Mental illness: demons, biological, or both?

[seichu kaisho]

Yo peoples, I was wondering, what are your thoughts on the causes of mental illnesses, such as depression and schizophrenia for example? The Bible tells that demon possession is a true phenomenon, but there is much evidence that suggests that behavior/mood problems can be genetic as well. What do you think? Is this something we can or can't know for sure?

[Shell]

Problems like depression are illnesses that can be treated and usually managed very well with medication, just like a physical problem. I could be biased though cuz I work in the medical field. There can be a lot of factors, but it can run in families. Chemical imbalances can be a factor too, and that's what some of the medications do, balance the chemical problem.

[Waterboy]

I have been a counselor for over twenty years and currently working in a Psych. Intensive Care Unit at a hospital and have been a Christian most all my life. Mental illness is a biological problem just like being a diabetic or having cancer. Mental illness can be treated/controlled with medications, therapy, ect. I do believe that there can be demons in the soul of a person, and I have even seen it in patients. I believe a person can be suffering from both and they must be treated for both conjointly. It is sad to say, but radical religions (and I didn't say christians) will say that mental health therapist are of the devil themselves. Seek out the wisdom of an openminded paster or christian counselor. If you go to one that says psychology is of the devil then get out of there and find someone else to help you. Trust me, even though they mean well and think they are doing the right thing, it will only make you more confused.
I also know from personal experience as many in my family think and have told me that psychology is of the devil and modern psychology can not help people. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have. See my profile for my email address. I hope this helps.

[js3971]

I think in everything you've got to take it back to Scripture. The Bible says that we need to have our Spirit saved and to posess our soul. If we don't posess it, something else will.

Remember the demoniac, after Jesus had cast the demons out of him, his friends and family and those who saw them said that he was in his right mind.

Also, in the story of the prodigal son, when he was out in the pigs, it says he came to his right mind, then went back to his father.

As Christians, the scripture tells us we have been given not a spirit of fear (what a lot of mental illness is based on), but a spirt of power, of love, and a SOUND MIND.

Also scripture tells us that we've been given the mind of Christ (or the annointed one). If we're using the Spirit or annointing, and the Word to renew our minds, then we are posessing our souls and will have that sound mind and a spirit of power, not fear.

I don't know everything in this, but I've learned a lot in the past couple of years from my church. It's really made a difference in my life personally, including in some of these types of areas.

[seichu kaisho]

Thanks you all for sharing your views and shedding some light on this topic. What you have said does support my belief that mental conditions can be caused by both spiritual and biological factors.

Just to clarify, I myself am not currently dealing with a mental disorder that I know of. I don't believe I've ever had schizophrenia. However, I have dealt with clinical depression during my teenage years. Severe enough at times that I was often bitter toward other people and wanted to die. That was a horrible, dark period in my life and I'm so glad it's over with.

I'm still on medication, but I have never experienced any symptoms of depression since last June. Of course I still deal with normal life stresses nowadays, but no longer any abnormal mood problems. Now that I don't have the depression to deal with anymore, I have felt more of the joy of God in my spirit and my life has been better. Will the symptoms return? I don't know. But I'm not afraid. God used the depression I had to strengthen my faith in Jesus and now my faith is much stronger than it was when I was in high school. (I became a born-again believer in 8th grade.)
- - -

Earlier today I watched a Dr. Phil program about people with schizophrenia and people who have family members with the disorder. It was really concerning and I felt kinda heartbroken for the victims and their families. Even if you don't know who they are, please pray for 'em. No matter what the cause, we know that our God has power over their illnesses and can work miracles if we ask Him.

[js3971]

ONe thing I forgot to mention in the last post of mine on this subject is generational curses. We don't hear anything about it in traditional churches. But in the Old Testament, God said if you do these things you will be blessed from generation to generation, and if you do these other things, your family will be cursed from generation to generation.

Now, Jesus became our curse for us, because Scripture says that anyone that hangs on a tree is cursed. So for believers, we are no longer under generational curses.

