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Exposing Psychology, Exalting Christ |
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| Do you completely disprove of drugs? What are your thoughts on the spiritual and the physical?
Question: Hi, I was diagnosed with bipolar when I was nineteen. Just to give you a quick background my family has some depression in it but nothing beyond normal depression caused by losing a nine-month along, healthy, baby that would depress any woman to have a stillborn baby. I have been raised in a strong Christian home. My father is a pastor and my two biggest earthly heroes are my parents. Although I think there is validity to what you are saying, I would like to ask a few questions and would love to hear your opinion. What are your thoughts and views on the spiritual and physical because I am a God-fearing Christian and taking drugs (along with lots of prayer and filling the mind with the Bible) has been the only solution right now for me? I have tried going off multiple times and it is not that I do not believe God can completely heal me, but at this point my body will go back into episodes about once a year for 1-3 months without consistent medicine. My husband and parents, also with much prayer, have urged me to continue because of the noticeable difference. Although I pray for healing, I still know we have enemies that are not of flesh and blood, but of principalities in this dark world. So again I ask, are you saying that medicine is of the devil? I do wonder this because, I am now 27 and have never sought anything but God’s will in my life (and I obviously know I am not perfect but not because of bipolar I had many sins in my life long before and asked Jesus into my heart at 3) especially since I have been diagnosed. I do know that God has been my healer, but for my situation it is a firing problem in my brain causing an imbalance and irrational thinking. I am just wondering if you designate the difference between a broken mind (like a broken leg) and a broken spirit? I do not believe that my mind is a satanic disease, but rather a time in my life to be humbled before my God. Do you think that my mind is a satanic disease? Do you have bipolar and if so to what extent, would you explain what was the most frightening thing? When I had my first episode it was a lack of trust in the people closest to me except God, because I knew he would never leave me or forsake me. Do you completely disprove of drugs? It just sounds like it. I take 1500mg of depakote and 300mg of wellbutrin everyday, leaving me in a highly functional state. Yes, at first I was very discouraged, because I was never as "labeled" before I was labeled "normal". Talk about a humbling experience for an RA, very active campus Bible study leader... I do believe that any mental or physical problem in life can be antagonized by Satan to make the situation seem worse or to give Satan too much of the glory instead of God. Do you believe in Ephesians chapter one where it says we are chosen and in Psalms that we are Gods handiwork? I have to admit that reading the responses to your book made me feel as if you were judging so many based on the opinion that drugs are of Satan and so are any "mental doctors". It is times like these that could discourage me, because -Isaiah55- "for his ways are higher than are ways and his thoughts are higher than ours". That is why I am just more curious about your book. Jesus is the ultimate mind healer. Just praying that we are on the same wavelength. God Bless! –J, Internet, 5/14/05 Answer: Thank you for your email. We appreciate your candidness and gentle spirit. A month ago I (Lisa) lost a baby in a miscarriage. I know how difficult that can be, and I am still going through some very normal depression because of it. I'm so sorry for your loss, but that child is in heaven and is happy. I look forward to seeing my baby in heaven someday, and that hope helps me go on. God has even given me a desire to try to have more children. Regarding your questions about bipolar and medication, I was in the psychology field for many years and can tell you firsthand that the disorders of psychology, like bipolar, are not scientifically proven, but instead have been INVENTED by the psychology industry to widen their market for their therapy and drug services. This disorder and the hundreds of others in the DSM (psychology's bible of mental disorders) is nothing more than a list of behaviors grouped into a label and called abnormal by a group of voting psychiatrists. No scientific testing is done to prove the existence of a true disorder--only votes! More on this in our book and tapes. You probably didn't get a medical test that showed you had a chemical imbalance in your brain that was causing your bipolar disorder, because no test exists. Instead, you probably spoke with a mental health professional and a psychiatrist prescribed medication, without a shred of objective medical testing that showed 1) you had an imbalance, and 2) how much of each chemical you needed. You said in your email, "for my situation it is a firing problem in my brain causing an imbalance and irrational thinking." This is probably what your doctor told you, but he is