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stateofgrace -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (3/12/2006 8:19:49 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: womaninchrist

As to whether psychology is compatible with Christianity, I'd suggest those interested in the finer details of that issue visit the theology folders. There are several thread there (often with titles about "psychobabble") that discuss it much more coherently than I can. But I do know that the two don't fit well together. If they did, why have pdocs tried to medicate me into oblivion for religious visions - that others saw (if others saw it, it's not supposed to be ruled psychosis) or that proved to be true (like the many times I've explained things very accurately - that I never should have known) and why have psychiatrists and counselors both used my firm grasp of Christianity as a basis to diagnose me with mental disorders (one even used my Christianity as proof that I had borderline personality disorder)? Why do we want to adopt something that's declared war on Christianity? The medical stuff I have no problem with (though I think parts of it aren't as bad as we make them out to be), the counseling however...


While I know nothing about your situation, I do have a firend who went into postpartum psychosis complete with believing she was hearing from God. God would never have told her the things she was attributing to him. So, it does happen. Sometimes the pdocs are right in their accessment. There have been some very sad cases in the news of women killing their children in a belief that they were hearing from God.

And I'm pretty sure you understand that there is a difference between a psychologist (counselor) and a psychiatrist (MD, who might do some counseling but most dont' these days).

There are so many Christians in my area (including in the mental health profession) that if a mental health professional here had an anti-religious perspective, they would likely have a more limited client base. I haven't personally run into any that have been anti-Christian. Likely they do exist.



stateofgrace -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (3/12/2006 8:26:50 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Giulia

I know Scott Peck has something to do with mental health and by reading his material I am able to conclude he is better than any mental health spastics I have ever met, or know about.

His books helped me in a time of darkness, especially the People of the lie. It speaks of infiltration of the lie on the mass collective mind as well as believing the lie on a personal level and the deception of self.


LOL, I don't think I've run into any mental health spastics. What should I be on the lookout for to determine if someone is one?

I will give Peck credit here. People of the Lie came out at a time when in secular culture many people denied evil even existed, or so much put it in a box that they denied the power of it. Peck's previous book, The Road Less Traveled, was more feel-good then anything else. There are likely people who first through serisouly about evil through reading POTL, and it might have led them ultimately to Christ.

quote:


About your commentary on Christian Majik, do you know they told Jesus He had demons too!!!


Did Jesus ever claim there was power in a ritual in and of itself?



abcd123 -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (3/16/2006 1:34:14 AM)

helpful website
http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/
read especially about serotonin and other neurotransmitters being a part of most depressions, not just a cause. makers of medicines that are directly related to serotonin and other neurotrasmitters would like the public to believe that it's as simple as your brain chemicals "being off" but thats rarely the case - it's hardly ever as simple as that.

for anyone whos had trouble with antidepressants or whose medication has made the problem worse or created other more serious problems, check this out. also for other medical conditions. http://www.crossroadsinstitute.org/ website not the best organized, and this type of treatment is not the usual for western medicine, but IT WORKS!
other homeopathic drs who are well educated should also be helpful. this particular clinic also specializes in brain mapping and more "brain-oriented" training in addition to homeopathic supplements, etc.

i'll read more later.



womaninchrist -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (3/24/2006 12:24:19 AM)

Anti-Christian psychiatrists & counselors do exist (and they control a major research center). Anti-Christian counseling methods do exist - I'd strongly advise anyone who's not willing to practice Buddhism to avoid DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and to particularly avoid any DBT providers who adhere strongly to the methods advanced by Marsha Linehan. These are just somethings I've learned by personal experience.

Thing is, some medical things are a hard science. For example, sticking with bipolar since that's what I know from personal experience, there are things that aren't debatable. Like how a bipolar will have manic moods that involve a marked decrease in sleep typically accompanied by things like changes in appetite, anxiety, irritability, impulsivity, distractability, and "goal seeking behavior" (along with a few other possible signs of mania). Or how a bipolar who's in a depressive episode will have sleep changes, changes in energy level, and often other clear signs like physical pains, unreasonable guilt, irritability and crying spells. But psychosis IS to a good extent debatable. Medical science so far hasn't been able to firmly establish that we're not hearing/seeing spirits or what those spirits might be - they simply insist that because they can't prove we ARE seeing or hearing spirits we must be experiencing some form of psychosis even when signs are present that should rule out psychosis. I'm not saying that no one who's been ruled psychosis has ever honestly had psychosis, just that it's a point that needs more consideration than the medical community likes to give it. For sure there have been people who were clearly out of touch with the earthly plane of reality and who probably (almost certainly) were not conversing with what they'd swear they'd been.

