Spirituality as a Coping Skill for Mental Illness

                                                            

 By

 

 

 

                        Anthony Joseph Hopkins Mental illness alone is very challenging for more than 40 million people living in the United States. People who struggle with the diagnosis of a mental illness find themselves struggling to make it. Frankly, there are people, who turn to their faith in God just to make it. Personally, I suffer from schizoid affective disorder. I have been suffering from a mental illness for almost 23 years now. Why having a serious mental illness would is so difficult?  For me, I hear voices that are not the Holy Spirit. In my report, I have found that spirituality is an often-overlooked resource in mental illness recovery. My assessment of religious or spiritual beliefs are under researched, and in most cases, it is laughed at by the Mental Health Community.  Honestly, most psychiatrist refuse to actually listen to their patients. Many psychiatrist and therapist that I have consulted with during the past 22 years, feel that my spirituality is pointless. I will admit that I have benefitted from pastoral counseling more than consulting with a psychiatrist and therapist. There are three main reasons how people with a mental illness cope with their problem. First, through spirituality, as well as relying on a power that is greater than the person themselves. As for me, I attend Fort McKinley United Methodist Church. The address to the church is 3721 West Siebenthaler Avenue Dayton, Ohio 45406. I have attended Fort McKinley Church for 7 years now.  It helps me to cope much better with a mental illness by attending church as well as Bible study during the week. I feel a whole lot better when I am at church. Second, there are over 50 million people who have been diagnosed with a mental illness and a substance abuse problem.

This statistic comes from the National Institute of Mental Health. People who suffer from a mental illness, at least some of them drink alcohol or self-medicate themselves just to cope with their problem. Third, another coping mechanism that some people have used is suicide. I remember on February 13, 2010; I tried to kill myself because I was responding to internal stimuli.   The voices that I was hearing told me to kill myself. Smolak, Gearing, Alonzo, Baldwin, Harmon, and McHugh (2013) reflected and reviewed 43 original research studies over the past 30 years. These people have discovered that patterns that were related or pertaining to religious beliefs and a patient’s recovery from a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia.  This observation found that religion and spirituality have a mostly positive association with mental illness recovery. However, the intensive observation indicated that spiritual perceptions of family, caregivers, the community at large, and professionals affiliated to the mental illness saw tremendous progress.    The results pointed out that religious themes were often evident in the perception of disease etiology, that family members and caregivers used religion as well as religious based professionals over mental health professionals. I would admit that working with a Pastor each week is much more feasible than dealing with a psychiatrist on a monthly basis. However, this report has better reflections of the patient.  It also has a better understanding of a patient’s spiritual and religious beliefs as it assists in improving coping with a mental illness better than relying on medication. Religion and spirituality in conjunction with mental illness recovery remained historically under emphasized and minimized by mental health professionals. This means that spirituality will have to be emphasized by the patient themselves as a means to better cope with their mental illness. The report finished with the idea of how enhancing the treatment provider’s awareness of a patient’s religious and spiritual interaction may improve treatment outcomes. I would like to say that religion and spirituality is not emphasized during an average consultation or therapy session. The majority of professionals prefer the use of medication to eradicate mental illness. Corrigan, McCorkle, Schell, and Kidder (2003) studied a total of 1,824 patients living with serious mental illness, who also had significant functional disability, but did not engage in substance abuse. The information pointed out that the self-reporting of spirituality and religion as well as measured outcomes in psychological well-being, psychiatric symptoms, and life goal achievement such as employment and housing. This study determined whether religion and spirituality yielded similar benefits in the lives of people challenged and suffering from a serious mental illness, but also determined if those same people benefitted differently from religion. The patient’s themselves participated in community activities and common ways of worshipping versus spirituality defined as thinking about one’s self as part of a larger spiritual force. (P. 488).     This study found that patients who self-identified as religious or spiritual has a much greater sense of well-being, better coping skills, and diminished psychiatric symptoms.  There was also no difference in quality of life as far as employment and/or housing. People who suffer from a serious mental illness usually advocate and assert that religion and spirituality serve essential recovery roles in that they may provide useful coping skills to help with stressors.  Also, as previously noted, mental health professionals tend not to be very religious; therefore, the differences between professionals and patients may lead to a gap in treatment as professionals fail to ask about beliefs.   This could lead to a failure to explore religion or spirituality as a means towards a therapeutic end.  There are conclusions from this study.  The raw facts suggest there may be a need for faith-based programs to be integrated into recovery programs for people with serious mental illness.     In the future, more research is needed to determine the role of faith-based programs and to more thoroughly examine the causes and effects of spirituality in the lives of people who suffer from mental illness.       In all cases, this study and examination serves to remind mental health professionals of the central role religion or spirituality often play in the lives of patients and to the fact that sensitivity to the patient’s needs in this area lead professionals to helping the patient find appropriate services and resources. Women and minorities struggle with mental illness are much more intense than other races.  These patients were more likely to be religious and more likely to turn to their faith as a means of coping, getting better, and staying healthy.  These patient’s length of stay in a psychiatric ward was significantly shorter for patients who attend worship services or used religious thoughts and activities as one of the most important strategies to deal with their mental illness. An initial spiritual assessment should focus on determining how patient’s spiritual beliefs and practices influences their functioning and recovery.  By doing so, mental health professionals will likely uncover strengths and resources that can be utilized to foster recovery.  Mental Health Professionals can also help patients focus on their capabilities and resilience as well as accessing and using other positive recovery-oriented narratives drawn from the patient’s spiritual worldview in order to address their problems more efficiently. Spiritual Assessment within the mental health area is under researched and given that spirituality and/or religion is identifiably a magnificent and positive part of serious mental illness recovery.   This needs to be a more widely researched and utilized avenues of social science.  In a society where, mental illness can be isolating and stigmatizing label; spirituality can be a core identity to which almost everyone can find a community or ways to help make life with serious mental illness worth living.                  

