What does the bible say about cutting/self-harm when it comes to mental illness?

[becca4peace]

I struggle with this and so does my best friend.

 

[jb]

I struggle with this and so does my best friend.

1Thess 5v14:

"...comfort those who are frightened, take tender care of those who are weak, and be patient with everyone." (The Living Bible)

"...comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all." (NKJV)

Yahweh Shalom

 

[jeff_peacemkr]

Yahweh Shalom in Yahushua , God's Peace, Life, and Health and Power to Live Joyfully in Jesus Messiah. Amein.

there's simple helps. 'officials' can't publish them in the usa (the drug lords passed laws against curing people about 1950).

but they are simple. and non toxic. and inexpensive. and always work. <shrugs> who wants to know? when doktors teell peeple, the doktorrs lose their livelihood/license/and are blacklisted.

ALWAYS in line with God's Word, faith in Jesus, grace in Him, truth, and not in any way ever new age nor yoga nor all the other ickies, no, not ever.

 

[kenthomas27]

I'm not sure that the Bible speaks of mental illness as we know it today. There's a couple of references of people who were possessed with demons - the Philippian girl in Acts and maybe the demon named Legion in the gospels, but no clear reference to an insanity or insane actions. I think what's clear though is how people were treated AFTER a demon was removed from a person or after they cured. In the bible, there was no blame attached to these people - there's no mention of holding any of these people responsible for whatever sin they may have committed or law broken. I think this is the real lesson we can learn as Christians. If a Christian is suffering from something like what you describe, i believe there are two things important for you to do. One is to seek professional help with your issue. God has endowed us with a curious spirit and there are people who have devoted their lives to helping others cope with their mental distress. i believe God looks to us to solve our problems with the gifts He showered us with. Two is hold yourself blameless like the bible teaches. If you and your friend are cutting or doing other harmful things to yourself, then work on your illness and don't hold yourself to blame or think of yourself as weak. Do you hold it against yourself when you cough from a cold? i would hope you would get rest, chicken soup and whatever else to get well again. So it is with your mental ailment.

 

[Fubario]

I struggle with this as well as suicidal ideation, what should I do? The mental health people just give drugs and don't care at all

 

[JesusistheChrist]

I struggle with this and so does my best friend.

Hi, becca4peace.

Since you asked what the Bible has to say about "cutting/self harm", I'll begin my response with this:

Mark chapter 5

[1] And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
[2] And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
[3] Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
[4] Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
[5] And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
[6] But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
[7] And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
[8] For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
[9] And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
[10] And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
[11] Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
[12] And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
[13] And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand): and were choked in the sea.
[14] And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
[15] And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
[16] And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
[17] And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
[18] And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
[19] Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

In this man's particular case, there definitely was demonic influence which led to his "cutting himself".

That being said, this particular topic is very close to my own heart. You see, I have a twenty year old niece who had been (she's recently stopped) cutting herself for quite a bit of time and quite severely at that. She's actually wound up in the hospital in the past with self-inflicted cuts all over her face, arms, legs and body. In her particular case, seeing how I've known her personally for her entire life and seeing how I therefore know quite a bit about her own struggles via my own observations, her own testimony and the testimonies of her parents (my sister and brother-in-law), there definitely seems to be a strong connection between rejection, whether genuine or wrongly perceived, and her cutting. IOW, seeing how she's been rejected (again, whether genuinely or wrongly perceived) by so many different people at so many different stages of her life, she's basically turned to self-harm as some sort of punishment.

Anyhow, the cure to the same, in my estimation, is finding acceptance and forgiveness in/through Christ Jesus...and I'd be happy to discuss this with you (and/or others) if you're but interested in the same.

 

[CRC]

The ramifications of Adam’s sin manifest themselves in so many painful ways. Some imperfections are obvious and apparent, others are hidden and concealed. Any sufferer of any plague need not blame themselves for any failing to gain mastery of every thought and emotion before it gives birth to action, even though painful.! (Psalms 55:22)


Revelation 21:3, 4) With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

 

[NorrinRadd]

I too have inflicted myself by branding myself with various implements. As one person here stated that shame is the possible core issue I would have to agree. Not only have I inherited a poorly functioning brain with imbalances but was mentally and physically abused and was shamed by my dad from the earliest of ages. As my life goes through the decades I am finally beginning to see that God truly loves me. And I am seeing that it is okay for me to receive His love. The meds help, counseling not so much, but The Bible and books on God's grace are helping me ever so slowly. Though I still want to punish myself for my failures, I am opening up to God's love for me. Be open to the fact that you are lovable and worthy of God's love and the love of others no matter what shame was instilled in you. God bless