergy. In fact the agency I worked for never bothered to handle anything like marriage therapy or anything like that. We were about real, true, and persistent mental disorders.

Coming form that perspective, it is disappointing when those who claim to be Christians discourage the people with serious and persistent mental disorders not to take their medications. I especially think of the schizophrenia patients. Such ignorance is dangerous, and can lead to death or some serious disability. Minimum, such bad advice has the potential to lead to repeated inpatient hospitalizations, and potentially some long term hospitalizations.

Do not take this to mean that I am against Christians, or clergy being involved in treatment. In the case of mere personal situational problems, Clergy are great. But when the issue is schizophrenia, or some major mental disorder, they need medication. They will also need the support, understanding, and spiritual guidance their clergy and religious community. But the advice "just have faith and dont take your meds," is always a sign of ignorance and can lead to hospitalization and major problems.

 

[mondar]

If I can add, the concept that schizophrenia and the voices related to schizophrenia are related to demons is usually superstition. When people with that illness take certain medications, and the voices go away (not usually completely) to the extent that they can maintain in the community, my question is can a pill stop a demon? Maybe we do not have the medical technology to help 100% of the consumers 100% of the time, but even if it works only 50% of the time, can a pill cure demon possession?

My goal is to caution anyone with a major mental disorder into walking away from any advice which tells them not to take their medications. Such advice is simply dangerous.

 

[glorydaz]

If I can add, the concept that schizophrenia and the voices related to schizophrenia are related to demons is usually superstition. When people with that illness take certain medications, and the voices go away (not usually completely) to the extent that they can maintain in the community, my question is can a pill stop a demon? Maybe we do not have the medical technology to help 100% of the consumers 100% of the time, but even if it works only 50% of the time, can a pill cure demon possession?

My goal is to caution anyone with a major mental disorder into walking away from any advice which tells them not to take their medications. Such advice is simply dangerous.

I agree. Isn't schizophrenia some sort of chemical imbalance, or is that too simplistic. I know there are many people who go off their meds for that and do horrific things. A demon is not controlled by medication, that's for sure.

 

[jasoncran]

that illness is caused by several factors. its genetic and also runs in families.
yes thanks mondar, i agree with that.

 

[logical bob]

I work for a mental health project too and I completely agree with Mondar. People with mental health problems have to cope with a huge amount of stigma and discrimination. Calling them possessed really isn't going to help.

Yes, the Gospels appear to relate mental illness to demonic possession. But Matthew 9 relates paralysis to sin. So unless you're also willing to tell someone who's paralised that their condition is caused by their sin you have no reason to say mental illness is demonic.

I would also suggest that the situation described in Luke 9:37-42 is what we would today call epilepsy. The culture in which the Gospels were written saw all illness in a spiritual way, but ours doesn't.

I think we have to accept that we don't yet understand the causes of schizophrenia. There's lots of conflicting research and many causes have been suggested. Genetics is definitely a factor and heavy cannabis use increases the risk. It affects more men than women and often develops during puberty but there are exceptions to all of these and no general explanation.

 

[jasoncran]

that's new, marijuana is a factor in schizophrenia. my bro was baker acted(force into care via the law since he wouldnt go voluntarily) at the age of 15.

he was in and out of instutions for a few yrs, then was realeased in 92.

i was going to google what exactly palsy is.

thanks as i could see that when i gave it thought.

 

[faithtransforms]

I think mental illness can be demonic, biological, psychological, or any combination of these. As one having been diagnosed as Bipolar with Major Suicidal Depression, I can tell you all three of those things played a part in my case. I take plenty of meds for it too. But I do believe that God can heal me of it and I am working on the faith to be healed of it. I want to have a child and I cannot do that on these meds. I believe it will happen. I think God can heal anything and will heal anything if there is enough FAITH. But some people (such as people with mental retardation) don't have the facilities to work with faith, so it will have to be someone else's faith that moves God to heal. But I would never tell someone, oh you just don't have enough faith or else you'd be healed by now.

But I have been healed by faith in the past, just sitting here in my living room watching Christian television, so I know it is possible. It was a relatively minor but very painful condition and I just suddenly felt this faith come on me and I asked God to heal me and He did. Right then and there. And that condition has never returned.