Posted by Christ_empowered on July 14, 2011, at 0:54:34
In reply to Re: Sick of the cycles... » mellow, posted by Phillipa on July 14, 2011, at 0:46:49
I have issues with my faith and the mental health industry, too. At one point, during a nervous breakdown (old term, but an appropriate one), I heard a voice saying: "You sold your soul for a bunch of cheap pills."
Now, I'm taking meds because I think they are tools that God made available so people like me won't end up in a state mental hospital, and so we can live out meaningful, productive live for His glory. Sometimes I think that, anyway...other times I feel as if I'm turning to another religion (and psychiatry does have religious elements) instead of turning to God. So I don't know.
My advice would be to just focus on your faith and living a productive, meaningful life according to your values. Pain has its place in the spiritual life. Suffering builds character, or so I'm told. I'm not saying "toughen up," although mental illness can make you a tougher person; nor am I saying to just buck up and deal. I'm saying, or trying to say, that if you just put this is an eternal perspective--see how God is using these experiences to make you into something stronger, more attuned to His will, maybe that will help.
Honestly, I still hear voices sometimes. I guess I could call it some kind of PTSD or possibly mild psychotic depression, if there is such a thing. I try to go through it and see what God wants me to learn from my hallucinations. I still take medication, though--the way I see it, if 30mgs of Abilify doesn't knock out the voices, God wants me to learn something.
Sorry this was so long and rambling. Its late here, and I also kind of relate to your predicament. I wish you the best.
poster:Christ_empowered
thread:990986
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110630/msgs/990994.html