How to Bridge Mental Health and Christianity Together to Make a Difference
By Amy Chow
I was standing in the church pews after I had just graduated from college with tears streaming down my face and my hands clasped together. I was looking for something, had been searching for years for resolve and contentment, and when I couldn’t find it, I was in emotional heartache. On that day, I had, finally, found purpose and fulfillment. My shoulders felt this immense release that I have never experienced before in all my 20+ years of life. The heaviness, the expectations I had of myself, and the self-defeating beliefs that I carried with me, all dissipated, like snow dissolving from the trees when the sun comes out. Then, a wave of pure joy, lightness, and most of all love emerged, flowing through my veins and into my swelling heart. I was beaming and filled with love for myself, love for others, and love for God.
Reflecting upon this pivotal time in my life, God guided me through with the support of my family, friends, and mental health providers. The combination of self-compassion I practiced with the help of my therapist and the safe environment provided by the church led me to identify what I was experiencing and to have the courage to continue to push forward. Ultimately, that moment is one of the main reasons I decided to become a mental health clinician in order to continue to serve God through helping others. This is my contribution to try and pay it forward to raise awareness and destigmatize having a psychiatric diagnosis.
Christianity and mental health care can co-exist beautifully and wonderfully to make a difference and save lives. Oftentimes, they are seen as two different entities working in opposite directions resulting in Christians feeling ostracized and ashamed for having mental health challenges. A solution for the dichotomy can be found in the use of the word “and”.
Grounded in Marsha Linehan’s Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), the use of the word “and” bridges two opposing things together thereby recognizing that both can be true. “I am not doing so well right now, and I am doing everything I can to improve my wellbeing” is a DBT statement.[1]
It might be odd to think about the statement as a whole because these may appear to be two contrasting ideas. A good example is an individual who is grieving for a prolonged period of time and wants to be doing better. In other words, it is the acceptance of prolonged grief and the desire to create change, slowly but surely.
In the midst of suffering and challenging times, most are quick to go into problem-solving mode where prayer and faith in God is most sought out because it’s comfortable. There is also an inclination to say suffering is in God’s plan, therefore minimizing one’s feelings of loss and immense anguish. From explicitly acknowledging one’s feelings coupled with reassurances provided by the Christian faith comes a deep level of validation that can bring forth compassion and promotion of personal growth. The validation process allows individuals to feel heard and understood, thus demonstrating that the one-on-one connection is authentic and non-judgmental.
Sitting with someone in their grief, depression, and anxiety is uncomfortable and can be disheartening because mental health challenges do not go away easily. They can stick around for a while. Sometimes it can be everlasting, like chronic pain. Continuously inviting someone to express themselves, cry, and put into words their daily struggles, shows that love endures through time.
Similar to how everyone has their personalized journey following God, everyone also has their unique mental health journey. Following God is fostered through relationships such as small groups in order to dive deeper into the teachings of Jesus Christ and strengthen self-compassion through support from others. Mental health challenges are also alleviated through relationships; individual therapy and/or peer-to-peer support provide connection and eliminate the burden of suffering alone, creating solidarity and community.
Coping with anxiety and depression on a daily basis is a process in itself. Like a daily prayer to cultivate faith and healing, coping with mental health struggles requires use of tools like DBT on a consistent basis to foster emotional wellness and improved livelihood. For me, I still have debilitating anxiety and symptoms of depression where it is extremely difficult to get out of bed. The combination of my Christian faith, DBT tools, and the support of my loved ones and support network helps me tremendously. I believe in my heart that I am doing my best in the way God planned it for me.
The integration of DBT’s use of the word “and” as well as the use of Christian values is one way to provide additional support for those that might feel embarrassed and ostracized struggling with mental health. My ask for Christians and church leaders is to make validating statements of mental health challenges while acknowledging God’s love and His plan for us in sermons, small groups, and counseling sessions. This, in turn, provides reassurance to the greater community that church is a space where individuals with mental health challenges are accepted and brings forth the belief that change is possible.
Reference
[1] Borchard, T, (2011, June 8) https://psychcentral.com/blog/marsha-linehan-what-is-dialectical-behavioral-therapy-dbt#3).
Amy Chow is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Los Angeles, California and is passionate about raising awareness about mental health challenges within the Christian community. She also enjoys playing tennis, jiu-jitsu, and taking long hikes.
Recently, I found out a friend of mine who I admired very much had been abusing a secret lover of theirs. This was a shock to me, naturally. It was also shocking to me how hard it was to decide to “do the right thing,” whatever that means.