If you commit suicide do you go to heaven?

IisJustMe · Mar 17, 2008

Amen, Ariel. I also suffered from PTSD, from Vietnam. It led to my alcoholism and later my gambling addiction, the latter of which destroyed my life and sent me to prison. This is all in my profile for anyone who wants to read a short version of it. I met a Christian psychiatrist at the Kansas City VA who bluntly asked me why, as a new Christian, I was willing to let Jesus heal me of my sin but didn't trust Him to heal my affliction? That's a hard question to answer.

He told me the "Re-experiencing" therapy that is still, to this day, the primary method of treatment for PTSD, is hogwash. Now that I know, as a Christian psychologist myself, what that therapy is, I completely agree. His approach was to take me through the emotional results of my experiences, not through the experiences themselves, in order to bring me to a point I understood the emotions and could deal with them. In five months, the nightmares, cold sweats and auditory hallucinations (for years up to that point, I'd heard my combat controllers in my ear at the most absurd and unexpected moments) all came to a halt, and have never returned.

His name was Dr. Steven Brashear. He is one of the reasons I became a professional therapist. I owe him my life.

Ariel · Mar 17, 2008

Iis (((HUGS))) isn't our God so awesome to bring you out of that terrible affliction!

Most of my healing came by journaling. I needed to face the trauma, recognizing what happened and process it. It was difficult, but I came through it. I don't recall exactly when the nightmares and flashbacks stopped. I just know that they gradually faded out as I was able to get a handle on things.

I was in intense therapy for almost a year and a half, but even then continued to journal. It helped tremendously to tell myself whenever thoughts intruded, "Later, I'll write about that later." I gradually learned to control the thoughts this way.

My husband also bought me a horse. "Hippotherapy" was not in vogue then, but I did a lot of healing on the back of a horse.

One thing I'd like to tell anyone who goes through major depression or PTSD is that it will not last forever. Things change. Life changes. And the Lord is more than able to help us heal.

junegillam · Mar 17, 2008

Ariel said:
Thank you.

There was a time in my life when I wanted to die. I had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and major depression from a single horrific event in my life.

I remember getting angry at God. So much so that I went out in a lightning storm and screamed at God, "You could heal me in a moment, but you won't!" The lightning was all around me, I wanted God to strike me dead.

That moment God smiled on me. I was angry with Him, but He smiled on me. He told me that He would not take me out of my illness, but He would take me through it. That is exactly what happened.

No psychiatrist would give my husband any assurance that I would ever be well again. They told him that I had been completely fractured--my whole personality, everything, completely trashed. But today I am well. It took two years to get through the worst of it, and more years after that to put my life back together again. But I am well. I am not on any medications, I can laugh again, and more importantly, I can love my God, my husband and my children.

I give an account of that terrible time, and how I recovered from extreme PTSD here at this forum. The thread is called "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder--You Can Get Well."

I am giving the URL for anyone who suffers from major depression or PTSD:

http://christianforums.com/t6076696-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-you-can-get-well.html

thank you for the web link--i sent it on to someone who might benefit from it--not sure if you covered this already, but what if someone does not know what the traumatic events were, they were too young or repressed them?

thanks again!

Ariel · Mar 17, 2008

junegillam said:
thank you for the web link--i sent it on to someone who might benefit from it--not sure if you covered this already, but what if someone does not know what the traumatic events were, they were too young or repressed them?

thanks again!

There is no doubt in my mind that healing is helped along by knowing what happened. Also, I think that traumatic events in childhood are more intensely horrible because at the time the child only has a child's mind to grasp and process them.

For my own self, I found that when I began remembering childhood trauma--which I had to deal with as well at the time I was ill--it helped to encourage myself to pull out the memories as much as I could. I would purposely try to remember, and then go through the steps I outlined in my account, including allowing myself to be angry. The anger was actually a step toward healing--away from being a victim, to recognizing, with my adult mind, what had happened and how inexcusable it was. I eventually forgave, and gave it to God.

When you come to a point where you can remember what happened, but it no longer affects you emotionally, where you have forgiven and given it to the Lord--at that point you are well. The trauma no longer has a hold on you.

junegillam · Mar 17, 2008

thank you for this, too, ariel!

Ariel · Mar 17, 2008

You are so welcome, June.

Blade · Jun 1, 2009

Wow..and hi.. its been awhile for me since I posted. Is it really so hard for us to just ask the Father, Jesus this question? We have no clue, no idea we cant even begin to think of the love he has for us. And to think such a little thing can take us from him? This would have to go deeper into the value of a sin would it not? But yet sin is sin. Go and sin no more lest a worse thing come on you. LOL we have been around for such a tiny time yet we KNOW the answers huh.

Hell.. oh dear Lord should never ever be talked of lightly. John 3:16 is the answer and the reason you would not go to heaven. Believe in Jesus. Not one of us KNOWS the heart of a man/woman. Sin is just missing the mark. Yet what bothers me is so many of us KNOW the answer yet you seem to not be able to just ask the Father. He still talks.. my childern KNOW my voice.

JerryChristian · Jun 5, 2009

BlessedBeliever said:
I have been asking friends and family this question and also trying to do some research on it and get mixed answers.

I ask this because a friend of Mine whom I was very close with in high school committed suicide on Easter Sunday.. If you know of any answers to this please let me know and thanks!

The thing I would discourage is for anyone to place limits on God's grace. the Bible says that "where sin abounds, grace does much more abound." There is but one sin that is beyond what God's grace will pardon, and that is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" Now that does not automatically mean that your friend is saved. That only God can judge!
It is ok that you have to face these decisions, it can be a very valuable learning experience, which can make it a positive experience. The fact that you are concerned shows a great attitude of your heart.

If you commit suicide do you go to heaven?

IisJustMe

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junegillam

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