Psychiatrists?

[Guest]

Is there a time a professing Christian should seek and counsel with a psychiatrist?

[HappyChristian]

Is there a time a professing Christian should seek and counsel with a psychiatrist?

I personally don't believe so, because a psychiatrist comes from the side of no guilt...and we all know we are sinners. Psychiatry only takes into consideration the mind, but man is more than his mind. Their approach is anti-biblical and thus can only be harmful.

[John81]

I personally don't believe so, because a psychiatrist comes from the side of no guilt...and we all know we are sinners. Psychiatry only takes into consideration the mind, but man is more than his mind. Their approach is anti-biblical and thus can only be harmful.

Agreed. Also, one has to be very careful with regards to Christian psychiatrists and Christian counselors. If a truly Christian one can be found, they can be of help, but most who carry these titles rely far too much upon worldly methods rather than biblical.

[BlessedChristianlady8]

I am in the process of seeing pshycatrists right now because of my sudicial attempt back in Feb. I advise you alot of these pshyc doctors are in it for the money. When I went to the hospital and out. I meet mine at the after care appointment. She said that I was not to get pregnant nor plan on children because the pills they gave me will harm a unborn child. My husband and I was not pleased and my husband told her straight out that God is in control of this. The worst thing she was listening to Christian music. Weeks later I thought I was expecting so I went to her again and I was afraid to say I didn't want these pills and it took her 20 mins to get out of me that I didn't. I said I don't know if I am pregnant or not. She then said that just see my counslour. I have to go through these programs because if I don't I would end up back in the hospital.
Personally I rather get preaching and reading the Bible my medication for my anxeity and depression. However right now I have to see those people because we are experiencing things I need them. I believe they are to be used for a short term basis.

[Seth Doty]

Psychiatrists have some ideas that aren't all wrong but the good and true is mixed in with the worldly philosophy to such a degree that it takes discernment to see between the two. Obviously the people visiting psychiatrists in the first place are rarely in any condition to exercise good discernment about what they are being told for if they were not having mental/spiritual struggles of some sort they wouldn't be there. As a result psychiatrists don't do a lot of good since in order to really help people they have to have true wisdom and not just a formula and a few questions. How many people with a whole lot of real wisdom do you know? I can't say I know very many, even among Christians, let alone the lost. Wisdom isn't a particularly common trait to posses in the considerable quantities needed to properly deal with those with all sorts of mental problems brought about by a variety of causes.

[JerryNumbers]

Have any of you ever dealt closely with a person that has mental troubles over a long period of time? Even daily? I ask because I have, my sister, and there has been some very tough times. She cannot function, life, on her own, has not been able to since in the late 70's.


I blame most of it on what she went though as a young girl, that her mind just could not deal with it and stay on the right course. I don't know that she ever threatened to kill her self, but she did threaten to kill father and mother several times.


At about 6 years of age she witnessed our birth mother, sister, brother, die in a house fire. Thanks to her that I've have a life. Just a very short version, mother was fixing our evening meal. Dixie was setting with me on the front pouch. Mother, sister, and brother were close to the cook stove. And explosion took place at the wood cook stove. Mother grabbed Betty Sue brought her to the front door, telling Dixie holding me to take her hand, them go stand by the fence. She did, but Betty Sue broke away from her, running back in the house. Dixie has said, "I did not know whether to run in and get her, or just go to the fence, so I want to the fence."

She was found standing at the fence holding me crying like a baby. She had heard the screams of pain coming from the house.

The next 6 months were spent with a man and his wife, a time she could have done without. She was finally taken out after a school teacher called the police. After and investigation they found if was no place for a young girl.

All people do not get a good start in life, and if you get a bad one, that can lead to a very difficult life, with many problems. Dixie has had her share, and I feel sure many others have to. And who is out there that can give such people help? Be VERY careful how you judge them when you have not dealt daily with someone who has such troubles.

[Guest]

Besides Kay have any of you ever counciled with one?

