Psychopathology, through a Christian or Biblical worldview needs the
understanding based on one strong principle; Jesus Christ is our savior and
the answer to all. According to the Bible, God provides all human needs and
is available at all times and in any circumstance. Isaiah (41:10) states, so do
not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm, 46:1,
NIV). Philippians 4:6-7 goes on to assure us, do not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (NIV).
Through these truths, we are assured that God is not only present and
available to us always but he calls us to come to him through deeds, prayer,
and studying the gospel. He sent his only begotten Son to die on the cross
for all sins and to be saved by his Grace if we continue to seek his guidance
and love. The Bible calls us to seek God in times of confusion, feeling lost,
and abnormalities. Romans (12:2) Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern
what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
As humans, we all try to understand other people. Trying to figure out
why other people behaves or feels something is not an easy thing to do. The
truth is, we do not always understand our own feelings and behavior. (Kring,
Johnson, Davison, & Neale, 2016). Figuring out why people behave in
normal, expected ways is difficult enough; understanding abnormal
behavior, can be even more difficult. The best definition of psychological
disorder is one that has several different (Kring, Johnson, Davison, & Neale,
2016). The presence of a psychological disorder includes the following, the
disorder occurs within the individual, it involves clinically significant
difficulties in thinking, feeling, or behaving. It usually involves personal
distress of some kind, such as in social relationships or occupational
functioning. Psychological disorders involve dysfunction in psychological,
developmental, and/or neurobiological processes that support mental
functioning, it is not a culturally specific reaction to an event such as death
of a loved one. It is not primarily a result of social deviance or conflict with
society. (Kring, Johnson, Davison, & Neale, 2016).
Reference:
Kring, A. M., Johnson, S. L., Davison, G. C., & Neale, J. M. (2016).
Abnormal psychology: the science and treatment of psychological disorders.
Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.
I think you would need to get to know the client through counseling to
get the full picture of what they are dealing with emotionally. As you
mentioned their behavior may not be abnormal however, they may have
abnormal feelings, thoughts, or emotions.
Neurosis is the term used to describe a nonpsychotic mental illness which
triggers feelings of distress and anxiety and impairs functioning in some way
(DSM 4, 2000). The word neurosis from my research is a nerve disorder and
was first named by William Cullen. Cullen’s concept of neurosis
encompassed those nervous disorders and symptoms that do not have a
clear organic cause (Fenichel, 1995). Sigmund Freud later used the term
anxiety neurosis to describe mental illness or distress with extreme anxiety
as a defining feature. (Fenichel, 1995).
It is also my understanding that the term neurosis is not generally
used as a diagnostic category by the American psychologists and
psychiatrists any longer, and was removed from the American Psychiatric
Association’s DSM many years ago, some professionals use the term to
describe anxious symptoms and related behavior, or to describe a range of
mental illnesses outside of the psychotic disorders for example,
schizophrenia and delusional disorder. (Fenichel, 1995). Others use the
term to describe the internal process itself called an unconscious conflict
which I think you are mentioning here that triggers the anxiety
characteristic. (Fenichel, 1995). Please correct me If I am wrong Dr.
Dumont. In situations where behavior and outer appearances seem
“normal” as a professional counselor it is my responsibility to get to know
my client and understand what is going one inside with their thoughts,
feelings, and intentions that they can “mask” from the outer world.
References:
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders. 4th edition, text revised. Washington, DC: American
Psychiatric Press, Inc., 2000.
Fenichel, Otto M. The Psychoanalytic Theory of Neurosis: 50th
Anniversary Edition. New York: W.W. Norton and Son. 1995. Paula Ford-
Martin, M.A.
Psychopathology is the scientific study of mental disorders which I
think is important to understand since we are using this word so much not
only throughout this course and educational career but for most of us
throughout our future career as well. Psychopathology is the features of
individual’s mental health considered collectively and can also be used to
describe a mental or behavioral disorder. Psychopathology like all kinds of
suffering is a universal and cross-cultural phenomenon. As future Christian
Counselors, we must have a solid theology of suffering to help clients with a
full range of human suffering. (Thomas & Dumont, 2017).
