Which came first: The addiction or Mental Illness?

Moving Closer to the Root Issues

After engaging for 20 years with the mental health industry, 12-step programs, drug/alcohol rehabs, faith communities and any other organizations interested in “helping” me, I have arrived at this conclusion:  the mental illness was first.

Now, please remember this disclaimer as you read this post:  I am not a medical doctor or licensed counselor.  I have not studied the human brain or examined how/why humans behave in a particular manner.  All I know is that when I reflect on my life, one thing seems clear:  I had anxiety first and then tried to soothe my pain with marijuana and cigarettes.

Believe it or not, I used to loathe cigarettes and marijuana.  I said I would never smoke cigarettes.  I hated their smell and it was illogical to me that someone would voluntarily hurt themselves.  Well, as fate would have it, my judgmental young mind had to live the experience firsthand.  And if it sounds like I am blaming fate, yes, I am. Because I do believe what comes around goes around.  

Certainly my rigid home environment contributed to my anxiety.  It is probably what ignited it.  I’m not blaming anyone here.  This is just the product of the social and historical environment of my African-American, middle-class upbringing.  My dad was, I believe, bipolar and very strict.  I was afraid of him and my mother, in a healthy way, and sought to please them at any cost. 

It was unreasonable to me to disobey their rules.  I completely bought the “follow the rules” commands of God and my parents.  It seemed logical that if I did right, I would get right.  Between Sunday School, Sunday morning worship and my Christian home environment, I caught the subliminal and overt messages delivered Sundays through Saturdays. 

The problem was, when I turned into a teenager, my dad would creatively find ways to keep me and my sister locked in the house all summer and forbid us to participate in normal teenage activities, behaviors and emotions:  reading magazines, teen dances, riding bikes into the city on the summer, crying over spilled milk, etc.

Nothing I did was ever good enough and, in my opinion and my sister’s, I was a “goody two shoes.”  (It’s true.  Ask her.)  I was afraid of my dad and afraid to break the rules and his word was the gospel and the law!

But I still managed to get in trouble. 

The first physical sign of my own psychological, internal trouble were ulcers.  Yes, I had ulcers at the age of 14.  One of the church ladies thought this was strange, odd and a bad sign.  I still remember the look on her face and her expression when I told her.  I don’t know why I opened up to her, but I did.  I knew something was wrong in our homestead.  I knew it in my gut.  But Daddy wouldn’t acquiesce to my pleas for family counseling.

On the back of my school bus, the older students smoked marijuana.  I still remember the look on my best friend’s face when I marched to her house and asked her for a cigarette and the following week began to smoke marijuana on the back of the bus.

In rehab, we are taught if a person’s mental illness is not treated, they will self-medicate (i.e. use illegal drugs to soothe the psyche). 

By the age of 16, for reasons yet to be discovered (medical, emotional, etc.), I tried to commit suicide.  I was not high on alcohol or drugs when I made the decision.  But I do remember being plagued with thoughts that no one loved me or wanted me.  Lies really.  My parents did love me and demonstrated it, at the very least, by providing a food, clothing and shelter.  They showed it in other ways too, but my mind didn’t see it that way.

That, to my recollection, is the only time I tried to kill myself without alcohol or drugs being a contributing factor.  So, I am inclined to believe that the mental illness manifests first, and then, left untreated, drug usage or some form of self-harm will follow.

Please note, I am not saying that everyone who uses drugs has a mental illness.  I do not profess to have that kind of authority or intellectual knowledge.  Certainly, some substance abusers begin their trek in an effort to fit in with their peers.  All I can do is share my experiences.

But, I would also like to know the thoughts of others.  Do you agree or disagree?  I would be interested in reading someone’s comments.

Be blessed,

M

How to Live the Good Life

Emotional Health is a Biblical and Secular Concept

3 John 1:2

Theological terms such as mind, body, soul and spirit can leave us confused as to which one refers to our emotional well-being.  After careful research, here is what I found:

3 John 1:2 reads that the writer is praying for his friend’s body to be as healthy as his soul.  There is an assumption in this text that the soul (feelings, will, desires for power, sex and satisfaction) is as healthy as the body.  In fact, the reference is to the person being holistically viewed and not just from a spiritual, “yes, you need salvation from sin” perspective.

We make the same assumptions today.  If someone looks good on the outside, they must be well internally.  However, all that external glitz and glam can also be a cover-up for internal shame, impulsive buying behavior and/or creative ways of avoiding self.

This week the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration honors National Wellness Week.  Twellness covers eight areas of a person’s life:  emotional, occupational, financial, spiritual, physical, social, intellectual and environmental.  Their belief is that a person enjoys overall a healthier life (socially and physically) when they experience wellness in each of these areas.

his agency believes

This does not mean we won’t struggle to feel good sometimes.  There are plenty biblical examples of temporary depression and anxiety.  David, Job and Jeremiah all cried out to God, in written form, to express their sorry, despair, lack of lust for life and other emotional down points to the God of their understanding. 

They knew God would listen.  They also knew God would comfort. These examples are proof that humanity needs emotional care too.  They prove we can trust God, believe in God and still be sad and troubled sometimes.

In the African-American church, it is common for parishioners to seek emotional support from pastors instead of psychiatrists or psychologists.  In a world that advertises more and more attention on the emotional well-being of individuals, how has the church approached this subject?  Anxiety, depression and other emotional maladies can restrict a person’s ability to properly process and handle a variety of life circumstances.  The Michael Brown incident in Ferguson, Missouri is just once example of how external circumstances can throw a person into a season of anxiety and/or sadness.

Can the church provide support and comfort too?  Not just on Sunday mornings but through the week?  Is it willing to employ and secure trained counselors, psychologists and/or therapists to help diagnose and guide people into a healthier place emotionally?