References

1.  Corrigan, P., McCorkle, B., & Kidder, K. (2003). Religion and Spirituality in the lives of people with serious mental illness.  Community Mental Health Journal, 39(6) 487-99 2.  Smolak, A., Gearing, R. E., Alonzo, D., Baldwin, S., Harmon, S., & McHugh, K. (2013). Social Support and Religion: Mental health service use and treatment of schizophrenia. Community Mental Health Journal 49(4) 444-50

WOW!! You aced it!!

Congratulations!! You aced a math test that only 5% of people with PhDs pass. You have the traits of highly-able math students: keen awareness of quantitative information, sharp problem-solving skills, and excellent perception of numeric and non-numeric patterns. Have you ever considered becoming a pilot? (you have according to IQ studies)… Let us know in a comment below.

What does it mean to examine our ways and heart?

                                                By

                          Anthony Joseph Hopkins

          This is an essay that will ask a very important question.  What does it mean to examine our ways and heart?  This is a plan for repentance and renewal.  Turn Back!! Repentance in the Old Testament prophets is often expressed by the verb To Turn!!  Lift our hearts and hands: Lifting hands was a common posture in prayer.

          According to Lamentations 5:21: The one word turn can summarize God’s message to His rebellious people.  In one of Jeremiah’s earlier messages, he had exhorted the people to turn to God no less than seven times.  Return means to “Return” to God in faith.

          When it comes to repentance, I have to completely stop what I had done wrong, and give it to the Lord God.  The definition of the word repent means to turn back.  As it pertains to the topic of discussion, this gives us an opportunity to examine carefully who we are in the eyes of God.  It also enables us to write down on paper all of our positive and negative things about ourselves.  We have to speak with the Lord privately first and foremost.  Before we seek wise counsel with others, we first must confess our sins to the Lord.

          Next, in this case, this means that everything that we did wrong in our personal life, we ask God to forgive us.  As far as our ways and heart is concerned, we must take a real long look at ourselves.  Do you really like what you see?  This is a question that we really need to ask ourselves right now.  For instance, in my case, I tend to ask myself this same question every single day.  I have a lot of health issues right now.  I am taking 22 prescription medications that I am currently taking is Remron, Prozac, Vistaril, Trilafon, and Phenobarbital.  I have been taking these medications for over 20 years now.