But if we're not believing...that's where the problems come in. Think about it. A lot of things people are saying are hereditary now days, they are right in a way. But the problem isn't a physical or mental inheritance problem, it's a spiritual one. The reason God said this is because when we sin we open doors to spiritual influences (demons) into our lives and as authorities in our home, they are opened to our children. If the children don't forgive the parents or whomever did the sin and opened the door, they then open themselves up to be influenced by the same demonic influence.

That's why you see a lot of children that are abused, grow up to become abusers. That's why you see a lot of children of alcoholics grow up to become alcoholics.

Again, I don't know everything about this, but this is just the basics of what I have learned. I hope it helps you out some. But remember, as a believer, you are not under the curse, you are part of the lineage of God now, which is one of tremendous blessings.

[charl]

That's why you see a lot of children that are abused, grow up to become abusers. That's why you see a lot of children of alcoholics grow up to become alcoholics.

There does seem to be a genetic component involved in alcoholism. However I would argue that these are not generational 'curses', they are the consequences of sinning and being sinners-which is precisely what those passages in scripture were referring to. There is one 'generational curse', that being the imputed sin of Adam.
BTW js, can Christians be influenced by these curses if they are 'living in sin' (as you seem to imply)? I don't want to misrepresent your view, but if that's what you're saying, it's problematic.


Anyway, as mentioned, there are a myriad of reasons people suffer mentally and emotionally. For some it is genetic, some medical, some because of environmental factors, and yes for others it is demons. Each person is an individual.

Having said that, I have to add that I do not like the way we are treating many mental disorders today (certainly not on an individual basis). I'm sure we've all noticed the frightening tendancy to treat the majority of behavioral problems with drugs. I don't believe that is helpful-drug therapy should only be a last resort. I do not mean schizophrenia or manic-depression, but things as minor as hyperactivity or anxiety-there are better approaches for those problems.

Has anyone read D Martyn Lloyd Jones' Spiritual Depression? If so, what do you think of it?

[Waterboy]

I hate to say it, but these responses stated above is exactly the thing I was talking about. Stay away from people like this. They do not have the correct answer. Seek out a professional not a layman. I respect each person here, but I can not agree with them. I have seen too much of the end result of what happens when people don't seek out treatment. "God gave rock and roll to you", but He also gave medicine and mental health professionals to you too.

[charl]

Huh? So are you saying then that drugs indeed are the only answer? Not talk therapy or avoiding foods one is allergic to (which can cause behavioral problems) or any other solution?

Many professionals believe that talk therapy is far more beneficial than just sedating oneself-of course that takes time and work and people don't want to do it.

[Waterboy]

I'm not going to go into a long drawn out response or dwell on it. I just know what I have seen from being a professional counselor for twenty years.
I wish the best for the person who started this post.

[seichu kaisho]

Wow, I sure started something int'resting.

[js3971]

A couple of things, if you are in serious need of help, then do seek out a professional. I don't think that was the intention of his question, but to mainly just get a sense of opinions on the subject. I do agree too that drugs are not the cure all. They can be helpful, but there are other options. Sometimes the drugs can help reverse a chemical imbalance that has happened for whatever reason.

As I stated earlier, I don't know everythign on the subject. I just know what I've learned and how it compares to what I had learned in the past. I have been a Christian for 16 years, but I've too had to ovecome depression. I didn't do it with drugs. I did when I really started truly submitting myself to God and his Word. But it is God's goodness that leads people to repentance (or to think differently about a situation.) I know that perhaps everyone on here will disagree with me on this no matter what I answer. And that's ok.

But as I stated earlier too, we must take everything back to the word. The Word is the ultimate authority in all matters. Either we believe it or we don't. Many people believe in God, but they don't really believe what he says in his Word.

But too, I didn't respond to get into an apologetic debate. That never causes any good no matter what. But I hope you find the answer you're looking for, and if you were just mainly looking for an opinion, there's mine.

[epdc]

this is what I think.

Some problems comes for a biological reason and some are spiritual. there are cases were you have a mental problem because you have a demon in you or because of a spiritual curse ya know and some cases is a biological thing...


