Medication = Unbelief?

[kcon]

Good evening all-

Through very difficult I have started sharing with my mother some of the difficulties I have been having. She does not know even as much as this community does from my postings.

As I have mentioned a few times I am seeing a Christian counselor about my problems and she (the counselor) encouraged me to see a psychiatrist. It was a struggle for me to take that step but finally after five months I decided to go. I have been taking medication now for about a month and a half and even though the thoughts are still occuring it is nowhere near the frequency as before so it is helping.

The problem?
Mom and I have been going back and forth on the issue of faith and me getting better. She feels that my having to take medication means I am "not proving God" and not totally relying on Him for my healing. I don't believe that. We will just don't see see eye to eye on this issue. She also does not believe in counseling too much either. Has anyone else had these same struggles?

I feel so alone in this. Your responses are much appreciated. Thanks and God Bless to all of you.

 

[gracealone]

HI KCon,
First off, I'm sure your mom loves you dearly and is giving you heartfelt advice with the proper motives. Having said that though, I want to tell you that over 26 years ago when I first started struggling with my anxiety disorders that my mom also had misgivings about psychological counseling and meds. She just wasn't informed about these disorders, and so she also was leary about such things. There is a huge misunderstanding about anxiety disorders and faith. I can turn on my radio and listen to wonderful well meaning Christians go on and on about Christians who take meds. for these disorders just not having enough faith. They aren't bad people they are uninformed people. It might be a great idea for Mom to go to the Docs. with you once and get the full scoop on what's going on in your brain that is causing this disorder. I get baffled as to why people think that the brain which is made of flesh and blood just like any other organ in the body should be immune to illness.
(My cat even has a type of OCD that makes her pull her fur out... and I'm fairly certain that it isn't due to her lack of faith.. she's on anti anxiety meds. too.)
People who have to take BP meds., Cholesterol meds., Diabetes meds. would never think that taking those meds. meant that they lacked faith. If Mom doesn't want to go with you to the Doc. then maybe reading a good book by a Christian Dr. like Dr. Archilbald Hart, might help her to realize that very often medications are necessary for those with OCD... along with exposure/response therapy they go along way to making our everyday lives much, much better than we were without them.
I know it's a lonely place to be in... but you have the wonderful opportunity of educating other Christians about these disorders and in doing so you will begin to create an atmosphere of understanding and compassion amongst Christians that has been sorely lacking in the past.
God Bless you.. hang in there and I'll be praying for you and your Mom too.

 

[seajoy]

I think it's sad that your mother can't see that God uses medication many times to heal the sick. It is highly judgemental on her part to cause you more angst than you need at this time. By the way...my zealous parents said the same to me, and much worse. It does seem like you have a good relationship with your mom...keep the doors open, just please do so under your terms. This is about you, not her.

Do not listen to the things she is saying about this. God will heal you in the way, and with the means He sees fit. All praise His wonderous touch!

seajoy

ps...sorry if I sounded kind of crabby on this. This subject is just a bit of a sore spot with me. Please forgive me.

 

[goldenviolet]

some churches teach this; some generations grew up with this, and some people's personal prespective make them believe faith is the anser for everything.

the truth is, there is different levels of faith. for one called to learn to manage with health issues, faith is much different than that of someone with health.

each of us is different. each person called into living a life of faith; is called into that faith that only the personal relationship with Christ determines.

i'm sorry your mom is pushing her ideas of faith upon you. sometimes our family can be a trial; even though we both serve the same Lord; we are all so imperfect.
when we clash with someone close, the best way to deal with it is just what you are doing. reach out for support and knowledge. the rest is faith that the Lord will heal this situation; or provide tools to manage through it. either way you'll just draw closer to HIM. ~ love dee

 

[goldenviolet]

p.s.

everything that was made was made by the Father and Creator. doctors and meds, cures or just resources to help us manage. if your focus is on HIM, He will put you on the right path. meds or no meds. * listen to your doctor, and have faith that the Lord is guiding His diagnosis.