          Further, I currently take these medications for seizures and depression.  How do you feel about yourself right now? I feel pretty good about my outlook on life, and my overall behavior as completely changed since taking the medications.  In Step 10 in Alcoholics Anonymous states that we continue to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

1. We review our day at its entirety.  Do we have to make amends with anyone else or God?  Sometimes the answer to this question is yes.  For me personally, I have to examine all of my character defects and disclose them with God or with my A.A. Sponsor.  Right now, I have to write an essay each day of the week just to cope with a mental illness.  I have to pray and read the Bible each day of the week.
2. When we examine our ways, we look at every little thing that makes us tick.  For Example, we focus on having an intimate relationship with God.  Are you ready to have an intimate relationship with God?
3. The definition of the word examine means to look at carefully.  I am the type of person who is very intelligent, nice, kind, polite, patient, considerate, warm, brave, clean, and meticulous.

Finally, we are ready to have an intimate relationship with God by confessing our sins to Him!

     As soon as I say that I am ready to do your will Lord.  First, I must confess all of my sins to the Lord God.  I might even write them down on a piece of paper and tell God exactly what is burdening me. Also, one thing that I can say is that I feel much better when it comes to releasing all of my negative energy to Him.  I also ask Him what he wants me to do right now and in the future.  I ask the Lord to please let me hear His voice.  God already know the things that you need long before you ask Him.  He will supply all of your needs.

Are you glad that we serve an understanding God? I am glad that I serve Him for myself.  Please continue to pray for me each day because I suffer from glaucoma and cataracts as well.

Wowee zowie! You’re a mighty science wizard, just like Bill Nye!

Are you like, Bill Nye the Science Guy or something? That was a phenomenal showing of your cell anatomy knowledge, and we’re simply floored by your aptitude. Science is freaking cool, isn’t it!? Way to go!

What does it mean to Do Things in Order?

        Good Day Everyone!! I would like to start this essay off by asking one question.  What does it mean to do things in order? First, let’s obtain the definition of the word order.  The definition of the word order is the sequence of words in a sentence, especially as governed by grammatical rules and as affecting meaning.  Another definition of the word order has a lot to do with setting boundaries and limits when it comes to behavior. 

        Next, I want to add that order when it comes to the Bible has a lot to do with obeying God’s word.  I know that when a child is growing up, they learn how to do certain things from being around their parents.  For example, a child is supposed to listen to their parents, and others that are involved in their life.  As long as the guidance is conducted in a positive manner. When it comes to following God’s word, it is imperative for all of us as human beings to listen and obey God in the same way we did our earthly parents. 

        Moreover, I want to inform everyone that I am a Born Again Christian man who adheres to God’s Holy word.  I will admit that I am not perfect.  I will say that I am a follower and a doer of the word of God.  Some might judge me and say that I am a borderline Christian.  I do not view myself as being inadequate in any way.  It is that I will admit that I have allowed myself to fall for the foolishness of this world.

        In Addition, I would like to apologize to everyone for the things that I have been doing that were distasteful to God Himself.  Like they say, only God can judge me.  Mankind only have an opinion about me as a person.  God has the final word.  I would like to say that I am a very good person who has a lot of common sense.  I also want to mention that it is our job to do the Great Commission.  I will say this that I still need help and prayer along in my journey to serve the Lord and spread the latter rains to everyone that I come in contact with each day of my life.

        Finally, I want to mention to everyone that our bodies belong to God.  Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit; that is inside of me right now.  Therefore, I am me and I am okay with myself today because I believe in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I have been clean and sober from alcohol and drugs for the past 28 years.  My sobriety date is May 2, 1990.  I take my recovery and life very seriously.  I love all of you very much as people.  I love all of you in the same way that Jesus Christ loves everyone.  I will say that I am a human being and a Child of God first and foremost.

        In Conclusion, I want to say that the poem that I have on the next page pertains to all people.  It is called the I am Me Poem.  When it comes to maintaining order for God, I take that very seriously.  Order to me gives me an opportunity to get things right before I leave earth.  I know that I have had a lot of things to do in order to change for the better.  I am very happy to have Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.