A you mentioned sin has created weaknesses in human biological
functioning, cognitions, emotions volition, etc. (Thomas & Dumont, 2017). The
impact that mental health disorders has on individuals can be anything from
being unnoticeable to the outside world or totally debilitating to the
individual. Personally, I find it hard to not have
a clear direction from the bible when it comes to mental health disorders. I
find so much comfort in the bible but I also get confused and discouraged
when things are not discussed as clearly as I need them to be. The bible
states that we need to give our lives and trust fully in the Lord which I strive
to do daily however, there are situations of suffering such as those with
extreme mental illness that may not be in their rational mind all the time,
how do those individuals cope with the Christian view? I do not believe that
God punishes individuals with mental illness and I wholeheartedly believe
that he is a God of unconditional love, Grace, and passion for his children so
again it makes me wonder if someone is not always in their rational mind
how are they able to please and praise God always? Sometimes I think
people can be hurt by the Christian view if they feel they are inadequate in
God’s eyes, even if God knows they are his child they may feel less than
because they suffer greatly from mental illness. Any thoughts?
I am sorry I feel like I went on a little rant of questions but I would love
to know anyone else’s stance, understanding, and/or explanation on this
subject.
Reference:
Thomas, J.C, and Dumont, K. (2017). The Human Experience of
Psychopathology (PowerPoint) Retrieved from:
https://learn.liberty.edu/bbcswebdav/pid- 17782728-dt-content-rid-
160216022_1/courses/COUN646_D50_201730/COUN646%20ISpring
%20Presentations/Module
%2001/COUN646_Module_01_Human_Experience_of_PsychopathologyLUO
%20%28LMS%29/res/index.html
Wright (2011) explains that a crisis can come in many different forms
and can affect any individual regardless of race, ethnicity, and sex. A crisis
has the power to direct a person towards growth or lead to dissatisfaction,
pain, or other negative coping methods (Wright, 2011). A crisis disrupts the
normal flow of an individual’s life and affects how the individual perceives
the world. Trauma and stressor-related disorders include disorders in which
exposure to a traumatic or stressful event is listed explicitly as a diagnostic
criterion (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). These perceptions can
lead to feelings of intense fear and worry that can spiral into reactive
attachment disorder, disinhibited social engagement disorder, posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder, and adjustment disorders
(American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Trauma differs from a crisis because trauma refers to the response
to an event that fragments an individual’s safe world making it unsafe
(Kring & Johnson, 2016).
Trauma is more than a crisis, it is a normal reaction to an abnormal event that
creates a feeling of powerlessness and overwhelms a person’s ability to cope
(Wright, 2011).
Trauma and stressor-related disorders are closely related to anxiety and
depressive disorders however, those who have been exposed to a
traumatic or stressful event
show a phenotype in which, rather than anxiety or fear based symptoms, the
most prominent clinical characteristics are anhedonic and dysphoric
symptoms, externalizing angry and aggressive symptoms, or dissociative
symptoms (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
When an individual is exposed to a crisis or traumatic event, some will
find comfort in God and hold tight to their spirituality while others start
feeling very isolated and alone and become angry with God putting blame on
Him for the event and trauma it caused (Wright, 2011).
Clinicians and healthcare professionals are faced with finding ways to
treat trauma-related disorders and also ways to treat individuals whose
behavior has been temporarily altered dur to crisis or trauma. The Robert’s
seven-stage model consists of the following to promote crisis resolution:
1. Assess lethality and mental health status.
2. Establish rapport and engage the client.
3. Identify major problems.
4. Deal with feelings.
5. Explore alternative coping methods and partial solutions.
6. Develop an action plan.
7. Develop a termination and follow-up protocol (Roberts, 2005).
Roberts states, as a professional you want to assess safety and lethality
which begins with a fast but through biopsychosocial assessment. You want
to find out what the supports and stressors are, medical issues, medications,
if there is substance use, and what coping strategies and resources the
client has (2005). Next is rapport building which needs to be done quickly
with crisis management and it will happen as part of the assessment. Using
warmth, genuineness and empathy are essential. Problem identification is
finding out from the client why things have come to this point, Roberts
states that there is usually a “last straw” however, you also need to find out
what other problems the client is concerned about (Roberts, 2005) I need to
address feelings with validation. Letting the client vent about their feeling in
regards to the crisis will be very therapeutic. Generating alternatives is
where the game plan will be presented to the client. The clinician and client
will brainstorm options that will improve the current situation. Developing an
action plan is where the professional shifts from a crisis to a resolution and
lastly follow up. A post crisis evaluation may look at the clients current
functioning and assess the progress and satisfaction with treatment
(Roberts, 2005).
