Mental illness can be extremely trying for those who are affected by it, or who must encounter it on a daily basis. One of my healers told me that people who are labeled "schizophrenic" have the door to the other side wide open and let anything in, be they positive or negative entities. There will be only one self someday your true self. In this series of information sheets we look at spirituality from a number of different perspectives both when it becomes a problem as in religious delusions and when it becomes a supportive component of a recovery process. The end result can be confusion, emotional blunting and apathy. This is especially true of more obviously biologically-driven illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Psychotic symptoms include changes in the way a person thinks, acts, and experiences the world. Abstract. You are destined to be great or to be a devil. Thats what happened when a person took up his own cross. All of these are illustrations of the fact that the Bible doesnt say that necessarily this bizarre behavior, or this madness, or this folly is caused by some kind of biological abnormality thats going on in the body or in the brain for that matter, even though we leave room for the fact that those kinds of things can exist as diseases that can bring about the same type of symptomology, but if youre able to rule out those particular diseases then lets approach this from a biblical point of view. Topics: There are more than 200 classified forms of mental illness, varying from certain anxieties or mild depression to bipolar disorder to schizophrenia. They believe that schizophrenics are spiritually gifted people who have a strong ability to communicate with spirits. What can be done about religious delusions? Sufferers may believe that they are a saint, a prophet or God himself, (which is more common in men), or (in women) that they are a saint or are pregnant with the Messiah. Schizophrenia involves a range of problems with thinking (cognition), behavior and emotions. Is it good or bad for people living with schizophrenia? Where did the self come from who treasures Jesus so much that following him is worth opposition and shame and suffering and death? In diagnosing religiosity a great deal of information will be gained from the diagnostic interview between the patient and doctor. This dastardly habit completely prevents a Christian from living a Spirit-filled life. 9. Those are the only options in the end. 2023 Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, A Biblical Assessment of Emotionally Focused Therapy. I love Dr. John Street, and I appreciate him being here with us today to talk about what is often considered a very difficult subjectthe subject of schizophrenia. One of your selves will tell you until the day you die I speak as a 71-year-old warrior with this old self Come on! Coronavirus: Are People with Schizophrenia at Higher Risk? For instance in predominantly Catholic countries the delusions will reflect Catholic belief whereas in predominately Hindu countries they will reflect Hindu ones. After all if you believe that the voices that you are hearing in your head and which are giving you commands are coming from God or some other higher power then there is a powerful reason to listen to them and obey them. Were not opposed to that at all, but there are well-qualified professionals in the medical community that disagree about this, and that really dont have anything to do with biblical counseling (so its not some kind of agenda that were writing here). The last time this happened, my faith in God helped me get through the tough time (A Conversation with God). Isaiah 43:1-28 ESV / 167 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. This is a time when spiritual and philosophical beliefs are usually in a great state of flux and when the person is extremely vulnerable to deluded thinking on this issue. It is the Spirit's work of uniting us with Christ - spiritually identifying us with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection ( Romans 6:3-5 ). Or the thyroid or the parathyroid or the adrenal glands sometimes can be directly affected. How do we define this idea of schizophrenia? David feigned that he was mad. Jesus is pleading with you: Dont throw your life away! Sometimes the person may believe that they are being punished for some unforgivable sin that they have committed earlier in their life or that they are damned to everlasting hell.2 This can lead to feelings of intense despondency. One day President Brantley saw Boyce hiding behind a tree and said, There is Boyce, who will be a great man, if he does not become a devil (Abstract of Systematic Theology). Neither term appears in the Bible, but the Bible teaches us a number of lessons we can apply to bipolar . They are true auditory hallucinations: hearing things that the hearer cannot distinguish from reality. Little is known about schizophrenia, even today. All rights reserved. Signs and symptoms may vary, but usually involve delusions, hallucinations or disorganized speech, and reflect an impaired ability to function. Yet we know from experience and from what the Scriptures say that there can be significant change that goes beyond just a persons biological problems that are going on, and that with schizophrenia (even if it did have a biological etiology or causation), you can still address spiritual issues the same way you would help a person with a terminal cancer. The holy spirit is God's power in action, his active force. Only the Holy Spirit can produce "the fruit of the Spirit" (see Gal. Encephalitis can do the same thing. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. People suffering from religious delusions have also been encouraged to kill themselves by their delusions. Our desire is to relieve or fill an emotional, psychological, and ultimately, a spiritual need. The positive and cognitive symptoms deconstruct or impair intellect, higher reasoning, sensory data including the quality, reliability and function of memories and the negative symptoms destroy the emotional aspect of being human. Excessive religious observance is often the first sign that relatives see that something is amiss. Although acknowledging that peoples previous experiences can form the framework for psychotic thinking, it is not the same as saying that it causes it. A new self has come into being that treasures Jesus more than human approval, more than honor, more than comfort and pleasures of the body, and more than safety and staying alive. I deny you the right to hold any sway in this matter. Schizophrenia is a debilitating condition that requires treatment for the individual to function in society. Wake up to your