Matters of the Mind- Latter-day Saint Helps for Mental Health

[Smith]

It appears to be this one.

Thanks, I have ordered it from Amazon, I want to give it to a friend (member) who is bipolar...

[notHagoth7]

I will have to say I'm surprised this thread hasn't gotten more attention.

It's probably more a matter of:

A) those not familiar with the issue having nothing to offer and

B) those quite familiar with it (either personally or through close family/friends) who deem it too personal to air in a public setting.

Seems like the implications are significant.

No doubt.

Which is why such a potentially complex issue offers reassurance that a just, compassionate being will be the one to judge such matters.

[CV75]

Which is why such a potentially complex issue offers reassurance that a just, compassionate being will be the one to judge such matters.

Apart from what I wrote before, Jacob 4;18 and Mosiah 2:11 show that very great men had infirmities of mind and "over anxiety" (also read about some of President Kimball's inner struggling with anxiety). These conditions were insufficient to keep them from receiving revelation or serving, either because the Lord made the burden light, removed the burden, or their condition was not that severe in the first place. Not to mention the odd personalities in many great people that can appear to be the result of mental illness; and what was the real source of Moses' and Enoch's slowness of speech?

I think it is potentially complex because of some personal reactions to the subject and what are wrongly attached to mental illness that isn't attached to physical illness; while both are undesirable, they have their place in our mortal probation in both those who suffer and those who are accountable to serve them. neither need to be a barrier, and yes I agree that the Compassionate Being will be the one to judge such matters.

[Doug the Hutt]

Lamanite, thanks for yet another interesting thread. I will be getting that book.

nothagoth7 is correct in the assertion that it's a very personal, sometimes volatile subject to air. Because of that you'll get speculation from the outside. You won't have a volunteer to be mocked & ripped to shreds by apologists. Don't cast pearls before swine, so to speak.

[Blah]

Just wanted to add my thanks for bringing this book to my attention, Lamanite. Found a copy at my local LDS bookstore (at a discount, to boot!). This is a field that, in my own experience, is rarely understood by the Saints and is too often overlooked entirely.

[mercyngrace]

Thanks for posting, Lamanite. I ordered the book and will be reading it as soon as it arrives. I have "severe clinical depression" (some of which is a function of the way the brain works in addition to chemical imbalances) and so the subject interests me greatly. It is interesting because just this weekend I was thinking and praying about the subject and how does mental illness effect my ability to feel the Spirit, and now this comes up, so maybe this post and book is an answer to a prayer! We'll see. I am still trying to learn if mental illness in my case does effect my ability to communicate with my Father in Heaven. I think it does. I think I have had feelings/emotions in the past that I have experienced that I thought were the Holy Spirit communicating to me when those feelings might have been attributed to mental issues. On the other hand, I have received answers to prayers in the past that have been true that have come to me more easily because of mental issues. Therefore, there are positives and negatives, and I need to learn to discern both.

Fly Fisherman,

Thanks for sharing. I think you are absolutely right when you say there are positives as well as negatives when it comes to spiritual discernment by those who have diifferent brain chemistry.

My SIL has mental health issues and I have always felt that when she is "together" she is one of the most spiritual people I know. When she is not "together", her interpretation of her own thoughts and feelings is very misleading and sometimes destructive.

[Doctor Steuss]

Not that an agnostic apostate curmudgeon

[Lamanite]

Not that an agnostic apostate curmudgeon

[wenglund]

"If the brain is damaged or diseased the Spirit may not be able to command it to work properly." pg.46

I would submit that the damage and disease of the brain may consists of more than just chemical imbalances or brain tissue irregularities. It may also consist of cognative distortions.

I mention the latter because while the brain may have an amazing repairative and adaptive capacity in naturally working itself around chemical or tissue problems, cognitions tend not to be naturally changed, but take conscious effort. This means that the Spirit may be less capable of commanding cognitions to work properly than brain chemicals and tissue. In other words, our own cognitions (the way we think) may be more of an impediment to the spirit than our brain chemistry and tissue. I may have relatively similar brain chemistry and tissue as an atheist or agnostic, but my openness and capacity in working with the Spirit will likely be quite different.

