why do you think everybody is "mentally ill" ?

[Christ_empowered]

I mean...first off, I'm not saying that mental illness isn't real. I have something where Bipolar I and schizo-something overlap. The doc just calls it Bipolar I (or tells me so, anyway) and keeps me on Abilify+mood stabilizers.

BUT...it seems like everybody's in: therapy, group therapy, counseling, self-help, court ordered treatment of some persuasion, bipolar II, depressed, anxious, ocd, bipolar I, addiction treatment...on and on it goes.

I don't know about the ICD-10 or whatever they use abroad, but here in the US, the DSM keeps expanding...with more and more emphasis on drug treatment (not surprising), with enough lip service to talk treatments to bring in a steady stream of $$$ to counselors, many of whom aren't that great at their jobs. I mean, it used be said: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach," and now I"m thinking that actually applies to counselors and a lot of other "mental health professionals."

OK. So, I've read different ideas on why this is happening. Nutritional problems. Social inequallity. Psychiatry sold out to Big Pharma. Blaming the brain for behavioral issues. One interesting one...

...back in the day, people went to ministers, friends, family, priests with their problems. Also, I think maybe there was an understanding that life had limits, you know? Not everybody's gonne be living large. If you had real problems, you'd go to a long term stay place, public or private (those had problems, but...beats homelessness).

Now, it seems...ministers don't minister to individuals. They often hand them over to pros. Friends aren't really friends like they were back in the day. Families are scattered and not that close. And I think, at least in the US, there's this idea that you should not be a loser, rise to the top, win win win (!!!), etc.

Also, I think society is less understanding of actual differences among people. I mean, they have mood questionaires in magazines now, sponsored by Seroquel XR. Yeah, I mean...they're selling (over priced) pills, I get that...profit motive. But what's with our society that we run with it?

Ramble, ramble...I'm deciding between a psychology major and a history major for my degree now. I'm thinking history...

 

[reba]

Fist i believe there are real mental illness.
Being 'mentally' ill is the in thing now... Back a few years we went to lunch with a friend now we see our therapist OCD is a way of not taking personality responsibilities .. Pop a pill for this pop a pill for that...
I wonder how much of the autism we see is from a couple generation of drugs both legal and not..
seems we agree

 

[Pizza]

Yes, same here.

 

[reba]

I forgot the lack of a spanking when needed..........

 

[Kathi]

Yes,there is "real" mental illness.When a person is a danger to them self and to others they need an evaluation.I think a psychiatrist needs to be very careful who they put on medication.If the medication is not needed it can actually do damage to the brain by altering the chemistry of the brain.Then you have your personality disorders which can be very dangerous people to be around.There is no medication for that.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I don't know what to think of autism. I mean, what is it, anyway? There's apparently a "spectrum," which sounds like nonsense to me.

Thing is...if mental health pros restricted themselves to the maybe 2% of the population that deals with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, bipolar I, and psychotic depression...alot of them would have to find new jobs :-( .

 

[th1b.taylor]

It is the fulfillment of the Romans One, about 18 through the end, prophecy. Sadly, mention G96 and I seriously doubt that one half of one percent would even know where to find it, let alone what the Greek word referenced means. But the World and a good 98% or better of the membership roll have no idea what the word, translated reprobate means. At the very best they read the text, out of context, and impart some mystical meaning to it. Were I a shrink, I would so be in danger of having my license removed for giving them scripture. Thank you LORD for making me world stupid and in love with you!

 

[evenifigoalone]

Life is hard, people don't always know who or what to turn to. Everybody's busy these days and communities are less personal.

I've had depression (mental illness) before, and I know the life related anxiety I experience now is not the same thing. I get pretty moody and depressed some days, but I know it's a normal part of life.

From what I'm hearing treatment of actual mental illness is better than it was. But with greater public awareness comes some ignorance, too...if you've never experienced actual depression or other mental illness before, sometimes it can seem like you have it.
The same thing can happen with physical illness, you read a list of symptoms for some horrible disease and it makes you wonder if your life is in danger. And the state of your mind is harder to actually observe than physical.
And of course you're going to have people take advantage of that ignorance, too, for money.

Well, my thoughts anyway. I don't claim to be an expert.

 

[Christ_empowered]

Undoubtedly, depression can be very serious. But...there's this book out now, Anatomy of an Epidemic. The guy has all this data that suggests that heavy-handed use of antidepressants--one result of "growing public awareness"--is making the long term course for depression worse, not better...and for a lot of people. Left untreated, many cases of depression--even severe depression--resolve within 1 year. Psychotic depression is...different. My major breakdown/crack up at 23 was probably, looking back, a mix of psychotic depression w/ some (hypo)manic features. I got down to 127lbs (I'm male, 5'10, and big boned). So...yeah...I do get the need for awareness and pill based treatment when necessary, but...

...I can't help but wonder if all this heavy handed use of all kinds of pharmaceuticals is doing society as a whole a lot of harm.

 

[evenifigoalone]

I couldn't say. I will say my depression lasted less than a year (not counting what I can only refer to as aftershocks and the time I spent terrified it would come back) and I didn't take meds. But, could have to do with different causes, too. Mine was kind of...unique. Seems that way, anyway.