Then there are diagnoses that are much more vague and often diagnosed by therapists, counselors or psychologists and then confirmed by someone who's either a doctor of psychology or a psychiatrist. Like the personality disorders. Try looking up the criteria for borderline personality sometime. If you REALLY want to stick somone with that diagnosis, it's not that difficult to justify it even if it's flatly wrong. Like the pdoc who used my firm belief in Christianity as proof for one of the criteria and who went on to use a very logical set of reasons why I had no idea what I'd do for employment if I were to go to work the day after my appointment with him as justification for saying that I met the criteria of "identity disturbance". I'd recommend also being very wary of these types of diagnoses.



Giulia -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/2/2006 12:51:51 PM)

quote:

Why do we want to adopt something that's declared war on Christianity?

Secular doctors do this often when they disregard your faith, also when they use synthetic remedies for conditions that can best be dealt with in more natural ways.
quote:

Did Jesus ever claim there was power in a ritual in and of itself?

did I ever claim this? What rituals have I at any time endorsed,if in fact you are implying this, if not , what are you saying here?

Jesus taught with words, He used both old and new words, in fact he is the Living Word. He taught from the written and spoken word.

quote:

Blogs: CrossCommentary - 03/30: The Rambo Jesus I Never Knew (isn't in the bible, either)


Sounds pretty Ramboish when Jesus goes into the temple, makes a whip and starts throwing tables around and rebuking people for selling stuff in His Fathers house. I'm sure there were other events we havent heard about that would make rambo look like a boyscout![:)]



Trinity_3persons -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/3/2006 5:43:33 PM)

What exactly is Borderline Personality Disorder?



Trinity_3persons -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/3/2006 6:33:05 PM)

I am bipolar, deal with some depression, panic attacks (I think), and I'm not sure but I think I also have OCD. I know that I have major mood swings. I see a psychiatrist, psychologist, and I take medications. I've been hospitalized before. I signed myself in. I hope and pray that I will never need to be hospitalized again. Anyway, I um... have a job and I was going to college last semester but I haven't gone back because I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do. I have such strong feelings. I know that I don't "feel" good right now and I'm trying to deal with it. There are times at work when I "feel" so overwhelmed and I am so tempted just to leave. I've never left like that, but there are times when it gets that way and I don't want it to. I don't want to feel like that.

~Niki



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/3/2006 6:48:29 PM)

I was reading through some of this, and as a person with clinical depression myself, I wanted to make a comment about something I found a little odd:

quote:

There is still nothing about ego in the Bible.


Did you know that a LOT of things aren't mentioned in the Bible? And most of the things that are not there are the ones Christians disagree about the most and find no resolution to, except in personal belief. Just because it's not there doesn't mean it isn't real. I think that's why God gives us the knowledge and understanding to investigate things scientifically (or through whatever other method).



womaninchrist -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/3/2006 8:07:04 PM)

Borderline personality is to a large extent a pattern of instability, over reactions, interpersonal manipulation, and self harm or suicide attempts (or threats to do one or the other). But there's a bit more to it, I'd suggest you google it, because there are a lot of good sites that'll explain it better than I just did. The thing about borderline personality is that a LOT of people (especially people with mental illness) have one or 2 criteria without having the disorder and the way the criteria are written (and the way many psychiatrists will ask about them) is very leading and vague - it's really hard to disprove the idea once someone's trying to stick you with the diagnosis (like how many people honestly knew from the age of 3 what they wanted to grow up to be and never changed their goal?)...

However, there's a large number of psychiatrists who'll decide you've got borderline personality if they can't figure out a clear cut diagnosis or they've got a diagnosis and the meds aren't working right (and they'll do this despite what symptoms you really have). As I said in my PP, I've run into a few psychiatrists who REALLY twisted things (to the extent of rewriting my personal history and using my religion to meet the diagnostic criteria) in order to have reason to diagnose borderline personality... As things stand, I've had to stick with a rather quacky mental health provider just so they could observe me long enough to properly document that the psychiatrist who'd diagnosed me with BPD was wrong.



