Mental Health?

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S

salus

Guest
#1
Is there a Christian Mental Health chatroom or just these foruns?
 
U

Ugly

Guest
#2
No mental health forum or chat room.
 

JesusMyOnly

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2014
880
15
0
#3
Is there a Christian Mental Health chatroom or just these foruns?
I am sorry salus there is not a mental health chatroom. But I'm always here if you'd like to talk.
 
S

Sirk

Guest
#4
Mental health? What is that? Just kidding.....maybe not.....okay just kidding.........maybe not. I can't decide!!!
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,780
2,943
113
#5
I wish there was a mental health forum, since it comes up so often. If you want to post about your issue, we can discuss it here, or PM me for a private chat. I have a lot of experience and training in this area.
 
K

Kaycie

Guest
#6
The bible is full of self help for mental health, physical health, relationships, finances, and on and on. All sicknesses stem from sin. Maybe if you would like to be more specific we can find scriptures for you. All scripture comes from God Who is wiser than any in any area. I hear He's even better than Dr. Phil. ;)
 

Joidevivre

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2014
3,838
271
83
#7
I think this was set up to be a Christian "Spiritual" Health forum.

Our mental health usually stems from that premise.
 
A

AgeofKnowledge

Guest
#9
Funny comment; however, if you've ever experienced or seen a loved one experience the pain and disability of a serious mental health issue you'd know it's actually serious.

I wish the church addressed this issue more realistically. Some now are, fortunately. But many are not. I've seen "pastors" preach sermons on how mental health problems all result from "a lack of faith" to bullying people who are suffering to trying to "fix" their problem for them by pushing them out across Africa on the missions field (as if that somehow magically fixes a mental health issue instead of making it worse) to exercising non-existent demons out of them.

Pretty sad the quackery that masks itself behind religion in the Christian Church. Fortunately, God's people are waking up and realizing mental health issues are real and those instances not related to demonic oppression/possession are actual mental actual health issues.


Mental health? What is that? Just kidding.....maybe not.....okay just kidding.........maybe not. I can't decide!!!
 
S

Sirk

Guest
#10
Funny comment; however, if you've ever experienced or seen a loved one experience the pain and disability of a serious mental health issue you'd know it's actually serious.

I wish the church addressed this issue more realistically. Some now are, fortunately. But many are not. I've seen "pastors" preach sermons on how mental health problems all result from "a lack of faith" to bullying people who are suffering to trying to "fix" their problem for them by pushing them out across Africa on the missions field (as if that somehow magically fixes a mental health issue instead of making it worse) to exercising non-existent demons out of them.

Pretty sad the quackery that masks itself behind religion in the Christian Church. Fortunately, God's people are waking up and realizing mental health issues are real and those instances not related to demonic oppression/possession are actual mental actual health issues.
i know how serious it is. It was more self deprecating than anything. I understand bad mental health all to well and I understand the path out of it.....at least as far as my own journey is concerned. I've been to the bottom....at least my bottom. Everyone is different.
 
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JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
14,551
2,171
113
#11
Did someone say mental health? I have been certified mental before....20 years ago...they say I'm all better now... I even pre-warned tourist and he still wanted me.....lucky guy there is never a dull moment with this Blond....hours of entertainment...I don't quite think he really knew what he was signing up for....he know now.....with luck he won't ever regret it....being with a Blond mental person.....

I joke about it now but I really did have a breakdown 20 years ago and attempted suicide and I can tell you it was not funny then. I know Lady Blue understands depression and I really understand it too....but I can claim that I was put away once and lived to tell about it. Thank and Praise God I lived to tell about it.
 

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
70,869
9,601
113
#12
Oh yes, I understand depression. I've lived with it since a very young age. It's been under good control the last few years, but let me tell you, it's been visiting me recently, especially while I'm ill.. mental health, depression, whatever you choose to call it, is no laughing matter. The best cure for depression, for me anyway, is laughter. The best healer of course, is Jesus.. :)
 
A

AgeofKnowledge

Guest
#13
Sure. We all know you are of good character and lightened the mood. I wanted to respond to the topic is all in the way I did and your post was helpful toward that. Thanks. :).

i know how serious it is. It was more self deprecating than anything. I understand bad mental health all to well and I understand the path out of it.....at least as far as my own journey is concerned. I've been to the bottom....at least my bottom. Everyone is different.
 
S

Sirk

Guest
#14
Sure. We all know you are of good character and lightened the mood. I wanted to respond to the topic is all in the way I did and your post was helpful toward that. Thanks. :).
it is really sad that as a whole the church does not understand how to help people with mental health issues. A lot of Christendom does not consider the biological side of us and that there are chemicals involved that when are out of control, cannot just be prayed away. It saddens me to think how many people have slipped thru the cracks because their problems were approached as only spiritual vs a holistic approach.
 

Joidevivre

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2014
3,838
271
83
#15
I am a Christian counselor, working in this capacity for over 30 years, and even the people who are Christians don't understand that they sometimes need to see a doctor for a complete physical checkup. They think prayer will heal them, and want to avoid the need for more. What I pray for the most is discernment - for the wisdom to not go beyond my range of experience and knowledge.

It usually becomes evident that the person is not ready for spiritual counseling when they are not able to focus, or unable to easily grasp simple concepts from the bible that require an action on their part. And are not able to. And I ask them if they have seen a doctor. And encourage them to do so.

However, when this happens, I find that sometimes just sitting beside them, praying silently or very quietly seems to help them tremendously. Nothing is talked about. They are just ministered to - sometimes holding their hand - or touching their arm. Sometimes not. Often a peace comes over them as I'm praying. Some have come back saying that they felt this peace the whole week. They just want more!

Could this be a missing element in the body of Christians ministering to each other? This just being the presence of Christ to them?
 
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Sirk

Guest
#16
I am a Christian counselor, working in this capacity for over 30 years, and even the people who are Christians don't understand that they sometimes need to see a doctor for a complete physical checkup. They think prayer will heal them, and want to avoid the need for more. What I pray for the most is discernment - for the wisdom to not go beyond my range of experience and knowledge.

It usually becomes evident that the person is not ready for spiritual counseling when they are not able to focus, or unable to easily grasp simple concepts from the bible that require an action on their part. And are not able to. And I ask them if they have seen a doctor. And encourage them to do so.

However, when this happens, I find that sometimes just sitting beside them, praying silently or very quietly seems to help them tremendously. Nothing is talked about. They are just ministered to - sometimes holding their hand - or touching their arm. Sometimes not. Often a peace comes over them as I'm praying. Some have come back saying that they felt this peace the whole week. They just want more!

Could this be a missing element in the body of Christians ministering to each other? This just being the presence of Christ to them?

Letting people just talk without commenting, but validating and asking questions related to what they are expressing, is also a good way to help them process things
 

Joidevivre

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2014
3,838
271
83
#17
Yes -letting them talk is the usual way. And those who can focus enough to do that find great help in the counselor allowing them to process things as they talk.

The silent "presence" is more for those who can't stop crying (lots of those) - and usually done after they speak what they need to speak. Yet, still can't process anything. And when any helpful words said to them just go right over their heads.

Hopefully, the counselor is also listening to the Holy Spirit's direction the whole time.

If you only knew the boxes of Kleenex I go through in a month. One lady actually brings her own every week. Tears are so healing.