Interestingly enough, that the historical context of 3 John references how Christian love is demonstrated.  The writer states it is through hospitality and support – putting the needs of others before one’s own needs – as a true reflection of Christ’s love demonstrated on the cross.

Yet, often when an emotional despondent person presents in the worship experience, church leaders want to immediately usher them into healing versus addressing the emotional issue itself.  Is it possible this particular individual has a history of depression or being anxious about small things?  If so, what has the person done in the past to secure more self-control in their lives?  Have they seen a therapist?  Have they tried medication?  Have they tried changing their personal home environment to establish a more safe and secure physical existence?

Maybe one of the reasons believers can’t prosper in their financial situation is because they haven’t addressed their emotional response to living itself.  Impulsive behavior, a by-product of anxiety, leads to financial instability and, for some people, unexpected trips to jail.  If anyone impulsively buys clothes or hits someone who makes them angry, these are the consequences to their actions.

Stable living is a byproduct of a healthy life.  Yes, this includes an emotionally healthy life too.  In 3 John 1:3, the writer says he is proud his friend’s life “stays clean and true and continues to live by the standards of the Gospel.”  But, his friend is able to do so because he takes care of himself mind, body, soul and spirit.

A successful recovery, a stable life is built on a solid, healthy internal foundation.  The eight areas of SAMHA are one view.  The biblical perspective is another.  But the truth remains, you can’t build a brick house on quicksand. 

Achieving a sense of balance and wellness begins with stable emotions, good health and sound decision making practices.  Most likely, the more support a person has socially, the more successful they are to achieve wellness in all areas of their life.

Self-care and Suicide Prevention

A few ways we can prevent our own Suicide

We don’t hear enough people talking about their personal, private struggle to manage suicidal thoughts.  But, in light of this being Suicide Prevention Week, it seems appropriate for me to be transparent.  In fact, this self-disclosure may encourage someone else to reach a deeper level of self-acceptance.

Our society embraces the idea of managing loneliness.  On the other hand, in some communities, society tries to save us or deliver us from depression and suicidal thoughts.  My experience reveals learning how to manage the suicidal thoughts that randomly present themselves in my head, has helped me preserve my life and stabilize me within the context of self-care and wellness.

Suicidal thoughts don’t discriminate.  A person’s background or pedigree is of no importance to these thoughts of self-destruction.  My first set of thoughts appeared around the age of 15.  And, being a mental health consumer (i.e. a person who manages and addresses their mental illness), I have learned that honest acceptance of my mental health condition allows me to move towards a solution rather than staying in the problem (i.e. tortured by suicidal thoughts, defeated by depression and/or agitated by anxiety).

Here are a few ways I manage my mental health, which includes those infrequent, unexpected suicidal thoughts:

Honestly admit the thoughts occur. No matter how frequent or rare, if your brain is built like mine, the suicidal thoughts will occur and re-occur whenever they want.  I have learned that I might not be able to control when or why the thoughts that come into my head, but I can certainly control how I respond to them.

Develop and practice open-mindedness.  There are alternative ways to dealing with suicidal thoughts rather than just giving in.  This is what I call “the fight.”  For some people it is a daily struggle to fight the thoughts.  For other people, the thoughts may come in seasons.  Whatever the case, approaching our lot in life with an open mind as it relates to treatment is a good starting place. 

Considering attending therapy, taking medication (traditional or herbal), practicing your spirituality and any other forms of healthy treatment are ways we demonstrate self-love and self-care.  There are alternative solutions to managing suicidal thoughts that do not involve trying to kill oneself by abusing drugs or attempting to end one’s life.

Become Willing.  Being willing to talk to someone is a great idea.  Hopefully, the person chosen is willing to listen and help guide you into a solution that doesn’t involve shaming you for your condition.  Also, having a safe haven for rough days is a good idea.  My safe haven is my bed.  If I get hit with an episode of suicidal thoughts, I encourage myself to get home and get in my bed!  This allows me to hold on until the rough moments pass and I can talk to someone, have a change made to my medication or both. 

I have a few rules I follow so that when the thoughts come, I know they can’t succeed.  I cry, tell them to shut up, talk to my therapist, lay in bed and watch movies, listen to sermons, the list goes on.  There are alternative ways to deal with the problem.

5.     

            Pray.  People often fail, but God never does.  Saying, “God help me” is the simplest prayer I know.  And, as my thoughts to self-harm dissipate, I am grateful for the moment’s reprieve.

           Enter into a covenant/contract with yourself.  Biblically, covenants are initiated by God and God alone.  So, I have a contract, an agreement, if you will, with myself.  I will not try to kill myself.  (I personally think it is a waste of time to try but that is another topic.)  Past attempts have been unsuccessful, I always felt worse after I failed and I must be here for a reason, so why not just hold on and see what the end results will be?  I realize this isn’t logical thinking for some people, but it is the way I manage my depression and suicidal thoughts instead of allowing them to manage me.

Gratitude list.  I am not a fan of gratitude lists because my mind enjoys thinking “poor me” thoughts.  But, my recovery is my responsibility.  So, the way I recover from depression and suicidal thoughts is I find something, anything, for which to be grateful.  Some of my simplest gratitude lists are the funniest ones, but they keep me from harming myself in that moment.  And, I believe, that makes God proud.

Being suicidal is embarrassing to admit.  The shame about having suicidal thoughts succeeds when we choose to suffer in silence.  Acting out on these thoughts is always depressing and demeaning.  The truth is, the thoughts will pass and eventually go away.  Bad days are bad days and their alternative, good days, come and go too. 

So, my suggestion is this:  “Let’s hold on to life and see what else it has to bring.  After all, it can’t be worse than managing suicidal thoughts.”  J

Be blessed,

M