Malachi -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/3/2006 8:45:42 PM)

I am a multiple with a large number of selves of different orientations and religious beliefs. I was born this way, and a large majority of my selves are asexual atheists. Some are hetero Christians, and others are gay Christians. I am a male-body multiple, and some of my female selves are interested in girls, or lesbian in Singlet terms. Please do not start with how I must have been HORRIBLY ABUSED because by God I wasn't. My selves also do not appreciate being told that they are parts of a person, even if it's true. We see ourselves as people.



Leon_Figg3 -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/3/2006 11:02:01 PM)

I am trying to understand why all mental heath issues have been grouped under one thread. It tends to be very confusing and seems to be of little any real use.

I am the spouse of a woman who was diagnosed as bipolar some thirty years. I knew she was bipolar when we dated and later married.

In the last eighteen years, we've been married, she has been hospitalized six times, seven if you count the time her thyroid fell victim to lithium. There have also been a couple of close calls. She is presently in the hospital once again.

Some time ago we joined a support group but rarely, if ever attended meetings. We even joined a support group at our church. Again we rarely, if ever attended because support groups tend to make my wife uncomfortable.

My complaint/ my question is that most support groups seem to be more in the business of diseminating information than in dealing with the individual, the family, and the relationship issues that bipolar episodes trigger, and are triggered by.

In short, I quess, most websites, support groups, and the like deal more with the individual that is bipolar, and the illness, and hardly address isses that family members face and have to deal with.

I was hoping that this site would be a place where I could sound-off a little, and find support for the rejection and isolation I find I have to deal with every time my wife has an episode and ends up in the hospital.

I do trust in Jesus and I know He is with me and my family, but it would be nice to have a place I could air my frustrations with the illness, the treatments, and the system.



terrified_turkey -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/3/2006 11:32:18 PM)

I don't know if this is the place to make the suggestion but I think it would be highly beneficial to breakdown this forum into different groups such as bipolar, depression, multiole personalities, etc.



womaninchrist -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/4/2006 1:25:16 AM)

FWIW, I'd love to know who to talk to in order to get this broken down at least into a few sub-topics because I've got to agree this whole "if it mentions mental health it goes to the one stop thread" thing sure makes this an often incomprehensible mess that includes discussions on bipolar, depression, borderline personality, multiple personality and a few other mental illnesses (and many of those with sub-discussions about the illness as an adult condition vs. the same illness in children), some of us have the mental illness, others are friends or relatives of a mentally ill person, and quite a few want to debate the theological correctness of psychology and psychiatry. It's WAY too much for just one thread. Would this need to be posted to the feedback forum perhaps?

And I've asked other places, is there ANYWHERE you can find honest support for Christians with bipolar? A place where bipolars aren't called names for believing in Christ and where they're not condemned for being something along the lines of an "unredeemable sinner" simply because they happen to have a mental illness? I've done a LOT of searching and I keep coming back to this muddled thread because I can find threads specific to being Christian with unipolar depression or to being Christian and the relative of someone with any of a long list of mental illnesses (including bipolar) but this particular thread is the closest thing I've found to a place where I can go and be Christian AND bipolar without having to hide half of myself...



agapetos -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/4/2006 2:15:04 AM)

quote:

FWIW, I'd love to know who to talk to in order to get this broken down at least into a few sub-topics

quote:

Would this need to be posted to the feedback forum perhaps?
I'd suggest trying to start a thread on breaking this thread down there. It may be moved or closed.

I'd actually suggest they think about the possibility of having a folder for mental health issues and have that subdivided. Why? Because the whole reason that mental health was put under a one stop thread was because there were so many splinters topics.

It is good to have a place to share and ask questions. It does get confusing when there are different health related issues being talked about in the same thread (though they may all come under the umbrella term mental health topics. However, it must be remembered that this isn't a support forums as such and many people may see it as that.
quote:

From the OP in this thread.

This thread is created in order to provide an area for users to engage in discussion over mental health related issues such as the following:

ADD, ADHD, Bi-Polar, Depression, etc.

This Community is not intended to be used as a support service for individuals dealing with mental health issues. Online Community should not be viewed as a replacement for the development of relationships with local people. Nor should it be considered an alternative to one getting medical or spiritual counseling.



Giulia -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/4/2006 8:26:48 AM)

quote:

My name is Legion for we are many-The Gerasene Demoniac.

