About this Section
The "Mental Health" section of QLFDMin.com is not intended to be an exhaustive report or means to diagnose mental health disorders and should not be treated as such. The pages in this section contain limited information about their respective mental health disorder; more information can be obtained by speaking to medical practitioners.
I am not a doctor, nor do I claim to be one. Speak to a doctor, rather than consult this section, if you feel you have or show symptoms of a mental health disorder.
In short, this section is meant to raise awareness, not to diagnose.
I am not a doctor, nor do I claim to be one. Speak to a doctor, rather than consult this section, if you feel you have or show symptoms of a mental health disorder.
In short, this section is meant to raise awareness, not to diagnose.
The reason for this section:
When I was in college, I had a lot on my plate. I started noticing the symptoms of an anxiety disorder in my life, so I went to the free health clinic on campus, then to my family doctor. Both confirmed I had signs of an anxiety disorder.
I figured, since anxiety is linked to stress, I'll try to take some things off my plate. I went to leaders in some campus ministries I served in and informed them I would have to step back. I was met with these responses:
I figured, since anxiety is linked to stress, I'll try to take some things off my plate. I went to leaders in some campus ministries I served in and informed them I would have to step back. I was met with these responses:
"If God is your healer, why aren't you healed?"
One leader asked me this. He then told me a story about witnessing a man's arm grow from a stump before his eyes.
While I don't deny that God could do something miraculous for that man, nor do I deny He could miraculously cure me, that's not always how He works.
While I don't deny that God could do something miraculous for that man, nor do I deny He could miraculously cure me, that's not always how He works.
"Take some time to get right with God."
One leader said this to me. This was the only thing she said to me when I told her I'd have to step back from the worship team.
She acted like this was a result of some sin I had committed; as if I had strayed from the path. But I was regularly diving into deep Bible study, I was involved in a small group, I worshipped my heart out both in service and at home and I had a regular prayer life. None of this should have pointed me toward punitive action on God's part.
She acted like this was a result of some sin I had committed; as if I had strayed from the path. But I was regularly diving into deep Bible study, I was involved in a small group, I worshipped my heart out both in service and at home and I had a regular prayer life. None of this should have pointed me toward punitive action on God's part.
Therefore, to keep me from becoming overly proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from the Adversary to pound away at me, so that I wouldn't grow conceited. Three times I begged the Lord to take this thing away from me; but he told me, 'My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness.' Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weakness, in order that the Messiah's power will rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9, CJB
This passage spoke to me throughout the early days of my diagnosis. What if God had caused me to develop this anxiety disorder to prevent me from being too proud, like Paul? What if He gave it to me to make me more dependent on Him? Or, what if it had nothing to do with Yahweh and everything to do with the full plate I had given myself? What if this was just a natural reaction to the stresses I was putting my body and mind through?
Regardless the actual reason, I developed this anxiety disorder. Then, a depressive disorder followed. Often, mentally ill people won't just life with one illness, as many of these illnesses go hand-in-hand.
This section of QLFDMin.com is meant to spread awareness and destigmatize mental health disorders in the Church. My first several responses to my diagnosis were things like, "Just pray about it", "Why aren't you healed?", "Get right with God" and "It's all in your head". Instead of empathizing, sympathizing or encouraging, I was belittled and treated like I had no faith.
Believers, this should not be! Mental health disorders may not necessarily be a product of an individual's sin or estrangement from Father! It may just be a result of the fragile bodies we live in, or a product of the fallen world we live in. We must stop treating mental health disorders this way! When we do, we, not their diagnosis, create a separation between them and God.
Regardless the actual reason, I developed this anxiety disorder. Then, a depressive disorder followed. Often, mentally ill people won't just life with one illness, as many of these illnesses go hand-in-hand.
This section of QLFDMin.com is meant to spread awareness and destigmatize mental health disorders in the Church. My first several responses to my diagnosis were things like, "Just pray about it", "Why aren't you healed?", "Get right with God" and "It's all in your head". Instead of empathizing, sympathizing or encouraging, I was belittled and treated like I had no faith.
Believers, this should not be! Mental health disorders may not necessarily be a product of an individual's sin or estrangement from Father! It may just be a result of the fragile bodies we live in, or a product of the fallen world we live in. We must stop treating mental health disorders this way! When we do, we, not their diagnosis, create a separation between them and God.