sacred schizophrenia! The Holy Spirit or schizophrenia Personal Story My family has a history of mental illness. You will lose it. I bring schizophrenia to your throne of grace and I command it to be rebuked from all the schizophrenics in Jesus's name. Save it. Dale Johnson: Now, that definition is helpful. Try to be as agreeable as possible while talking. It has been observed using brain imaging techniques that the activity in certain areas of the brain in spiritual or religious states is much more active than normal. The Word of Gods got to frame their reality for them. For some sufferers religious delusions or intense religiously-based irrational thinking may be a component of their symptoms, for instance they may believe that they have been sent by God to become a great prophet. But most people would describe that we have these types of experiencesthose diagnosed with schizophrenia because of some sort of physical ailment that now leads to these symptoms. These are effective in relieving the symptoms in around 70% of people who take them. Neurosyphilis can do the same thing. (Image: g-stockstudio on Shutterstock). 8. This then creates a positive feedback loop not only stimulating profoundly optimistic cognitive processes and outcomes which then reinforce not just this almost enlightened mood but also ones faith or spiritual philosophy thus empowering further the conscious cognitive ability to contemplate God or the universe and switch on or turn up areas of the brain involved in the perceptual and interpretive functions along with the emotional centres. (Image: Shutterstock). Terms of use, Privacy and Cookie Policy, Website acceptable use policy, if ( has_post_thumbnail() ) { the_post_thumbnail('thumbnail'); } ?>, Disclosure telling other people about your schizophrenia, Information for doctors and health workers, What can be done about depression in schizophrenia, Religious and Spiritual Delusions in Schizophrenia, Recent Developments in the Treatment of Schizophrenia, Schizophrenia is a Major Cause of Homelessness. For instance in Poland religious delusions in people with schizophrenia appeared to increase during the decades of Communism when organised religion came under pressure from the state. Dont begrudge a few decades of sacred schizophrenia. The last set of characteristics is sometimes what is referred to as negative symptomology, which is not directly related, but its indirectly related to the symptoms of schizophrenia. On the day of my baptism the Holy Spirit came on me in a bigger . Second Corinthians 3:17-18 refers to the Spirit as "the Lord." He is just as much God as the Father or the Son and is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and Son. The denying self is the true you the you that will live forever. For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.. 6. There is the self that treasures Jesus above everything. We are always looking for people to write about their experiences of schizophrenia, to contribute ideas and tips and oversee our work. The most common here is the phenomenon of hearing voices which the sufferer may interpret as messages from God or saints. I mean, we can see this in first Samuel 21 with David. Though you cannot see him, like the wind, He is there to help you. While demon possession is possible in some cases, it is unlikely to be the cause for the majority. All rights reserved. Matthew 4:24 Verse Concepts Schizophrenia is very scary. This is not to say that all people with schizophrenia who experience religiosity will display dangerous or disturbed behaviour. We also see cultural background reflected in the nature of the religious delusions themselves. 10. Read what Living with Schizophrenia has to say about topical issues in mental health. My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, redeemed, cleansed, by the blood of Jesus (I Cor. Its Gods Word thats got to determine that, and the only way thats going to happen if they become a believer, they trust what the Word of God says. In this information sheet Rob Foster, a practicing Christian, gives his take on how his faith helped him interpret and live with his mental health condition. Schizophrenia Healed. If you would like to get involved with Living with Schizophrenias work then please leave your details. Verse 38 focuses on the other. That is certainly not the case. Secondly, activity in areas of the brain such as the thalamus, which is involved with perceptions of reality, is increased. The Bible also tells us that a mentally unstable person can be seen in disorganized and sometimes very harmful personal behavior, so we have to take that into account as well. 9. This is really critical. Then at this point the etiology is not some kind of biological origin, the etiology here (or the causation of it) is actually a spiritual causation. Howe G, 1991, The Reality of Schizophrenia, Faber and Faber, p32. The first one is we have to make sure that we are ruling out organic issues that are there. I love being with Dr. John Street. Now thats significant. You will be one unified self, and all conflict will be over. To a Christian, faith in Gods love and infinite goodness is the foundation of their beliefs and practices and it is this strength of faith that is the key to recovery in schizophrenia. Why do people with schizophrenia experience religious delusions? The second flashpoint is going to be: Whom will you be ashamed of? The second flash point is the power of approval. Jesus explains that the reason the self must be denied is that following him involves taking up our cross. Schizophrenia symptoms can differ from person to person, but they generally fall into three main categories: psychotic, negative, and cognitive. False worship will proliferate under his leadership. Sometimes you will hear people describe the Christian teaching on self-denial as though the denied self is the real lover of life the one who is really committed to joy and pleasure while the denying self is morose, has a death-wish, carries a cross around like a bludgeon against joy. The Holy Spirit has an intellect and will and with those characteristics freely knows and loves as God. Let us pause the massive schizophrenia and mental psychosis plaguing the world each and every single day, hearing about shootings, transgender, this and that and all the insanity. Dale Johnson: Thats so critical because oftentimes people may think, Well, thats not very kind that we would engage in something like this. So many people are confused by it, so many people dont understand it. What is Schizophrenia? . The "son of perdition" will rise to power. Fearful expectations can cause a person to deceitfully impersonate delusional madness. Creative Schizophrenia. Taking a wait and see approach is often disastrous. He is close to the Bible's great . Strong delusion accompanied with unrestrained wickedness will prepare the way for his . If we can just accumulate more of this world, more possessions, more protections, more insurance policies, more symbols of power, more possibilities of bodily pleasure then we will have real life the only life there is. He is a liar. (Image: Vibe Images on Shutterstock). Let me tell you a little bit about him. I dont want to die; I want to be safe and secure and to stay alive. Theyre oftentimes closed or guarded because theyre accustomed to hiding from the criticism of other peopleand especially sometimes other Christiansbecause of their bizarre behavior. When schizophrenia is active, symptoms can include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, trouble with thinking and lack of motivation. I want the approval of an adulterous and sinful generation! 