There is hope for you! I also suffered from demonic oppression before I was miraculously delivered in church by a pastor and the laying on of hands with application of oil. Tell me are you aware of all the selves? Do you understand what triggers your episodes?

Bi-polar or borderline personality has been described by doctors in many different ways because the real truth is they dont totally understand it either. It has been observed and documented that there are certain chemical levels in the brain that are out of whack and this causes the condition. Then it is described in various ways.

Some manifest by having extreme mood swings and are not able to find a middle ground, either very energetic or on a real downer. Laughing a lot or crying a lot. Other manifestations involve expanding on dreams and visions and having delusions which are far removed from reality (trouble with making a diagnosis here is dangerous because there is a vey fine line between total delusion and dreams and visions from God ). It is comforting to know when you stay in prayer and in His Word He will not give you up to this spirit of delusion, but will bring you clarity.

My problem with the medication for this condition is that it cut out my creativity totally, I became numb so I was neither sad nor happy, I hid my medication in my mouth and spat it out when I was in hospital, I found it to be controlling and opressive. I dont remember even the name but it started with twice weekly injections, after a month they stopped the injections and they put me on purple pills, which I wouldnt injest. I became depressed and far removed and totally disinterested, I got to a point where I enjoyed only sleep and food. I understood the doctors are also learning (scince my teenage years I've been asking psychologists about mental health), with me I dont know what measure they used to gauge my mental health and standard used varies from person to person, increasingly I hear from doctors in this field confessing their ignorance.

I took into my own hands and got off all the medication. I observed in myself that there were times when I was full of energy and times when I was in a resting mode and realized this is how God created me. There a seasons for everything, a time to be happy a time to be sad a time to be creative, a time to rest in the Lord. It has been years now totally off all drugs and tobacco and I sense God renewing my mind. Giving me clarity where there was confusion. His healing stream caresses me and renews me. Even there are still trials I go through He is close and His Presence is unmistakable, His Holy fire lights up my soul and cleanses me gently.

I understand it has been documented and found to be true about regeneration, and we as Christians know it comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Many times I have struggled with faith, the beauty of God is He knows this and gives us His faith which was cultivated down through the ages and perfected in Christ Jesus. My faith is also growing and who knows how all this happens? If we try and explain everything we miss the point of faith, I just know I am grateful for His Love and grace he so freely gives me![:)]

And all I can do is share my experiences, my struggles, my victories, my understanding and hope someone, somewhere will be encouraged and/or consoled.



womaninchrist -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/4/2006 11:24:36 AM)

I don't expect this to be a support thread, though as I said, I keep coming back to this thread because it's the only place I've found (even with hours of googling) where I can admit to being both bipolar and Christian. Apparently, according to most Christian sites that discuss mental illness, you can't be bipolar and really be a Christian (typically they claim that mental illness is absolute proof of unrepentant sin on the part of the mentally ill person, demonic possession of the mentally ill person, or of some other form of absolute spiritual or moral failure of the mentally ill person). Meanwhile, if you go to a secular site that discusses mental illness and let it slip that you're a Christian you'll typically get responses that start with questioning your intelligence and rapidly go into responses I couldn't post here - though in such places it's not religion or spirituality that's the problem (it's perfectly OK to be wiccan, or new age, or shamanistic or occultic, or pagan or...), it's specifically Christianity that's a problem and it's typically because the users have had run-ins with people who've done some pretty horrid things to them because they let it slip that they had a mental illness (exorcism anyone?). This is why I asked if anyone knew of a good support site... I'm starting to think I need to start one if I'm going to have one, KWIM?

But if I can figure out how to say it, I will post something in the feedback thread.



stateofgrace -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/4/2006 11:44:30 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: womaninchrist

I don't expect this to be a support thread, though as I said, I keep coming back to this thread because it's the only place I've found (even with hours of googling) where I can admit to being both bipolar and Christian.


Ironically, though, the description of the Health and Fitness section states:

Share your health and fitness concerns and get support and advice.

I guess there is a difference between being a "support service" and giving/getting support? Or is it that it's ok for the fourms to be perceived as being "supportive' of those with general health/fitness concerns but not mental health ones?

Personally I would have worded it differently, just as us long-time participants try to make clear in the marriage threads and elsewhere - for example, the fourms can't take the place of assistance from in-person professionals, support groups, etc.

