Christians with mental illness: hope

[KittyLinda]

I want to share with people about my struggle with this disorder. It is devastating, so I hope this will help people understand more about mental illness. While I do believe God can heal us through His word, but he also heals us through medication, or getting help from professionals such as therapists, doctors, etc.

Are you struggling with any mental problems or depression and how do you cope ?

 

[KittyLinda]

Is it ok for a Christian to take antidepressants? The answer is, “Yes!” For serious ongoing mental and emotional pain, along with therapy and a whole-health approach, antidepressants (and similar psychotropic medications) can be a great resource God can use within our faith experience. Let’s explore the overall misconceptions, the Biblical principles for why it’s okay, and some practical tips for taking medications! (Faith & Mental Health Questions)

 

[KittyLinda]

Mental Illness: Prayer AND Psychiatric Treatment, Not "OR"

 

[KittyLinda]

Mental Health and Mental Illness: A Christian Psychiatrist’s Perspective- Dr. Jonathan Lee

Is depression really the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain? Is anxiety always a sin? How should a Christian understand PTSD? One in five people in our churches will be affected in their lifetime by depression or anxiety, but mental illness remains a hotbed of controversy, misinformation and stigma. In this practical session, Dr. Lee will offer a holistic Christian perspective-- incorporating both medicine and theology-- to equip laypeople, pastors and biblical counselors to serve those who are suffering from mental illness with greater empathy.

 

[KittyLinda]

This is a short prayer I am using after I take my medication every day:

Heavenly Father, comfort and relieve me. I am challenged by serious and chronic mental and emotional illnesses. Grant your children who suffer with mental illnesses the help they need. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

 

[Brad Huber]

My first wife divorced me because she didnt want to hear any complaints at all about some of the stuff she did. She was bi-polar, and manic depressive, and usually when she took her meds, she was pretty good, but she would simply sometimes get tired of taking the meds, go into a manic mood, and buy all kinds of things that she never should have. When I went into the relationship, I had no bad financial marks against me, cash savings, good credit and credit cards that were used only in a responsible way, a car only 3 years old that was all paid for already. She came into the relationship financially with 2 bankruptcies, manic depressive, didnt share with me her mental problems, or that she couldnt have kids. And shortly after being married, while I was at school, she traded my paid for car, in my name only, for a car that was a boondoggle, stopped working after a few months, we had to turn it into the bank and pay $5000 for a piece of junk car that we barely used and no longer had. She did it while I was at school, and I didnt know she had done it till I got home. I was told I couldnt get my car back. Had 2 bankruptcies with her, she abused my credit cards and my credit, and lied to people in my own family to con them out of money. She used the kindness of christians in general to gain money, items. and pity for her health issues (besides the mental ones which she didnt talk about).

She was easy to talk to, very friendly, a great cook, and she loved to buy gifts for others (using other peoples money lots of the time). So she wasnt all bad. I say this all to point out that people who have mental disorders have a responsibility to those that they say they Love. Love is action, not words, not even the nice feeling you get when people say they love you and perhaps hug you or such. Love is an action, so if we love the Lord, we have to act on it. Glad you are getting baptized, its an action, a good one. Although God loves you and will forgive you your errors, be the daughter He will be proud of, that He will gladly tell others how wonderful and courageous you are. Show your love to the Lord, when you fail, ask forgiveness and return to His embrace as quickly as possible for its only with Him and your association with Him, in prayers, worship (in the songs you love), and fellowship, that we grown stronger in the Lord, and better able to defeat the fiery arrows of the evil one.

 

[Andyindauk]

Thank you dear sister for these insights which hopefully will shed light on this difficult subject that affects far too many people.

God bless you x

 

[KittyLinda]

My first wife divorced me because she didnt want to hear any complaints at all about some of the stuff she did. She was bi-polar, and manic depressive, and usually when she took her meds, she was pretty good, but she would simply sometimes get tired of taking the meds, go into a manic mood, and buy all kinds of things that she never should have. When I went into the relationship, I had no bad financial marks against me, cash savings, good credit and credit cards that were used only in a responsible way, a car only 3 years old that was all paid for already. She came into the relationship financially with 2 bankruptcies, manic depressive, didnt share with me her mental problems, or that she couldnt have kids. And shortly after being married, while I was at school, she traded my paid for car, in my name only, for a car that was a boondoggle, stopped working after a few months, we had to turn it into the bank and pay $5000 for a piece of junk car that we barely used and no longer had. She did it while I was at school, and I didnt know she had done it till I got home. I was told I couldnt get my car back. Had 2 bankruptcies with her, she abused my credit cards and my credit, and lied to people in my own family to con them out of money. She used the kindness of christians in general to gain money, items. and pity for her health issues (besides the mental ones which she didnt talk about).

