Christ_empowered
Member
- Oct 23, 2010
- 14,242
- 10,724
A bit back while I was praying, The Lord put on my heart that Rx meds and Mental Health, Inc. aren't necessarily my enemies. I --was-- mistreated as a teen and 20-something, in a big, big way...too many meds, lots of controlled substances, labels, involuntary shock treatments, etc. Its a wonder that I'm even alive, honestly...and that's just what they did...doesn't even factor in my own behavior.
I'm 31 now. Just in time for 2016, I seem to have "recovered from treatment." Basically...The Lord has seen fit to make me physically healthy and--for the first time in over 10 years--smart enough for my goals. That should not be happening, the way things usually go in the world. What's strange is...after the heavy shock, I was...quietly crazy. Still had "problems," but they'd basically managed to shut me up. And I was not very smart. So, people didn't really care, especially the "treatment providers." Then I began to recover from the shock, and...
...I'm suddenly getting the treatment I always needed, but never got before. The mostly private practice Mental Health, Inc. people I saw before saw good insurance and $$$ and really didn't do anything to actually help me. When I got too burned out and all, they gave me heavy shock treatments...I was basically on the rubbish heap by 20 years old :-( .
Now I go to a community mental health clinic, and they actually help. I think because its a state agency and they try to minimize costs and encourage recovery--not dependence on "the system"--things are a lot better for me, and hopefully other clients, too (that's what community mental health clinics call the patients..."clients"). I actually---gasp---get along well with my counselor (great man, M.Divinity, solid Christian, very professional) and my psychiatrist. I'm stable now, so I only breeze in for counseling every 6-8 weeks and then see the psychiatrist every 12 weeks.
More importantly..."recovery." "Recovery" is a good concept, a good thing, but its not very well defined. I guess its hard to define...severe mental illness affects people differently. My "recovery" so far involves: finishing my undergraduate degree online, reconciling w/ my parents, getting back to my writing, digging into my faith, and planning for a future in which I have a j-o-b that will allow me to make use of my God given gifts, talents, strengths, and abilities.
Recovery for me has meant transformation already, and this only 3 years after I got saved. I think...I think that part of the Christian walk is finding out who you really are in Christ Jesus. People can and do recover without getting saved, but...I'm not one of them. I was too far gone. Tranquilizers and such just helped keep me comfortable and quiet, basically. Now...I have recovered and I'm moving forward, thanks to Christ.
Of course...following Christ involves more than getting a degree and having good health and all. Forgiveness is the core of Christianity, and I'm beginning to truly appreciate that. All the extra "good stuff" I've been blessed with followed the Big Thing--forgiveness. At some point, I hope to be able to bless others ("be a river, not a pond") and get a job, have an autonomous life...and I hope that my progress glorifies Christ, who alone can (truly) save anyone.
I'm 31 now. Just in time for 2016, I seem to have "recovered from treatment." Basically...The Lord has seen fit to make me physically healthy and--for the first time in over 10 years--smart enough for my goals. That should not be happening, the way things usually go in the world. What's strange is...after the heavy shock, I was...quietly crazy. Still had "problems," but they'd basically managed to shut me up. And I was not very smart. So, people didn't really care, especially the "treatment providers." Then I began to recover from the shock, and...
...I'm suddenly getting the treatment I always needed, but never got before. The mostly private practice Mental Health, Inc. people I saw before saw good insurance and $$$ and really didn't do anything to actually help me. When I got too burned out and all, they gave me heavy shock treatments...I was basically on the rubbish heap by 20 years old :-( .
Now I go to a community mental health clinic, and they actually help. I think because its a state agency and they try to minimize costs and encourage recovery--not dependence on "the system"--things are a lot better for me, and hopefully other clients, too (that's what community mental health clinics call the patients..."clients"). I actually---gasp---get along well with my counselor (great man, M.Divinity, solid Christian, very professional) and my psychiatrist. I'm stable now, so I only breeze in for counseling every 6-8 weeks and then see the psychiatrist every 12 weeks.
More importantly..."recovery." "Recovery" is a good concept, a good thing, but its not very well defined. I guess its hard to define...severe mental illness affects people differently. My "recovery" so far involves: finishing my undergraduate degree online, reconciling w/ my parents, getting back to my writing, digging into my faith, and planning for a future in which I have a j-o-b that will allow me to make use of my God given gifts, talents, strengths, and abilities.
Recovery for me has meant transformation already, and this only 3 years after I got saved. I think...I think that part of the Christian walk is finding out who you really are in Christ Jesus. People can and do recover without getting saved, but...I'm not one of them. I was too far gone. Tranquilizers and such just helped keep me comfortable and quiet, basically. Now...I have recovered and I'm moving forward, thanks to Christ.
Of course...following Christ involves more than getting a degree and having good health and all. Forgiveness is the core of Christianity, and I'm beginning to truly appreciate that. All the extra "good stuff" I've been blessed with followed the Big Thing--forgiveness. At some point, I hope to be able to bless others ("be a river, not a pond") and get a job, have an autonomous life...and I hope that my progress glorifies Christ, who alone can (truly) save anyone.