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RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread

 
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RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 2/10/2007 7:26:58 PM   
cih92

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

cih92 ~ what do you mean by soul? Our mental health or spiritual health?


Both our mental health and spiritual health.

The soul is the immaterial part of a person. Our mental and spiritual health are aspects of the soul.
Post #: 101
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 2/10/2007 7:40:56 PM   
agapetos


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I'll respond to your question as I understand it.

I think it can be very difficult to distinguish sometimes.

I have hypothyroidism and am bipolar. Both can result in tiredness and depression. I am treated for hypothyroidism with medication. I need regular blood tests though and sometimes my medication needs to be increased because my thyroid system is not working as well as it was. It's pointless having tests more frequently than 6 weeks (that's an absolute minimum, my doc generally says 3 or 6-monthly, generally it's 12-monthly though) because the medication is slow-acting ~ unlike say insulin for diabetics which is fast.

Therefore it sometimes happens that I am depressed and tired and not sure if it's due to bipolar or hypothyroidism ~ despite having had a blood test 6 weeks earlier saying that my TSH levels were fine!

As for the spiritual side ~ well if I suddenly started stealing or behaving immorally it would cause a problem for me. Years ago I was in a situation where I needed to deal with an old issue. No one (except me and God) knew about it. I could have walked away and ignored it or I could have faced my responsibilities and sorted things. I sorted things. God blessed me greatly during that process. I rather suspect that if I had walked away the situation would still be plaguing me today.

We need to exam our hearts and our minds and our bodies. I keep a mood diary because I am unable to think back to a year or a month or a week ago and say how I truely felt emotionally or what my latest test results were or whether something spiritual had happened.

_____________________________

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Wisdom is not using them in fruit salads!

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Post #: 102
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 2/10/2007 9:46:13 PM   
cih92

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: notmycity

Here's an interesting site that talks about mixing in psychology and Christianity:

http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org


Why does psychology have to be anti-Christian? Why can't it be Christian or non-Christian like theology?
Post #: 103
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 2/13/2007 5:53:50 PM   
prodi-gal


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quote:

ORIGINAL: cih92

How do you distinguish between a bodily problem and a soul problem? Can problems with your soul cause problems in your body and vice versa?


Oh, if only there were a formula!!

I find that there is very often a connection between the state of the soul and the body, because the body and the soul are connected. Some examples from Proverbs:

Pr 12:25
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.
Pr 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick , But desire fulfilled is a tree of life .
Pr 14:30
A tranquil heart is life to the body...
Pr 17:22
A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

"Mental illnesses" especially, but not exclusively, cross the gamut of problems that spring from both the body AND the soul. And they should be treated as such. Physical meds for the physical aspect, mental treatment for the soul (making peace, finding forgiveness, letting go of anger, etc), and spiritual balm (prayer & Scripture) from the Spirit of God.

Maybe instead of trying so hard to pinpoint the origin of the problem, you could consider that maybe it's no one or the other, but a combination of both?


quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

cih92 ~ what do you mean by soul? Our mental health or spiritual health?


A good teaching I heard on this defined a man as body, soul, & spirit. The body is well understood. The soul is our mind, our will, & our emotions. The spirit is dead in the unbeliever, and becomes the undefiled dwelling place of the Holy Spirit after our salvation.
Post #: 104
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 2/25/2007 8:53:59 PM   
Papa-san


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Neither of the mental health threads are sufficient as is. There needs to be further sub-division in regards to different categories. It's the same as saying we have the 'illness' thread. That one is where you discuss cancer, heart disease, kidney failure, psoriasis, obesity, the flu, hair loss, and any other physical condition...

As a psych nurse, I realize that most people don't have any idea how far reaching and far ranging mental illness goes. PLEASE, allow people to break this down into pertinent threads, otherwise it will soon become impossible to glean any worthwhile information. There are already nearly 775 posts in the 'encouragement' thread. Not many people are willing or able to read through all of them... Please feel free to remove this, but PLEASE act upon it. Give it it's own section if necessary.
Post #: 105
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 2/26/2007 4:08:44 AM   
agapetos


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quote:

Not many people are willing or able to read through all of them...
You only need to look around at forums to see that there are a lot of LONG threads. Some people do take the time to read every post, others don't, they just kind of jump in at the last page.

_____________________________

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Wisdom is not using them in fruit salads!

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Post #: 106
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 2/26/2007 8:35:58 AM   
stateofgrace


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Papa-san

Neither of the mental health threads are sufficient as is. There needs to be further sub-division in regards to different categories. It's the same as saying we have the 'illness' thread. That one is where you discuss cancer, heart disease, kidney failure, psoriasis, obesity, the flu, hair loss, and any other physical condition...

