Oops
they did it again! It looks
like those Crossing Church leaders (pastors) are up to their old antics again
of being hurtful and disposing of a person without a care. Here is the
condensed version: a young lady applies to the CrossingCollege and during this time experiences a
psychotic break which was later diagnosed as major
depressive w psychotic features. She came in for her interview for the college and was
told she did not have the Holy Spirit and was possessed by a demon. Yeah. Then
later while she was hospitalized for this condition, her mother called the
Crossing Church to explain what had happened. They told HER MOTHER "Your
daughter made a pact with the devil."
Crossing, I do know you love high drama, and love to see
a demon under every bush, but You Were Wrong! I'm sure you saw some scary
things. I'm sure it was worrisome behavior. But just because you don't
understand it that doesn't make it a demon. If someone is acting strangely or
in a way that frightens you then get them professional help; don't call them
possessed and abandon them. Get some education on mental illness and start
showing some compassion.
As always, you owe another apology.
I'm happy to introduce a special guest blogger for this
post. This is the woman who was told she was possessed by "pastors"
at The Crossing Church. She's amazingly brave and has some awesome wisdom to
share as a person who went through hell and back and survived.
~ As our churches continue to reach out to
the community on a larger scale, what with “Mega Churches” popping up all over,
our congregations are being filled with many who suffer from a mental illness.
Like mainstream society, Mental Illness is
also a bit taboo in our places of worship. There is much to be learned and
understood of mental illnesses like Bipolar and Schizophrenia, even in
mainstream society, let alone the Church.
When I, myself, became acutely ill with
psychosis and went to my church (The Crossing Church) with concerns for my
safety because I was a prophet, I was met with the common fear and conclusions
that accompany the stigma of Mental Illness still today. I was told that I was
possessed and must have made a “deal with the devil”, that I “did not know the
Holy Spirit.” These things being farthest from the truth devastated me.
In the wake of Pastor Rick Warrens son’s
death, reportedly suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder and/or Bipolar
Disorder, now more than ever is the time to finally open our communications
about this neglected, hurting part of our community. If we take anything away
from the loss of life due to Mental Illness- let it be that it is in fact a
potential lethal illness in our communities.
That, when the problem lies inside the
mind prayer and positive thinking, which form in and are used in the mind,
simply makes these methods insufficient to complete recovery and quality of
life.
First, I will introduce you to two
particularly mysterious illness, bipolar disorder, and Schizophrenia.
Bipolar Disorder displays
varying symptoms of severe depression, to paranoid mania. Loss of inhibitions,
recklessness, spending sprees, and promiscuity also accompany the disease.
Biological changes in the brain are the source of these actions.
The DSM criteria describes severe mood
swings and even psychosis (Loss of touch with reality) in severe cases.
Psychosis is a condition where one has
lost touch with reality. Delusions, hallucinations and paranoia are the main
symptoms of Psychosis. To be “psychotic”, does not mean that the person will be
violent. In fact research shows most people suffering psychosis are not violent
at all, and if they do harm, they harm themselves. Psychosis is the main
hallmark of Schizophrenia.
In Bipolar disorder and Schizophrenia,
delusions can often involve religion. A person may believe they are a prophet,
Jesus Christ or other religious figure, or that they are on a special mission
from God. A person may feel attacked by demons, and followed by the government.
Being devout Christians, we often do feel
at times, that we have a particular purpose in life to accomplish for Him. The
difference between that and the “missions” accompanying psychosis is that in
psychosis none of what the person is putting together is true or makes sense
and may attribute significant meaning to innocuous events.
If you happen to interact with someone who
is ill with psychosis, either from Bipolar Disorder or from Schizophrenia, you
may notice a number of things.
They may have difficulty forming a
sentence or looking at you in the eye. They may rhyme their words, loose track
and stop mid-sentence, or make up completely new words. Their eyes may wander
and they may appear “jumpy”. They may be very withdrawn and quiet,
inappropriately responding to social ques. They may even express some of their
fears to you. It is at that point, you have two options.
Option A. Respond to your discomfort
by avoiding the situation and excusing yourself from the situation.
The sufferer will then have one more
missed opportunity to alerting those involved to their depreciating mental
state. They will have to suffer with a nightmare of delusions and hallucinations
that much longer.
Option B. You may try to ask the
sufferer if they are OK. Try to engage them in conversation. Based on that
conversation, you can than utilize that “emergency contact number” on volunteer
and tithe forms, and alert someone involved in the sufferer’s life that they
seem out of sorts. Under other circumstances it may seem odd, but if an
individual comes to you claiming someone is trying to kill them, or that they
have special powers from God, it is most certainly appropriate to show concern.
It is however, rarely done because of the
stigma and fear associated with Psychotic illnesses.
Hollywood does little to educate society.
In many blockbuster action or horror hits, the villain is labeled “a psychotic
killer.” Many studies show, as noted previously, people with psychosis or
“psychotic” are very unlikely to become violent. Serial killers are typically
diagnosed with Psychopathy, or Sociopathic. Some are stories about demon
possessed individuals, and mirroring schizophrenic symptoms (aside from the
theatrical paranormal activity, levitating etc...), hearing voices and
hallucinating.
The way that diabetes and the wrong amount
of insulin make an individual sick, so dopamine does in people with
Schizophrenia. It is a medical, biological illness that creates mainly, severe
thought disturbances.
In addition to intermittent or chronic
episodes of psychosis, Schizophrenics also suffer from:
· Apathy
· Flat
Affect
· Decreased
motivation
· Desire
less
This is just to name a few. This is not a
problem with morale or discipline, but a medical illness that is more feared
and harder to adjust to than a cancer diagnosis, in many cases.
When Society begins to see Bipolar,
Schizophrenia and psychotic illnesses for what they are, then will proper
research, and results begin. Just as Alzheimer’s so devastates the mind
in the elderly, so Schizophrenia does in ones prime of life. Awareness, compassion
and medical treatment are necessary.
Let’s uplift and edify our congregations
by educating ourselves about mental illness and going beyond the stereotypes to
connect with someone suffering today. It may save a life. ~
I'm honored to have this courageous young woman be on my
blog. Wishing her future health, happiness and joy.
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