Starting a thread in feedback about sub-dividing the mental health topics? I'd say go for it, but I won't start it myself (shakes head). I've already been way too vocal about this particular issue.

womaninchrist - you might want to search over at Yahoo Groups. I seem to remember them having a number of email discussion lists for Christians with Bipolar/mood disorders, and those with family members who have mood disorders. Such as - christian-depression, christians_depression, cpbipolar (Christian parents of Bipolars), splashesofjoy (for women), BPrayer, christianbipolardisorderclub...etc.

[edited to add] I have to say, though, IMO, nothing beats local support. Have you checked with The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance about local support groups? Maybe you'd find some Christians attending one locally. It's been my experience that the pagans, wiccans, shamanists (sp?) are more vocal on the web because they're such a minority in their communities.

You may not be at this point now, but a lady at my church started a Depression support group a few months ago.



womaninchrist -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/4/2006 12:50:07 PM)

I've tried Yahoogroups. Some of those get pretty scary. If I search specifically for bipolar and Christian (which I've done several times) the typical group is either for Christians who are parenting or married to someone with bipolar or they're discussions of the demons and "spiritual failings" that lead to mental illness. Where I've found exceptions, the definition of "Christian" is dangerously loose - often a subtle combination of Christian things with bits of wicca or a new agey version of shamanism...yuck, this is worse than having to hide my bipolar to talk with Christians or hide my Christianity to talk with bipolars.



stateofgrace -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/4/2006 12:59:01 PM)

I understand.

It's a challenge to moderate an email list just like it's a challenge to moderate a fourm. And usually moderation isn't as formal or as structured (or as well thought-out) on a mail list. Often times email lists have less stringent rules for participation (in other words, they don't have a statement of belief or something like it).

I was going to post a link to a general-purpose mood disorder site that has a Christian section on their boards, but a check back on it revealed that it's not necessarily adhering to evangelical viewpoints in that section (in other words, several people expressing the view that it doesn't matter if you're gay).



Trinity_3persons -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/4/2006 2:19:56 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: womaninchrist

Borderline personality is to a large extent a pattern of instability, over reactions, interpersonal manipulation, and self harm or suicide attempts (or threats to do one or the other). But there's a bit more to it, I'd suggest you google it, because there are a lot of good sites that'll explain it better than I just did. The thing about borderline personality is that a LOT of people (especially people with mental illness) have one or 2 criteria without having the disorder and the way the criteria are written (and the way many psychiatrists will ask about them) is very leading and vague - it's really hard to disprove the idea once someone's trying to stick you with the diagnosis (like how many people honestly knew from the age of 3 what they wanted to grow up to be and never changed their goal?)...

However, there's a large number of psychiatrists who'll decide you've got borderline personality if they can't figure out a clear cut diagnosis or they've got a diagnosis and the meds aren't working right (and they'll do this despite what symptoms you really have). As I said in my PP, I've run into a few psychiatrists who REALLY twisted things (to the extent of rewriting my personal history and using my religion to meet the diagnostic criteria) in order to have reason to diagnose borderline personality... As things stand, I've had to stick with a rather quacky mental health provider just so they could observe me long enough to properly document that the psychiatrist who'd diagnosed me with BPD was wrong.



Thanks, womeninchrist!



agapetos -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/4/2006 2:37:38 PM)

I guess the problem that management have is knowing where to draw the line on support.

Someone wants support on losing weight. Fine ~ there are a zillion people who are gonna give support and most of it won't do any harm ~ though some isn't sound advice. I've never seen anyone suggest duretics or laxatives as a good way to lose weight. It isn't naturally, but some people do it.

Someone has a mental health problem ~ well support is one thing, but what if they're sitting saying they're going to do something to end their lives? How do they stop someone stating their belief that meds are bad and someone is only going to be healed by getting off them? How do they get someone to seek medical attention? What if someone says that one med should be banned and it has an effect on what someone else is taking. I have reacted very badly to some meds for my probs ~ but I don't feel they should be banned. I am careful in stating what meds haven't worked for me ~ not everyone is.

It is wonderful to be at a Christian forums site and know that there are other Christians who have the same diagnosis. It is very hard to search through threads on add, depression, gad etc to see if someone else has bipolar (or whatever else I have).



agapetos -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/4/2006 2:59:19 PM)

quote:

Starting a thread in feedback about sub-dividing the mental health topics? I'd say go for it, but I won't start it myself (shakes head). I've already been way too vocal about this particular issue.
I don't know how vocal you've been directly to admin and how vocal you've been through your blog. I've only read that one post you gave the link for.

