Psychology useful or not?

[He giveth more grace]

Thanks for your reply, Grandma. avid reader.

[He giveth more grace]

I suppose that I did hurt my reputation, if that means anything.

What I am going through doesn't involve just me, but other family member that are mad at me.

[missmuffet]

As a Christian, I go to my pastor. I would not go near any secular counsellor or psychologist for any advice. As well meaning as it may be, it is still worldly advice...and not what my Father in Heaven has in mind for me. A pastor (hopefully in most cases) speaks with wisdom, and is often a channel God works through to speak to those who love Him.

Psychology, in my experience, is a joke. And I have had my experiences with them...both as friends, and as an advocate for a patient. Most of their theory goes completely against Biblical advice.

Thanks for your input BFP.

When I was diagnosed as having clinical depression, I was sent to a psychologist One of the questions she asked me was I thinking about taking my own life. When I told her no that it was against my beliefs. She asked me to talk about my faith. Over time I realized that God would help me through this. She helped me understand that I didn't have a mental disease, but a chemical imbalance in my brain. That I could understand and when I get feeling depressed, I talk to God and he helps me deal with it and lifts me up. I do take meds for the depression. They help me get a grip and think clearly. I think it depends on who you see if your experience is beneficial or not, just as with a medical doctor.

Yes,having a mental illness is like having diabetes.Only with mental illness their is an chemical imbalance of the brain.

[BFP]

I found alot of help for mental illness in the alternative medicine field. Found out that some of it had to do with my thyroid (the panic attacks and large scale anxiety) Chemical imbalances can often be cured with proper eating and suppliments. Vitamin D is a big one for me. And quite often our bodies also harbour parasites that throw off all systems and give all kinds of symptoms. Psychiatrists offer bandaids in the form of pills that really fix nothing but either numb you completely or alter your mind. I've tried a few of those in my lifetime as well. Today I can say I am anxiety free after many many years of looking for answers. I didnt find any answers through my family doctor or any counsellor. Through prayer...MUCH desperate prayer, I might add...the Lord led me to some very helpful sources. Trust him above all...the answers are never the same for everyone...but HE does want the best for you.

"Sometimes when God isn't changing your circumstances it is because He is trying to change your Heart

[JTC]

Depression is a difficult problem to treat. Any mental illness is hard to treat, but depression can be harder because there are so many kinds. You have what we might call, "the blues", and then we have suicidal depression, or depression that isn't suicidal, but still so severe the person doesn't go out. That usually makes it worse.

Sometimes it's a chemical imbalance. Or maybe I should say it's always a chemical imbalance, but it's not always an imbalance we can correct with meds. Then there's a theory I have. I've been out of school some 40 years so I don't know what a modern day psychiatrist would say to this. We are almost 100% sure certain chemical imbalances lead to depression. But suppose a person, or a child, wasn't depressed, but then that person, or child's, situation changed. This change in the environment caused the person to feel sad. Suppose it's a situation that can't be changed back. Such as the loss of a loved one. Can this change in the person's life, over time, cause a chemical imbalance? I don't know, but I think yes. If so, at that point a medication may be able to help. But med's can't always help, which is why I still advocate talk therapy. But the patient and the therapist must fit together just right. Therapy is called a relationship, because it is. It's a therapeutic relationship. I've had a few who helped me, but many more who didn't. But I'm an example of my theory. I lost someone when I was a child. I wasn't sad before that. I was fine. But the situation couldn't be fixed, and over the years I probably developed a chemical imbalance. But it's not a typical one, and the usual antidepressant drugs don't work on me.

I know a lot about this because I suffer from depression, but I also know a lot about how it's treated. I don't know if depression is what spurred this thread? I'm just trying to help as I always do. I have found one way we can help ourselves is by offering help to others.

[missmuffet]

Depression is a difficult problem to treat. Any mental illness is hard to treat, but depression can be harder because there are so many kinds. You have what we might call, "the blues", and then we have suicidal depression, or depression that isn't suicidal, but still so severe the person doesn't go out. That usually makes it worse.

Sometimes it's a chemical imbalance. Or maybe I should say it's always a chemical imbalance, but it's not always an imbalance we can correct with meds. Then there's a theory I have. I've been out of school some 40 years so I don't know what a modern day psychiatrist would say to this. We are almost 100% sure certain chemical imbalances lead to depression. But suppose a person, or a child, wasn't depressed, but then that person, or child's, situation changed. This change in the environment caused the person to feel sad. Suppose it's a situation that can't be changed back. Such as the loss of a loved one. Can this change in the person's life, over time, cause a chemical imbalance? I don't know, but I think yes. If so, at that point a medication may be able to help. But med's can't always help, which is why I still advocate talk therapy. But the patient and the therapist must fit together just right. Therapy is called a relationship, because it is. It's a therapeutic relationship. I've had a few who helped me, but many more who didn't. But I'm an example of my theory. I lost someone when I was a child. I wasn't sad before that. I was fine. But the situation couldn't be fixed, and over the years I probably developed a chemical imbalance. But it's not a typical one, and the usual antidepressant drugs don't work on me.