She was easy to talk to, very friendly, a great cook, and she loved to buy gifts for others (using other peoples money lots of the time). So she wasnt all bad. I say this all to point out that people who have mental disorders have a responsibility to those that they say they Love. Love is action, not words, not even the nice feeling you get when people say they love you and perhaps hug you or such. Love is an action, so if we love the Lord, we have to act on it. Glad you are getting baptized, its an action, a good one. Although God loves you and will forgive you your errors, be the daughter He will be proud of, that He will gladly tell others how wonderful and courageous you are. Show your love to the Lord, when you fail, ask forgiveness and return to His embrace as quickly as possible for its only with Him and your association with Him, in prayers, worship (in the songs you love), and fellowship, that we grown stronger in the Lord, and better able to defeat the fiery arrows of the evil one.

Sorry you experienced all of that. Even though my first marriage was not blessed, or ordained by God, it was disastrous and very painful to experience divorce. I did very destructive things in my relationships, but I really did not know much about the root of the problem. I just wondered why I can't have a single healthy relationship. I know now there was so much spiritual warfare. I also only knew I am a Borderline this year. I wish I had known before. I knew about my disorder only after I got in trouble with the law and It made sense. Everything about it is just the way I am. I have all symptoms and you only need 3 or 4 I think.

Your ex should have told you she could not have kids and also about her mental problems. You deserve to know. I have to tell whoever I am going to date in the future about this disorder and my past, and it is difficult talking about this stuff actually, because I just knew recently that there is a stigma associated with BPD.

Yes, people with mental disorders must have a responsibility to their loved ones. They need to seek help and try to make things work. I gave up and tried to end my life. I got unconscious, they saved me, before it is too late, and these suicidal thoughts are always there when things get tough, but not many people understood me. Lots of my friends just distanced themselves, because I get really furious, and I break things, and I go hysterical sometimes. Usually, my exs beat me to stop it. It is like being out of my body, so It is not in my control. When I did the self-harm thing, someone told me before that I seek attention and I need to stop this, but in my mind I just wanted to stop thinking about what just happened 6-10 hours ago! I also thought this would help them see my pain. I believe mental illnesses can also have a spiritual side, but many people in the Christian community lack the wisdom in how to deal with people suffering from mental disorders. You just do not say to someone you got demons when you know this person has a mental condition. This broke my heart on Tj the other day, when someone said all of this to me. I apologized to this member by sending her/him a message, but God knows if she/he actually meant to break me , because lots of people abuse others, if they have mental disorders. It happens because it is usually their past husband/wife, or someone had a mental problem, and they were hurt badly by it. Maybe they do not know but on a subconscious level this happens all the time.

Thank you for your kind words.
God bless,

 

[Sosthenes]

I want to share with people about my struggle with this disorder.

I went through this with my stepsister. I totally understand even if I don't know everything.

I encourage everyone to take their medicine and seek help.

 

[KittyLinda]

I went through this with my stepsister. I totally understand even if I don't know everything.

I encourage everyone to take their medicine and seek help.

Thank you. Our God is a rescuer and he will help us. I can tell because he is changing me. I am an addict, and struggling with mental health problems, and I wished I had cancer instead of this, because at least people can see it, if there is a physical evidence, and I have been hurt badly by some believers and non-believers alike. I know I am one of those believers who need more help by taking medicine, or seeking help from others. We need to make more Christians aware of this that we are willing to obey God, but we just need some support, and we need to make it 'safe' for others to say they struggle with addiction, or mental health problems. A lot of people do not want to seek help, because they are sometimes demonized by the Christian Community, or are told they are not faithful enough. That is a very very dangerous thing to say to people you barely know their mental condition or their tragedies. I almost wanted to be an activist. I even joined a charitable organization in the past because how I felt. People need to be aware that there is so much suffering in this world, and we do not want to add more to it.

God bless,

 

[Sosthenes]

Thank you. Our God is a rescuer and he will help us. I can tell because he is changing me. I am an addict, and struggling with mental health problems, and I wished I had cancer instead of this, because at least people can see it, if there is a physical evidence, and I have been hurt badly by some believers and non-believers alike. I know I am one of those believers who need more help by taking medicine, or seeking help from others. We need to make more Christians aware of this that we are willing to obey God, but we just need some support, and we need to make it 'safe' for others to say they struggle with addiction, or mental health problems. A lot of people do not want to seek help, because they are sometimes demonized by the Christian Community, or are told they are not faithful enough. That is a very very dangerous thing to say to people you barely know their mental condition or their tragedies. I almost wanted to be an activist. I even joined a charitable organization in the past because how I felt. People need to be aware that there is so much suffering in this world, and we do not want to add more to it.

