I talked to a few people about it (not many) who all prayed with me that I would get over it and be healed. I always felt God’s love and peace, but I knew I needed more than that.

It was when I went to Bible College that the Dean of Students referred me to a counsellor. Those 4 sessions were the beginning of what changed my life. What I needed was practical things. I needed to be told that “every guy is not the one that abused me”. While the pastors did what they knew to do, and I accepted all that God gave me, I still needed more.

When I began having mental issues, like being unstable, angry and such, it brought me guilt. I was ashamed of my behaviour. There was no way I was going to go talk to my pastor. (Mind you, I work with him, so it would have been awkward). I just feel that there’s such a stigma out there – especially in churches – and that’s what held me back from going to him. Once I was officially diagnosed with bipolar, I did tell my pastor, my boss, what was going on. Once it was out on my blog, and a few other people in my life knew, I did go talk to a friend that is a pastor at a different church. We talked as friends, not as me going to him for help.

In regards to the medication thing, I do think that people are being medicated for reasons that are not legimate. I would hope that doctors have the sense to know when the patient is truly suffering a chemical imbalance, and when they are just sad or stressed out. When it is a sad or stressed out senario, I believe that wellness activities are the way to go. People and doctors are so fast to go for the quick fix – and that’s too bad.

I’ll stop for now – maybe more thoughts will come after. Or, maybe your thoughts in response to my thoughts will create more thoughts!!!

not that there isn’t a significant minority that DO talk to clergy, no doubt.

Also most Americans probably don’t even have a relationship with a clergy member…while the US is a nation of God believers, most don’t go to church.

I might do a post about a minister who really, really helped me. There is another minister who made me worse.

What I thought migh generate more discusssion is that I thought that when people are having problems…even if they aren’t that “Churchy” they turn to the church for help. I see pastors, rabbis..etc. as the gatekeepers…yet I am not hearing that from others.

I actually talked with a minister not that long ago and told him what I was going through and how my spirituality was coming back as I got off the drugs and he was extremely supportive too…

It just depends who you talk too….

some clergy will NOT recommend a psychiatrist and do a laying on of hands and try to get the evil spirits out of you…I’ve seen this happen.

Yes, maybe God was talking to you.

Nowadays, I bet, the clergy will refer you…maybe I am wrong…