Evangelicals & Nervous Breakdowns

Rhoni · #1 08-18-2008, 08:31 AM

Today on my way to work I was listening to James Dobson on FM 100.7. He had a guest Pastor from a Denton, Texas mega-church on there to tell of his experience with depression. The type of depression has been called a "Nervous Breakdown" before the public was educated as to what was really going on.

This type of depression is primarily among the most successful men & women, a high % of the fortune 500 people as well as those who Pastor large churches and are highly motivated. This happens with Type A, & those with choleric personality types when they are completely overloaded, oeverworked, and their body reacts to the decreases Seratonin levels.

In his experience he said that his co-workers and peers who are "Evangelical" were no help whatsoever. He said that he was told the typical: just pray an read the Bible more, give it to God, and just get over it. He ended up going to a psychiatrist who normalized this, described the symptoms, and through medication and counseling the Pastor was able to prioritize, let go of some things/works that he could delegat to others and within 6 months he was back to himself and off medications.

It was interesting to note that he said, "Unless you have been through it you cannot help others to understnad and know there is hope." He strongly recommended that no one go to an 'Evangelical' for help with such a physiological reaction to depression caused by overload of stress.

Your well thought out posts/opinions on this would be appreciated. Do not personalize this to me and what I do for a living. Please keep this on topic.

Thank you & Blessings, Rhoni

steve p · #2 08-18-2008, 08:57 AM

Sounds like sound advice. So many times, people who really don't have answers, (evangelicals, non-evangelicals, christians, and non-christians), give advice, when in fact they have no clue to the problem nor the solution. We have lived in a world for years of "just get over it". Its amazing that we are ok with taking medication for all the organs of the body except the brain. Im working with a physician now who is prescribing suboxone for opioid dependence and this drug is giving people a window of recovery without withdrawal symptoms. Suboxone coupled with traditional 12-Step therapy is proving most successful. Hmmmmmm ...do we just pray over a broken leg.....should we just read the bible more when we are suffering with a heart attack?.....Go figure!

Rhoni · #3 08-18-2008, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve p

Sounds like sound advice. So many times, people who really don't have answers, (evangelicals, non-evangelicals, christians, and non-christians), give advice, when in fact they have no clue to the problem nor the solution. We have lived in a world for years of "just get over it". Its amazing that we are ok with taking medication for all the organs of the body except the brain. Im working with a physician now who is prescribing suboxone for opioid dependence and this drug is giving people a window of recovery without withdrawal symptoms. Suboxone coupled with traditional 12-Step therapy is proving most successful. Hmmmmmm ...do we just pray over a broken leg.....should we just read the bible more when we are suffering with a heart attack?.....Go figure!

SteveP,
Suboxone is more effective for substance dependence of Opiods rather than Methadone because methodone can so easily be abused. The Physicians who can actully prescribe suboxone are limited because of the integrity of the treatment.

With the evolution of our society the things we take into our bodies in the food additives and such, create more issues in diseases and even mental health diagnosis. Because some depression is chemical imbalance that imbalance has to come from somewhere.

I know the recent studies as to the injectible babies shots/vaccines are causing some mental health issues such as: Autism, ADHD, Asberger's Syndrome and other things.

Blessings,
Rhoni

Sister Alvear · #4 08-18-2008, 09:17 AM

I had heard people laugh about these things but a nervous breakdown is real...I know...

Rhoni · #5 08-18-2008, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

I had heard people laugh about these things but a nervous breakdown is real...I know...

Sister Alvear,

When we were pastoring a home missions work in the Florida panhandle, one of the Pastor's wives in our section had a "nervous breakdown". I remember being so judgmental about it and her until I went through church trouble in the late 1980's and thought I was losing my mind.

Now that I know the causes of some of these things, I am ashamed at my absolute stupidity, and judgmentalism in this area.

If you don't mind sharing what you know...it may be beneficial to some, but I remind you that many on this forum can get judgmental and attack even well respected posters, so please use caution.

Respectfully,
Rhoni

steve p · #6 08-18-2008, 09:39 AM

After recovering from a 25 year stint of alcoholism and drug addiction, I still suffered with anxiety and depression. I was put on medication (ssri's) and utilized 12 step therapy AND saw a counselor who was a christian. After "working through" some problems..(marriage, religious abuse, etc) I am no longer on medication for either depression nor anxiety. BUT...if I had not been medically treated, I may have gone the way of my father....suicide....

Blessings
Steve (the RECOVERED addict) ....

Rhoni · #7 08-18-2008, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve p

After recovering from a 25 year stint of alcoholism and drug addiction, I still suffered with anxiety and depression. I was put on medication (ssri's) and utilized 12 step therapy AND saw a counselor who was a christian. After "working through" some problems..(marriage, religious abuse, etc) I am no longer on medication for either depression nor anxiety. BUT...if I had not been medically treated, I may have gone the way of my father....suicide....

Blessings
Steve (the RECOVERED addict) ....

SteveP,

Thank you for sharing your experience. Many individuals turn to alccohol and other drugs to numb the pain of all those things you mentioned [called self-medicating]; family of origin issues, spiritual abuse, as well as marriage problems. The marriage problems are many times a result of the family of origin issues and spiritual abuse.

Many people in extreme depression revert to suicide when they feel all hope is gone. Medication is an effective way to stabilize your mood, and decrease your anxiety until you are able to think again.

I am thankful you found help and you are still with us today. You have a testimony and others will be strengthened as well as yourself.

Blessings,
Rhoni

steve p · #8 08-18-2008, 10:02 AM

I'm very grateful to God, because he put all the things (meds, therapy, 12 steps etc) in place for my recovery. Sometimes I forget, He is GOD after all!!
,,,and,,, thanks for your courage to discuss your life as well...its been a blessing to me!
Blessings!

Cindy · #9 08-18-2008, 10:45 AM

I am not sure I know what an evangelical is, but I do know that prayer and reading the bible can help us overcome. However there are situations that the help of a counselor is needed. I also know that some anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications can make matters worse.

OnTheFritz · #10 08-18-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cneasttx

I am not sure I know what an evangelical is, but I do know that prayer and reading the bible can help us overcome. However there are situations that the help of a counselor is needed. I also know that some anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications can make matters worse.

Particularly when they are trying to correct a chemical imbalance that doesn't exist. I personally benefit significantly from a moderate dosage of anti-anxiety medication. It hasn't dulled my emotions to the point that I don't still get anxious during truly stressful situations, but at least I am not edgy all the time for no real reason like I used to be. I thank God for leading me to it.