should a christian be open about their addiction?

[alilsa]

Should a christian be open about their behaviour addiction? Instead of hiding cuts, should they tell others or cut in front of people? A lady at church said that christians shouldn't hide an addiction but be open about it. That's fine for people at church that smoke a cigarette in the parking lot, they smoke, people don't say much. But if I stood there and cut myself I don't think it would get the same reaction. I know that a sign of addiction is that people hide their addictions but I didn't say anything. A person who has bulemia generally don't do it in front of others either. But I guess the point was that Jesus came to set us free from our addictions and to pray for the people and not hide problems. Any opinons here?

 

[ChristInAction]

no, you shouldnt go cutting your self infrout of anyone.
when u beat it, yea, you can use it as a testermony to help other people but smoking is seen very differently to smoking & everyone wether or not their christian stand out side doing it.

 

[Bamboo_Chicken]

I'm not sure...I don't like the idea of hiding addictions (as you said, hiding adds that extra wall to get through before you can overcome it). Do those around you know you self-harm? Have the offered to try and help you beat it?

 

[rasis]

I think that you should be honest if you are ask if you do SI, yes.

On the way to overcome the addicition you will learn to stay to the things you did.
And perhaps there are some people you really trust and who could might help you?
If you like, go to these people and ask them for prayer.

 

[Bamboo_Chicken]

I think that you should be honest if you are ask if you do SI, yes.

On the way to overcome the addicition you will learn to stay to the things you did.
And perhaps there are some people you really trust and who could might help you?
If you like, go to these people and ask them for prayer.

I really like these suggestions .

 

[alilsa]

On the other hand, cutting in private, people sort of know you have a problem but can ignore it better than actually seeing you do it. Also, I heard that cutting in public could land someone in a mental hospital but I'm also guessing that if my friends actually saw me cut it would probably bother them and they would perhaps try to stop me. People don't really think ahead about cigarettes could cause cancer. But with cutting, its more scary since they won't know if it could kill me or not. Cutting has a whole different meaning if done when depressed.

 

[meetwithyouagain]

Maybe not hiding your addiction when dealing with cutting means to not hide your cuts or scars. For me that would mean wearing short sleeves, I guess. I'm not really ready for that, and it would take a whole lot of courage, but I kind of hope that I can become comfortable enough in my skin to be able to do that some day.

 

[rasis]

On the other hand, cutting in private, people sort of know you have a problem but can ignore it better than actually seeing you do it. Also, I heard that cutting in public could land someone in a mental hospital but I'm also guessing that if my friends actually saw me cut it would probably bother them and they would perhaps try to stop me. People don't really think ahead about cigarettes could cause cancer. But with cutting, its more scary since they won't know if it could kill me or not. Cutting has a whole different meaning if done when depressed.

Would you like that somebody comes to you and ask you what you are doing there? Where the sc*rs are from?
Look, that is the point where you have to decide what you want...
For people who are not concerned with SI by themselves it is pretty hard to understand, they cannot imagine of hurting themselves so it is easy to ignore it or believe "lies".
If you want to overcome SI i think it woulde be neccessary that YOU find the courage to ask for help.

In my opinion doing SI in front of them is the hardest way to show that you have got problems... (e.g. a friend of mine was just shocked when she saw my scars... and in comparison to what they have looked when they were fresh they are now pretty "nice" but my friend needed days to deal with it! if i imagine i had done SI in front of her... i could have taken her to the hospital...)
i think that it would be easier for the people and perhaps even you... to say what the matter is.. or perhaps write it in a letter than doing right then.
i am sorry, but i am not able to tell you if you land in a mental hospital if you do SI in the public because i do not know how the law is at your home country. But: what obvious is, is that you need professional help.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

I don't think this is something to be ashamed of, which can be taken a bit differently from being open about it.

And I think it is a symptom rather than a problem. There is somethign behind self-injury that must be adressed. Focusing just on the cutting, which is what seems to happen, isn't going to do anything but make things worse.

 

[berry2000]

I think honesty has a lot to be said for it. But with the right people at the right time. Just being open and honest with your struggle with everyone at church is well...a bad idea. I think it's when you're hiding it from everyone and can't even face it yourself. That's where the problem comes in. Cutting is a very misunderstood addiction. It is wise to be careful whom one tells. I always pray before i tell anyone. So that it may be well received and I will receive support and help instead of criticism, judgement, and misunderstood fears.