I know a man in Atlanta Ga. who councils with a woman, I believe her name is Boyd. He says he is a Christian. I don't know if he is a Christian but, he has a lot of anger and meaness in him. I don't believe a man should be in closed conversation with a woman. I would council him to seek a Christian trained male counselor, pray, and read the Bible. I don't believe there is any room for a Christian to be involved with Psychiatrists male or female.

[BlessedChristianlady8]

I have a male counslour but my husband goes in the sessions with me. Unless he has to go some place then I still go and he will go in later. However, we just speak about suicide thoughts and mental depression and everyday worry things.

[HappyChristian]

Jerry8, what your sister went through is horrible. I'm so sorry! I, too, have dealt with people with mental troubles (not on the scale which you have, though), and it can be very difficult. However, please know that no-one is in any way judging those who have gone through things which can cause major mental problems. Simply put, psychiatrists don't help like the people who go to them think they do, because they do not use a biblical approach, they use a humanistic approach. Like Seth said, psychiatrists do have some good points...but they do not deal with the spiritual aspect of mankind, which is what, in many cases, is actually needed for true help (most, actually). There are times when someone is bipolar (manic-depressive) and they need medicine. I do believe that there are genuine physical reasons for things like that, and in some cases depression, and so forth. Medicine can be a big help. But it isn't all that is needed. Folks that are troubled in their spirit (or their emotions) need the Lord - and I know you would be the first to agree with that! But saying that doesn't mean anyone is sitting in judgment upon those with problems. Rather, a person who is right with the Lord would look upon those with mental troubles (and that really is such a gentle way to put it! Thanks for the wording, Jerry8) with great compassion.

~~~

I have a friend who was court-ordered to see a psychiatrist because her husband, who was divorcing her, claimed in court that she was crazy. Because she was blind-sided by things, she was an emotional wreck in court, and the female judge looked on her with disdain and contempt. Ergo: sent to see a shrink to determine if she was crazy or not. The psychiatrist had to be approved by the court, so she couldn't see her pastor. She complied, because custody of her children was at issue. Otherwise, she wouldn't have cared what the court decided.

Very happily, the psychiatrist turned out to be a Christian. And one who actually applied biblical principle to some of her work (not all, but hey...at least there was some!). She adjudged my friend to be emotionally stable and not crazy. Sad thing is, the court awarded religious, educational, and medial custody to the father anyway. But physical custody went to the mother, and that has been a wonderful thing in the lives of the kids. So, there is one more positive for psychiatric visits...but that doesn't mean I endorse them.

Kay - I think you and your hubby are very wise to have your hubby with you when you see the counselor, actually whether it's a male or female counselor. Our hubbies are our protectors, and he can probably spot things you won't be able to (most hubbies seem to have that ability!!! ). I do hope and pray that things get much better for you soon.

[BlessedChristianlady8]

Kay - I think you and your hubby are very wise to have your hubby with you when you see the counselor, actually whether it's a male or female counselor. Our hubbies are our protectors, and he can probably spot things you won't be able to (most hubbies seem to have that ability!!! ). I do hope and pray that things get much better for you soon.

Thanks for the prayers and I hope things will get better but, I am content right now. Thinks could be better but, i am just passing through each day.

[heartstrings]

The main thing, I think, is that you are seeking help. There is nothing shameful in seeking the help of a psychiatrist.
I went through a bout of anxiety/depression about 19 or 20 years ago and my IFB pastor recommended that I see one. I was bewildered becasue I thought that the Lord should take care of my problem; not a "shrink". Well, the man,turned out to be, I beleive, a Christian and, when I left, he told me to trust the Lord. I was severely depressed, having suicidal thoughts, and it was like I was in a dark pit with no way out... They removed all my guns from the house. The psychiatrist helped me in one visit.

In retrospect,; we all go to the doctor when we get sick right? Why not just trust the Lord instead of having that surgery or taking those pills? Because we know that God, in His providence, gave us medicines and doctors with the skill to help us get better. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor and he can prescribe medicine if you need it because sometimes our brains can get out of whack even through chemical imbalances via hormones etc. Our brains are not all spirit. they are biological too and medicines and things can disrupt normal function. Just remember that, whatever help you get, is ultimately a gift from the Great Physician! I am praying for you.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.James 1:17

