Mental Illness and Christianity
Hi all, I hope you are doing well. I wanted to ask your opinion on how to interpret scripture in the context of mental illness. In the bible it says that God is our greatest source of joy, that we shouldn't worry because He is holding us in the palm of his hand, and that our body is a temple. I have struggled with depression, OCD, anxiety, and dermotillomania for a long time. Things started to spiral out of control a couple years ago, and I can't help but feel like I'm not trusting or listening to God enough. Not only do I not feel joy in God like I used to, but most of the time I'm so depressed I can't feel Him or anything except pain. OCD and anxiety are crippling and no matter how many times I try and dismiss the fears and put them in His hands, they just keep coming back, haunting my days and keeping me up at night. And with dermotillomania (skin picking disorder) I feel compelled to pick at my skin for hours, resulting in deep wounds, removal of fingernails, cuticles, and skin. I try so hard to treat my body as a temple, but I'm tearing it apart, and most of the time just feel like collapsing. If I don't pick, I have panic attacks which can rise and fall for hours. I don't know what to do. I know that Jesus intercedes and makes up for our failings, and that God has a plan for everyone. I pray for God to help me do his will, but continue to fail, and often just plead for death, which I know is incredibly disrespectful to Him as He gave me life.
Posted Apr 16, 2019, 2:43 AM UTC