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By Peter Andres
Are people of faith with a mental illness different from those who have a physical illness? Much about mental illness still remains a mystery. That's one of the reasons people are tempted to spiritualize the problem. They hope that the person with mental illness would be able to gain spiritual strength and thus gain victory of the illness.
What remains hard for many to understand is that having a mental illness and being a strong person of faith is no different than having a serious physical illness and being a strong person of faith. How can church leaders encourage support of people with a mental illness? What does a person with a mental illness need to help him or her feel accepted and part of the congregation? How does the Christian message and experience take on meaning under these circumstances? What is mental illness, anyway?
Marja Bergen, in her book Riding the Roller Coaster (Northstone, 1999) describes her experiences living with bipolar disorder. She talks about the many important factors that helped make her life with this illness tolerable and manageable. Having a supportive husband, friends, and service systems were critical, but she also acknowledges the importance of a spiritual home. Her church friends learned to understand her illness and provided spiritual nurture, especially during difficult times. She speaks about the friendships that include a common belief as being the most valuable ones she'll have. But she also admits that she was fortunate in this regard. Sadly, many people with mental illness who look for spiritual help during difficult times face ignorance, stigma, avoidance, and judgment. The spiritual counsel and prayer these people receive frankly do more harm than good.
Understanding mental illness, even from the professional, scientific perspective, is still very much a work in progress. Schizophrenia and its related disorders, bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression), major depression, panic and obsessive-compulsive disorders are all considered mental illnesses. It is estimated that between 15% to 20% of North Americans will, at some time in their lives experience a mental illness. Most these will suffer debilitating depression.
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Evidence suggests that there are probably organic (biochemical) reasons for the illness, psycho-social origins, or a combination of the two. Treatments that deal with the symptoms include medications, psychotherapy or a blend of both. What is clear to people working in the field is that the experience of the illness goes far beyond living with the symptoms. While a person who has a physical illnesseven cancersuffers discomfort and anxiety related to the illness, those who have a mental illness suffer from a constellation of additional issues. These all affect their ability to return to wellness. One of them is stigma, both internally and externally imposed. There's also the loss of self-worth and self-efficacy that might come with a loss of job, friends, marriage and the feelings of being separated from God.
How can the church assist someone in a situation as devastating as this?
1. Church leaders and church members need to know that a mental illness is not the same as a spiritual crisis. Nor is the absence of healing, especially after fervent prayer, a sign of judgment or lack of faith.
2. There should be no judgment about the use of mood altering medications. Medications are commonly needed to treat the bio-chemical causes for the disorder and radically help many keep their symptoms under control.
3. Quality of life for a person suffering from mental illness does not depend on a complete remission from the illness.
What church members need to know is that many experience a recovery that allows return to an active and fulfilling life but still continue to experience times that are difficult. Recovery from mental illness means: the return of a positive sense of self, usually through meaningful endeavor (work, vocation), a circle of meaningful relationships, a place to live that the person can call his or her own, and a spiritual life that feels a reconnection with God. The recovering person can be experiencing personal brokenness and limitations, yet have valuable gifts to offer to the church community.
Peter Andres is a Regional Director for MCC Supportive Care Services, a non-profit charitable organization that supports people with disabilities, including people with mental health issues. He can be contacted at peter@mccscs.com.
June 26/2008
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Being bipolar is a nightmare, and to be forced to keep it secret only makes it worse. If the people knew, everything I did, every decision I made would be analyzed under a "bipolar" microscope. Most would lose trust in me, not knowing if I was in my "right" mind when I counseled them. I am to care for my parishioners, but I can't let them care for me.
The chemicals in my brain simply don't work right all of the time. For the most part it is controlled through medication and counseling, but the mere fact that it is there at all is what scares people.
I should "come out" and expose this disease for what it is; a controllable sickness, pure and simple; a cancer of the synapses. But I am a 51 year old man who is afraid to lose his job. Maybe sometime soon I will feel the call to step out and be honest. Maybe soon I'll feel like standing up and say, "I am bipolar", and let my past accomplishments show that it is possible to be productive while ill.
However, until that time comes, I am a coward, afraid to stand up for what I know is right.