God bless,

I had dyshidrotic eczema on my fingers and I saw a dermatologist my co-worker recommended but he could never heal me and the doctor use to blame me for washing my hands but the medicine would never work for 20 years and my hands would never heal. I can say that skin problems are very painful and I would use hot water because I'm a cold person but I ended up keeping my hands under the hot water too long because the pain tricked my brain into thinking it felt good when I was really burning myself under the hot water trying to get rid of the dead skin. I found another doctor and my dermatologist said the other dermatologist was old school and what he was doing would never have solved my problem. Now I am totally healed of this problem even though it could come back and the doctors don't know what causes this type of skin condition.

I'm sorry what other Christians have said to you. The problem with judging is that we're commanded by God to love one another and we cannot love you or anyone when we are judging others. I can't feel your pain. I can't feel your struggles or imagine what you've gone through and I'm not going to judge you because it is not even on my radar. I haven't even walked in your shoes. But we're even commanded to love our enemies and we can't obey Jesus if we're judging you.

John 15:12 - No Greater Love

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

biblehub.com

Part of my brother's problem stems from their theology and lack of empathy. My stepsister use to call such people Job's counsellors.

How would God respond? How does God already respond?

Matthew 5:45 - Love Your Enemies

that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

biblehub.com

I point out to them that God gives rain to the just and the unjust just as he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good and they don't always get it.

Matthew 5:43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Matthew 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

If I can give you anything to say to overcome some of Job's counsellors, I would try.

 

[Enxu]

Thank you. Our God is a rescuer and he will help us. I can tell because he is changing me. I am an addict, and struggling with mental health problems, and I wished I had cancer instead of this, because at least people can see it, if there is a physical evidence, and I have been hurt badly by some believers and non-believers alike. I know I am one of those believers who need more help by taking medicine, or seeking help from others. We need to make more Christians aware of this that we are willing to obey God, but we just need some support, and we need to make it 'safe' for others to say they struggle with addiction, or mental health problems. A lot of people do not want to seek help, because they are sometimes demonized by the Christian Community, or are told they are not faithful enough. That is a very very dangerous thing to say to people you barely know their mental condition or their tragedies. I almost wanted to be an activist. I even joined a charitable organization in the past because how I felt. People need to be aware that there is so much suffering in this world, and we do not want to add more to it.

God bless,

I am so happy for you and encouraged. When I prayed to God for you, I said please give me more occasions to praise Him on account of what He does for people like you. He just gave me more occasions to praise Him and I love it.

As for the issue of being hurt by believers, know that people can and will fail you. I have been to church and even there people are not all behaving as they ought. The same happens online. I have been wounded many times by Christians as well, but I carry on. There are tares among the wheat like Jesus said, we focus on what the Lord commands us to do - love.

 

[Godsangel]

Thanks for posting this I suffer from mental illness and I think some of my family thinks I'm faking it.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

Looks like this is a new on on this thread...Lewy Body Dementia. It appears to be a cross between Parkinsons and Alzeimers. This is the one I am fighting.

This tells about it in such a way it's pleasant to listen to....I completely fell in like with this couple...LBD is Oh I already said that. LOL There are six episodes to this You can follow them all from her siite
Yesterday I spilled some birdseed on the carpet and it took me almost ten minutes to figure out how to clean up the mess. Brush and dustpan? Really? And I couldn't figure that out?!

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

Looks like this is a new on on this thread...Lewy Body Dementia. It appears to be a cross between Parkinsons and Alzeimers. This is the one I am fighting.

This tells about it in such a way it's pleasant to listen to....I completely fell in like with this couple...LBD is Oh I already said that. LOL There are six episodes to this You can follow them all from her siite
Yesterday I spilled some birdseed on the carpet and it took me almost ten minutes to figure out how to clean up the mess. Brush and dustpan? Really? And I couldn't figure that out?!

I'm sorry...This thread is about a different thing....I kind of gaslighted here...Please forgive.

 

[Sue D.]

@ Admon Mikha'el -- thank you for sharing about your situation. It's as important as the others.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

@ Admon Mikha'el -- thank you for sharing about your situation. It's as important as the others.

Hey! I found something good about dementia! My wife takes me out to see a wonder of nature...I see it with wonder and awe. Then a week later she takes me there again...I see it with wonder and awe, all over again...LOL It was the first time, each time.

 

[Sue D.]

Hey -- you have a good wife -- it's good to go out into nature and see / appreciate the beauty of it. Each day Can be a bit unique.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

Hey -- you have a good wife -- it's good to go out into nature and see / appreciate the beauty of it. Each day Can be a bit unique.

Ahh Yes!!! No man ever had such an amazing and beautiful wife!

 

[Sue D.]

Merry Christmas to both of you. -- I just got back from a Candle Light Service.