With every tragedy, the phrase “mental illness” is given greater publicity and plausibility.
From Mayo Clinic: “Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect moods, thinking and behavior: depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.” This vague, subjective definition allows almost anything that disrupts “normal life” to be labeled mental illness. This illogically puts deep sadness and schizophrenia in the same category. Accepting that definition has permitted unrestricted pharmacological intrusion into our culture.
In God’s description of humankind, there are two categories: spiritual and physical. “Mental” is an invention of western medicine that attempts to explain thought patterns, with the attending emotions, so that a medication can be prescribed to “fix” the problem. But the mind is not a physical organ that can be medicated. It must be renewed. There is a vast difference between a medicated brain and a renewed mind.
The brain can suffer many such things as Alzheimer’s, cancer or trauma injuries that require physical medical treatment because it’s organic; a physical, bodily part subject to malfunction, disease or injury. But how does “mental” become ill? The mind is the spiritual faculty by which one perceives, thinks, remembers, and imagines. It is not physical or tangible. After the body and brain dies, the mind continues to work. Luke 16:19-28 tells of the rich man and the beggar, Lazarus. Both died. In torment, the rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers to avoid this torment. Abraham said, “Son, remember that in life you received good things as Lazarus received bad things.” The man clearly remembered his earthly life, even though his brain was buried with his body.
Today’s believers quickly accept the world’s physical solutions for emotional struggles that grow from a spiritual root. Chemicals produce a quick effect—sometimes negative, but always noticeable. But even though drugs quickly affect the physical body, they cannot affect the non-physical mind.
Taking pills is certainly easier than changing deeply rooted beliefs and thoughts. The huge increase in drug use is driven by the erroneous belief that medicating the brain is the same as renewing the mind. This belief has created unsurpassed dependence on prescription and street drugs in America. As long as we believe drugs are the best solution, we’ll demand more and stronger drugs, and they will quickly be supplied.
Depression, grief and anxiety are painful emotions, not diseases. The best solution for life’s pain is not in a pill that numbs, but in retraining the mind so that our confidence in God’s desire and ability to comfort, heal and provide in life’s difficulties grows consistently. This Biblical approach is not a simplistic “just pray more” band-aid. It’s a call to believers to stop thinking the way the world presses us to think; instead thinking in agreement with our Heavenly Father. Retraining our thought-habits is hard work, but pays great dividends. The battle is life-long, but becomes easier as new thought-habits gain strength.
Ask the Lord for wisdom, then listen carefully. Jesus deeply desires that we increasingly enjoy the freedom His death and resurrection bought for us: including freedom from control of anxiety, depression, grief and chemicals.
If you choose to make this change, don’t stop taking medications suddenly. They are powerful chemicals, and stopping suddenly can have dangerous physical effects. Talk to your doctor about the changes you desire, and plan with her how to carefully wean off the drugs. Seek regular spiritual support with mature believers while you make the transition.
Dr. Dixie has completed nearly 30,000 hours of one-on-one ministry since 1991. Many hours were offered at reduced rate or no-charge to those who couldn’t afford the help theyneededemotionallyandinrelationships. Infinite Grace Ministries encourages positive, eternal change! Your generosity supports our Bible-based program that rebuilds thought patterns, choices and lives. Call 580-774-2884 for more information.