Reference:
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of
mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Kring, A. M., Johnson, S. L., Davison, G. C., & Neale, J. M. (2016).
Abnormal psychology: the science and treatment of psychological disorders.
Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.
Roberts, A. R. (2005). Crisis Intervention Handbook: Assessment,
Treatment, and Research. Oxford University Press.
Wright, H. N. (2011). The complete guide to trauma and crisis counseling:
What to do and say when it matters the most. Ventura, CA: Regal.
While trauma can have a powerful influence, it is important to
understand that it does not affect all people in the same way. Some people
who experience trauma develop significant and long-lasting problems, while
others who may have experienced similar traumatic events may have
minimal symptoms or recover quickly. The term resilience is used to
describe the capacity of people to successfully adapt and recover, even in
the face of highly stressful and traumatic experiences (Herman et al, 2011).
Resilience can be enhanced by strengthening a variety of protective
factors. Several personal characteristics can promote resilience, such as
having a positive temperament, sociability, optimism, and an internal locus
of control. Some of these characteristics be personality characteristics that
can be difficult to change. However, there is a lot that can be done to
promote resilience (Herman et al, 2011). Research has found that resilience
can be perfected by strengthening three levels of protective factors:
Individual: cognitive ability, self-efficacy, self-regulation, coping
strategies, spirituality.
Family: supportive parent-child interaction, social support.
Community characteristics: positive school experiences, community
resources (Herman et al, 2011).
Protective factors that promote resilience can also vary culturally. Despite
broad impacts of trauma, people can and do recover. Without intervention,
trauma-related symptoms may continue however, many studies have found
that interventions and support can help people to recover. In some cases,
exposure to traumatic events can affect children’s brain development. With
the right kinds of intervention, even the damage may not be permanent. The
brain is capable of repair and recovery, a principle referred to as
neuroplasticity (Middlebrooks et al and Audage, 2008).
Middlebrooks, J. S., & Audage, N. C. (2008). The effects of childhood stress on
health across the life span. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Paige,
Thank you so much for your response. I think we have 2 different understandings of the word
vent. By definition the word means the expression or release of a strong emotion, energy, or feelings. It
further goes on to say that vent is to give FREE expression to a strong emotion (Vent, n.d.). I capitalize
the word “free” because it means by choice, I have not heard of someone being forced to vent. Forcing
someone to talk about their experiences or feelings does not promote healing and would cause the
client to shut down creating an unhealthy healing space and not promoting trust between therapist and
client. Those are just my understanding and thoughts that I wanted to share. I think we misunderstood
each other’s posts and I wanted to clear that up.
Three goals guide techniques used in crisis intervention:
1. Mitigate impact of event
2. Facilitate normal recovery processes
3. Restore adaptive function
Crisis intervention techniques should also abide by the following seven principle:
1. Simplicity: in a crisis, people respond best to simple procedures. Simple things have the
best change of creating a positive effect.
2. Brevity: psychological first aid needs to remain short.
3. Innovation: use creativity; specific instructions do not exist for every case or circumstance.
4. Pragmatism: Keep it practical; impractical suggestions can cause the person to feel
more frustrated and out of control.
Roberts states to plan and conduct a thorough biopsychosocial and
lethality/imminent danger assessment. The biopsychological assessment
should at least include the client’s environmental supports and stressors,
medical needs and medications, current use of drugs and alcohol, and
internal and external coping methods and resources.
Assessing lethality must first decide whether a suicide attempt has been
started and then can continue with the client’s potential for self-harm.
Imminent danger must set up, for instance, whether the person is now a
5. Proximity: Provide support services close to the person’s normal area of function. “The
most important thing about proximity is that support must be given in a safe zone,”
according to
the book Prehospital Behavioral Emergencies and Crisis Response.
6. Immediacy: Provide services right away. Crises demand rapid interaction, delays can
undermine the effectiveness of support services,
7. Expectancy: Work to set up expectation of a reasonable positive outcome. The person or
group in crisis should be encouraged to recognize that help is present, there is hope and the
situation is manageable. It may be appropriate to tell the person or group that although the
situation is overwhelming right now, most people can and do recover from crisis
experiences (Roberts, 2005).