 

[Kathi]

I don't know what to think of autism. I mean, what is it, anyway? There's apparently a "spectrum," which sounds like nonsense to me.

Thing is...if mental health pros restricted themselves to the maybe 2% of the population that deals with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, bipolar I, and psychotic depression...alot of them would have to find new jobs :-( .

There is Savant Syndrome where a child can not speak otherwise known as the "Rainman syndrome".Then you have Aspergers syndrome.This is known as high functioning autism.These children and adults are very intelligent.Usually their expertise is in one area.They usually have serious problems socially.It is good for a child to be diagnosed very early because they need a lot of special classes.They do not function well with other children.
The problem is when a person has been incorrectly diagnosed.Autism has been diagnosed as Schizophrenia because they can look similar.Then they are put on all kinds of antipsychotic drugs which can complicate things.What is important is to get a correct diagnosis.
Autism can come as a package deal with other mental illnesses that accompany it.That can get very complicated and is very hard to diagnose.

 

[Christ_empowered]

questdriven--everybody's "mental illness" and the road to madness are unique. That's one thing I hate about the DSM and psychiatry in general...they silence people behind labels. I'm glad you made it through w/o meds (glad you made it through in general, too).

 

[Kathi]

Undoubtedly, depression can be very serious. But...there's this book out now, Anatomy of an Epidemic. The guy has all this data that suggests that heavy-handed use of antidepressants--one result of "growing public awareness"--is making the long term course for depression worse, not better...and for a lot of people. Left untreated, many cases of depression--even severe depression--resolve within 1 year. Psychotic depression is...different. My major breakdown/crack up at 23 was probably, looking back, a mix of psychotic depression w/ some (hypo)manic features. I got down to 127lbs (I'm male, 5'10, and big boned). So...yeah...I do get the need for awareness and pill based treatment when necessary, but...

...I can't help but wonder if all this heavy handed use of all kinds of pharmaceuticals is doing society as a whole a lot of harm.

I think when a person has clinical and severe depression and is having suicidal thoughts and can not function it is time to get an evaluation.I think that physicians are handing antidepressants out like candy now.

 

[Kathi]

I have OCD.The worst part of it was when I was in high school.In the 60's they did not know what it was.I thought I was going to go off the edge.It was awful.It gets worse with hormones that are going up and down like in the teenage years.I did not go on medication because there was not medication for it then.I now know what it was.It is a lot better.When I get very stressed it will show some signs but I know now what it is and I know how to deal with it.
I also have Alcohol Fetal Syndrome.My mom was an alcoholic and she drank a bunch when she was pregnant with me.I don't have the facial features but I have several of the other symptoms.Learning disability is one and major anxiety is another.

Throwing off your OCD senses.

 

[Cturtle]

Here's my two cents on things..... i do believe that mental illness is real. I have been through depression, and my behavior was as such that one would have told me that i was bipolar, and all of that hit the fan when i tried to check out from this world.

People nowadays, and maybe for a very long time, have not truly grabbed ahold of the Word of God, and stood on it. We get so busy trying to live our own lives that we forget to include God. We forget to turn to Him first. We forget to seek first the kingdom of God (His ways of doing and being right), trusting Him to provide for our every need, or even recognize that it's because of God that we even have our jobs in the first place. We forget to renew our minds to what the Word of God says we have. To many of us have been slowly transforming to the world instead of allowing the Word transform us according to Romans 12:1-2.

I was one that used to hold onto bitterness, and because of my disobedience to the Word, and not acting on what God, has said to do (which is forgive, and walk in Love, God's love that He shed abroad in my heart when i was saved Ro 5:5), my mind began to forget what the Word said. I went from good ground to thorny ground (where the cares of the world, choked the Word)...and then eventually i became stony ground (where i received the Word with gladness, but because i was loosing my root i began to stumble)....and then i regressed to become wayside ground (where as soon as the Word was sown i rejected it, because i did not want to hear it).

When we get so busy with life that God no longer has a place, buddy that is the most dangerous place to be! Because the flesh is the only thing in control. The spirit is so weak, that the worldly ways are the only thing in play. And that means that God is not the Lord of our lives. And when sin is the only thing that is ruling our lives, then we are fully open to sickness and disease. Because God cannot protect us, because we are no longer under the covering of our redeemer. The power of the cross, and Jesus' shed blood no longer has any effect in our lives till we repent and begin to get in the Word (making it final authority again), and renew our minds to the truth of God's Word and Ways, and then become doers of the Word and not just hearers. There is a reason why God has given us instructions like in Proverbs 4:20-27. And in mark 11:25-26, and john 13:34.

There are reasons why Jesus told His disciples to remain in the vine, because a branch no longer attached to the vine cannot bear fruit. There is a reason why Jesus told us in Matthew 28:11 to lay our burdens at His feet and take His yolk. We were not created to carry all of that stuff in the first place. We were created to be loved by our creator and love others, and to walk in a garden of blessings, and peace. To be givers and caretakers of others and to place people in the "you are important" category. A lot of people do not have, because the people who do have squander it all on themselves. Now that does not mean that we have to be poor and destitute, giving all of ourselves and our money, or time away. Because if we do not take care of ourselves then we are no good for anyone else. But as others have shared, we do not take responsibility for our own actions anymore, and we are not there for our neighbor. This society has become a no fault society. And we don't love our neighbor as ourself.

