Should Christians Take Medication for Mental Illness?

[Fenner]

There are many mental issues that can be helped with medication. Like a Schizophrenic person, I would say medication. I've known a couple of people with Schizophrenia and when they aren't on their med's they can't function.

I take something for anxiety, I do pray, I went to Christian counseling, I didn't find it helpful. I went to a regular therapist and it help tremendously. I say, what works for you, is the best way.

 

[faroukfarouk]

There are many mental issues that can be helped with medication. Like a Schizophrenic person, I would say medication. I've known a couple of people with Schizophrenia and when they aren't on their med's they can't function.

I take something for anxiety, I do pray, I went to Christian counseling, I didn't find it helpful. I went to a regular therapist and it help tremendously. I say, what works for you, is the best way.

God heals.

He also uses means.

Sometimes those means include medicine. Luke 'the beloved physicians' would presumably have agreed also.

Blessings.

 

[miss_eden]

Ms. Dove: Everyone's case is different.

While if at all possible, going onto anti-depressants unnecessarily in the first place would seem sensible, yet coming off them without being under medical supervision can lead to a lot of problems.

In any case, for the believer, prayer and the Scriptures should be a daily, spiritual diet, anti-depressants or no anti-depressants.

Blessings.

Yes I agree everyone's case is different and the spiritual "diet" you mention should be for all believers-whether suffering from mental illness or not!

 

[Annata]

If you see a person with paranoid schizophrenia without meds, you'll understand why meds are prescribed. It isn't a case of 'should christians take medication', it's a case of 'case-by-case-basis'.

Should a person with mild depression be popping anti-depressants to the point of sedation? No, not when exercise can be more effective than a pill. Should a person with paranoid schizophrenia be treated with camomile tea and a treadmill? Definitely not.

 

[leehop71]

From time to time we get people coming into this forum and talking about mental illness. While on the rare occasion, there might be a spiritual component, a lot of times, the real source is a disease of the brain, which causes a chemical imbalance.

I want to encourage everyone who works with someone who is going through any kind of mental illness, from major depression, through to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, to work with the medical community, but also with the Christian community.

For too long, the mentally ill have be condemned, instead of encouraged, helped and supported in the Christian community. I was supposed to start a Depression Support Group in January in my church, which I was really excited about. My church was also supportive, but a change in Rheumatoid Arthritis meds has me unable to follow through!

Anyway, this is a good blog to read by a pastor, about his experience with severe depression and anxiety, and how his attitude changed, when he was confronted by his own mental illness.

Should Christians Take Medication for Mental Illness? | Perry Noble Blog | Perry Noble � Senior Pastor of NewSpring Church
***Link fixed by 1still_waters***

Should Christians Take Medication for Mental Illness? | Perry Noble Blog | Perry Noble

Absolutely! If we have physical illnesses we take medication for that.
I struggled with anxiety that went from spiritual warfare to a chemical imbalance. I have been on medication for 8 years with no side affects and complete mental freedom. My doctor is also a Christian!

 

[damombomb]

I take pain meds for a back injury and i can honestly say that it effects my hearing the Lord. before i was very keen to hearing him, now is nothing like before. I don't like that side effect. Has anyone else noticed this or know what it is like?

 

[Angela53510]

I have heard of various meds interfering with people "hearing" from God. The anti-psychotics are very famous for that. However, in the case of AP's, they may also be stopping voices that the people do not want to hear and should not hear.

What pain med are you on? I have a book the doctor's use for side effects, and if it is not too new (my book is a couple of years old) it may something about affect. Or not! It might not be a side effect a medical dictionary would have in it - "Can't hear from the Lord!" Not that I am laughing, I think it would be terrible to not hear the small still voice of the Lord. I would say, that you can still rely on the Word of God for most things, although I sympathize with your struggle.

 

[jamie26301]

I take pain meds for a back injury and i can honestly say that it effects my hearing the Lord. before i was very keen to hearing him, now is nothing like before. I don't like that side effect. Has anyone else noticed this or know what it is like?

So you hear God apart from the Bible? What is it like? (Not saying that's bad, or that I disagree with it) I know some Christians would say the Bible is God's only words to mankind, nothing added and that the "hearing God" most other Christians talk about is just self-delusions/Satan talking (NOT inferring that for you, just repeating a sentiment that I STRONGLY disagree with)

God bless.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Yes I agree everyone's case is different and the spiritual "diet" you mention should be for all believers-whether suffering from mental illness or not!

Yes, prayer and the Scriptures are the very element that the believer lives in and breathes! and they are most healthy and wholesome!

(You have a colorful avatar)

 

[CRC]

A variety of medications are now used by doctors in the treatment of mental disturbances. Medically supervised use of some such medications has permitted severely ill Christians to function normally. Granted, powerful drugs are sometimes used to tranquilize a patient or to suppress suicidal tendencies. Yet, if a brother is taking prescribed medication not for pleasure but so that he can function normally, this can be viewed in much the same way as a diabetic’s using insulin.