Reference:
Roberts, A. R. (2005). Crisis Intervention Handbook: Assessment,
Treatment, and Research. Oxford University Press.
Vent. (n.d.) In Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. Retrieved
from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vent
For this assignment, I choose to wear seasonably inappropriate
clothing for my “bizarre” activity. Here in GA it is summer and the
temperature on 7/30/2017 was well in the 90’s at the time I engaged in this
activity. I dressed in a heavy sweatshirt (my husband’s so it was very large
on me on top of being seasonally inappropriate), I wore long jeans, and
sneakers. I wore this outfit to the grocery store and had all 4 of my children
in tow. I choose this activity because I thought it would be one that would
get the attention of others since I would be one if not the only one dressed
that warmly in the middle of a hot summer day. The reactions I got were
simple, there were onlookers and a couple that I saw whispered to one
another after looking at me, and only one gentleman said to me “wow, you
must be cold!” I do not like being the center of attention and although I was
not in this situation I could feel the stares and the whispers so that made me
feel uncomfortable. I did ok this activity with my children ages (10, 8, 6, and
2), I was more worried about my 10.5-year-old because she is very into what
others think and I did not embarrass her in anyway but she was fine with it
and even decided to wear a sweatshirt as well however, she paired hers with
shorts so it was not as seasonally inappropriate as mine was. I do not think
my kids noticed the glances as much as I did since I was being hyperaware
for this assignment. Aside from the glances, whispers, and one comment the
activity went on without a hitch. I noticed that people do like to judge silently
rather than speaking up and making a comment. As much as I want to say
that people do not judge since we are all imperfect and should not pass
judgement on one another that is not realistic in the least. There were many
glances from women especially that were dressed very nice, had their
makeup done, and most likely felt like they were better than someone like
me dressed the way I was. I did have a comment from a male and a few
glances from male individuals but most were from females.
This activity brought to light the unfair judgement individuals with
mental illness get on a daily basis. As humans, we all try to understand other
people. Trying to figure out why other people behaves or feels something is
not an easy thing to do. The truth is, we do not always understand our own
feelings and behavior. (Kring et al, 2016). This information from the text
really stands out to me in a profound way because as it explains we do not
always understand our own feelings or behavior however, we feel entitled to
openly judge others without even knowing their story. Every single person
walking on this earth is different, unique, and has their own history and
story. We may not always agree with what they are wearing, doing, or their
personality type but not one human is in a position to judge another. This
activity was such a tiny glimpse into what the everyday struggle is for an
individual with mental health issues but I am very glad that I could have
even the smallest glimpse.
Reference:
Kring, A. M., Johnson, S. L., Davison, G. C., & Neale, J. M. (2016).
Abnormal psychology: the science and treatment of psychological disorders.
Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.
Dawn,
I think your activity was very brave and one that has the potential to really give you an
idea of how the mentally ill are treated. Unfortunately, you did not receive much reaction and
that in reality speaks volumes. There is no doubt you were noticed however, not one person felt
the urge to make sure you were ok. Not one person felt comfortable, safe, or called to check on
their fellow human being. You mention how selfish we have become as individuals and as a
society and I agree. As a whole we want people to mind their own business but we also expect
people to intervene and help others, this is very confusing because which one is the “right” way
to go?
As an example, I have a short personal story to back up my question, a few years ago, I
made a late evening run to Walmart. My children were already in bed and my husband was
home while I ran to pick up something. In the store for only a short amount of time I notice a
mother with her son, her son was very tall but had something noticeably different about him. He
was moaning, aimlessly walking, and from the looks of it his mother could barely stand it. I was
drawn to walk in circles and watch them because the boy was making several noises of distress
and my motherly instinct and most likely God was urging me to keep an eye. Believe it or not I
watched as this mother pinched, hit, and pushed this mentally ill child. I was in disbelief,
panicked, and not going to leave until I knew he had someone to advocate for him. I was not
brave enough to confront the mother directly so I went and asked for the manager. I went ahead
through my tears telling the female manager what was happening and her response was shocking
to me “I understand your upset over what you saw but we specifically know this customer and
her son and have asked them to only shop at night because other people are not comfortable
around them” she said “this is a mother who on her own cannot deal with her son and has to use
force.” I felt defeated and I felt like I made zero difference in the life of that young man, it has
been several years and I still pray and think of him, whoever and wherever he is.
