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Exposing Psychology, Exalting Christ |
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| Q&A - How can I help my Christian friends get off of psychiatric drugs?8/31/09 Dear Lisa and Ryan, Thanks so much for "Psychology Debunked." What wonderful confirmation to my own testimony of overcoming depression without medication but with THE TRUTH OF GOD's WORD! I am having my three teenaged daughters read it! I never used antidepressants because, when I was saved in 1987… I was taught that the "alcohol gene" and other things like that were just the world's explaination and excuse for sin. I understood this because I was in psychotherapy when I got saved and since I was now a new creation in Christ and had His spirit in me, I knew He and His written Word would be the one I would turn to for help rather than excusing my sin-nature. I was taught I Cor. 10:13 and many other scriptures that helped me understand I needed to depend on my Savior to help me heal from past hurts, forgive and help me take every thought captive. I was also taught about how our word Pharmacy comes from Pharmakia, meaning witchcraft, which clearly in scripture is an abomination to the Lord! I called my Unitarian psychotherapist and told her I didn't need her anymore because I had found the answers I needed in Jesus! My question is about the many "Christian" women I now know who are freely using antidepressants. The one's I have talked to so far regarding depression being a spiritual problem rather than a physical/health problem, I have found to be completely "unapproachable." They aren't even open to hear my testimony and every one gets angry at the thought that their antidepressants aren't the real answer to their real diagnosis! How tight Satan's grip is on their hearts in this area. Many of these women were grossly abused as children, and it amazes me how they could have any type of a "normal" life after what they have gone through. I guess that's where the meds come in. It makes them "feel normal" or gives them the ability to cope. But, I was wondering IF there would ever be one who would want to be healed by the Lord and wanted to get off antidepressants, how they could go about it? With the understanding that antidepressants can CAUSE brain damage, how could they get free? Several years ago, a friend of mine who was taking Prozac because she "couldn't deal with her husband when he came home from work,' said she was tired of "being numb and not being able to feel anything" decided to go off Prozac. The next time I saw her she said she went back on Prozac because she just couldn't deal with life without it. She did have a struggle, because she told me that although she felt that the Holy Spirit had impressed her to get off it, she just couldn't do it. I was very very sad at this news. What could I do? Her marriage ended in divorce. What hope do these women have, save a divine healing? If someone ever were open to hear me and allow me to show them in God's Word the way to healing, how could they, if their minds are damaged by the meds? I haven't a clue, but I want to help! I know for myself, I had to get a hold of scriptures like "Anxiety in the heart of man CAUSES depression," Proverbs 12:25 and Phil. 4:6-8 "Be anxious FOR NOTHING...." "God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of love and of power and of a SOUND MIND." I had to get in the Word and build my faith up upon these truths! But then, my brain has not been damaged by chemical alteration. It was very hard work on my part - definitely not for the faint-hearted. I had to get to a place where I wanted to be mentally and emotionally healthy bad enough to change! Please let me know if you have any suggestions what could be done in cases such as these. I would appreciate ANY advice and prayer! Thank you. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross..." Hebrews 12:2 Answer: Thank you for your email. We are glad you are enjoying our ministry and have passed on the book to your three daughters. We have four daughters, all very young, and real blessings. God is so good! Regarding your question about what to do with women who are on the drugs and want to get off, if they choose to do so, then they should be very careful and wean themselves off very slowly, under the supervision of a doctor and with the loving support of friends or family. They should use books and programs written by doctors to help them withdraw successfully - see this link for a list: http://www.psychologydebunked.com/drugwithdrawal.htm. We also recommend all of Dr. Peter Breggin's books (see http://www.breggin.com). Also check out this link: Doctor Referral Service for Tapering Off Psych Drugs- The link includes: Education & Research on the Dangers of Antidepressants Referrals to MD's & Practitioners Throughout the United States Safe & Natural Alternatives to SSRIs And for info on specific psychiatric drugs, see http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/index.html and http://www.psychdrugdangers.com. Because long-term use of psychiatric drugs permanently alters brain structure and personality, the longer you use them, the more difficult it is to withdraw from them. But it is possible, if you follow the right steps, recognize that withdrawal symptoms will mimic the original feelings (e.g. getting more depressed off of them, than you were on them, or even before you were on them), make it "over the hump" by overcoming the strong temptations to want to get back on them on the "bad days," etc. We know of illicit drug addicts who have literally been healed of their addictions overnight by the Lord, and it is truly a miracle. So it is possible. But even without a miracle, just following the steps that the book and programs describe will increase the odds of getting off of the drugs for good. We understand the defensive responses you get from Christians using these drugs. It is a wicked snare from the enemy that many Christians fall into when they don't know the Word, or apply it to their lives (such as the verses you cite below). The biggest objection you will get is "it works because it levels me out / makes me feel better." See this newsletter for how to handle this objection: http://www.psychologydebunked.com/email0705_home.htm. We also sell a CD on our web site that discusses how to handle common justifications you'll hear from those on psychiatric drugs: http://www.psychologydebunked.com/otherresources.htm#4. For those who want the cold hard facts, you can also browse back-issues of our newsletter here: http://www.psychologydebunked.com/backissues.htm. They are filled with many safety and efficacy related reasons for not taking psychiatric drugs. These are convincing arguments in and of themselves, even without the biblical reasons. Hope this helps, and thank you for being a voice for truth in this area, to those around you! God bless you! Love in Christ, The Bazlers
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