Christians, Mental Health, and Medications
Before the pandemic, 1 in 5 adults in the United States struggled with a mental illness. Of those facing a mental illness, half will not receive treatment. Considering this statistic is prior to the pandemic, these numbers may have even worsened in the past year. According to National Association of Mental Health (NAMI), the average delay between symptom onset of a mental illness and seeking treatment is 11 years (Mental Health by the Numbers, n.d.). Wait, what? Someone might suffer for 11 years before receiving the help they need? Sadly, yes. According to the research done by the Central Florida Behavioral Hospital under Dwight Bain (,n.d.), the mental health epidemic caused by the effects of COVID 19 will likely last until 2024.
If we are all really honest, we have all had moments of high stress, insecurity, sadness, and fears. Some may have experienced painful losses or trauma. These experiences affect every part of us. We are holistic beings, interconnected. Let me give you and an example of this: people with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population (Mental Health by the Numbers). So, the condition of our soul can impact the condition of our physical body and vice versa. We are made of three parts, the physical body, the soul, and the spirit. Therefore, we need holistic approaches to healing and curing our whole selves. In addition, there is no one-size fits all when it comes to physical ailments, mental illnesses, and spiritual wounds. In the same manner, what works for one, may not work for another.
So how do we go about making decisions and finding help to treat our unique mind, body, and soul?
1. Visit a Doctor/Therapist - It is important to start off by getting educated by someone who specializes in the area of need. We visit a Cardiologist if we have heart concerns. If you struggle with a decrease in mental health wellness, make an appointment with a therapist and establish a relationship with an objective, educated professional to help in your personal journey.
2. Visit your General Doctor and have them do a full work up. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, as well as hormone imbalances can impact the way your brain works.
3. Explore your lifestyle and how it could be affecting your mental health. I know, we say this a lot, but it is because it has a strong effect.
How is your sleep?
How are your eating habits? Sugar spikes can trigger irritability and mood swings.
Are you using/abusing substances that induce or exacerbate depression or anxiety such as caffeine, alcohol or recreational drugs?
Are you moving your body and exercising? Exercise is known to have great benefits including a decrease in blood pressure and heart disease, osteoporosis and stress and an increase the neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin norepinephrine, which all contribute to mental health wellness.
4. Do the Work - Address your hurts and painful wounds. Trauma changes the brain and can mimic mental illness for many. Follow your treatment goals and observe how your thoughts, emotions and behaviors start improving and moving you towards your best self rather than away.
5. Open up/consult with your closest, trusted allies, family, friends about your struggles and discuss your options. God uses people in our lives to lead us in the direction he wants us to take.
6. Be open to considering medication, to bring you back to baseline. Remember your brain can lack something that even with all the efforts listed above cannot regenerate or receive. We take medications to help with blood pressure and diabetes, why not for our brain to be at its optimal functioning? Click on the podcast link below for an in-depth discussion on the topic of faith and medications for mental illness.
I will leave you with a powerful statement from Alison Cook, PhD (2021). “Faith isn’t sitting around waiting for God to do all the work. It’s taking action to do what you can with His help. Caring for yourself when you are struggling is a way of saying to God, “My life matters. I am going to do my part to care for the person you made.”
God has provided so many resources for us to tap into. I hope this encourages you to take a step toward healing during this time if you find yourself lost, wounded, or just not knowing what to do.
Article by Nicole Velez Alfonso, LMHC