My point is there are mixed messages out there not to mention not enough education
about mental illness. We mainly hear about mental illness when it is a headline on the news of a
mentally ill individual committing a violent crime. There is so much stigma, we rarely hear about
those who are mentally ill and making a difference in the world, those who manage their illness
and rise above the negativity. Mental illness affects not only the individual but also their loved
ones. The mother in my story was undoubtedly in need of help herself and my heart aches for her
as well but being able to recognize that you cannot do things on your own and seeking help is
what needs to be taught to everyone. Mentally ill or not we all need help in our lives and we
cannot be ashamed to seek that help.
“Mental illness" is among the most stigmatized of categories.' People are ashamed of
being mentally ill. They fear disclosing their condition to their friends and confidants-and
certainly to their employers.” (Saks, 2002)
There is a lot of work to be done in giving individuals a proper diagnosis but also not allowing
that diagnosis define who they are. We are merely an illness, we are not our past, we are not
our mistakes and as a whole we need to stop condemning others and do more to spread love,
hope, joy, and faith.
Reference:
Saks, E. R. (2002). Refusing care: forced treatment and the rights of the mentally ill. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press.
Mr. Rob,
I wanted to first and foremost thank you from the bottom of my and my
families heart for helping us in such a needed and BIG way. I can honestly say
that the silver lining in the entire process has been my ability to not take a
single moment in life for granted. As Americans it is easy to believe that
everyone has all the freedoms and abundances that we have here in this
great country. It is hard for an American to really understand the struggles of
an immigrant unless they have visited their country and been apart of their
way of life or if they are in a relationship such as mine that is filled with so
much
uncertainty. My entire marriage has taught me that nothing is easy, nothing
is guaranteed, and most of all to enjoy wholeheartedly what you have
because you never know when things can change. I have worked hard to
instill this truth into our children as well because we live in a society of "we
want more" and "what can we get next" when the entire purpose of our lives
is not set in monetary things, possessions, or how much can we get in the
least amount of time rather, life is about Faith, Love, Compassion, and
Generosity. My life has not been one of ease but thus far all the tribulations
have taught us a great deal and God has always carried us out the other
side. So please know without a shadow of a doubt that I appreciate your
help, the help of SVDP, and every person in the background that has made
this aid possible for us and for us to finish thing long and grueling process.
God is masterful and wonderful and I see his hand in everything.
I also wanted clarification because I believe you said that September rent
was covered which is such a blessing but I wanted to confirm that was the
one month that was covered. I had initially asked for help with two months
which is why I ask. If October is not covered I understand I just wanted to
confirm so we can make another plan.
I also LOVE this ministry not only because of the help I have received but
also because of all the other individuals it reaches, I would love to volunteer
in some way if you could give me instructions on how to move forward with
that I would appreciate it. I am sure there is some type of screening process
and training program but I am not sure so I just needed more info.
Thank you again for everything, a simple "thank you" will never express my
true gratitude. My prayer has always been that once I graduate with my
Master's in Christian Counseling that I am able to reach out to those in need
and provide faith, love, hope, and healing to a lot of individuals, Much like
what you do with SVDP.
Always in
Him, Emily
Mancilla
April what a great activity you choose and way to really put yourself out
there. Judging from the reactions you got I find it so fitting that people were
whipping out their phones in an effort to gain social media followers at your
expense. This day and age people are so quick to watch and be a bystander
and even gain popularity by filming however, they are not quick to jump in
and ask if you need help.
“Mental illness
People assume you aren’t sick
unless they see the sickness on your skin
like scars forming a map of all the ways you’re hurting.
My heart is a prison of Have you tried’s
Have you tried exercising? Have you tried eating
better? Have you tried not being sad, not being
sick?
Have you tried being more like
me? Have you tried shutting
up?
Yes, I have tried. Yes, I am still
trying, and yes, I am still sick.
Sometimes monsters are invisible, and
sometimes demons attack you from the
inside.
Just because you cannot see the claws and
the teeth does not mean they aren’t ripping
through me.
Pain does not need to be seen to be felt.
Telling me there is no
problem won’t solve the
problem.
This is not how miracles are
born. This is not how sickness
works.”
