Pretending like mental illness does not exist is a horrendous strategy for dealing with it. The same is true of either trivializing or mischaracterizing it. Fortunately, modern neuroscience has made great progress when it comes to understanding, diagnosing, and combating mental illness. After all, the treatment of mental illness is one of the most significant ramifications of neuroscience and psychology. Many other uses of information from these disciplines are trivial by comparison.
Despite this progress, some Christians who suffer from various mental illnesses might discourage themselves from taking advantage of modern breakthroughs, or perhaps others discourage them from doing so. Part of this issue stems from ignorance about the nature of mental illnesses and how many people suffer from them, while part of it might come from a gratuitous fear of looking to something other than prayer, or anything besides some other other strictly spiritual thing, for deliverance from mental disorders.
The Bible never condemns using neuroscience to treat mental illness. Furthermore, it would be contradictory for God to fashion the nervous system so that certain physical inputs/activities lead to certain phenomenological results, only to oppose using these causal relationships for a benevolent purpose. There is nothing about seeking professional help with addressing mental illness that is contrary to Christian life. Some Christians might even suppose that consulting a psychiatrist, doctor, or neuroscientist somehow disregards God's ability to heal someone, as if God would never enable the healing of mental illness through something like medication.
God certainly could remove someone's mental illness on his own, be it depression, anhedonia, an anxiety disorder, or something else--but it is harmful to go months or years hoping that God will rectify the problem(s) when a medicative/prescription solution will resolve even a part of the issue. There is nothing to gain from postponing or never seeking human help. Existence can be grueling enough as it is without mental illness contributing to personal misery.
From a Christian standpoint, there is even more reason to pursue all legitimate solutions to mental illness, since Christianity is deeply supportive of all aspects of human flourishing. Christians need to collectively forsake myths and stigmas around mental disorders. Additionally, they need to be prepared to offer help to anyone suffering from them, including themselves. Furthermore, they also need to express support for legitimate medicative remedies. If Christendom as a whole would pursue these objectives, Christians suffering from mental illness could more easily find whatever relief and liberation they can obtain.
Going back a little far haha, but I just wanted to ask:
ReplyDeleteWhat's your take on biblical counseling?
No problem! Since all Biblical counseling shares the goal of being connected with and consistent with the Bible, the usefulness and soundness of Biblical/Christian counseling depends on the way it is approached. Some approaches to Biblical counseling might emphasize psychiatry more than others, while some might treat the Bible as if it somehow contains all or most of the information necessary to address mental health issues. As long as the Bible and healthy relationships are not regarded as the default solutions to legitimate mental illnesses (although a right understanding of Biblical theology can be very helpful for Christians struggling with mental illnesses), Biblical counseling is not problematic.
DeleteGotcha. I know like you said, some counselors discourage psychiatry but because it's "secular". Like the implication that going to therapy instead of relying on the Bible or prayer for healing, means a lack of faith. Or that mental illness is a sin issue (or at worst, because of demons). The former was one of those bullshit lies I've definitely fallen victim to that did nothing but make me feel even worse. Following the commandments of God and prayer did not completely take my anxiety and depression away.
DeleteI also wanted an excuse to ask because I very recently went through a random existential freakout in the middle of the night. I want to avoid any damaging ideas about my chemistry or about my commitment to Christ as I heal. Remembering facts and rational affirmations seem to be help stabilize me, at least for a little while. One affirmation I keep trying to remember is "My feelings are real, but they aren't reality". Just because I have a strong gut feeling of impending doom, doesn't mean there actually is.
Are there any rational/biblical facts you help ground yourself with if you're ever in a state of terror or mentally disoriented?
I'm very sorry that you had to experience that. I'm very glad that you have already found something that alleviates the symptoms somewhat, though! Discussing my trials with my closest friend helped me a great deal during a period of existential terror that lasted almost a year. While that did not involve consistently focusing on any particular logical or Biblical fact other than the one you mentioned about the nature of feelings, the opportunity to share what I was going through provided some very appreciated relief! Other than clinging to the nature of reason and the aforementioned friendship, waiting was the most helpful thing in my case.
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