Thank you for the question on mental illness, “Is it wrong to take medication for your mental illness as a Christian? Does this mean my faith is weak? Should I try to find natural remedies instead?“
Jesus said, “I come that you may have life and life more abundantly.” but many Christians ask themselves, “Why am I not experiencing this abundant and peace that he promised to his followers?”
There are Christians who believe that mental illness has to do with sin(s) in one’s life. Not all illnesses are a result of sin.
Here are some possible sources that may affect mental illness:
A. Consequences of parent’s physical illness or psychological disorder upon the child. The family environment in which a child was raised up with an overbearing parent or abusive parent.
B. Consequences of inherent DNA from a family member that may cause one to be more prone to a mental illness.
C. Consequences of participating in questionable or immoral activities that causes unresolved guilt.
D. Comparison or competing attitude that contributes to low self-esteem or insecurities.
E. Chemical imbalance within the person’s body especially of the brain.
F. Constant spiritual attack from demonic forces as spiritual or physical oppression.
The list above is not exhaustive but factors that one should consider in understanding the underlying cause(s) of one’s mental illness.
In my opinion, one has to reflect on the underlying cause(s) of one’s psychological or emotional imbalance. If the source whether primary or secondary is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, then one may need medication to restore the chemical balance. One can’t “snap out of it” by one’s own effort. Medication is needed to supplement the lack of certain chemicals in one’s brain in order to lift one from one’s mental illness as depression.
Once the underlying cause is understood, then the appropriate steps need to be taken to resolve the underlining causes. I highly recommend seeing one’s primary doctor for a physical exam and or a counselor to help understand and to verbalize one’s feelings and thoughts. This is even more so for those living in an abusive home or a family who has suffered a loss of a loved one.
Christians are to show compassion, not criticism to those who suffer from illnesses regardless whether it is physical or psychological. They need our support. The Christian community should be the most understanding for every believer suffers from the affect of personal sin, sin from others or an illness for the glory of God. In my opinion and I am not a medical doctor or a professional counselor, I believe medication is necessary and essential in treating mental illness that has resulted in a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Having said that, if there are underlying family or personal issues, one needs to honest look at the hurt and pain that one has come into one’s life. Burying the pain and hurt is not a solution. I know because I try doing that for decades. It is in coming face to face with one’s hurt and the inner silent grief so that one may move toward wholeness. The steps toward spiritual and physical wholeness is a process.
If I may, here are some thoughts in one’s recovery:
A. Reflecting on one’s life including childhood to find the cause.
B. Admitting to oneself that one has been hurt and in great pain by whom and how.
C. Admitting to oneself how one attempted to cover/hide that emotional hurt and pain. What defense mechanism that one used to protect oneself as denial, projection, self- destructive action, being perfect, being passive, being hostile to others. Writing in a journal of what happen is essential for that gives a person a perspective of that event(s).
D. If needed, confessing to God and to others one’s hurt and pain. There is a need to verbalize what has been buried in one’s own heart, soul, spirit, and mind. It is that squelching of one’s feelings that causes one’s anger to burn oneself up.
E. Confronting the person who caused the hurt and pain, if possible. One may be able to write a letter to that pers or confront that person who caused one’s emotional hurt and pain. That confrontation is to let that person know how deeply one has been hurt by his/her actions.
F. Granting forgiveness to that person who caused one’s hurt and pain. The forgiveness is to free oneself from the past and opens the door to the future. Without forgiveness, one is living in the past. It must be a genuine forgiveness, not an empty forgiveness.
G. Setting appropriate boundaries for one’s wholeness. If that person refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing, then the family ties may be limited or even terminated until one is emotionally healthy again.
It is critical in one’s recovery to focus not only in the past, but in the future. It is God’s will that we become more like Jesus Christ in our attitude and actions. Find a truly good friend whom you can share with and who may be able to help you walk through your struggles. This will not happen overnight. It has taken years to be one’s state and it may take some years to understand and move beyond one’s hurt and pain. Acceptance of that pain and granting forgiveness is the key.
Jesus suffered unjustly. He accepted the pain and even cried out, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?” It is a cry of pain that goes deeper than the physical pain, but to the spiritual pain that he felt. Surely Jesus knew why he was on the cross and why the Father turned his face from him. At the end, he forgave them that crucified him but that is with the acknowledgment of his pain.
Read and meditate on Psalm 23 and Psalm 139. Ask yourself, “How can God use this experience in my life to glory him and to help others?” and “What lessons am I learning from this struggle in my life?”
I hope that what I have written will provide some light in walking out of your valley. May I strongly suggest/recommend that one speaks to your primary doctor and a professional counselor about one’s situation.
Summary: If the brain is chemically imbalance, then one needs a prescription to enable the brain to become balance again so that one can have a correct perspective on the causes for one’s mental illness.
-Kingston