Comments on: Double Dangers: Maximizing and Minimizing Mental Illness https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/04/16/maximizing-and-minimizing-mental-illness/  Informing Minds. Moving Hearts. Directing Hands. Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:21:00 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.41 By: Adam https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/04/16/maximizing-and-minimizing-mental-illness/#comment-50989 Mon, 24 Jul 2023 19:55:00 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=12718#comment-50989 Once I found this article, I was greatly anticipating reading through it. However, I can’t understand how a person formerly in denial of all mental illness still puts it in quotes as if afraid to legitimize any mental illness. I also can’t understand how the compassion of secular counselors is also in quotations, as if God can’t work through a non-believer, also made in the image of God, to manifest his goodness by way of compassion. To top it off, the sin-maximizers are appeased repeatedly by the phrase “if you accept the possibility of mental illness”. Again, this is coming from someone who had previously denied all mental illness, and I wish those divides were omitted from the article in order to make a more genuine attempt at bridging the gap and communicating more respectfully.

]]> By: Erin Kelly https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/04/16/maximizing-and-minimizing-mental-illness/#comment-50119 Mon, 17 Jul 2017 21:43:00 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=12718#comment-50119 Wow. That’s a lot to take in whew! So i didn’t know such an opinion existed. I love our god he is good but isn’t all this closer to stereotyping or being biased?

]]> By: David Murray https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/04/16/maximizing-and-minimizing-mental-illness/#comment-49972 Thu, 13 Apr 2017 16:06:00 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=12718#comment-49972 Hi Josh,

Have a look at http://headhearthand.org/blog/2016/10/14/can-depression-be-cured-latest-research/

and

http://headhearthand.org/blog/2016/10/17/can-depression-be-cured-in-40-minutes/

]]> By: Josh Kappes https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/04/16/maximizing-and-minimizing-mental-illness/#comment-49971 Thu, 13 Apr 2017 16:03:00 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=12718#comment-49971 David, what would be some reputable research you would recommend?

]]> By: David Murray > Mental health experts on faith and mental illness | Innovate For Jesus | Grow the Church https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/04/16/maximizing-and-minimizing-mental-illness/#comment-48186 Fri, 11 Sep 2015 14:14:19 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=12718#comment-48186 […] For discussion about limitations of the term “mental illness” you can read The Problem with “Mental Illness” and Double Dangers: Maximizing and Minimizing Mental Illness. […]

]]> By: David Murray https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/04/16/maximizing-and-minimizing-mental-illness/#comment-46589 Thu, 02 Oct 2014 21:17:00 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=12718#comment-46589 Thank you for the kind words and encouragement, Mike.

]]> By: Mike Reidland https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/04/16/maximizing-and-minimizing-mental-illness/#comment-46588 Thu, 02 Oct 2014 13:27:00 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=12718#comment-46588 Outstanding article! As Pastor of biblical counseling at our church, I regularly deal with these subjects. Clearly, if I have a broken leg, I need a physician to treat it, but I have the scriptures to guide me in my moral choices in the midst of the pain. And I’ve also found that Novocain makes it easier to make Christ honoring decisions during a root canal! I’m so grateful to God for the medical assistance we have today to help us combat the devastating effects of “the fall”, but as you’ve stated in your article, we must continue to examine our spiritual lives in light of whatever affliction God may allow us to experience. As Job 36:15 says “affliction opens the ears” and Romans 8:28-29 says He will conform us into the image of His Son if we will trust Him in our responses to the tests and trials of life, even “mental illnesses”. Again, thank you for your balanced perspective…it is greatly needed today in the church!

]]> By: A Biblical Counseling Perspective on Mental Illness | Biblical Counseling Coalition Blogs https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/04/16/maximizing-and-minimizing-mental-illness/#comment-23070 Thu, 16 May 2013 09:00:59 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=12718#comment-23070 [...] good friend, David Murray, in a post entitled Maximizing and Minimizing Mental Illness, correctly indicated that a person’s view of mental illness could be wrongly explored from the [...]

]]> By: David Murray https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/04/16/maximizing-and-minimizing-mental-illness/#comment-22777 Thu, 09 May 2013 16:47:07 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=12718#comment-22777 Thanks for your testimony, Haley. So sorry to read about your suffering. I do believe that the climate is changing and that things will get better as people are educated and become more willing to think and talk about this.

]]> By: Haley Parks https://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/04/16/maximizing-and-minimizing-mental-illness/#comment-22752 Wed, 08 May 2013 06:05:13 +0000 http://headhearthand.org/?p=12718#comment-22752 I just wanted to say thank you for this article. I have struggled with mental illness and I have been told that I am sinning or that medication isn’t necessary and God will fix everything. I think God definitely has his place in getting better but people must realize that mental illness is not just sin. I have been very confused and actually pushed away from Christianity because many people will not acknowledge that research does in fact show that people with mental disorders have chemical imbalances as well as abnormal brain scans, hyperactivity or abnormally low activity in certain regions of the brain as a few examples. I think your explanation of both sin as well as factors beyond our control makes perfect sense. Most Christians that I have spoken with are quick to judge my struggles as me giving into sin. This is definitely a quick way to push people away from Christianity, instead they should offer help and support rather than pass judgment on circumstances beyond their, and even my understanding. Even for the mentally ill person it can be very difficult to understand what is sin and what may be beyond your control. For the people claiming that mental disorders are just an excuse for sin, I do acknowledge that some things classified as disorders are a bit ridiculous, such as newly named disorders for disobedient children. I really think some labels do take away from the people that really are suffering and as well as support the stigma towards mental disorders. I am really glad I came across these articles. You provide a refreshing view that does not wholly condemn or excuse. I still have many specifics that I am still questioning about my own illness but your article has definitely helped immensely.

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