Welcome to the December 2008 issue of the Psychology Debunked newsletter, and a very merry Christmas to you!
This Christmas season, we ask, Why was Jesus born? Why did He come to this earth? Was it to fulfill Old Testament prophecies of Israel's coming Messiah, like being born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) in the city of Bethlehem (Micah 5:12)? Was it to model and teach us how to live? Was it to reveal who the true God is, and point the way to Him?
While Jesus came to this earth to do all of these things, He came first and foremost to save sinners from eternal punishment for their sins:
1Ti 1:15 This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. The godly Apostle Paul saw himself as the chief of sinners. Where does that leave you and me?
The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, lowered himself from heavenly glory to become a man, be despised and rejected, and take our sin upon Himself on a cross, even though He did nothing wrong. It was the most injustice any of us will ever see or experience, and He did it for love, to save us from paying for our own sin in hell.
The Apostle Paul summed up Christ's mighty work like this:
Phl 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Phl 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Phl 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Phl 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: Phl 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; Phl 2:11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The more we see our sinful condition and our need for a Savior, the more Jesus' birth will mean to us. Ignoring sin or calling it by any other name reduces Jesus' significance and only robs us of God's blessings.
This month, we see the dangerous, drug-laden roads traveled by those who call behaviors disorders, diseases or illnesses instead of calling them sins or normal suffering. As you visit with family this Christmas, we hope this issue will help you tell them the truth about depression, ADHD and PTSD--a normal response to extreme trauma. Your speaking up could save a life.
From our family to yours,
The Bazlers
Antidepressants no better than a sugar pill
Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, professor of psychology Irving Kirsch accessed dozens of unpublished studies--studies the drug companies knew about but purposely ignored--and concluded that there is little reason to prescribe antidepressants to the majority of depressed patients, because they don't work. more »
Warnings: ADHD drug Strattera CAUSES psychosis, hallucinations, mania and agitation
Medical authorities in Europe have required Eli Lilly to change labeling of its failed antidepressant-turned-ADHD drug Strattera to state that Strattera CAUSES "hallucinations, delusional thinking, mania or agitation in children and adolescents without a prior history of psychotic illness or mania... at usual doses."more »
Depression is a symptom, not a disease
Dr. Mary Ann Block is a strong advocate for non-drug ADHD approaches and Medical Director of the Block Center, which treats chronic health and learning problems. She states, "Depression is a symptom, not a disease. Just because you are depressed does not mean you have depression nor does it mean that you have a psychiatric disorder."more »
ADHD drugs not effective over long term, study shows
The findings by an influential US study also suggested long-term use of the drugs could stunt children's growth. more »
ADHD is bogus, says a pediatrician and a psychologist
"In the book, "The Diseasing of America's Children: Exposing the ADHD Fiasco and Empowering Parents To Take Back Control" (Thomas Nelson, $24.99), [Ravenel and Rosemond] not only hold the ADHD Establishment's feet to the fire - they toss the establishment into the fire, using such pointed phrases as "a travesty of science," "flimsy evidence," "a scandal waiting to erupt," and "an effort that has resulted in the manufacture of diseases that do not exist.""more »
No evidence that psych drugs help PTSD
"There is no evidence that drug treatments or the majority of non-drug treatments work on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a major review of the medical literature on the topic." more »
PTSD psych drugs killing our war veterans
"A West Virginia man whose son survived the battlefields of Iraq only to die in his sleep at home is crusading to find other military families whose loved ones also have died after taking drugs prescribed for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)." more »
1/3 of Christian clergy dismiss mental illness
"A recent Baylor University study of church members who sought help for a diagnosed mental health problem found the illness was denied or dismissed by a third of the pastors. The church members were instead told that the issue was spiritual in nature." Of course, there are many causes of mental problems--spiritual being just one. But while the article makes it sounds like one-third dismissing mental illness was too many, it's the two-thirds of pastors that buy into mental illness and likely refer out their members that is too many!more »
Letters
Ironic as it is, some pastors, full-time in the ministry, farm out their counseling to the world, while other laypeople like this reader, full-time working in the world, seek to counsel others from the Word.more »
Q&A
This reader asks, "How can I help my depressed wife?"See our answer.
HTML clipboardThe difference in improvement between patients taking placebos and patients taking antidepressants is not very great. This means that depressed people can improve without chemical treatments." --Psychology Professor Irving Kirsch
"Many people have been diagnosed and treated for depression without having a thorough physical and medical evaluation. There are many medical conditions that can cause a person to feel depressed. Many people have been treated for years with psychiatric drugs when they actually had undiagnosed health problems such as a thyroid disorder, a nutritional deficiency, allergies or a hormone deficiency."
--Dr. Mary Ann Block, Medical Director of the Block Center
"Specifically, the authors contend that those "diseases that do not exist" - namely, ADD (attention-deficit disorder), ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) - are based on bad science, most likely do not derive from a genetic brain disorder, and therefore do not require potentially harmful medications for treatment. They further contend that the classic ADHD symptoms such as inattention, forgetfulness, inability to focus, hyperactivity and impulsivity can be addressed through a behavioral treatment model rather than resorting to drugs."
--From an article on pediatrician's new book exposing ADHD
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The mission of this ministry is to inform mental sufferers and those from whom they seek help of the physical, mental and spiritual dangers of mental health disorders and treatments, and to encourage them to pursue a drug-free, psychology-free, Christ-centered life. Visitors to this web site taking psychotropic drugs who wish to discontinue use are strongly advised to consult a qualified physician for assistance and supervision before starting the discontinuation process. This ministry and web site provides information to help visitors make the most informed decisions about their mental health, and should not replace the advice of a medical doctor.
