Is it even my place?

[Odetta]

There are often threads in Christian Advice and other forums from someone who apparently has been diagnosed with a mental illness requiring medication, but has been convinced there is nothing wrong with them. All the responses tend to be of the "all you need is God" variety.

I am firmly in the camp that mental illness is just as valid an illness as a physical one and deserving of treatment. Of course, with any illness one should seek God through pray and devotion. But one also pursues help from medical professionals because God gives them knowledge.

Having suffered for many more years than I should have because I thought I was just not spiritual enough (and it almost destroyed me if you know what I mean), it bothers me when people seem to be on that same thought pattern I was on.

So I can't decide if I should respond or not in these situations. I do not like conflict. What do you do in situations like this? Maybe you don't have the same outlook as I do.

 

[sahjimira]

I know what you mean. It bothers me too. What I do in situations like that is give my testimony if you will about my personal experience. I keep the focus on me so they don't feel attacked. Nobody knows better than ourselves who have been thru it. I do not like confrontation or conflict and this usually avoids both and hopefully helps the person.
It's nice to hear from you!

 

[Mikhaela]

I remember coming to face with folks thinking taking medicine was not trusting enough in God too. I got into a lot of trouble over believing that. I need my medication. I don't think people understand because they are not bi-polar. As for what to do when facing those types of people? I just be quiet and know what I believe and it is the same as yourself,that mental health issues need to be treated like physical ones. With appropriate medication and of course God centered in ones life.

 

[quietpraiyze]

I speak up about being a Christian who is mentally ill and taking medication under a doctor's care because I don't want another Christian to suffer like I did. So I think if you're coming across those kinds of threads/post that maybe you're supposed to say something. That's why you're seeing it. I do understand what you mean by conflict but you don't have to be involved in that. You don't have to engage. You can post standing in the truth of who God is in your life and what He's done for you. You can also utilize the PM function and share what you have to say to the person privately.

I think because of the stigma of both mental illness and medical treatment by some Christians, if you as a fellow Christian know that God used medication to put your health back on track that you should share that. When I think back, it would have meant a lot to me had another Christian shared something like that with me. I wouldn't have felt so alone or been so tormented as a Christian. So I think it's important to share as you feel comfortable. I would say just make sure everything is going okay on your end.

 

[BookofMatt]

There are often threads in Christian Advice and other forums from someone who apparently has been diagnosed with a mental illness requiring medication, but has been convinced there is nothing wrong with them. All the responses tend to be of the "all you need is God" variety.

I am firmly in the camp that mental illness is just as valid an illness as a physical one and deserving of treatment. Of course, with any illness one should seek God through pray and devotion. But one also pursues help from medical professionals because God gives them knowledge.

Having suffered for many more years than I should have because I thought I was just not spiritual enough (and it almost destroyed me if you know what I mean), it bothers me when people seem to be on that same thought pattern I was on.

So I can't decide if I should respond or not in these situations. I do not like conflict. What do you do in situations like this? Maybe you don't have the same outlook as I do.

I'm in the same exact boat; I was dealing with mental illness long before I converted to Christianity, and though that amazingly aided me both emotionally and spiritually and remarkably alleviated my conditions, the medicinal and therapeutic elements were just as important. There's no question that mental illness is a physical, chemical sickness to be treated no differently than any other illness...to say otherwise is just misguided and naive pseudoscience. Saying "all you need is God" in relation to mental illness is barely any different than the medieval doctors who believed we needed to drill holes in the skulls of insane people to "let the demons out".

If you want to speak up, then by all means, do so. You can avoid conflict by simply being cordial. Open up a discussion rather than just trying to point out why they're wrong. Most of the time these are people who've had no real experience with mentally ill people and are just going on hearsay; having a civil face-to-face is more likely to help change their minds than an argument.

 

[Goodbook]

Well I think that as this is a christian forum people may be seeking spiritual help as they already on meds and it hadn't worked or in addition, I don't think anyones saying don't take your medicine. Because some meds you can't come of easily.

Also there are people who've overcome and through prayer and been healed and actually don't need to take meds anymore and I think that's encouraging and you shouldn't knock that. If someone's healed they are healed. How would you like it if you got healed of something and nobody believed you and kept trying to tell you to take your medicine that you don't actually need to take anymore. And the doctors have agreed too.

So I would say use your discernment. A great many people are seeking help from Jesus and thats what we want to encourage. Also many of us posting here are not doctors so we actually can't diagnose people or label them but we can suggest they can see a doctor if they have obvious symptoms.

 

[Goodbook]

If it concerns you that much maybe just say you actually know a good doctor and recommend them, or a website that offers medical support for people with that problem.