As a psych nurse, I realize that most people don't have any idea how far reaching and far ranging mental illness goes. PLEASE, allow people to break this down into pertinent threads, otherwise it will soon become impossible to glean any worthwhile information. There are already nearly 775 posts in the 'encouragement' thread. Not many people are willing or able to read through all of them... Please feel free to remove this, but PLEASE act upon it. Give it it's own section if necessary.


Papa-san, I understand how you feel. It's only been fairly recently that the Mental Health threads were divided into encouragement and debate. I'm thankful for even that small improvement.

We do discuss mental health concerns as part of other discussions, in sections like Marriage and Parenting. The forums administrators have been giving us leeway to discuss the situations within the context of the thread topic...which could include connecting someone with a support group online, referring them to helpful books, sharing our own experience with a similar situation, etc.

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Post #: 107
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 3/20/2007 1:15:39 AM   
shimmer28

 

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THE DISORDERS WERE PROBABLY NOT HERE. DUE TO THE FACT OUR FOOD WAS NOT ENGINEER WITH OR CHANGED. MY GRANDMOTHER, TOLD ME WHEN A SEED WILL NOT REPRODUCE IT SELF IT
IS NO VALUE TO THE BODY.....SHE SAID THIS WAS IN THE BIBLE IN THE BOOKS OF LAWS. THAT
WHY I LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK FOR VINTAGE SEEDS....THEY WILL REPRODUCE OVER AND OVER...
NO ONE BUT GOD MADE THEM DO THAT!...Yes, WE HAVE IMPROVED ON THE FOOD, MADE APPLES
BEANS PEAS ETC....LOOK BETTER....BUT ARE THEY REALLY BETTER....?????

Subject:health of mind body and spirit......shimmer28
Post #: 108
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 3/20/2007 1:42:22 AM   
shimmer28

 

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I have depression from time to time, and I know it will always be with me.....I don't
take any of the drugs for it....They simply don't work on me......I've tried them and my
doctor admitted that fact....Some depressions I believe runs in families...its does mine
Just, like other diseases there on our DNA..Some people are disappointed in how their
lives, turned out...Yes, they love God....but, some where in the past they didn't do all
the things they wanted to do...and now you find your too old....It is real and I have
thought about getting out .....but, I don't . I am a artist, and floral designer....
Sometimes, the bout of depression helps in that area, believe it or not!. I write
poetry, I've had a lot of my work published some of the best work came from a
very bad bout of depression....shimmer28
Post #: 109
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 3/29/2007 9:00:15 PM   
Hischild1994


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Antidepressants, which are widely prescribed with mood stabilizers to treat patients with bipolar disorder, do not work against the depressive symptoms of the illness, a large federal study reported Wednesday.

Study says drugs don't relieve bipolar depression.

Just thought this would be of some interest.
Post #: 110
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 3/29/2007 9:06:55 PM   
agapetos


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Good timing there for me Hischild! I'm going to see my psychiatrist next week and have been thinking of bringing up the idea of having a break from my antidepressants!

That poor poor man!

_____________________________

Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.

Wisdom is not using them in fruit salads!

My blog
Post #: 111
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 3/29/2007 9:14:58 PM   
Hischild1994


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quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

Good timing there for me Hischild! I'm going to see my psychiatrist next week and have been thinking of bringing up the idea of having a break from my antidepressants!

That poor poor man!



I've been considering the same. I just want it to be under a drs. supervision. I didn't want to post this in the other thread because I know that it could be debated and therefore take away from the support and encouragement in that thread.
Post #: 112
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 3/29/2007 9:17:14 PM   
agapetos


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Hischild1994

quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

Good timing there for me Hischild! I'm going to see my psychiatrist next week and have been thinking of bringing up the idea of having a break from my antidepressants!

That poor poor man!



I've been considering the same. I just want it to be under a drs. supervision. I didn't want to post this in the other thread because I know that it could be debated and therefore take away from the support and encouragement in that thread.

I wouldn't consider doing it without a drs supervision or support. I've mentioned it in the other thread because it was relevant.

_____________________________

Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.

Wisdom is not using them in fruit salads!

My blog
Post #: 113
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 3/29/2007 9:22:36 PM   
Hischild1994


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quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hischild1994

quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

Good timing there for me Hischild! I'm going to see my psychiatrist next week and have been thinking of bringing up the idea of having a break from my antidepressants!

That poor poor man!



I've been considering the same. I just want it to be under a drs. supervision. I didn't want to post this in the other thread because I know that it could be debated and therefore take away from the support and encouragement in that thread.

I wouldn't consider doing it without a drs supervision or support. I've mentioned it in the other thread because it was relevant.