 

[redmingungit]

i'm a church meetings (services and prayer meetings) for several hours each week. i'm very ashamed of this but i cut myself many times at these long prayer meetings. sometimes i showed certain people because i hoped they would understand how much i was struggling and that they'd talk with me. after awhile, these people (church leaders, by the way) decided that i must be cutting just to manipulate them and get attention. they won't respond to me anymore when i cut and tell them or even when i tell them i'm struggling with depression or whatever else. people seemed so calm when i showed them. but i guess it is shocking and disturbing to people. i know now that it's not a good idea to show people. and i know they'd prefer i tell them before i cut/instead of cutting rather than telling them after i cut. i think it's good for us to be open with a few trusted people about our struggle so they can pray and keep us accountable. i think that's the best way to be honest about our addiction in a way that can help us grow and be considerate of other people.

 

[alilsa]

Sometimes I wonder if my cutting hurt people sorta like in church we are all members of 1 body and if 1 is hurting the others hurt too. I used to tell my pastor when I cut but I haven't told in a good while. I think it really bothers him sometimes when I cut. I had cut then told him afterwards. He started to tell me about what I had and I had a wonderful family and what I had to look forward to but then he got quiet and walked away, I think he went to his office and prayed. It bothered me for a long time since my pastor looked like he was about to cry and I had to admit it does hurt others. So, I guess sometimes its hard to counsel a cutter when they are your friend and you're afraid they could die.

 

[brokenwings27]

i think that you should be able to talk freely about it to at least one person, but i really wouldnt know, cuz i cant even sum up courage to tell a single soul, save what i say here... but thats just what i think
but i do think that SI is a whole different playing field away from smoking a cigarette in front of someone

 

[berry2000]

I totally agree with you broken wings. You need atleast one person. And this is nothing like smoking in front of someone.

 

[mariachigirl]

My two cents are the following: How are people with addictions supposed to get help if they can't be open about it to at least someone? Some christians would be frightenend about the whole concept of SI or any other addictions. (This is based on a conversation with my fiance regarding how his family would react to my SI history.) Why is this???

 

[spoiltbrat2003]

Should a christian be open about their behaviour addiction? Instead of hiding cuts, should they tell others or cut in front of people? A lady at church said that christians shouldn't hide an addiction but be open about it. That's fine for people at church that smoke a cigarette in the parking lot, they smoke, people don't say much. But if I stood there and cut myself I don't think it would get the same reaction. I know that a sign of addiction is that people hide their addictions but I didn't say anything. A person who has bulemia generally don't do it in front of others either. But I guess the point was that Jesus came to set us free from our addictions and to pray for the people and not hide problems. Any opinons here?

Well I don't really see why you shouldn't hide it, It's really none of their buisness they might just make it worse.
Most people don't get it, and when they try to they just frustrate you, whats between you and God is between you and God.
I regret telling a Christian but its tough now so I make the best of it,

Tell who you feel NEEDS to know

 

[ForAMomentIWillFly]

I've always hid everything. No matter how depressed, or how much I had self-injured, it always remained hidden...to everyone but me.

 

[zsepthenne]

Yes I think that at least one person should know. I think they should be more of an objective person, a therapist preferably. Most "normal" people are pretty horrified by SI, much less someone who loves you deeply. It's not understood, they think you're trying to kill yourself, and other stupid things. I got irritated and I tell no one but my therapist and well, you guys. I have to be careful though as part of my enjoyment of burning (all this talk of cigs hasn't helped!) is doing it in private, being alone, and having it as a secret. So when I burn my therapist has to know....

 

[Heldinhishands]

Hmm this is an interesting question. I think that definately as a Christian there is a place for honesty. I think it is really important if at all possible to find one or two other christians with whom you can be honest and accountable to. However, I would not advocate cutting in front of them as this will cause the other person a lot of pain too and could be potentially triggering to others.. SI is a very shocking thing and would be very traumatic for someone to watch. But honesty is still important as God gave us the gift of fellowship to help us fight the battle of life, and also its important to remember that no christian is perfect.. we are all just forgiven sinners and wherever possible we want to fight against that put-on-the-sunday-mask type attitute which often prevails in our churches.

 

[alilsa]

I go to a pentecostal church. It's not like I can totally hide something. The last 2 times I cut myself, the pastor preached on hell within a matter of days. I can't hide what I do from God and sometimes He tells others what to pray for me for. This new pastor though, I don't know since he don't have any training on mental health and may just call a shrink on me though shrinks don't help me. They used to tell me to talk to my pastor but my pastor is gone and this other pastor don't do much counselling. I told this new pastor something about i had cut myself at church before and he sounded shocked and started to say something but I cut him off and said it was some time back.