I know a lot about this because I suffer from depression, but I also know a lot about how it's treated. I don't know if depression is what spurred this thread? I'm just trying to help as I always do. I have found one way we can help ourselves is by offering help to others.

Their are several things that can cause a chemical imbalance in the brain.One of those is a virus.If you have a good therapist they should be able to distinquish where the problem lies.No one should ever put a person on a medication if they do not need it.It only complicates the situation.

[missmuffet]

I found alot of help for mental illness in the alternative medicine field. Found out that some of it had to do with my thyroid (the panic attacks and large scale anxiety) Chemical imbalances can often be cured with proper eating and suppliments. Vitamin D is a big one for me. And quite often our bodies also harbour parasites that throw off all systems and give all kinds of symptoms. Psychiatrists offer bandaids in the form of pills that really fix nothing but either numb you completely or alter your mind. I've tried a few of those in my lifetime as well. Today I can say I am anxiety free after many many years of looking for answers. I didnt find any answers through my family doctor or any counsellor. Through prayer...MUCH desperate prayer, I might add...the Lord led me to some very helpful sources. Trust him above all...the answers are never the same for everyone...but HE does want the best for you.

"Sometimes when God isn't changing your circumstances it is because He is trying to change your Heart

Alternative choices are helpful in some cases.I am always willing to take an alternative route if it is safe.I would never turn to alternative choices if my issues were regarding my thryoid or diabetes.You might end up dead .Also it depends on the mental illness.If someone has a serious psychotic issue it is dangerous to turn to alternative measures.We see these cases in the news everyday and the outcome is very sad.

[ncn]

There is a stigma in the world about acknowledging you have gone, or thinking about going to a Psychiatrist

I suppose that I did hurt my reputation, if that means anything.

What I am going through doesn't involve just me, but other family member that are mad at me.

Brother in Christ I've read the whole thread and the words above stand out to me.

Firstly let me say I don't believe you have hurt your reputation!

In fact, I think you have gained more respect than you can imagine.

If you feel you have not take it to the lord in prayer.

We are in the year 2013 and yet mental health issues universally still seem to be an issue for so many.

If I show someone a broken limb I have their immediate attention and compassion.

However, having said that , if I try to show them a broken mind, for want of a better phrase ;

or something I am struggling with in my mind , they cannot understand it.

Of course in a perfect world we would all be perfect , yet as Christians we know that is not the case.

In my opinion any mental health problems need attention from a professional;

if one can find a professional that is also a Christian then hopefully we have the best combination.

Sadly, it's not always possible and we have to rely on a non Christian.

At the same time if a non Christian doctor can help heal my broken limb;

is it not also true that a non Christian doctor can help me with my mental health problems

I don't have the answer, I have suffered from depression;

I have been in places where I would not wish anyone else to tread.

Re- reading what I have posted I realise that perhaps I have contributed very little to this thread.

So to close I will leave you with this; it comes from my testimony.

A personal, very personal thing that is close to my heart because it happened to me.

"In all the years that I past wandering; ( Thirty years on the road) I never felt I was alone,

I always knew that God was there by my side.

Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel was dim for my eyes, but it was there for me.

Focusing on His light kept me going.

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Many years ago I stood on the hill top of Fiesole overlooking Firenze (Florence) I had carried around or rather dragged around with me wads of paper where I had etched, written and recorded things that I had seen and done.

In a fit of anger at all the beauty that I saw before me; something that I could not even copy; I started a fire and burnt them.

Needless to say the local farmer whose olive grove I also nearly burnt down was not happy.

Days later in my pocket I found a small piece of brown paper, greasy and crumpled, (Probably torn off from a bag in a bread shop)

A verse of the bible that I had written down and carried around with me for years .

Today, I no longer have that scrap of paper but the words written on them I will never forget, they can be found in the bible.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

God's hand has an enormous role to play in our lives and we should always seek Him out.

One thing I have come to know is this; He works in mysterious ways and place people on our path at times when we need them.

It's up to us to accept their help when offered with discernment.

God bless you my brother from across the pond.

[gdemoss]

So God can use a donkey but not a psychologist? Hmm. Just thinking out loud here.

[cookiebear]

Personally I would not go. I belive that most of the counsel from them is worldly and not biblical.

Counsel for a Christian should come from their pastor or other Christians of like faith.