I understood what you meant. I think I just misworded my post. I knew that you would be talking to a professional about it. You're a smart cookie.
Post #: 114
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 3/29/2007 11:25:22 PM   
MyCatSmokey2006


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The article said that Wellbutrin didn't cause manic symptons, yet I'm wondering about that, since I've been having them since March 16th. I take two mood stabilizers in addition to Wellbutrin XL and Risperdal and I think that since I lost weight, that maybe I'm getting too much of the Wellbutrin XL or something. I've heard that losing weight could affect one's need for certain doses of psych meds, so I will talk with my doctor about it tomorrow. I hope she don't suggest Lithium.

Has anyone heard of losing weight decreasing need for psych meds?

_____________________________

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My Lord and my God!
<----Smokey

Check out my inspiring BLOG!!!
Post #: 115
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 3/29/2007 11:33:35 PM   
Hischild1994


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All I've done is gain weight since going on the meds.
Post #: 116
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 3/30/2007 2:06:33 PM   
agapetos


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quote:

I understood what you meant. I think I just misworded my post. I knew that you would be talking to a professional about it. You're a smart cookie.
No, you worded it very well.

Smokey ~ weren't you a bit out of sych on your meds recently? If it was you, that could have affected your mood. Don't believe everything you hear about lithium. I've used it for 4 years and it's been wonderful ~ and I'm on a fairly high dose and I've never felt spaced out on it. It has been wonderful in stabilizing my moods.

I've lost weight while I've been on meds. Because I have thyroid issues I can also gain weight too. My meds don't seem to need changing much though.

_____________________________

Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.

Wisdom is not using them in fruit salads!

My blog
Post #: 117
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 4/3/2007 12:17:39 AM   
123Brody

 

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First of all, I am a GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) survivor :)

I believe mental illness is brought on by two factors:
a. Our personality
b. environment

Years of stresses can CHANGE the brain and its whole chemical balance.

My past is somewhat difficult. I had a lot of "changes" in my life which ultimately led to chaos. This is a scientific fact you know :)

The more abrupt the changes the more chaos that comes with them.

SO TRY TO BE CONSISTENT at home if you have kids. .

Life can really beat us up you know and eventuallt our brains become overloaded and it starts to change. A lot like a brewing kettle of tea...;)

I discovered that with my illness, it was actually "down played" by everone around me. they just thought that it was all in my head. :(

Little did they know, IT WAS :) BUt in a different way...

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Post #: 118
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 4/3/2007 12:56:55 AM   
womaninchrist

 

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Good point, Steph.

A lot of mental illness is either caused by environment or triggered (as in made active) by the environment - and particularly by what happens during childhood and the first few years as an adult. Good, stable, appropriate parenting won't prevent ALL mental illness, but it will prevent much mental illness and it will provide better skills and support as a foundation for anything that does happen. Worth mention, Ephesians 6 and Colossians 3 both pair admonitions for children to obey and honor their parents with reminders to the parents about how to treat their children. Clearly parenting is important too - not just that the children behave. Unfortunately, many seem to gloss over the bit to parents and linger on the admonitions to children. The church rarely seems to spend enough time really, honestly, talking about parenting - how to do it or why it's important.
Post #: 119
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 4/3/2007 1:33:53 AM   
MyCatSmokey2006


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quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

quote:

I understood what you meant. I think I just misworded my post. I knew that you would be talking to a professional about it. You're a smart cookie.
No, you worded it very well.

Smokey ~ weren't you a bit out of sych on your meds recently? If it was you, that could have affected your mood. Don't believe everything you hear about lithium. I've used it for 4 years and it's been wonderful ~ and I'm on a fairly high dose and I've never felt spaced out on it. It has been wonderful in stabilizing my moods.

I've lost weight while I've been on meds. Because I have thyroid issues I can also gain weight too. My meds don't seem to need changing much though.


My psychiatrist didn't adjust my medications; she just told me to take more of my prn medication when the manic episodes occur. I've been on a more or less consistent medication schedule since the manic episodes started, but I still have them.

I've read a book about bipolar disorder and I learned some things I didn't know, such as that some people, including myself, get too involved in other people's business when in a manic state. This is probably why I was not taken seriously at the hospital when I told the staff that they could not do certain things to other patients. I still believe that mentally ill people have certain rights, but now I see why I'm not taken seriously by mental health profesionals, they think it's just part of my illness.

_____________________________

Melissa
My Lord and my God!
<----Smokey

Check out my inspiring BLOG!!!
Post #: 120
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 5/11/2007 8:03:26 PM   
JesKlu


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quote:

ORIGINAL: womaninchrist

Good point, Steph.