Many blessing of peace and joy to all in abundance

 

[Cturtle]

As a couple of people have stated another huge reason why there is so many people with mental illness. Everyone just wants to pop a pill and make it all better. They do not want to get to the root of the problem. Just throw a pill at someone and hopefully all of the work is done. But if we just put a bandaid on a cut that is an inch deep, it will fester, and get infected. The same is with unforgiveness, and sin. If we don't close up the wounds, and get cleansing for the sin, then it just festers and the deep wound is made worse.

 

[Kathi]

Question: "Does the Bible mention schizophrenia?"

Answer:Schizophrenia is mentioned nowhere explicitly in the Bible. Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder characterized most commonly by hearing voices and having hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and, at times, paranoia. Often mistaken for what was once called split personality/multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia is not associated with dissociative identity disorder. The symptoms can range from mild to severe and chronic. In most cases it is a debilitating affliction that causes disruption to one’s quality of life and ability to function. It is considered a psychotic disorder by the mental health field and is usually treated with psychotropic medications. The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown, as there is no physical test that can determine the source of the problem. The behavioral manifestations are the primary criteria for a diagnosis. Speculation about schizophrenia’s cause has led to a debate over how Christians should view the disorder in light of scriptural truths.

Medical research has theorized there are conditions present in the brain causing schizophrenia. Some research suggests that there are abnormalities similar to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. The cause of these problems is still unknown; they could be a result of the disorder rather than a precipitating cause. However, genetics is theorized to play a role. Another variable is drug abuse. Many illicit drugs produce the same symptoms as schizophrenia. It is possible these drugs leave permanent brain dysfunction and lead to problems with thinking and perception.

There are also those who believe schizophrenia is spiritual in nature, as in demon possession. This idea comes from the Bible’s accounts of people whose symptoms appear to mirror schizophrenia. While demon possession is possible in some cases, it is unlikely to be the cause for the majority. Schizophrenics do not have a reaction to the name of Jesus, nor do they possess supernatural knowledge. Also, when the biblical accounts are carefully compared to cases of schizophrenia, the symptoms do not truly look the same (seeLuke 4:41).

As with all mental health issues, schizophrenia might have several causes that are unique to each person. Although symptoms may be the same, the causes can differ. That is why it is important not to pigeonhole people with the diagnosis into “spiritual” or “physical” categories. Furthermore, while some patients may be guilty of malingering (faking or exaggerating their symptoms), that does not mean the problem is not very real for others.

Believers should be filled with compassion for those suffering from schizophrenia. We can think of it as a prison of the mind. People with schizophrenia and their families typically lack support from both the Christian and medical communities because neither has all the answers. Because the disorder has no definite scientific explanation, Christians often blame sin and withdraw from the schizophrenic and his loved ones. The church should minister to everyone, including persons with schizophrenia and their families. Those who struggle with mental illness should be considered part of a mission field. They need the gospel to help them understand where God fits into the picture and that there is hope in Jesus.

Although the Bible does not specifically address brain or psychological problems, it does refer to people being healed of all types of maladies. The Lord works not only through miracles, but also through medications, surgeries, counseling, and environmental changes. He does not want anyone to remain in hopeless suffering, and He calls all to come to Him with their burdens to find life (Matthew 11:28-30). The Lord also calls His children to extend love and the gospel to those who hurt, especially those who are the most vulnerable (James 2:1-4). The Bible says anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Those who suffer with schizophrenia can have hope in Jesus for life more abundant (John 10:9-11). The Lord can use all things for their good.

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-schizophrenia.html#ixzz3TrVtxMeD

 

[Fish Catcher Jim]

I forgot the lack of a spanking when needed..........

Hello Reba,
Have you noticed the pattern over the past 20 years ? Started with the pledge of allegiance and singing God bless america in the morning at schools. Then talking about God and when this thing was in it's begining stages, it was against policy to pray to God but you could have devil worship class's. It happened in California and get this, the class got caught digging up graves for bodies....

Then it became clear as you said, No spanking. No real disciopline and then it was made known...Talking about gods in school is ok BUT mention the name of Jesus and you are in big trouble. So ther name of Jesus is out lawed. Hmm take the power out.....Now I wonder who has been behind this all these years ?

Now you have all these generations of kids that have gotten older with no real discipline and morals and used to doing what ever they wanted. All this media crap and so forth and then people over the years have gotten off their game and the doctors who make more money off of pills then their practice begin to claim every one has this or that and push their majic pills. No real help.

Look at the way all these new meds have gone. FDA does not regulate them like they used to many years ago and they get released and a year or so later, you have 10 different lawyers handling all the lawsuits from death.
There are some true mental illness I agree.

One last one.....Many mental instatutions lost money or intrest and actually just up and closed their doors and released all the people into society.. It happen here.....Scary and strange
sorry for all the ramble