Your Reaction to a Mental Health Diagnosis

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “mental health” or “mental illness”?  Do you react differently if someone says he or she has been in the hospital for surgery versus if he or she explains, they were hospitalized for depression?  All illnesses are scary; hopefully, learning about mental health will make it less forbidding. 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  Psalms 34:18  God’s compassion is significant for those of us who are suffering.  We may not recognize it, but He is near even when we struggle with mental health issues.  He is there to guide, comfort, and heal.  

Many mental health diagnoses include schizophrenia, bipolar, clinical depression, clinical anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, or personality disorders like borderline, paranoid, or defiant.  Each diagnosis has its impact on our lives and the lives of our loved ones.  We must remember some crucial points when facing a mental health diagnosis. 

The first point to remember is that a person does not choose to have a mental health issue.  You would not say to a cancer patient, just get over it.  You accept that they are sick and need professional help.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  2 Corinthians 12:9

We often address emotional struggles as flaws that we should be able to overcome, or flaws we need to hide.  However, this is not a time for denial.  It is a time to ask God to help us and to help us find the help we need.  Recognizing this frees us to find the support we require, including biblical counseling.  This is important because people will often blame a person with a mental illness for their symptoms and/or become agitated at the person experiencing them.  “I have learned now that while those who speak about one’s miseries usually hurt, those who keep silent hurt more.”  C.S. Lewis.

The second point, people with mental illness frequently feel isolated and detached from others.  Supporting a friend struggling with a mental illness makes an enormous difference in their life.

The third point to remember is to see the person, not as his/her illness, seeing him or her as a child of God.  

“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.”  Romans 9:2  My desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.  Romans 10:1

Empathy and compassion are emotionally draining.  When we see our friends overcome with grief, depression, or anxiety, it is easy to feel flooded by their struggles.  When we are swamped at the thought of our friend’s situation, follow Paul’s example and include God in our search for how to help.  This should be the motto for every follower of Jesus Christ: Never stop praying, no matter how dark and hopeless it may seem.”  Reverend Billy Graham.

The fourth point to remember when helping a friend is you are the helper, and you must set healthy boundaries.  Healthy boundaries include being able to say no.  Matthew 5:37 tells us to let our yes be yes, and our no be no.  Boundaries in any circumstances are not set as a punishment.  The restrictions placed by boundaries let everyone know what you can or cannot do while maintaining your own personal health.  When reaching out to help a person with mental health issues, it is important to practice self-care.  That means you show kindness to them while using boundaries to prevent overwhelming yourself, creating anxiety, stress, depression, or relationship difficulties.       

Lastly, two great quotes from Corrie ten Boom, “When a train goes through a tunnel, and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off.  You sit still and trust the engineer.  Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” 

Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

  I Thessalonians 5:11

Cheryl Gowin and Dennis Gowin.  Call us with your feedback, comments, issues, or questions; our phone number is 434-808-2637.