A lot of mental illness is either caused by environment or triggered (as in made active) by the environment - and particularly by what happens during childhood and the first few years as an adult. Good, stable, appropriate parenting won't prevent ALL mental illness, but it will prevent much mental illness and it will provide better skills and support as a foundation for anything that does happen. Worth mention, Ephesians 6 and Colossians 3 both pair admonitions for children to obey and honor their parents with reminders to the parents about how to treat their children. Clearly parenting is important too - not just that the children behave. Unfortunately, many seem to gloss over the bit to parents and linger on the admonitions to children. The church rarely seems to spend enough time really, honestly, talking about parenting - how to do it or why it's important.



That's right, and a lot of children are being abused these days, whuch can cause a variety of mental illnesses. And not only that, I am sure some churches even downplay child abuse, thinking it is the child's fault because they are not obeying their parents, thinking it's discipline.

Yours in Jesus Christ,
Jessica

_____________________________

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Post #: 121
RE: Mental Health Debate - One Stop Thread - 5/11/2007 9:29:26 PM   
a_sparrow


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quote:

The article said that Wellbutrin didn't cause manic symptons, yet I'm wondering about that, since I've been having them since March 16th. I take two mood stabilizers in addition to Wellbutrin XL and Risperdal and I think that since I lost weight, that maybe I'm getting too much of the Wellbutrin XL or something. I've heard that losing weight could affect one's need for certain doses of psych meds, so I will talk with my doctor about it tomorrow.



MyCatSmokey2006,

I know this is almost 2 months too late, but I know that some years back, I had unusual, for me, episodes of extreme anxiety and claustrophobia when taking Wellbutrin (don't know if it was XL, if XL was even available back then). My doc had just raised the dosage. No, I didn't have manic episodes, and I'm not bipolar, but I did seem to react badly to an increased dosage of Wellbutrin. The doc lowered the dose and everything went back to normal. I'm not criticizing Wellbutrin, which was actually very helpful to me, at the correct dosage. Don't know what that has to do with weight loss and med adjustment...but I thought I'd post it.

Edited for spelling.
Post #: 122
Is Christian counseling dangerous? - 5/23/2007 6:30:17 PM   
buckeyenationrocks

 

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Over the last 20 years I have seen about 10 Christian counselors. My depressions were getting worse and worse. Each time I was told to meditate on the scriptures, or pray more. None of this did any good.

Eventually I had a full blown bipolar episode and destroyed my life and hurt several people in the process. After trying suicide three times a secular counselor got involved. He asked me questions from a checklist and diagnosed me as text book bipolar. I was put on meds and stabilized right away.

If any of the ten had done this simple step I would have been saved much heart ache. You wouldn't tell a cancer patient to meditate on scripture and not get medicine. Nor should you do that with a mentally ill person. It is a medical condition.

Is Christian counsling offered through churches dangerous? Thank you for your thoughtful replies.
Post #: 123
RE: Is Christian counseling dangerous? - 5/23/2007 7:23:17 PM   
cow451


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quote:

ORIGINAL: buckeyenationrocks

Over the last 20 years I have seen about 10 Christian counselors. My depressions were getting worse and worse. Each time I was told to meditate on the scriptures, or pray more. None of this did any good.

Eventually I had a full blown bipolar episode and destroyed my life and hurt several people in the process. After trying suicide three times a secular counselor got involved. He asked me questions from a checklist and diagnosed me as text book bipolar. I was put on meds and stabilized right away.

If any of the ten had done this simple step I would have been saved much heart ache. You wouldn't tell a cancer patient to meditate on scripture and not get medicine. Nor should you do that with a mentally ill person. It is a medical condition.

Is Christian counsling offered through churches dangerous? Thank you for your thoughtful replies.

It's one of my pet peeves. If my car breaks down, I would rather have a competent atheist mechanic than a bad Christian one.

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Wenn zuerst Sie nicht gelingen, Versuch, versuch wieder. Geben Sie dann auf. Es gibt keinen punkt, in ein zu sein, verdammt Narren darum. -- W. C. Fields
Post #: 124
RE: Is Christian counseling dangerous? - 5/23/2007 7:41:05 PM   
Hischild1994


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quote:

ORIGINAL: buckeyenationrocks
If any of the ten had done this simple step I would have been saved much heart ache. You wouldn't tell a cancer patient to meditate on scripture and not get medicine. Nor should you do that with a mentally ill person. It is a medical condition.


I agree.

quote:

Is Christian counsling offered through churches dangerous? Thank you for your thoughtful replies.


Depends on who is offering the counseling. My counselor is a Christian. He approaches the sessions from a Christian view point, but is educated on the about various forms of mental illness.

My pastor is just about finished schooling to be a professional therapist.

Both men provide good Christian counseling.

However, there have been many who've had very bad experiences with Christian counselors. BTW- the same can be said for non-Christian counseling.

Christians are starting to realize that mental illness is real and they are starting to approach it in that way.
Post #: 125
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