As for thoughts from others. It may appear that mental health issues have been put into a one stop thread for the benefit of the admin ~ but please remember that the hosties are all volunteers and give up some of their time (which they could be spending 'playing' in forums, with friends, with family, whatever) to help make this site a better and safer place for all. I remember it well when there were no hosties. And I remember when admin seemed to be just that admin, with no interaction with people who came to this site.

Believe me. It's better with ~ even if we don't always agree with their points of view.



stateofgrace -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/4/2006 4:06:20 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

quote:

Starting a thread in feedback about sub-dividing the mental health topics? I'd say go for it, but I won't start it myself (shakes head). I've already been way too vocal about this particular issue.
I don't know how vocal you've been directly to admin and how vocal you've been through your blog. I've only read that one post you gave the link for.


Haven't made any other blog posts about it, but I do believe I'd had some discussion at the time of the changeover with moderators/admin about this decision. I had also asked that it be considered that mental health issues might be a topic for the range of doctorines (in order to protect folks mainly from other people coming in proclaiming that those suffering from mental health conditions are demon posessed, weak Chrstians, etc. ) In addition, a mod commented to me me a few weeks ago about my blog post and I wrote them a personal reply to their comments. My main concern in my reply was this whole "support/not support" issue.

quote:

As for thoughts from others. It may appear that mental health issues have been put into a one stop thread for the benefit of the admin ~ but please remember that the hosties are all volunteers and give up some of their time (which they could be spending 'playing' in forums, with friends, with family, whatever) to help make this site a better and safer place for all.


Let me just say that I believe the fourms here are one of the better-moderated message boards on the internet.

This particular situation, though...there is considerable wiggle room as to what gets folded into the topic and what doesn't. A discussion on suicide in Fathwalk a few weeks ago wasn't. At least three discussions in Parenting recently about specific mental health conditions haven't been (at least yet).

quote:


Believe me. It's better with ~ even if we don't always agree with their points of view.


I agree.

agapetos, you likely have had some personal experience with what concerns me here...the avoidance of the topic. As if those of us with Depression, Bipolar, ADHD, OCD, Asperger's, etc. don't exist. As if - if we just bury the topic, it will go away.

Too many of us have hidden behind the mask in our churches.We wear the mask that makes it appear that everything's ok when it's not. We're so frayed at the seams, and sometimes we just KNOW we're gong to slip up and someone's going to discover our deep, dark secret. Took me years to get that mask off.

It was such a big risk to take that mask off and reveal the real me, knowing what I have seen and heard regarding the ignorant and arrogant views of mental health contidions in the Christian subculture.

Even today, looking up some links for womaninchrist. Found one site that had a Bipolar Disorder support section...and in another section of the same boards folks were loudly proclaiming how someone with Bipolar had demonic posession/oppression and needed to contactd a "deliverance ministry" to get those demons out of them.

If other people are anything like me, they're yearning to discover that they're not alone. They're not some kind of freak. They're God's precious children and He hasn't abandoned them. That he knows their hearts, and He hasn't consigned them to some heap of the weak/unobedient believer or the demon-infected. And that there are others walking right along with them!



Invisible_Woman -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/5/2006 12:30:01 PM)

I fortunately worship at a church that I don't have to hide my battles with bipolar. Because of not hiding anymore I now have a support system and am doing tremendously better. I have been to some churches that I had to hid because of how I was treated after being open. It saddens me that it is a one stop thread here. It seems to minimize the issue, its hard to talk and get a good topic going in a one stop thread.

My personal experience is that I have never received replies to any question that I was told to direct to the salem community. I laugh now when I think of a mod/admin telling me to email the community in regards to a topic............... it's similar to tell it the water in the ocean or a cloud in the sky. I wonder if it really exists? I don't know maybe the aliens intercepted the emails. (I admire and respect the mods for their time. Please don't take my statement wrong. I especially admire the mods that must carry out their job and are able to do it respectfully without demeaning)



Fritzpw_Admin -> RE: Mental Health Issues - One Stop Thread (4/5/2006 1:30:26 PM)

Actually, I reply to every email I get within 24 hours unless it is the weekend.

I have found that users who claim to not recieve my replies generally have an email service that treats my email as spam or bulk.

Probably because I send email to offenders who don't like being told they were wrong and responding by reporting me to their email service.



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