Quote:
Originally Posted by Lovebird
Some people liken psychiatric illness such as depression to diabetes, noting that it is a biochemical problem for which one must take medication. It doesn't go away, but it can be managed. I have used that analogy, since I have both conditions, but recently I've come to believe that epilepsy may be a better comparison. Diabetes is a different malfunctioning organ, but depression and epilepsy have the brain in common. Just now, on a Christian website, I told off a person who insists that "all ongoing depression is rooted in sin," and as he worded it, "I agree when we have a medical problem seek a doctor, but so called mental problems are caused by spiritual issues so seek a spiritual cure and that is just plain common sense."
If this had been a real-life confrontation, I'm afraid he may be digging my shoe out of his....(ahem).
First I told him that mental illness is medical too, since it involves the physical brain. I hope he doesn't go around telling epileptics not to take their medication, but just pray and decide they're not going to have a seizure. Then, since I happen to be a moderator on that web site, I reminded everyone of the rule we have there against giving medical advice, or suggesting that someone should disregard what their doctor says.
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No. Just because something is medical doesn't mean it is purely physical. Also, there are 2 main types of diabetes, one which is physical damage requiring chemical assistance, and one which can often be healed by lifestyle changes, so it's not the best example of something purely physical, either. I'm quite sure depression is not only in the brain, or even primarily in the brain. The "chemical imbalance" model is an explanation of why the medication might work, but in my understanding it is not a scientific model nor an objective one. Medication is not the only solution, and people do not HAVE to take it. It is a choice, very helpful to many apparently, but what you have had is not accurate or precise.
Sin might be a silly idea, especially in relation to mental illness, but don't expect some guy on a Christian website to respond well to direct attack on his assumptions. Telling someone off is not a constructive form of interaction; it's you losing control. If you're a moderator over there, you have some power - you exercise it fairly and move on, ideally, it seems to me. The idea that mental illness is medical and physical and needs medication is unsupportable, unless you admit shades of nuance completely lacking in what you have said. To say, as you did, that for example depression "doesn't go away but can be managed" is astounding to me. Of course it can go away.
Discussing hot topics requires a reasoned and fair minded tone, including giving the other guy the benefit of the doubt. For example, VH used the word "ignorant," which some people would find inflammatory, but keep in mind she has said English is an additional language she knows, not her first language.
