I have dealt with my mental illness (severe depression w/psychotic features) off and on for 30+ years. I was 13 when I fell into my first major depression and my first suicidal depression and subsequent hospitalization was when I was only 16 yrs old .

My second doctor (My 1st was a real goof......had him my first 3 months in the hospital) .

Anyway, my 2nd doctor was a born again Christian...........and a more wonderful man I will never meet. He cared for me like a daughter and quite literally saved my life. He gave, and managed, the medication I so desperately needed.

When he moved away I tried to live a Christian life, and for some reason........definitely not from him, began to believe that being "really" Christian meant trusting God enough and living without medication.

How sad.........I lost so many good years by stopping my medication when I felt better and waiting (and praying) before starting it again. But you know what.......I still didn't believe I had a real "illness" until my youngest child (of 4) developed the same illness, at the same age, that I have....

Well actually.....I still didn't REALLY, REALLY BELIEVE until in a Christmas card to my old doctor I finally admitted that I still struggled with my depression and that now my youngest seemed to have the same thing.

He wrote back that what I and my daughter had was a "biological brain disorder".........That our illness was no different than any other illness that strikes the body and requires help (medication, surgery, etc.) to manage. He pointed out too, that God's hand is in all the new medications out there to treat this illness.

He is right!!!! The medications have improved dramatically since I was first diagnosed. Back then the only class of meds were "Major Tranquilizers" and the treatment of choice for "suicidal depression" was ECT...........yes I had that too at 16 (with that dreaded 1st doctor.)

I am sorry this is so long.........but please believe that God has his hand in everything that helps us.

Take care.