I've been taking medications for pretty much the better part of 25 years, so I can say probably more than most people, the inside scoop on cognitive and mood disorders (thinking/elevated-depressed mood). I've tried many medications over the years in many categories and classes of emotional health pharmaceutically-based (pills) treatments. The only I did not try was electro-shock therapy (which my cousin had, and have heard frightening stories about,i.e., memory loss, etc...) and medicinal cannibis, which I considered at one point at the height of my depression.
I'll come back another day and give a more detailed account of what meds I tried, which helped or did not help and side-effects that were either not acceptable or intolerable.
In a nut-shell, (and that isn't meant to be funny--only people who have been on an emotional health unit can joke about it, and only privately, not in group or in public, i.e., "harold, we don't say 'crazy' on this unit, because some people may find that very offensive," And I agree. Mental health suffering is not funny, especially when you are going through it. but, sometimes that is the way people cope with the pain, like one time on a healing wing, a few of us were manic (hyper-elevated mood/happy-happy) and we just laughed constantly while the other patients thought were were, well, pretty crazy, and didn't understand. One young lady kept saying over and over, "I've got my degree in KK-ERR-RRRAYYY-ZEEE!!" But, it was just for show because she wouldn't have been there if she wasn't in severe distress. I think it's a way to cope and feel like you are in control when your world is crumbling around you and within you.
One young man in Southeast Alaska got in the news after he started acting a little strangely, and said that the devil told him to jump off a deck, which he did and broke an ankle or something, so, his family had him committed, either there or later. Then he said that Jesus spoke to him this time and told him his "sins are forgiven," and to attend a church near where he lived. His family understandably was concerned that he was going to jump off something again and get hurt, so they had him committed. A judge heard his side of the story and agreed that it was possible that Jesus may have indeed spoken to him because it was so specific and not some wild story out of the blue and had asked him to do positive things and gave him positive, healthy help and teaching. So, the judge ruled in his favor. He also said that he was doing ok without his medications, at least at that point in time. And the man said that the medications suffocate his emotions and he is not able to cry healing tears. I agree with that up to a point. Medications, at least some types in the typical or atypical anti-psychotic class, and others, can put a lid on emotions. But, sometimes, when people are out of control, they may need something temporarily to give them a "stable-base" and help them get a grip on reality, so they can sort out their distressing issues. I agree with the man in the above story that most anti-psychotic meds block tears, but, if it's only for a few weeks, then it may be necessary so that a person does not lose control and hurt themselves or someone else. The only other alternative is to be in a safe, locked location (not jail) where there are supportive, caring people around to ensure everyone can safely recover, including 24-hour security guards. There are some new places here in Alaska that I just discovered that provide a sane, supportive, FREE Christian fellowship group to help people recover and get on a path to recovery and give them the Christian values they will need to recover and start living a healthy lifestyle, which is a lifestyle that Jesus would live and teach. Giving people drugs so they can get back on track and then telling them "it's ok to go out and live any way you want," like free sex, same sex, personal sex, jump back into co-dependent relationships, hang around abusive people or addicted people..etc... is a complete waste of time. Unless someone has the skills to live a healthy life, they are bound to relapse or headed for recidivism (repeat offenses).
there is also clearly a spiritual connection with many, not all, mental health challenges. Crystal. Unmistakeable. Empirically provable. When people go over the edge mentally, or PTSD, or chemically, and repeatedly, they can become influenced by paranormal (i.e., malicious/draining/bondage-inducing/negative energy,...etc...et al). Negative abusive lifestyles of bondage produce heavy, negative energy or depression and emotional distress. It feeds on itself-- just ask anyone who has recovered from addiction or other issues. If they go back to the places that brought them down-- guess what??? yay! rocket-science!! give me a break...is this that difficult??
When we hang around people who are living in the Light-- we become more like the Light? Who is that? His name is Jesus-- John said, "In the beginning was the Word (God's Word) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning....In Him was/is Life and that Life was/is the Light of all people, men, women and children." (John 1: NIV--corrected for the exclusive language of patriarchy) (The NLT--New Living Translation is better).
"...The Word (Jesus Christ the Son of God and [Lamb] of God, born of Mary and raised in Nazareth with his foster father, Joseph) The Word became flesh (became a human-being) [i.e., divine Light takes on human form]
"....For the law was given through Moses (legalism--letter of the law/must be earned); grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (free-gift that it is not possible to earn for individuals)."
This is the only truth that can set people free from the bondage of sin and restore broken hearts and souls, the only Way to Heaven, the only perfect offering (New Covenant of Grace--free gift of atonement of sins and forgiveness of sins) This is the only way on earth to be restored to a relationship with God and be born-again in the Light.
So, medications may or may not help people to become stable. Sometimes they cause more problems than help. But they can help some people get out of bed and get back into life and to a healthy church that actually leads to freedom in Christ and not more bondage, religion and oppression and control.
Submitting carefully to medical help is better than hurting yourself or others, but just don't make pills a replacement for permanent healing which comes through a relationship with Jesus and putting it into action. Only real faith saves, and the real Jesus.
