WE ARE NOT OK

MENTAL ILLNESS = a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning and often results in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
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THE TRUTH

TRUTH #16
You do not have to be defined by your illness or struggle.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
–Romans 8:37

TRUTH #17
You have to be intentional and make the choice to find healing.

When Jesus saw him lying there and realized he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to get well?”
– John 5:6

TRUTH #18
While healing may seem impossible in the moment, all things are possible with God.

“…if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’? Everything is possible for the one who believes.”
Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
– Mark 9:22-24
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Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder & Religious Trauma Syndrome
(Recover Your Life)

QUICK FACTS
- About 9% US adults will experience PTSD within their lifetime

- First diagnosed by Swiss Military physicians in 1678; called “shell shock” or “combat exhaustion” thru the early 1900s

- These disorders are caused by over- or under-activation of certain brain structures and a decrease of certain neurotransmitters.

- Increased chance of other disorders like anxiety, depression, substance abuse, etc.

Matthew Stanford:
“The trauma- and stressor-related disorders are serious psychological reactions that develop in some individuals following exposure to a traumatic or stressful event such as childhood neglect, childhood physical or sexual abuse, combat, physical assault, sexual assault, natural disaster, an accident, or torture.”
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COMPLEX POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

What is Complex-PTSD?

“The main differences between PTSD and CPTSD are the length of trauma and the symptoms.
“Traditionally, experts thought PTSD generally developed from short-term trauma, such as a vehicle accident or a natural disaster. With research, they realized that people who experience long-term, repeated trauma tend to have other symptoms in addition to the symptoms of PTSD.”
(–Cleveland Clinic)

Common Symptoms of PTSD / C-PTSD
-Flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and physical symptoms.

-Avoidance and detachment from people, events, and environmental triggers of the trauma.

-Excessive attention to the possibility of danger (hypervigilance).

-Frequent negative thoughts and emotions.

-Excessive reactivity to negative emotional stimuli with anger and aggressive behavior (affective dysregulation).

-A negative sense of self involving persistent feelings of shame, guilt, failure and worthlessness.

-Severe difficulty in forming and maintaining meaningful relationships.

When Everything Goes Wrong
JACOB (Genesis 37-45) - Never gets over the “loss” of Joseph. Exhibits symptoms of PTSD and becomes overly protective of Benjamin.

JOB (Book of Job) - Displays symptoms of PTSD throughout the book of Job upon the loss of his family, property, and health.

Matthew Stanford:
“The biblical descriptions of PTSD in the lives of Jacob and Job demonstrate to us that mental health problems are no respecter of faith. Simply being a person of faith, even an exemplary faith as in the case of Job, is not enough to keep one from struggling with mental health problems.”
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WHAT IF RELIGION IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR TRAUMA?

Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS)

Dr. Marlene Winell:
"The condition experienced by people who are struggling with leaving an authoritarian, dogmatic religion and coping with the damage of indoctrination. They may be going through the shattering of a personally meaningful faith and/or breaking away and deconstructing from a controlling community and lifestyle."

Religious Trauma Institute:
"The physical, emotional, or psychological response to religious beliefs, practices, or structures that is experienced by an individual as overwhelming or disruptive and has lasting adverse effects on a person’s physical, mental, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being."

Causes & Warning Signs:
X Using guilt and shame to control behavior
X Strict gender roles / double standards (re: purity culture)
X Fear-based teaching (hell, rapture)
X Threats of excommunication and shunning
X Repression of critical thinking (don’t ask questions)
X Physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse
X Hypocritical leaders with no accountability

WORDS OF WARNING

FINDING HEALING

MIND: For most people, a combination of therapy and medication works best. It will take time to find the right treatment.

BODY: Exercise, a healthy diet, and proper sleep will aid you on your healing journey.

SPIRIT: Meditation, Bible study, participating in a support group, and practicing self-love can bring comfort and healing.

RELATIONSHIPS: Spend time with people who love you, and find ways to serve others.

GOING DEEPER | Study & Discussion Questions

1. Why do we sometimes let our illness or struggle define us? What can we do to live into our true identity as children of God?

2. Do you think intention matters when it comes to healing form mental illness? Why does healing seem impossible sometimes?

3. Describe the traumatic experiences Jacob and Job went through. How did those experiences affect them? What role did their faith play?

4. Why do you think the Bible issues such strong warnings to religious leaders? What are some GREEN flags to look for in a church or faith community?

5. What words of hope and comfort does Scripture have for those who have experienced trauma, even at the hands of religious leaders?

ONE (MORE) CHALLENGE
one small step of discipleship every week
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Read one PSALM each day and meditate on it.