The Diagnosis of the Christian

a.

I really love crazy people. I love them so much that I have dedicated the better half of my young adult life slaving over APA style papers on Friday nights, skipping beach days to sit in stuffy monotnounous lectures, and  tossing buckets of money at universities all in order to gain an education in the field mental health counseling. One and a half degrees later... I'm getting there.
It's obtrusive into my social life, my family life, my sleeping life and all, but I do it for those future crazy people who may need me one day. That is... if I survive the next year or so.
I look forward to my career and eagerly anticipate wading in to these experiences through my practicums. But for now all I have is lots of books to study and people to observe and being an avid church goer you can imagine my range of interest.
Over the last several years, as I have dove into the the more applicable side of my degree, I have seen an alarming deficit of mental health in the world. It's heart breaking. And the worst part is that most of the people who suffer don't reach out for help until their burdens are so crushing that they can no longer stand. I see it time and time again. We wear our masks as long as we can until the cracks begin to show, we patch the cracks until they break off and leave deep cuts, then and only then do we stretch out our hands and seek rescue.
This is when the church comes in to affect. Many scoff and adamantly proclaim "The church is full of hypocrites!" Well yes, as they should be. The church is more than a place of worship. It is a hospital for the sick. People come to be healed. To be cured of brokenness. To be made well. What a lovely, lovely thing. However, like most hospitals, we as the church tend to hide the psychiatric wing. We close it off and deny ourselves the very care we need. Then comes burnout. Then comes physical ailments. Then comes even more mental discord. Why spiral around the circle? Why not tend to the symptoms before they spread? Let us be more open about the needs of the mind!
So in oder to spot the signs before they increase, let us highlight a few metaphorical disorders that Christians often deal with before hitting burn out.

1. The ADD Christian
Attention Deficit Disorder is a well know diagnosis. Everyone and their mother's brother's goldfish these days seems to have it. However those who truly are ADD know the significant woes of this disorder, including myself. However the Christian version looks like this:

Symptoms:

• Signs up for every church small group, bible study, and volunteering event, and most likely runs a few of these groups themselves.
• Has difficulty focusing on a project and which leads to incompletion. 
• Has a lot of vision but not enough time or ability. 

Solution:

• Say no.
• Delegate some responsibility to others.
• Cut some things off your schedule and limit yourself on what you take on.
• Reorganize your priorities with God as #1. If you're not making time for him, then everything else will go to pot. 

b.

2. The Anger Management Christian

Unfortunetly the spirit of offense is rampant in the church. I can't tell you how many times I have heard the phrase, "I don't go to church anymore because someone there offended me." Well welcome to the United States of America. It's not just the church full of offenders, it is this world, and anyone living in it is going to offend someone at some point in time. Christians however are held to a higher standard and are often dehumanized by their own kind. It is essential to recognize that we are all sinners and we are all at different levels as we try to be like Christ. So forgive one another and release that white knuckled grip of bitterness. 

Symptoms:

• Easily roused to anger.
• Quick to speak and quick to judge.
• Frequently holding a grudge.
• Often feeling offended. 

Solution:

• Seek out past bitterness and ask forgiveness.
• Forgive those who hurt you. 
• Seek the good in others. If you go looking for bad. I assure you that you will find it. 
• Pray for those who hurt you and pray for peace in your soul.
• Think before speaking. 

c.

3. The Multiple Personalities Christian

Though there has never been  a true recording of "split personalities" in psychological history there is a significant population of Christians who I would say show more than one face. 

Symptoms:

• Come to church with their best face on.
• Go to places outside the church with their true face on. 
• Have difficulty balancing both worlds.

Solution:

• You cannot blend the two, so choose one.
• Be honest with your self and others. 

d.

4. The Traumatized Christian

Unfortunately we live in a fallen world and many people, even good people, have experienced some terrible things. This can have a complicated effect on a person's future and influence their perceptions of others. Past traumas cause future fears. This is especially inclusive of the relationship between you and God. 

Symptoms:

• Does not trust others.
• Has difficulty developing intimate relationships. 
• Crippled by insecurities. 
• Fears future hurts that have yet to develop. 

Solution:

• Pray. Only God can heal the brokenhearted. 
• Seek out someone to mentor you and help you develop trust. 

e.

5. The Depressed Christian

Life can be overwhelming sometimes and wanting to give up on life is an easy relief. Many people choose this option in order to check out of the world's problems. However God can give us an unexplainable joy that does not fade and it begins with giving your life to Him. 

Symptoms:

• An overwhelming sense of hopelessness.
• Gives up on hobbies and passions.
• resorts to numbing the pain through different means. 
• Feels separated from others and God

Solution:

• Investigate origination of sadness. 
• Evaluate and remove unhealthy relationships from life. 
• Seek joy through Christ. 

f.

6. The Anxious Christian

It is so natural to worry. Many of us are very skilled at this task. Life is hectic and crazy and it seems there is always something to worry and stress about. It can be crippling at times. I often find myself lying in bed at night contemplating future woes such as towering student loans, the ever-glowing check engine light on my dashboard, and such extreme far-fetched ideas like "What will I do if I become a parent and totally mess up my kids because I'm bad at it?" or "My husband hasn't called in a while, what if he got into a car accident on the way home!". It's pure insanity but we find the "what if's" so sensible in the moment. We try and see so far into the future that often times we lack the simple ability of experiencing the present. We must acknowledge these maladaptive behaviors and seek peace in the things we cannot change. 

Symptoms: 

• Stressing about things in the future that are unpredictable. 
• Unable to focus on present. 
• Assumes worse case scenario. 
• Worries about things that cannot be helped. 

Solution:

• Practice correcting your hurtful thoughts and refocus them in positivity. 
• Do what you can in the natural and trust God for the supernatural. 
• Pray about everything.
• Let go of what you cannot control and let God. 
• Remind yourself to breathe. It's going to be ok. 

g. 

If you feel that you can relate to the above, please note, you are NOT alone. The church is a place of healing, a place of hope, and a place of understanding. Let us as the body "bear one another burdens" like it says in Galatians 6, and be that person that grasps the outstretched hand of the hurting rather than turning a blind eye to their brokenness. My pastor pointed out in our leadership meeting last evening that "Loving God with all our soul and strength means ministering to people even when it's emotionally draining, inconvenient, and even irritating." But if we are going to be like christ we are called to be there for one another. 

So let us reach out. Both ways. If you are hurting reach out for help and those who able to help reach out to those who are hurting. If we shoulder one another burdens, the load will not be so heavy. 

h. 

a. http://www.riskmanagementmonitor.com/author-dan-gardner-talks-risk-decisions-and-psychology-at-the-2012-rims-canada-conference/

b. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/5a/de/3d/5ade3de2168cc3ab8a10ad4cc07a17d2.jpg

c. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/6d/88/48/6d8848b77330c3daaefd12569de1b440.jpg

d. http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/one-minute-your-posts-are-cussing-people-out-next-minute-youre-quoting-scriptures-can-both-fresh-water-and-salt-water-flow-from-the-same-spring-f6a06.png
e. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/17/e5/17/17e517b3aada737bb5812135651c2753.jpg
f. http://in1.ccio.co/JE/fE/a6/e5cb809701f8d2e6340c2c5d3eff887f.jpg?iw=300
g. http://www.jennifershopeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ANXIETY.png
h. https://rogernewberrydotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/01-bearing-one-anothers-burdens4.jpg