1. These are false beliefs that are not based in reality. Listen, this is what the Bible says. Torrey in the US, for instance, has suggested that around half of sufferers there experience religious delusions.1 Other studies in other parts of the world have found differently. There are however a number of different antipsychotics available to the doctors and finding the right drug for the particular person can often take some time and considerable patience. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? There is a commonality between the outcome of religious or spiritual practices such as prayer or meditation as both states can achieve this overall spirituality and greater cognitive power and are thus able to improve control over emotions, mood, imagination, instinctive feelings and rational judgement. Because fear was ruling and dominating his life for a time. It is often said that a person experiencing the first stages of serious schizophrenia is more likely to go to see a priest than a psychiatrist1. The Rajneeshees practiced meditation and believed in the Kundalini spirit, which they evoked through rigorous breathing techniques, hooting, and then being calm and meditating. Schizophrenia (Excerpts) Schizophrenia is a very common problem. And deny the cross-rejecting, suicidal self. But until that day, it is absolutely imperative that you know the condition you are in, namely, sacred schizophrenia, and that you know who your two selves are, and which one of them is the true you, and what two of the major flashpoints of conflict are that you will experience for the rest of your life on this earth. Mum said "time to go to bed, you go and get in and I'll come in a minute and tuck you in." I left the living room and came to the stairs and turned to go up. Even if you gain the whole world. For example, problems with the central nervous system of the body. The second thing is that sometimes biblical counselors seem intimidated or afraid to engage in something like this that is maybe a little bizarre, that is a little bit unknown. And apart from a Spirit-filled life, a Christian cannot flow in the peace and power of God. Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that affects less than one percent of the U.S. population. This allows strength of will and even confidence to return and this can signal the start of a good sturdy recovery. I hold fast to You, and . I think this is important. There is an example of a ward nurse in a Westcountry hospital listing a womans crucifix on her list of belongings as a lucky charm. And the other one phren, which is the Greek term for mind. Video: Bind and rebuke that drug addiction Video: Even mighty men of God can have spirits Video: Holy Spirit fire burning off oppressive spirits Video: In Jesus' name, we expelled . What does our understanding of the brain science tell us about spirituality? Now, a couple of takeaways from that that I want to highlight that are important. The reason I say for the rest of your life on this earth, is because after you die, or after Jesus comes, you will no longer be these two selves. Indeed to see Jesus for who he really is infinitely valuable. You want to do that because its compelled, because you love the Lord as a biblical counselor first and foremost and the natural growth of that is going to be loving others as passionately as you already love yourself (Matthew 20). Watkins J, Living with Schizophrenia, Hill of Content. For many people religion is one way that we understand the world and give meaning to our lives and certainly religion and spirituality play an important part in many peoples experiences of schizophrenia. Video: Get out spirit of divination! This is what the Bible gives categories and possibilities for. He was born in Charleston, South Carolina on my birthday in 1827. The first flashpoint was the power of possessions. Religious delusions may be difficult to distinguish and diagnosis often depends on a complete knowledge of the persons previous religious history. Isaiah . 6:19-20). Thats a very broad description thats used in the DSM-5. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us in this dark world. Millard Erickson writes, "The Holy Spirit is the point at which the Trinity becomes personal to the believer." 1 Christ promised that when he ascended to heaven he would not leave his disciples as orphans, but would come to them and dwell in them with the Fatherall by the Holy Spirit ( John 14:16-23 ). Talking treatments such as counselling and psychotherapy will also help and there is now an increasing recognition of their efficacy within the mental health field. This presents the community with a real problem. Before that, the same illness was called "manic depressive illness" or "manic depression," though that name only dates back to 1921. They bite, chase and frighten me. The Holy Spirit in the Trinity You won't find the actual word "Trinity" in the Bible. Whichever, it is I believe a good example of the difficulty that many health professionals have in the UK of understanding religious practice and without such an understanding, diagnosing religiosity properly becomes very difficult. Yet the world encourages us to show spiritual schizophrenia. Is there an alternative audience whose approval might matter more than the approval of an adulterous and sinful generation? How does Christian faith help in recovery? He is an elder at Grace Community Church and has been for a number of years. As far as the cause of schizophrenia by the general public concerned, people living in western countries focus mainly on biological and social risk factors such as genetic vulnerability, disease of the brain, infection or stressful social conditions or personal weakness, but the . 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