A Word on Mental Illness as Brain Disease

Walking alongside & caring for loved ones with severe mental illness, and working with clients with these kinds of diseases of the brain has contributed largely to my passion to educate the world about mental illness and the importance of mental health maintenance and mental illness prevention as early as possible. The passion runs very deep for me both personally and professionally.

A friend recently confused some words of mine: she heard “brain disease” but didn’t hear me mention “mental illness”, so she assumed I said, “brain cancer”, thinking the disease I was talking about was cancer – but it was not. I was talking about a psychotic disorder – which is also a disease of the brain. It reminded me how little the world knows about mental illness in general (and I was easily in that boat only years ago). Psychotic disorders, the most severe of mental illnesses, are also brain diseases. Often, you can’t see the deterioration happening in one’s mind, except through one’s behavior and cognition, so it is usually misunderstood. We pin these people down as “the psycho ex gf or bf”, “the prideful, stubborn father”, or “the socially awkward”, and we shun them out.

Christianity & Emotional Health

Christian theologians suffered with depression. You are not alone.

I found this online a few days ago but can’t locate the source at this time. I will find it soon though:

“Some names that come to mind are Augustine, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, Søren Kierkegaard, Adolf Schlatter, Rudolf Otto (who may even have attempted suicide), and Paul Tillich. Interestingly, in some cases, the experience of depression seems to have played a formative role in the person’s theological development—just think of Luther or Kierkegaard!

Many of the great theologians were undeniably gifted individuals with impressive intellectual ability. The relationship between IQ and emotional intensity has been demonstrated in the research on gifted individuals.
Experiencing these heights and depths at such intensity would surely contribute to greater questioning, deeper thought, and more powerful expression.

The struggle with depression is a fire that reveals the deepest epiphanies in the refining of faith.”
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Also, Chip Ingram just finished a Series on “Does God Still Heal?” – I am currently listening to the first one:
10/06/2009 – Does God Still Heal? – Emotional Healing: How to Move Beyond Treating the Symptoms, Part 1

Chip starts by giving some astounding research about mental illness in America today.

Listen to Chip’s take on God’s prescription for healing your emotions. (Keep in mind his focus and the way he speaks is all about application – and practical ways to move towards behavioral change.)

I know many times we need more – we need empathy, we need a healing relationship, but we also want true transformation from the inside out. We want inner change that PRODUCES outer fruit. We long for real, lasting changes in our heart but also in our thoughts/behaviors.

Both are necessary and important. And if BOTH the healing relationship and the action plan for change are in process, in effect, and moving forward, you ARE moving towards mental/ emotional health and growth. It does require our ownership, but trusting God is the source.

Some thoughts from Dr. Amen’s book

I’m reading Healing Anxiety & Depression by Dr. Daniel Amen and wanted to share snippits of a chapter:

He talks about the Bio-Psycho-Social Assessment, and that we must look at all 3 factors (biological = genetic disposition, psychological = emotional neglect and abuse, and social = societal contributions).

Psychologically, early neglect and abuse affects the brain because there is a lack of appropriate stimulation of affection, touching, and nurturing, required to create connections between neurons in the brain.  Also, chronic negative self talk or negative thinking can be developed by living in a chronically negative environment and decrease one’s ability to think in clear, logical and helpful ways.

I am most interested in the areas where I can encourage someone towards psychological and social growth (helping an individual find a positive social support system and practice positive self-talk and learn to grieve over past hurts).  I can’t do much in the biological area except continue to encourage a healthy diet and exercise (which believe it or not makes a huge difference in one’s mood), and refer them for medication if necessary.