Thursday, April 23, 2009

Nervous Breakdown

Nervous Breakdown - It was also called "nervous prostration" a condition of irritable weakness. Today people who have anxiety disorders, depression, and/or bipolar disorder would all fall under the rubric of "nervous breakdown."
In the USA, from about the early 1900's until about the early 1970's, the term 'nervous breakdown' was very uncomplimentary in its use. Similarly, terms were used for the person such as, 'freaked out' or became a "wacko" or "nuts."
We know in mental illnesses, neurotransmitters and other aspects of the central nervous system are out of sync and result in all kinds of mental and bodily symptoms. The term continues to persist and in my opinion should be taken out of the English language.{Please see Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You’re Losing It by Steve and Robyn Bloem, (c 2005) Grand Rapids, Kregel chapter 2 "Stress and the Gathering Storm, pp. 27-35.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Spiritual depression

Spiritual Depression - One of the major causes of spiritual depression is that believers begin to look at their own personal sins and feel that God the Judge and Lawgiver is condemning of them.. Satan presents our Heavenly Father as always angry with us, always disapproving. Christ is seen as a Judge more than a husband.. The Holy Spirit is presented by Satan as a nag, ever haunting you about former sins but never giving relief. The answer is to focus on Christ and His redeeming love and not to look at ourselves. The Father is well pleased with us because we are in His Beloved Son.

The old hymn of Toplady mirrors the Biblical truth of justification by faith.

The terrors of the law and God
With me can have nothing to do
My Savior's obedience and blood
Hide all my transgressions from view.

Augustus Montague TopladyT (1740-1778), Christian Minister, Poet and Hymn writer.