Mental Illness and Christianity: Why is it so problematic?
My first blog. I am a born again Christian since 1987. Long story that I will get back to at some later point or if somebody wants details I have no issue presenting my story.
In the meantime, my anger with the traditional Christian Denominational and Non-Denominational Churches has evolved to disappointment and now to action... we shall see... I am a procrastinator.
My son was diagnosed with schizophrenia about 11 years ago. He started displaying symptoms, which we did not recognize, about mid-way through his senior year. During senior week, he was diagnosed and hospitalized for 10 days on heavy doses of mind numbing anti-psychotic drugs. Today, after running the gauntlet of meds, he is stable, although for 29 years of age, quite challenged, as he seemed to stop maturing mentally at the age of 16 or 17. He is sweet dispositioned and no trouble for his mother and I to have around. Indeed, we are both facing major surgeries within the next 3 months and we will need him to "nurse" us for a period of time.
Since he was diagnosed, Peggy (my wife) and I have emersed ourselves in the world of mental illness and are actively teaching NAMI (National Alliance for Mentally Ill) classes. In the meantime, we searched for a church that was sensitive to the needs of mentally ill folks and their families. Thought we found one until one day they ran off a poor woman who was (to me, at least) pretty manic and disruptive. (What the hell do you expect???) If you say you are in the business of "ministering" to the mentally ill, then by God do it... or at least figure out a way to help their families get through day by day. If you are not, then at least you are honestly in line with the majority of Christian denominational churches that seem to ignore the issue rather than face it head on.
Emergent Churches like Scum of The Earth in Denver seem to be a real possiblity for me and my family. It is easy to have a ministry of helps or prayer or whatever in the normal world. Try reasoning with a schizophrenic or some person who is so depressed they are looking for shelter under a wad of gum in the crack of some sidewalk.
More later.......
If anyone wants to know more about me personally, I will share all and bare all.
In the meantime, my anger with the traditional Christian Denominational and Non-Denominational Churches has evolved to disappointment and now to action... we shall see... I am a procrastinator.
My son was diagnosed with schizophrenia about 11 years ago. He started displaying symptoms, which we did not recognize, about mid-way through his senior year. During senior week, he was diagnosed and hospitalized for 10 days on heavy doses of mind numbing anti-psychotic drugs. Today, after running the gauntlet of meds, he is stable, although for 29 years of age, quite challenged, as he seemed to stop maturing mentally at the age of 16 or 17. He is sweet dispositioned and no trouble for his mother and I to have around. Indeed, we are both facing major surgeries within the next 3 months and we will need him to "nurse" us for a period of time.
Since he was diagnosed, Peggy (my wife) and I have emersed ourselves in the world of mental illness and are actively teaching NAMI (National Alliance for Mentally Ill) classes. In the meantime, we searched for a church that was sensitive to the needs of mentally ill folks and their families. Thought we found one until one day they ran off a poor woman who was (to me, at least) pretty manic and disruptive. (What the hell do you expect???) If you say you are in the business of "ministering" to the mentally ill, then by God do it... or at least figure out a way to help their families get through day by day. If you are not, then at least you are honestly in line with the majority of Christian denominational churches that seem to ignore the issue rather than face it head on.
Emergent Churches like Scum of The Earth in Denver seem to be a real possiblity for me and my family. It is easy to have a ministry of helps or prayer or whatever in the normal world. Try reasoning with a schizophrenic or some person who is so depressed they are looking for shelter under a wad of gum in the crack of some sidewalk.
More later.......
If anyone wants to know more about me personally, I will share all and bare all.
posted by AudioVisualGuru at 8:28 AM
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