For more about clergy suffering from mental illness, go to:
http://bipolarpastor.community.officelive.com/
Winston Smith - a United Methodist pastor in a small community in the Midwestern United States
bipolarpastor@yahoo.com
Diane Marshall,
Registered Marriage and Family Therapist,
The Institute of Family Living, Toronto
The truth about this illness is that it is the work of the devil, but I believe the Lord has a way of working it all out in the end if you just remember Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"
Everything in this life has a reason and a season. God insturcts us to hold on to his "unchanging hand" and he'll take care of the rest.
If you are a Christian - witness the good news to others - No you may never be healed, but you are saved and free indeed!
a Christian radio station and he would describe the symptoms
and I would say that is me or
sounds like me but I wrote him a letter and got a response but it wasn't until about five
years later when I couldn't go any more that I finally made an appointment to see him.
I have been going to that office ever since even though
he moved on. I am currently on four medications.
I didn't keep it a secret for long after I was diagnosed.
The truth about mental illness
needs to be told and people need to be educated about it.
Maybe the minister can have a study on different illnesses and have some studies on mental illness along with it
to give his congregation some much needed understanding.
I told my pastor that I had some books and that I could
check with my doctor's office
to find some good books on the
subject. I get upset when I
hear things people say to other people when they are sick with imbalances. It just makes that person feel worse.
This is one of the things that I feel so strong about because
I live with the illness and I know what it does and none of us need a big guilt trip put on top of the one we already have when we are not well.
Thank you for printing this story and keep on sharing it
so people will learn what mental illness is. They need to learn that the brain is a part of the body and can be
sick just like any other part.
Doris Irwin
Just thought I'd share.
Thank you.
Ilook forward to reading from you soon
Thanks
Jean
Having personally experienced some horrific consequences resulting from the actions of someone cited by the professional psychiatric community as being mentally ill. Hearing accounts of what occurred during a "manic episode" resulting in the death of a family member, as a Christian I can only describe the incident as demonic oppression. The mental health community has been unable to clearly understand what happened.
I do not condemn those suffering with mental illness, but for Christians to ignore the spiritual connections to mental illness seems to me a denial of outside spiritual realms, the power of sin in our lives, and the need for the ongoing renewing of our minds through Christ.
As human beings we are intricately entwined body, soul and spirit, and to create a disconnect between the three would be shortsighted. I once heard that many of those in mental hospitals are stuck in unforgiveness. Prolonged stress usually creates some form of dysfunction. The chemicals that run through your bodies due to anger are destructive if they continue for a long time. As our minds are renewed in Christ, there often will be an outward physical expression of change.
Because there is stigma and shame attached to the areas of brokenness in our lives, we want to stay hidden. And when we do seek help, to bring things into the light, we do not want to be a spectacle or to be viewed as abnormal. Nor do we want to be condemned, shouted at, preached at or told we just need to pray more. We desire to be set free with love.
The challenge for the church today is to create open, honest places where brokenness in all its forms can be safely expressed and spiritual direction provided in a supportive, non-condemning way, yet not minimizing the spiritual war that our enemy rages against us. We must realize as Christians that psychiatry and psychology, though helpful in becoming self aware, are not THE answer, but that a relationship with CHRIST is the solution. As we truly seek him, either he will lead us into truth and greater freedom, or he will give us the grace to stand in that place of now and the not yet.
Deliverance is a scary word. Movies and public exorcisms add to the stigma. But spiritual discernment and guidance is needed in the removal of strongholds and the places where the enemy has access to harass or influence us. I speak from personal experience where the Spirit has revealed specific access points, and once confessed and renounced have experienced relief.
The Holy Spirit can lovingly lead and guide us in this personally and with others. He desires and longs to do this. Christ has not promised freedom for us not to experience it. The process will be a lifetime, but he desires it for us nonetheless and will lead is in it.
I pray that this does not come across as condemning. I get mad at how Satan uses every dirty tactic to bring people into bondage. I submit this with the deepest respect and love for those struggling in this area. I pray that you would experience His profound grace and love in your journey.
Peter
For more information on our services, please visit our website: www.CommunitasCare.com
Peter can be reached through our email: office@CommunitasCare.com
I still have a Strong Faith in God. I know the Spiritual is active in my life but I'm at the point now in my life where I'm considering walking away from the established organized church.