Stigma

I recently decided it was way past time to speak up and let the world know what it’s like to live with a mental illness. I’ve been journeying along through mental illness all of my life, but I wasn’t diagnosed with Bipolar II until 2006.

In the past, I have been scared to share my “secret” with people because of the stigma attached to mental health disorders especially in Christian circles. Yes, we’ve come a long way over the past 50 years. We aren’t shipping people off to mental asylums, shocking the “crazy” out of people, or filling them up with a pharmacy full of meds so that they can’t function, yet the stigma remains.

I am a person with high functioning bipolar. The term high-functioning, when applied to bipolar disorder, does not apply to the severity of the condition, but rather the person's ability to manage it. This means that the person may be experiencing acute symptoms, but is able to mask them and maintain daily functions.

While I can be an emotional person...I feel very deeply about so many things...I still function quite well on the daily. I get myself out of bed everyday, I do house work, I homeschool my son, I make dinner, I work on my blog, I’m helping plan my daughter’s wedding, and I meet with several people each week for discipleship. By all measures, I look like a “normal” functioning person, so why the fear?

The thing is, I take medication twice a day to help me function in the above ways. Medication was NOT and is NOT my first choice for treatment. First and foremost, I trust the Lord for wisdom and direction for how to treat my mental illness. In 2009-2010, I tried desperately to go all natural and treat my Bipolar with supplements and the right foods. Unfortunately, this route did not work for me and I ended up in a very bad place mentally and my family suffered greatly because of it.

Still yet, I have people close to me that feel that if we “just trust the Lord enough” that we shouldn’t need help from doctors or counselors. I’ve even been told that getting help for mental health issues is flat out unbiblical. Christians we must stop this way of thinking! People have mental illnesses...chemical imbalances. It isn’t caused by a character flaw, or because of unconfessed sin and just because people can’t “see” it, that does NOT mean it doesn’t exist. There are plenty of recognized medical conditions that nobody disputes. Would we tell those with Type 1 Diabetes or Crohn's Disease to refuse medication and “just pray more” so they will get “better”?

After I tried to go natural and realized that I was in a lot of trouble emotionally, I decided right then that I would trust God to help me in whatever way He saw fit. This has come in the form of medication that helps me experience appropriate feelings. It also helps me focus on and trust in God for those moments of depression and anxiety that do occur.

I look at people in the Bible that may have suffered with the same type of things I suffer with and I gain comfort. David was a man after God’s own heart and many of his Psalms point to him being depressed. In Psalm 69: 1-3 the psalmist writes,

“Save me, O God, For the waters have threatened my life. I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.”

What I love most about David though is he never STAYED in the place of depression. In many Psalms he would end with praises and thanksgiving to God for his faithfulness. This is why I will completely agree that if he or I were to wallow and stay in our depression and anxiety, we would be in sin. The bible is clear about what we are to do with anxiety/worries. The Word says in Philippians 4:6-8

“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. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

I believe that we also see in scripture that God gives us hardships to keep us dependent on him, and also gives us the strength to endure the suffering. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 is a perfect example of this. It says:

“Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

You probably have someone in your life with a mental illness. If you do have a friend or loved one in this situation, here are some ways to support them and put an end to the stigma:

*Encourage them with God’s Word- There are so many uplifting passages of scripture that can speak into periods of depression and anxiety. Encourage them to write down verses that they can read over and over during these trying times. We are told to hide God’s word in our hearts. Reading and re-reading scripture has helped me immensely in times of depression.

*Talk openly about mental health- It’s not a dirty little secret. Nearly 1 in 5 people in the US alone have a mental illness.

*Educate yourself- Research mental health disorders, in particular, the one your loved one deals with. This can help enlighten you and give you the right words to say.

*Show Compassion-A hug, text, or coffee date can mean so much when you are struggling.

*Listen- Sometimes I need to process out loud. I don’t need anyone to fix me, I just need to talk. Listening with a kind spirit and a gentle “I understand” makes processing easier.

*Support- There are many different avenues of treatment for mental illness. Some choose natural methods, while others take medication, and there’s also therapy. Be supportive of your loved one’s choice and ask how you can help them along the way.

So in the end, I believe two things: I believe that chemical imbalances do exist and cause the brain to function differently than the average person's brain, BUT I also believe that God is the ultimate and ONLY way we can truly overcome a chemical imbalance or any other mental suffering that we may endure.

Charles Spurgeon who was affectionately referred to as the Prince of Preachers and was a powerhouse of the faith, experienced deep depression in his life. He once said:

“I find myself frequently depressed - perhaps more so than any other person here. And I find no better cure for that depression than to trust in the Lord with all my heart, and seek to realize afresh the power of the peace-speaking blood of Jesus, and His infinite love in dying upon the cross to put away all my transgressions.”

Let us not forget that no matter what we are called to go through, God works all things for our good and His glory.

-Kassy