I just had a few thoughts to share, as a Christian with a
mental illness, about the areas of Psychology and Psychiatry and some of the
medicines that go with it all.
Psychology is, after all, simply the “study
of the mind”. And Who created the mind?
Psychiatry is more specifically the 'medical
treatment of the mind',
which is a bit more controversial.
A lot of Christians, and many other kinds of people for that
matter, become very suspicious and even condemning when these topics are raised. We all remember Tom Cruise’s rants (of course,
he is a Scientologist ).
But many Christians have knee-jerk reactions to these topics
as well – and I just think there is some misunderstanding of these topics.
I was actually in the
same place as those types of folks until God taught me a lesson – the very hard
way ( because that was the only way I would learn it) – you can see the very
end of this blog for a piece of my personal testimony about this as well
as some Biblical input.
I know that anti-depressants and other “brain” drugs have
been vastly over-prescribed and even abused.
I know some of these “doctors of the mind” are also out in left field.
But here is where we make our mistake – we throw the good
away with the bad. The baby with the bath water as they say.
One of my pastors always said “Eat the orange and spit out
the seeds” – in other words find and accept what is true and discern what is
not and throw it out.
There is also a saying that goes “All truth is God’s truth”.
And if there is some truth in these areas of the mind – we are only harming ourselves
to not see it and receive it. Just like
we accept truth in the areas of science ( i.e. the law of gravity) and physical medicine (listening to our
doctors) so we should in the areas of Psychology
and Psychiatry – so long as it is true . True, both in the practical sense that it works and
makes sense – and of course in the Biblical sense.
As a Christian, I don’t for a minute suggest or recommend adhering
to anything that is clearly un – Biblical.
However, many of the “techniques” or therapies I have
learned are just common sense that is backed up by research and studies. In
fact, they parallel with Biblical principles very closely. There is a lot of
stuff in Psychology / Psychiatry that I don’t happen to believe ( it is , after
all, an inexact science) but there is so much to be gained from learning from
it what is real – don’t throw the “baby” out!
In college, as part of my course load, I was to take two semesters of “Personal and Inter-Personal
Behaviour” . Much of the information was gleaned from very basic Psychology /
Psychiatry . While I did not find everything to be true to life or Biblical – I
was amazed at how much I learned about myself and others. This helped me a
great deal I think in my Christian ministry as a youth “pastor”.
When I first had to see a psychiatrist I was a bit freaked
out by it. But I found her very
interesting and , at the time, just what I needed.
A fiery Scotswoman, she didn’t really beat around the bush
too much and I soon learned something very interesting about her – she was a
Christian. And if that is too vague for
you, let me further specify – she was an Evangelical Christian ( that’s right –
the local conservative Baptist church).
I no longer see her but she was a great help to me and I
firmly believe God put her in my life at that time and place… knowing I would
be suspicious of a Psychiatrist.
Again – I’m not suggesting you go out and start popping “happy
pills” for the heck of it. But I am saying – don’t disregard the whole topic. Don’t
be a “purist” who thinks they are above the need of medical attention. Just be wise, do some research, talk to
Christians who have some personal experience or education on the matter.
By doing this you could, ironically, find yourself
disobeying God as my testimony shows…..
Part of my testimony – Please feel free to read the whole
thing here: A Beautiful Mind
Now having said this I have
to tell you a little story. I was young but had firm opinions about so-called
mental illness and the medications that went with it. This was brought to the
forefront one day when I was preaching at my little church in Prince George. I
was speaking about the joy of the Lord , I believe, when in my youthful fervor
I exclaimed
“ We don’t need
Prozac to be happy – that is just a crutch. The Lord will make us happy”. Well
apparently that night one of the dear “mom-like” ladies had brought her brother
to church –the first time in a long time for him as he was not particularly
religious. It turns out this man was on Prozac and I had greatly offended him.
Although I still didn’t believe in mental illness or the drugs for it , I
realized I had to apologize for what I had said and the way I had said it. So I
made the difficult phone call and he graciously accepted my apology.
Now this is not where the
irony ends my friends, for it was not long after this that I experienced that
second breakdown, that my pastor’s wife had suggested depression and for the
first time in my life was I was open to hear about it. With an entirely new
perspective on life ( I had quite an experience with God – learning about pride
and grace – but that is another story you can read about here: When I understood grace... or at least began to. , I went to my doctor
and he had me fill out a questionnaire on depression. I was finally ready to be
honest with my answers and I scored off-the-chart for severe clinical
depression. I tried a series of different drugs until at last one seemed to
help – its called fluoxetine , other wise known as Prozac. God indeed has a
great sense of humour.
Taking medication for
mental health is a very personal issue between you, your doctor and God. I do
not believe it is the complete answer but it is a tool of medicine that God has
given us just like any we would take for any other more socially acceptable
disease. One thing I’d like to mention here folks is this - the
difference between “diagnosing” and “labeling”. Diagnosing is not labeling –
please know the difference. Correct diagnosis can free someone – like the
truth. The root problem is treated and the symptoms lessen or disappear
altogether. Labeling ignores the root problem and only brings the person down
further – they often even tend to become more like the label.
You may also want to read : Mental Illness and the Bible
War of the minds - by Flame
