The Disconnect Between Faith and Behavioral Health

How do we reconcile the fact that mental illness exists alongside evangelical beliefs that the burden of sin brought about the pain and suffering of the human condition? Are we less Christian if we have a mental illness? Do we hide the fact that our child suffers from mental illness from the church, fearful that we will be "judged" as poor parents as a result of the truth? Is the Church the last frontier in the fight against the stigma of mental illness?

Merriam-Webster defines stigma as "a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something". Is it so difficult to accept that mental illness is a condition that requires treatment?

For the faithful, its important to remember that Jesus, "the Great Physician" spent most of his time with people who were not considered the most healthy and respected. He spent a great deal of time among the poor, the sick, the "sinners", as many were called, that lived amongst the righteous.

He ministered to everyone's needs, no matter how insignificant they were thought to be by others. Shame was rampant when it came to sickness, and the sick were often hidden from the rest of the community. When word got out that Jesus was in the area, people brought the sick out into the open, often the outcome of a great deal of trouble doing so. He continued to heal them because of their faith.

How is it that in 2013 we continue to hide our mentally ill, recoil from them, treat them as people who, if only had enough faith would be healed from mental illness? Jesus and his disciples healed others with the gift of Divine healing. We seem to be so very comfortable with the healing hands of God working through modern day physicians trained in the practice of medicine when it comes to broken arms, flu, viruses, and more serious conditions such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Serious mental illness such as clinical depression, certain anxiety disorders, Bipolar disorder and Schizophrenia are examples of neurological brain disorders. We do not pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and "get over it". That's one of the "negative" and "unfair" beliefs about mental illnesses that are by definition, stigma. The truth is it takes treatment to manage the symptoms of mental illness.

Does seeking help mean we lose sight of our faith? Hopefully not. Is there a place for faith in the process of treatment? Most definitely. Prayer is a powerful tool in the process of recovery from any medical condition. With serious mental illness however, prayer is a part of a holistic approach to healing; that is, attending to the whole person, mind, body and spirit.

For many people in the Christian community, the first stop on the way to obtaining help for the disabling effects of mental illness begins with a visit to their minister, pastor, priest or spiritual advisor. Clergy have been trained to recognize the difference between a spiritual struggle and a mental health crisis. Once that assessment has been made, a referral for mental health services is often facilitated. Take them seriously. Call for an appointment at (334)329-7155.



 

Behavioral Health and Primary Medical Care - Why its important that you obtain a good physical at the beginning of treatment

Quality behavioral healthcare should include collaboration between the patient's behavioral healthcare provider (e.g., therapist/counselor) and their primary care physician. You may ask, what does my medical health have to do with my behavioral health treatment? The following information will help explain why I believe so strongly in reviewing general medical conditions and symptoms with my clients, and why I ask my clients to have a complete physical, and allow me to collaborate with their primary care physician.

The fact is, people with serious mental health problems die earlier than individuals who do not have these concerns. Premature death estimates range from between 14 to 32 years earlier for those with serious mental health problems http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/apr/05_0180.htm. Suicide was the 10th most frequent cause of death in the United States in 2010. 38,364 individuals died of suicide, or approximately 105 people per day http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/suicide_datasheet_2012-a.pdf. However, suicide is not the leading cause of death for people with serious mental health issues. Rather, co-morbidity, or concurrent general medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer contribute to the premature death of people with more serious mental health concerns.  http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/2011/no-health-without-mental-health.shtml?amp&amp#refvii.

It's also important to note that some physical symptoms can be misdiagnosed as mental health concerns. At the same time, some mental health issues can be secondary to general medical conditions http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/294131-overview .

Does this mean that all my clients have serious mental health issues? Of course not.The purpose of sharing this information is to encourage collaboration between behavioral health and primary care treatment. As a behavioral health provider I believe that treatment of the whole person, mind, body and spirit is essential to achievement of the best quality of life that can be achieved. Questions? Call 334.329.7155 for a brief consultation to see if behavioral health treatment is appropriate for you. 

Do You Need Psychotherapy?

People choose psychotherapy for a myriad of reasons. "Symptoms" often propel people to contact their primary care physician first to obtain a professional opinion as to the nature or cause of the symptoms. However, in addition to physicians and other appropriate health care providers, licensed professional counselors can also diagnose and treat behavioral health conditions, with the exception of prescribing medications.

Behavioral health diagnoses are treatable just like other medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or heart disease. Physicians often prescribe medications for behavioral health conditions, but their time is generally limited and may not be enough to provide all the necessary supports to improve and manage symptoms such as depression, mood swings, anxiety, attention problems, confusion, fatigue, co-occurring disorders, and other possible manifestations of behavioral health conditions. Many times, this is the time when a doctor or other helping professionals will recommend psychotherapy, with or without the concurrent treatment of a condition with medication.

Generally speaking, if you are experiencing symptoms that have caused you enough concern to discuss them with a medical professional, your pastor or minister, or in close confidence with a family member or close friend; or, have been significant enough for you to wonder if you need therapy, you may be a candidate. Is it time for you to take the next step? If so, see our Contact page at http://www.auburnbehavioralhealth.com/.