Three Christian Myths on Mental Illness

Christian Myths on Mental Illness Perpetuate Stigma

For those who have struggled through life and found hope in Christianity, there’s a lot to love about the faith. We encounter grace and compassion where they once were thin, and many churches offer incredible support programs to those looking to improve their lives.

Our support network and closest friendships are often found within the four walls of our church. For those who haven’t experienced it, being a member of a good, strong, Jesus-centered and -focused church is a joy.

There’s been significant progression within the larger Christian body over the past 20 years on key social topics such as addiction, pre-marital sex, homelessness, and more. Christians, on the whole, display more understanding and less stigma to those who come to the table with a less-than-perfect history, or who make mistakes while walking in their faith.

When it comes to mental illness, however, that same grace is not as readily evident.

In fact, in leading support groups and through research, I’ve come across three Christian myths that many Christians continue to push, despite the information and education available to the public. Unfortunately, while intended to be helpful and supportive, these myths often push the suffering even deeper into the pain, while also isolating them from the support they desperately need.

Christian Myth #1: Anxiety is a sign you don’t have enough trust in God.

This is one of those insidious myths that seems, on its face, to be obvious and right. After all, we are told, the Bible says “Do not be afraid” in one form or another 365 times – once for every day of the year. If we trust Jesus and put the Bible at the center of our lives, then post-prayer worry means that we don’t actually trust God to handle the situation.

“Laying it at the cross” means, to those who understand anxiousness and worry but not Capital-“A”-Anxiety, pray-and-stay.

There are very few Christian denominations that would tell a cancer patient tht prayer is all she needs to achieve remission. It is the same for those who live with Anxiety.

Whether we are talking about Generalized Anxiety Disorder, panic disorder (which sends people to the emergency room), paranoia stemming from GAD, schizophrenia, or the terror of a PTSD trigger, we are talking about a medical condition that often needs medical attention in addition to prayer.

Myth #2: Weak faith is the reason you feel separated from God in a depression.

There are few Christian myths as damaging as this one. Isolation is a key symptom of depression, and it extends beyond our social circles. It is common for someone in a depression to feel as though God has retreated from them, that he has pulled back and away from us.

In all situations, we are talking about treating a medical condition.

Telling our Christian brother or sister that this experience is a sign of weak faith when they are already vulnerable adds another layer of guilt and shame to the mountain they already face in their minds.

The Bible tells us that God is faithful and always with us. It doesn’t tell us that we will always hear him speak to us. It doesn’t tell us that we will continually sense his presence. There’s no promise he will answer; just that he will hear.

In fact, we have this experience in our human relationships. My sister recently vacationed in some remote parts of the United States. At times, she was entirely out of reach to us, including by cell phone. We could send her all the messages we wanted; she wasn’t going to respond. It didn’t mean that she was gone entirely.

When we tell the depressed that not sensing God is a sign of weak faith, we diminish who God is.

In truth, anyone who is capable of reading the Bible and praying while in this isolated state is not demonstrating weak faith but amazing faith. To persevere in what feels like a one-sided relationship is a way of saying, “I value you and I’m investing in our relationship, regardless of how you respond.” I can’t think of a stronger statement of faith.

Myth #3: Mental illness is a sign of demon-possession.

Of all the mental illness myths perpetuated by the Christian community, I think this one angers me the most. Performing an exorcism on someone instead of referring them to a medical professional has multiple negative outcomes.

First, it reinforces the poor-faith-myth mentioned previously. After all, if we were strong in our faith, God would armor and protect us against the demons. Therefore, if we are possessed, then we haven’t given ourselves wholly over to him. Worse, if the exorcism doesn’t “take,” then we are choosing the demon over faith. Ugh.

When we tell the depressed that not sensing God is a sign of weak faith, we diminish who God is.

Second, this Christian myth makes mental illness a spiritual disorder, not a physical disorder. This viewpoint directly contradicts everything we know about mental illness today. MRI scans demonstrate that brains impacted by mental illnesses are inherently different from those of “healthy” or neurotypical brains.

Medications have demonstrated abilities to relieve suffering and boost emotional stability. Just like some cancer patients take chemotherapy, others do radiation, and still others can achieve remission through surgery (or any combination of the above), those struggling with mental health challenges need – and deserve – tailored medical treatments to relieve their suffering.

Not everyone will need medication, which is why medical professionals are essential here. Some people, like me, will be on medication for life as the cornerstone of their stability. Others will use medication on an as-needed basis, or short-term to help relieve the worst of their symptoms while they learn skills and develop habits that allow them to function without medication. Some will not need medication at all; learning critical skills and working through past traumas are enough to help them move forward effectively.

Regardless, in all situations, we are talking about treating a medical condition.

Last, the demon-possession argument further isolates the sufferer from the community. When an exorcism doesn’t relieve the symptoms, the Christian community distances itself from the patient, for fear of “catching” the evil.

Does demon possession exist? I believe it does, and I think it’s incredibly rare. When we see stories of Jesus or the apostles casting out demons in the Bible, the change is immediate and obvious. The sufferer does not have a slow road back to health, and it doesn’t take multiple exorcisms to heal them.

The demon-possession argument further isolates the sufferer from the community.

I once came across an article in the Washington Post where a psychiatrist acted as a medical evaluator to determine if a patient was possessed or experiencing a mental illness. Many of the “signs” that non-professionals (or clergy) use to assess possession are also standard and well-known symptoms of mental disorders. It takes a medical professional to determine between the two.

Moving Beyond Christian Myths Allows Us to Act More Christ-Like

I know that these Christian myths are helpful for those of us who don’t live with a mental illness. I understand that, if you have not experienced the terror of anxiety or depression, it is virtually impossible to empathize with the all-encompassing nature of it.

I also understand the sincere and genuine desire to help someone we see in pain. The desire to relieve suffering is natural, and I know how helpless we can feel when we don’t know what to do. I believe that these myths come from a good heart, from a desire to help and heal those we love when we don’t know what else to do.

If you’ve been told any of these myths, then my prayer is this article provides you relief and a new perspective. I hope you feel encouraged to reach out to a trained therapist and/or psychiatrist to get the help you need. I hope it gives you the words you need to push back against the stigma your Christian brothers and sisters may have placed upon you. God knows the truth, and he wants you to know it, too.

For the rest of my Christian brethren, my prayer is that we work together to dispel these damaging myths and help those struggling among with mental health issues to get the treatment they need best. Yes, we need to pray for them. And yes, we should help them find properly-trained medical professionals and walk with them on the road back to mental health.

The Christian family is wonderful. As we’ve gotten educated on issues such as addiction, we’ve learned new ways to reach out and support those who struggle. We can do the same when it comes to mental illness. We have an opportunity to shine Christ’s light and love by supporting – healthily – those set adrift by mental illness.

And that’s the most Christ-like way of all.

What’s one myth you’ve come across? How have you responded to it?