Christians and Mental Disorders

[Shann]

My heart aches for your pain Richard but I am also so impressed with your courage to reach out and help other people. My brother has a similar diagnosis and I know many people can react to him much like people treated lepers in the Bible times. We've come a long way in helping the public understand mental disorders but we still have a long way to go.

I had a horrible year in 97. I was given an anti-depressant to help with my chronic pain. About 6 weeks later, I became obsessed with killing or hurting myself. I was admitted to the hospital to many times to count and was told that I shouldn't have survived many of my attempts. God had other plans for me and I'm so thankful I didn't succeed.

About 4 weeks after deciding to stop all meds, the suicidal ideations disappeared. No one believed me it was thew medicine back then even though it takes 4 to 6 weeks to build up and that long to get out of your system. Now though, it is a known side-effect. God used my what I lovingly call crazy year to minister to others and to bring glory to his name.

I'll be wishing you luck as you write this down to share with the world as well as include you in my prayers.

[rtodd5011]

Thanks Shann you are a true blessing and have been very helpful to me using these forums. Yes I do have a big desire to help other people, if it in my writing so be it God has also given me a vision of sharing my testimony in church and praying for people. Whatever the case, I know He wilk work it out as I submit my life into his hands. Thanks again.

~rich

[Sparrow]

Rich, I'm glad you are going to write your testimony and glad you have been doing well. I had a sort of mental break-down with severe OCD in my early twenties. It was horrible but like you guys have seen, God can use it for good.

[tomoral]

Shann,

I know about antidepressant medication, having been diagnosed many years ago with bipolar disorder. I have been treated by a few in my time. I finally found a doctor to give me the right one. But I was put on something called Lamictal once and for 4 weeks woke up praying for God to let me die. They can make people suicidal if they are not right for them.

Mental disorders are best treated by faith, I have found, but the right medication can help faith along.

[Shann]

Oh I totally agree Lynn, the thing is I wasn't taking the med for depression but to help with chronic pain. Then I started feeling suicidal. It was horrible they kept switching meds and even when after a whole year of obsessing about different ways to hurt myself, it totally went away once the med was out of my system. I do still get overwhelmed about the pain and feel like a burden to others and think no one would care or even notice if I was gone. But nothing like what I felt like when on the meds. It was just back then they didn't know or at least admit that it could increase the risk of suicide thoughts.

It was a horrible time for me and my family. My mom had died a few years earlier and instead of going through the grieving process, I pretended she was on vacation so all of those feelings, plus the pain, and the loss of working which was a big part of my self-esteem, and the meds all combined into a horrible feeling of having no control over anything. So I decided I would take control of when I would die. God said I think not, and though many times the doctors marveled at how I survived myself, I knew God had other plans. I don't mean to suggest that God allows some to commit suicide and refuses to allow others because I'm not sure how it works but I know he intervened on my behalf.

I think talking and writing about mental health problems is so healing and helps educate others. I'll be praying for you as you go through this process. I admire your courage to speak out to help others understand. When my brother was diagnosed back in the 70 s with schizophrenia, we weren't allowed to yell anyone. In fact I only realized he had it because I overheard my parents talking about it. People have come a long ways but there is still a long way to go.

[Arnost4Christ]

PILL- GRIM'S PROJECT

Demented or schizophrenic ?
In any case sick.

Pain of the insane
Mushrooms in my brain.

Medicine isn't sin
Without it we can't win.

Liquid lobotomy
Will you merry me?

Motoring mind
Forget the signs !

Frantic search
I am found in church.

Author; Arnost Vevoda, a( platinum) member of FaithWriters. Although STRICKEN WITH MORE THAN ONE FORM OF MENTAL ILLNESS, (INCLUDING SCHIZOPHRENIA,) I REFUSE TO BE STIFLED CONCERNING MY FAITH IN ' THE LORD, JESUS !


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[Sparrow]

Very clever poem, Arnost!

[Arnost4Christ]

Thanks, Sparrow. I'm indebted to all of whom contributed to this forum. Afflicted people such as you are bringing mental illness out of the 'dark ages.' I've also noticed a ' comradeship' of empathy and support at this post and am thrilled to be a partaker of your ' fellowship.' God bless you all; Arnost.

"Be strong and courageous.." A quote from The book of Joshua: the Bible.