— Emm Roy , The First Step
I found this poem to be very powerful, truthful, and gut wrenching. Mentally
Ill individuals are suffering, they are dealing with so much, and in a lot of
cases are not themselves daily. Why should society add more to their plate
by harshly judging, making videos at their expense, and not offering help?
April, you had the opportunity to tell those around you that this was merely
an assignment that is something every mentally ill individual wishes they
could do. They pray to be relieved from the burdens of mental illness and I
think this class is helping to educate a small amount of students so we can
go out and make a larger difference.
Great points Dawn,
Figuring out why people behave in normal, expected ways is difficult
enough; understanding abnormal behavior, can be even more difficult. The
best definition of psychological disorder is one that has several different
(Kring, Johnson, Davison, & Neale, 2016). The presence of a psychological
disorder includes the following, the disorder occurs within the individual, it
involves clinically significant difficulties in thinking, feeling, or behaving. It
usually involves personal distress of some kind, such as in social
relationships or occupational functioning. Psychological disorders involve
dysfunction in psychological, developmental, and/or neurobiological
processes that support mental functioning, it is not a culturally specific
reaction to an event such as death of a loved one. It is not primarily a result
of social deviance or conflict with society.
(Kring, Johnson, Davison, & Neale, 2016). Clinicians are highly trained,
educated, and have had practice in doing this however, what about the
average individual? How can they come to the conclusion of what is normal
and abnormal? It seems the term “normal” is ever changing with society.
When my parents were little it was “normal” for them to walk to school
however, if a parent allowed their child to do that now it would be criminal.
There are so many questions and I feel like you can never really have too
much education in the mental health field because it is everchanging and
evolving.
Thoughts?
Reference:
Kring, A. M., Johnson, S. L., Davison, G. C., & Neale, J. M. (2016).
Abnormal psychology: the science and treatment of psychological disorders.
Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.
Take a few minutes to reflect on this course. How has your thinking (e.g.,
worldview, knowledge, etc.) been challenged from what you thought prior
to taking this course? What are your thoughts now on the significance of
correctly diagnosing mental health disorders? What are your thoughts on
the treatment of psychopathology? In general, what thoughts do you have
about psychopathology and its impact on an individual and the family?
This course has been very challenging for me however, I also feel very
educationally rewarding. I was able to learn so much from all the required
readings, case studies, and presentations which was very overwhelming but
again, allowed me to learn a lot. I will continually be going back to the DSM-
5 to re-read and learn as much as I can about each disorder. My favorite
assignments in this class were hands down the case studies. I loved reading
and dissecting the different studies and figuring out what the diagnoses
was. I felt that was a huge learning activity.
I would say this was the most challenging course I have taken in my
academic career, somehow, I felt very overwhelmed the last 8 weeks and I
am so blessed to be coming out the other side feeling more prepared. All
good things in life are challenging so I take this as a positive! I love
integrating scientific and Christian worldviews I strongly believe you cannot
have one without the other. This course integrated both beautifully and
allowed for more diverse treatment plans which I think the world of
psychiatric care is missing.
Mental disorders are so common, something as small as sleep walking is
diagnosed as a mental disorder so it is important to remember that most
every individual has had a mental disorder at some point. Using care, love,
and education when dealing with mental health patients and their families is
so important as well because most cases the families and patients have the
wrong information about the disorder and treatment and may feel very
alone in the process. As a therapist, I pray to give hope and healing to
individuals and families who deal with mental illnesses because a lot of
times they are treatable and manageable. However, it is only through a
correct diagnosis that this can be achieved. Correctly diagnosing is of
utmost importance in giving individuals piece of mind and also devising a
plan to overcome.
There is also a large population of homeless individuals around the globe
that suffer alone with mental illnesses with no resources or family to get
them help. There needs to be a wider educational outreach and advocacy
for those with mental health issues and less of a stigma around them. It is so
easy to judge others without knowing their story, I pray we can all learn and
teach others to do less judging and more loving because when it comes
down to it we are all broken and imperfect by design. We all need almighty
God to get us through this life so continue to love and spread awareness
without judgement and we can become a better world.
Luke 6-37-42 tells us: 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not
condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be
forgiven.
38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down,
shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with
the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they
not both fall into a pit?
40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained
will be like their teacher.
41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay
no attention to the plank in your own eye?
42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out
of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You
hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see
clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye (New International
Version)..