Edited April 12, 2011 by heartstrings

[JerryNumbers]

The main thing, I think, is that you are seeking help. There is nothing shameful in seeking the help of a psychiatrist.
I went through a bout of anxiety/depression about 19 or 20 years ago and my IFB pastor recommended that I see one. I was bewildered becasue I thought that the Lord should take care of my problem; not a "shrink". Well, the man,turned out to be, I beleive, a Christian and, when I left, he told me to trust the Lord. I was severely depressed, having suicidal thoughts, and it was like I was in a dark pit with no way out... They removed all my guns from the house. The psychiatrist helped me in one visit.

In retrospect,; we all go to the doctor when we get sick right? Why not just trust the Lord instead of having that surgery or taking those pills? Because we know that God, in His providence, gave us medicines and doctors with the skill to help us get better. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor and he can prescribe medicine if you need it because sometimes our brains can get out of whack even through chemical imbalances via hormones etc. Our brains are not all spirit. they are biological too and medicines and things can disrupt normal function. Just remember that, whatever help you get, is ultimately a gift from the Great Physician! I am praying for you.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.James 1:17

Right, Yet even today many do not understand such problems, and are quick to be judgmental towards anyone who has such trouble, and who they seek help from. For that reason many go without help, them wind up killing their self. Yet many jumps on the wagon after the fact saying, "They should have sought help," perhaps that is a way to relieve them of any responsibility of their judgmental ways which helped the towards suicide and not seeking treatment.

It nearly makes me fighting mad at what some people will say if a person seeks psychiatrist treatment and or taking antidepressants.


As for my sister, if someone said she was crazy, that would not offend me, her head is totally messed up, has been so for many years, it just finally made its way out in about the late 70's.


And most Christians will rush to the doctor and take the pills he subscribes and or surgery he recommends, even if he is not a Christian doctor. Yet when it comes to such troubles brought up in this topic, you know what many say about it. And most have not dealt with such a problem daily for many years, yet they proclaim the answers along with what not to do.


With that said, all psychiatrist are not good at their job, yet that is true in any profession. Some psychiatrist need to be avoided at all cost, just as some medical doctors needs to be avoided.

[irishman]

I am not "for" psychiatrists, but my wife went to one nonetheless. About 20 years ago, or so, she had a hysterectomy, which caused a chemical imbalance (hormones) in her system. She was being treated by a "Christian" doctor, who recommended this psycho, I mean psychiatrist. I went with her to the first appointment, and all he wanted to talk about was her personal life, and childhood. We never went back after that, and talked the doctor into providing the pills anyway. Up in the hospital, they took away her Bible, as if that was the cause of her trouble. Needless to say, I threw a fit! Listening to the psalms and proverbs (as recommended by our preacher) brought her out of it. I had to have a lady satay with her during the day while I worked, and we changed to cassette whenever it was finished. She just listened and slept constantly, but the Lord brought her through it. We spent a lot of time in prayer and in thanking the Lord afterward. that's not all there was to it, but I did cover the essentials.

[BlessedChristianlady8]

Irishman I am shocked that the hospital took away a Bible. The one I went to had Bibles all around and there were mixture of Faiths there. They see it as reading material to do for activities and they do have a section in their studies that there is a worship center plan or house of worship plan. They wanted me to stay longer but I assured the doctor that withen 4 days I was there I was able to function because I have God and good church.

[JerryNumbers]

My sister was just in our local hospital. There were two books in her room, local telephone directory, and a KJ copy of the Bible. They also have a small chapel. This hospital is rather new, it was built to replace the old one and may have been in use about 1 year. They have special parking for all pastors that visit the sick, but I always park in the regular spots. I need the excise being nearly 65, 5' 10' just recently breaking 170 pounds.

Yet, the problem I believe, Marty and wife has a bad psychiatrists.