It may be of interest to also note that there is a slowly growing trend among health professionals, including psychiatrists and psychologists, in looking at and treating mental and emotion issues more wholistically--taking into consideration a variety of external and internal factors like the patient's environment (toxic or supportive, bright or dreary, etc.), physical condition (healthy or sick, in or out of shape, etc.), emotional quotient, cognitions, adaptive and survival skill-sets, and even spirituality, etc.. These things tend to impact each other to one degree or another, either for good or ill. If someone is malnurished or sleep deprived or in the throes of cancer or suffering abuse and pain, this can have a delitarious affect on one's emotions, state of mind, and spirituality. And, vice versa.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[Kristine]

I'm excited to check out the book, Lamanite. Thanks for the heads up!

[Kristine]

In other words, our own cognitions (the way we think) may be more of an impediment to the spirit than our brain chemistry and tissue. I may have relatively similar brain chemistry and tissue as an atheist or agnostic, but my openness and capacity in working with the Spirit will likely be quite different.

As a Man Thinketh... James Allen style.

It may be of interest to also note that there is a slowly growing trend among health professionals, including psychiatrists and psychologists, in looking at and treating mental and emotion issues more wholistically--taking into consideration a variety of external and internal factors like the patient's environment (toxic or supportive, bright or dreary, etc.), physical condition (healthy or sick, in or out of shape, etc.), emotional quotient, cognitions, adaptive and survival skill-sets, and even spirituality, etc.. These things tend to impact each other to one degree or another, either for good or ill. If someone is malnurished or sleep deprived or in the throes of cancer or suffering abuse and pain, this can have a delitarious affect on one's emotions, state of mind, and spirituality. And, vice versa.

I absolutely agree with this. So true.

[wenglund]

As someone who is Bipolar Type II, and also has mild schizophrenia, I don

[Lamanite]

I would submit that the damage and disease of the brain may consists of more than just chemical imbalances or brain tissue irregularities. It may also consist of cognative distortions.

I mention the latter because while the brain may have an amazing repairative and adaptive capacity in naturally working itself around chemical or tissue problems, cognitions tend not to be naturally changed, but take conscious effort. This means that the Spirit may be less capable of commanding cognitions to work properly than brain chemicals and tissue. In other words, our own cognitions (the way we think) may be more of an impediment to the spirit than our brain chemistry and tissue. I may have relatively similar brain chemistry and tissue as an atheist or agnostic, but my openness and capacity in working with the Spirit will likely be quite different.

It may be of interest to also note that there is a slowly growing trend among health professionals, including psychiatrists and psychologists, in looking at and treating mental and emotion issues more wholistically--taking into consideration a variety of external and internal factors like the patient's environment (toxic or supportive, bright or dreary, etc.), physical condition (healthy or sick, in or out of shape, etc.), emotional quotient, cognitions, adaptive and survival skill-sets, and even spirituality, etc.. These things tend to impact each other to one degree or another, either for good or ill. If someone is malnurished or sleep deprived or in the throes of cancer or suffering abuse and pain, this can have a delitarious affect on one's emotions, state of mind, and spirituality. And, vice versa.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

You know Wade... most of us just want to eat some pills and be done with it. We certainly don't want to recognize cognitive distortions and follow up that recognition with corrective exercises. Moreover, we certainly don't want to eat healthier and monitor our sleep cycles.

[/sarcasm]

Elder Oaks:

"Latter-day Saints believe in applying the best available scientific knowledge and techniques. We use nutrition, exercise, and other practices to preserve health, and we enlist the help of healing practitioners, such as physicians and surgeons, to restore health.

The use of medical science is not at odds with our prayers of faith..."

Certainly, after all we can do, His grace will be sufficient.

Big UP!

Lamanite