Has Schizophrenia affected anyone else's ability to go to church?

[Burks_Patrick]

Hi, my name is Patrick Burks and I have schizophrenia. I developed it about 10 years ago. Up till then I was going to church quite regularly, but slowly and surely it crept up on me. I started to look at everyone else in the congregation and thinking how they wasn't living right and getting delusions that everyone was out to get me in and outside of church. I still don't go to church much because I have to battle these delusions almost everyday. I do have my Pastor as a Friend on Facebook and I send him messages from time to time asking for prayer or asking his advice on something. I just feel so guilty of not attending church like I should. I am going to school online so that is a plus for me. I just wish I could attend a physical class. I might try that during the fall semester. Don't get me wrong I am stable and on medication. I do recognize that the delusions are just that, delusions. I do wish that I could enroll in a Bible College, but I have to take classes at my local Community College. I chose History as my major, but really I would like it to be Biblical Studies or Biblical Archaeology. Has anyone else been affected by one's mental illness on church attendance?

 

[Neogaia777]

Hi, my name is Patrick Burks and I have schizophrenia. I developed it about 10 years ago. Up till then I was going to church quite regularly, but slowly and surely it crept up on me. I started to look at everyone else in the congregation and thinking how they wasn't living right and getting delusions that everyone was out to get me in and outside of church. I still don't go to church much because I have to battle these delusions almost everyday. I do have my Pastor as a Friend on Facebook and I send him messages from time to time asking for prayer or asking his advice on something. I just feel so guilty of not attending church like I should. I am going to school online so that is a plus for me. I just wish I could attend a physical class. I might try that during the fall semester. Don't get me wrong I am stable and on medication. I do recognize that the delusions are just that, delusions. I do wish that I could enroll in a Bible College, but I have to take classes at my local Community College. I chose History as my major, but really I would like it to be Biblical Studies or Biblical Archaeology. Has anyone else been affected by one's mental illness on church attendance?

Yes...

 

[Jeshu]

Hi, my name is Patrick Burks and I have schizophrenia. I developed it about 10 years ago. Up till then I was going to church quite regularly, but slowly and surely it crept up on me. I started to look at everyone else in the congregation and thinking how they wasn't living right and getting delusions that everyone was out to get me in and outside of church. I still don't go to church much because I have to battle these delusions almost everyday. I do have my Pastor as a Friend on Facebook and I send him messages from time to time asking for prayer or asking his advice on something. I just feel so guilty of not attending church like I should. I am going to school online so that is a plus for me. I just wish I could attend a physical class. I might try that during the fall semester. Don't get me wrong I am stable and on medication. I do recognize that the delusions are just that, delusions. I do wish that I could enroll in a Bible College, but I have to take classes at my local Community College. I chose History as my major, but really I would like it to be Biblical Studies or Biblical Archaeology. Has anyone else been affected by one's mental illness on church attendance?

Yes i got the same problem but i don't feel guilty any more for God doesn't look at Church attendance as a saving aspect but the attending of the worship services is a building up aspect of our faith. When Church doesn't cater for those who have mental illness and refuse to make the worship place safe for those who cannot attend as is, then why should we feel guilty about that?

i have asked the Church leaders many times why they don't do the Church services the Biblical way so that i would be able to attend again, they listened politely but never answered me back for they know that the New Testament Churches operated very differently than they do now and Paul in particular gives very clear instruction on how such ought to be done.

so instead of shame and guilt which i felt at first, now i struggle not to be angry and bitter with my brothers and sisters for disobeying God's word when it comes to worshiping Him publicly and for not caring about or catering for the mentally ill. Even visits to the sick non existent. So few people who love their neighbour in real life it is almost a crying shame.

Be of good courage and please let your faith in Jesus bring you what you need to survive the battles of daily life. i know Schizophrenia is a terrible illness i got it myself as well. Maybe seek out loving individual believers to worship with, that is what i try to do. Just in our homes like the early Church did as well. Homes are much safer places to worship than Church buildings that is for sure.

Peace.

 

[cloudyday2]

Hi, @Burks_Patrick
Can you explain what it is about church that causes you a problem as opposed to other group activities such as college?

 

[DavidFirth]

This is a problem i hear more about lately. The church needs to minister to all people. These types of problems need to be addressed so that Christians get the church fellowship they need. Praying for solutions.

 

[anx66]

I often have problems going to Church, mainly because of my residual symptoms of Schizo-effective disorder. I think 5 weeks in a row is about the maximum amount of times I have been able to attend church over the past 20 odd years. At the moment I'm in between churches.

 

[Southernscotty]

Welcome Burks. How about Christian Leaders Institute. It is a completely free online bible collage. I am praying for your situation and have lately been discussing with others about doing a skype type of church/bible study with the many here who face these and other issues. We could all study as a group online :] If interested just PM me. Bless you.

 

[redblue22]

Why is church attendance a problem?

 

[SnowTiger]

My antipsychotic medication makes me really drowsy so I don't wake up until 1pm. Because I wake up so late I usually don't go to church. I want to go though so I will try to wake up earlier if I can.

 

[anx66]

Church attendance for me is a problem because I believe people can hear what I'm thinking.

 

[Neogaia777]

Church attendance for me is a problem because I believe people can hear what I'm thinking.