My advice is to pray to God and ask Him to heal you AND also talk with a doctor about your problem. I know pastors that say that you don[t need doctors, that the Lord will heal you and stuff. That[s true, God can heal but He also created doctors, theres nothing wrong with that.

I have dealt with some depression lately, most of it is relatedt with all the stress I have had. Some depressions have to do with a family problem or with low self steeme, (mine is stress). Right now I[m dealing with migrain.

I always pray to God and read the Bible so Go dcan heal me but I also take medication for my migrain.

Do you remember I said I was on treatment because of my liver and stuff? well, I started to have symptons of depression, getting tired easily, lots of headaches and stuff, I went to see a doctor , homeopatic doctor who explained me i had a problem with my liver and that was causing all the symptons i have. i gotta say i[m way better now, i kinda got down because my stress at school but i[m better now.

Anyways, something that was very important also was that I pray. Because no medication will heal you if God doesnt touch your life ya know.


I think each case is different, some things can be treated by medicine and some has a lot to do with the spiritual world.

[Enosh]

Well, let me speak from experience then.

My mother has been diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic as well as having depression. This is mostly the reason I and my two sisters were raised by my grandmother. I will say that there has to be a balance. After what I've gone through personally this year with the whole brain tumor thing I tell you that doctors are very important! We should not dismiss doctors recomendations and yes we should take medication when needed.

What scares me is the "Health Professional" that denies the supernatural implications and disregards spritual judgement. Niether extreme is healthy. I was told by a "Professional" that I needed surgery. Now I'm being told that it's a good thing they were unsuccessful because the surgery would have killed me! Every pain I have now is because of a surgery I should have never had. "Professionals" are not always correct.

Therefore I put my life in God's hands. And take medication I may be perscribed. Praise God that I nor other members of my family have any of these mental disorders. My mother would be more coherent if she stayed on her meds, but I also believe that there are generational curses. There are spirits that attach themselves to people and families and they must be dealt with through prayer and rebuke. All the while taking medication for the physical, also taking care of the spiritual.

I have family members who have gone into the Phycology field and we have very interesting debates. I do believe that when you are more influenced by secular education than Biblical principal you will have problems. That is not to say I don't believe counselors do good. I just know that there are different reasons, both physical and spiritual that cause the problems we face on a daily basis. If God said he wishes for us to prosper and be in health, then what do you think Satan wants for our life. To steal, kill, and destroy. Remember that we are spiritual beings first. To over look the spiritual side of our life is a grave mistake.

You cannot explain the supernatural with the physical mind. It is impossible. The physical cannot fathom the spiritual in the least. His ways are above our ways, His thoughts higher than our thoughts. For anyone to say that people who simply believe in the spiritual ramifications of sickness and disease are dangerous or looney is dangerous and looney in and of itself. I would never seek counsel from someone who could not address both sides of the issue.

Be careful who you obtain counsel from. Make sure that any counsel, not matter how correct it may seem first lines up with the Word of God. The Word is the Standard ALL counsel must match up to. Not what we might have been taught in college. Colleges around the globe are unfourtunately producing more and more secular thinking people everyday in the name progress. Secular thinking that leaves out the presence of God and the supernatural in our lives is simply... INCORRECT. And that's the simple answer. I would be interested to see the blood on the hands of professors of their students on judgement day. I pray that we wake up.

[Shell]

That sums it up pretty well Enosh.

Many of the people dealing with depression in the reports I transcribe have situational or environmental issues, and once those improve, the depression will often improve too.

Medication has it's place, but the problem is some of the medications have side effects, and can take awhile to kick in and work. You have to hang in there and work with your doctor to adjust the medication or find medication that works. People tend to stop taking it rather than work with their doctor to find the best treatment, and that's not good either. You have to get blood work done periodically with some of that stuff to make sure it's not building up to a toxic level in your system, and there are a lot of things you can't mix with antidepressants, so that's a consideration too.

There aren't any easy answers, and Elo was right when she said you should ask God for help.