 

[sassylady]

God uses medication to help us. If you need it you need it. Yes, He can miraculously heal you. But sometimes you find you need something to help get things under control so you can think rationally and get additional help. My daughter has been on meds for years and is now down to one, and a low dose of it. Her counselor as well as the Lord have been part of her help.

 

[Billyd]

I suffer from seizures. The medication (only one that works) causes severe cyclic depression. I take two medications to control it. They work most of the time. I prayed many times to remove the depression cycles. I asked a dear Christian friend to pray with me. Then I asked my church congregation to pray with me. I now realize that God had answered all our prayers before they were lifted to Him. I take my medications, and thank Him for a treatment that works.

I'm telling you this because I read a story about a young man who stopped taking his medication because a pastor told his family that the could pray his mental health problem away. Three months later he committed suicide.

 

[sixtyone]

thank you for sharing this, i too was told i had a faith problem why on antidepressants for day an bedtime one help me sleep. if i didnt take it i be awake all night so on, have chemical imbalance have take them,thk God for my meds, my husband died in front of me in a tragic way made more sick, but since october 2013 im on right meds cause went frm my doctor to a doctor knows the brain, cant spell there name for depression an so on, thk God for my meds, specaiallywhen under stress of life situations that come up. Lord bless you for sharing, thk God for him sharing this im ok in Jesus amen,,,

 

[ji]

thank you for sharing this, i too was told i had a faith problem why on antidepressants for day an bedtime one help me sleep. if i didnt take it i be awake all night so on, have chemical imbalance have take them,thk God for my meds, my husband died in front of me in a tragic way made more sick, but since october 2013 im on right meds cause went frm my doctor to a doctor knows the brain, cant spell there name for depression an so on, thk God for my meds, specaiallywhen under stress of life situations that come up. Lord bless you for sharing, thk God for him sharing this im ok in Jesus amen,,,

If Christians who had all priveleges Cared for the Lost and Suffering there would have been no need of medical treatment for mind and heart.But its just hard way when things go rough and we wind up in taking medication.
Love and Care first,then Prayer makes all kinds of Healings from God in Divine way Possible..
i have also suffered and eventhough i have taken no medical treatment and relied on God for Healing,i realize sometimes we can be forced to take medicine for the above cause mentioned..
i have a friend who takes medicine for mental problems and insomnia..he stopped taking medicine and started fully relying on God.i have lost my mom and my bro in 2 seperate tragedies.But by God i am still moving on.Many years i went through in severe pain and now God is pulling me out from every bondage one by one..
Whether we take medicine or not,when we rely more on God we get Strength to move and no need of crutches or incompassionate people anymore near..

 

[mountain726]

Hi im new here and I am on pills for depression and anxiety .I thank god for him giving the noledge for them to come up with the meds.

 

[RoseOfSharon58]

Sometimes it's necessary…

 

[Sirk]

I've taken meds in the past but I did not like them. They just turned me into a zombie and a fat one at that. I find that consistent healthy diet and exercise are what is good for my mental health. Our society makes it to easy and enticing to turn to a pill for a quick fix instead of getting off your butt and getting yourself healthy by hard work and perserverence. I know this post seems heartless but I have been to the bottom....depression and self loathing used to be my best friends.

 

[RedTent]

It seems to me that it is a matter of being humble before the Lord. If we say we would refuse the help the Lord offers through medication, we would be out of balance. If we say that we refuse to go to the Lord for His healing because the medicine works, we are out of balance.

I have seen the most damage done by people who depend on the meds instead of their own spiritual growth because it was easier, although refusing meds is also damaging.

One evening a dear bipolar friend came to see me, so miserable she said she only had suicide as an option. There is a hormone we produce when we are content and happy that bipolar people need to take like diabetics take insulin. She couldn't afford her medication and didn't tell us. After a hug I brought out my precious prayer shawl and explained it's use to her in prayer to help her see she was shutting out the world and it was just she and the Lord under that shawl. I explained she must respect the shawl, but not use it as if it was magic. In a short while she only said "that is powerful" as she left for home. She was fine until she was stabilized with medication. She still refers to that time as the most amazing experience she has had.

 

[Pipp]

If it's not wrong to take diabetic medication or migraine medication or any other kind..why would it be wrong to take it for mental illness?

 

[ThePottersClay]

I think you have to determine the cause of mental illness at first, a lot of it is simply behavioral symptomatic outbursts, as opposed to chemical imbalances in the brain... that aside.

I have this theory ..... I think Due to the fact that God knows our lack in faith, that He is very capable of delivering us from all evil, heal us and also free us from sin... that He has made provision. And that provision can quite easily be the medical profession, after all - Knowledge is of God. And if God provided man with the ability to engineer medication to aid those with mental illnesses such as Bipolar, Epilepsy - etc, then we should NOT ignore the mechanism of healing - however I'll leave you with this verse...

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

You may start taking medication, but I'll insist that you do not let prayer fall behind, always, and I mean always seek God, never give up, because the medication is just a temporary fix while Christ is the deliverer.