That is part of the disorder that I sometimes have problems with as well, not only just in church though, but, with anything that could be considered a medium...

God Bless!

 

[Amy Cortright]

Hi, my name is Patrick Burks and I have schizophrenia. I developed it about 10 years ago. Up till then I was going to church quite regularly, but slowly and surely it crept up on me. I started to look at everyone else in the congregation and thinking how they wasn't living right and getting delusions that everyone was out to get me in and outside of church. I still don't go to church much because I have to battle these delusions almost everyday. I do have my Pastor as a Friend on Facebook and I send him messages from time to time asking for prayer or asking his advice on something. I just feel so guilty of not attending church like I should. I am going to school online so that is a plus for me. I just wish I could attend a physical class. I might try that during the fall semester. Don't get me wrong I am stable and on medication. I do recognize that the delusions are just that, delusions. I do wish that I could enroll in a Bible College, but I have to take classes at my local Community College. I chose History as my major, but really I would like it to be Biblical Studies or Biblical Archaeology. Has anyone else been affected by one's mental illness on church attendance?

Hi Patrick I am able to go to church regularly yet often times over the years sense my unset I went to church and had to leave church early or just go right away and leave, i would at those times go pay my tithes and leave because the voices where so bad, i meant to stay longer but at least in that fashion I was able to donate I guess. I would attend regularly , but many times I would go and voices would be so bad and emotional symptoms that I would feel different things and it was to hard to for to remain at church, doing those times i always worried about how i looked to other people just to show up and leave so suddenly, at times i would talk to a few members at church than rush out at a point and say i could not take it anymore I had to I was not feeling well. I pray that your situation improves.

Amy

 

[Neogaia777]

Are any of you...? Do you have any of these kinds of problems as well, maybe...?

https://www.christianforums.com/thr...aters-yay-or-nay.8058473/page-4#post-72530243

God Bless!

 

[Amy Cortright]

Are any of you...? Do you have any of these kinds of problems as well, maybe...?

Christians going to movie theaters: yay or nay?

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

Are any of you...? Do you have any of these kinds of problems as well, maybe...?

Christians going to movie theaters: yay or nay?

God Bless!

How they say they want you to "find yourself" in the story...? I do that a lot, most of the time unwillingly and against my will... I've been the good guy(s) and, AND, (this is where it can get scary) I've been the bad guy(s) or the villain... I've found myself on both sides of the fence, young and old, even the dog, and animals, and even inanimate non-living things even, that are like and "entity" in themselves...

It can get very "crazy" to say the least, and I wonder if that is part of life for a scitzophrenic... I think it's all a lie or lies now, I don't think I am any of them, not really, yet I may be all of them, IDK...? All of them, yet none of them, by being all of them...

"In their thoughts, either being accused, or otherwise excused" (Romans 2:15)...

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

Lord, help me with my scitzophrenic mind...

With all this searching, projecting, relating, associating, identifying, in and with things I probably shouldn't...

I'm not intending to do it, I'm not doing it on purpose, it just "happens"...

I really hope this is not pride or ego... I don't feel like it is, I really don't think it is...

If they want to speak to me, then tell them to do it without any mediums, unless they're too much (of a) cowards...

Help with the fear involved, help me to not do it...

I struggle, i fight, to pull myself back, and get in my own mind again...

I really don't think I can or am going to find myself out there, in those things...

Help me Lord, and those like me, In your holy name I pray...

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

Lord, help me with my scitzophrenic mind...

With all this searching, projecting, relating, associating, identifying, in and with things I probably shouldn't...

I'm not intending to do it, I'm not doing it on purpose, it just "happens"...

I really hope this is not pride or ego... I don't feel like it is, I really don't think it is...

If they want to speak to me, then tell them to do it without any mediums, unless they're too much (of a) cowards...

Help with the fear involved, help me to not do it...

I struggle, i fight, to pull myself back, and get in my own mind again...

I really don't think I can or am going to find myself out there, in those things...

Help me Lord, and those like me, In your holy name I pray...

God Bless!

I will shift perspectives in stories, it's all very confusing... Can't seem to help it... What do I do (about it)...?

I will be one person or identify with one person, or thing, one minute, then the next minute, shift to another (thing, person, place, or thing)...

Then, shift again...

I'm so relieved in those moments when I'm not doing it, moments of normalcy, why can't it be that way all the time...?

Part of my problem is I don't know if It's God or the Holy Spirit doing it or trying to talk to or communicate to me in this manner, or the enemy, Satan, the Devil...

Whether it is lies or truth... I think it is the enemy doing this and trying to speak with me in this way, but, I'm just not entirely sure, and I don't want to fighting/rejecting, or calling the Holy Spirit a liar, or evil...

What do I do...?

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

The reason I include the lyrics, is for 3:45 to 3:54...?

Is that really true about a lot of us...?

I hope not, but am questioning it, cause, if it is then it would be a pride/ego issue...?

Have to think about that...?

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

The reason I include the lyrics, is for 3:45 to 3:54...?

Is that really true about a lot of us...?

I hope not, but am questioning it, cause, if it is then it would be a pride/ego issue...?

Have to think about that...?

God Bless!

At least I'm brave enough to consider it...

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

At least I'm brave enough to consider it...

God Bless!

If it is true, then how do I stop it...? I can't seem to control it...?

God Bless!