only telling you what the drug companies are telling him, which is not the truth. It is well known in the field that no one has been able to prove that imbalances in the brain cause mental disorders like bipolar. So taking medication that affects the physical to treat the mental makes no sense. For a fuller explanation, see http://www.psychologydebunked.com/email0504_Q&A.htm. In your email you ask about the difference between a broken mind/spirit and a broken leg. You are wise in making this differentiation. One is physical, and the other is mental, so they should be handled differently. See this previous Q&A from a reader for our position on taking psychiatric (mental) drugs versus medical (physical) drugs: http://www.psychologydebunked.com/email0501_Q&A.htm We can understand why, in the course of withdrawal, your body went back into episodes. This is due to the fact that your brain has become accustomed to the drug, and gets into shock when the drug is removed. You are not "relapsing" into your bipolar disorder (which most psychiatrists will say), but rather are having a withdrawal reaction to the drug itself! We highly recommend the book Your Drug May Be Your Problem, written by well-known and trustworthy psychiatrist Peter Breggin ( www.breggin.com). The book will help you slowly and safely withdraw from your psychiatric medications and resume a normal, drug-free life.Note that behaviors that psychology labels as abnormal (e.g. bipolar) are many times just our sinful nature. What psychology calls bipolar, the Bible would call a work of the flesh, where our emotions control us and we serve our own selfish desires (e.g. spending irresponsibility and other forms of self-gratification, overly self-focused periods of depression, etc.). Psychology has their solutions (therapy and drugs), while the Bible has its solutions (repentance, self-denial, trust and obedience to God). Psychology would claim we can't control our behavior, while the Bible says we can, through the power of the Holy Spirit as we humbly submit to Him. Don't let the psych industry convince you that you have a disorder that you can't control, and that only the psych industry can fix. As a Christian, you have the power to overcome your flesh, and look to the Lord for help. Jesus broke the power of sin over you at the cross. As Christians, God gives us all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). He is our Counselor (Isaiah 9:6) and we are complete in Him (Colossians 2:10). Therapy and medications are the world's way of dealing with their problems. It is the wordly wisdom that Paul warns about in 1 Cor. 1-3 and Col. 2. But as Christians, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to counsel and comfort us. Just like the Christians who lived for 1,800 years before psychology and psychiatric meds were even invented, we don't need the world's mental help systems when we have the Lord and the support of the body of believers. Yes, we believe we ARE chosen and we ARE His handiwork, which is why His grace alone is fully sufficient for us (2 Cor. 12:9). Our materials cover these topics and much more. You will find our book and tapes not only deal with the fraud of psychology but also provide biblical help for the common problems we all experience. You can order them at www.psychologydebunked.com.We hope we've been helpful to you. Thanks again for contacting us. All our love in Christ, Lisa and Ryan Bazler Editor's Note: Here are a few data points about the psychiatric drugs this reader was taking, that we located after responding. "Depakote [a mood stabilizer] can cause sedation, tremor, and difficulty walking. It can also cause behavioral abnormalities, including confusion or delirium. Over the long term it may impair mental abilities, and on rare occasions it has been known to cause liver failure. It can also cause weight gain, stomach upset, hair loss, rash, pancreatitis, and blood clotting problems." (Breggin, Your Drug May Be Your Problem, pp. 75-76) "The mechanisms by which valproate [Depakote] exerts its therapeutic effects have not been established." (Physician’s Desk Reference, 51st edition, p. 418) i.e. "We don’t know how it works in the brain." "The safety and effectiveness of Depakote for long-term use in mania, i.e. more than 3 weeks, has not been systematically evaluated in controlled clinical trials." (Physician’s Desk Reference, 51st edition, p. 419) This woman’s doctor has been prescribing it for years with no end in sight. "Wellbutrin (buproprion) [an atypical antidepressant] produces an unusually high rate of seizures. It is known to be very stimulating and agitating, causing anxiety, nightmares, and manic psychoses." (Breggin, Your Drug May Be Your Problem, p. 70) "The neurochemical mechanism of the antidepressant effect of bupropion is not known." (Physician’s Desk Reference, 51st edition, p. 1178) i.e. "We don’t know how it works in the brain." "Effectiveness of Wellbutrin in long-term use, that is, for more than 6 weeks, has not been systematically evaluated in controlled trials." (Physician’s Desk Reference, 51st edition, p. 1178) This woman’s doctor has been prescribing it for years with no end in sight.
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