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Is Mental Illness A Sin? - Page 2

I don't believe it's a sin, but I do believe that it doesn't have to be permanent and medication isn't for everyone. Some medications cause more side effects then really fix the problem. Depression is caused by more then one factor. In some cases, it's environmental, in some cases its because of a loss- of someone close to you for example, and in some cases it is a chemical imbalance that can be treated with medication. But some doctors prescribe anti-depressants simply because it's easier and more affordable for insurance companies then counsoling. I believe problems need to be worked through if possible and not just go straight to medication. Usually there's an underlying cause.
I was at a Relief Society meeting where the speaker said that there was no reason depression had to be permanent, and I believe her. I think that we all have bad days, and I realize after the death or after giving birth there is a change in your hormones and endorphins that needs to be changed. But I think the majority of cases can be treated without medication. Sometimes all the person needs is someone to talk to, some exercise(excercise releases endorphins) or they need to make a life-style change to be happier with themselves. It says in the scriptures that "wickedness never was happiness" so if your sinning, your not going to be happy. Really I think that"mental illness is a sin" is a backward statement "sinning causes mental illness" would be a more acurate statement. and like I said, not all cases stem from sin, but some do. I was on Prozac in my pre-teen years, not because I had depression-the therapist was clear about that, but because I had "problems adjusting" I was going through puberty and starting JR high and so I did have a hormonal imbalance- but doesn't every kid at that age? At that time I wasn't the only one on Prozac my age-a lot of 7th graders like myself were on Prozac as well, and I don't think that's right. All I really needed to fix my problem was time, and someone to talk to. I did take the medication, although my parents had to beg and plead me, but I don't think it really made a difference. And it was worse when I was coming off it then before I'd ever started taking it-because it made my hormones even worse.Today I am a happily married, mother of one, and I'm not on medication. I don't need it and I believe I never did, all I needed was time. I was a lot happier after I graduated, became an adult, and had my baby, because I think that's what life is all about. That's what I was missing-not medication.

Sin Illness Mental Is

OK--I'm Bipolar (which I think is a stupid "politically correct" term--I prefer the original "Manic/Depressive" because it describes the illness to a tee.

I do not believe I am evil nor do I believe I am prone to evil anymore than the next person. I do believe that people who allow themselves to be consumed by evilness through actions, both mental and physical, do become insane.

Take, for instance, Hitler. We know that all infants and children are innocent of sin and incapable of evil doings or possession until the age of accountability--8 years. The gospel and Church doctrine teach this. So what happens to those who become unrepentant sinners and those who become the poster person of evil (I.e. Hitler, Hussain, etc.)? My belief, as a mentally ill individual, is that these people, after the age of accountability, allow evil into their lives and are eventually driven mad by the evil that consumes them, allowing them to commit the inhuman and barbarious acts they eventually commit.

Mental illness isn't evilness, nor does it make one prone to evilness. But evilness unchecked can, and does, drive one to madness.

I also sincerely believe, due to personal experience, that mental illness can, and does in some, result in that individual being more "in tune" with the spirit world, or at least able to cross the veil to a small extent, making them more likely to experience spirit manifestations and "paranormal" experiences.

Is Mental Illness A Sin? Studies Doctrine Mormon

This reminds me of John 9:1-3:

I have an aunt who is developed mentally illness late in her life, and she has spent a lot of time in various institutions. Judging just by her actions (without any knowledge of her mental state), it would be easy to condemn her as a horrible sinner. According to my mother, in my aunt's patriarchal blessing--received long before this illness first occurred--it speaks of her being a healer and bringing light to the unwell (I am of course paraphrasing from memory).

Like the blind man, I believe that many illnesses, mental or otherwise, we receive for a reason, "that the words of God should be made manifest". That is not to say that some illnesses or problems that we encounter in life do not come at least partially because of choices that we have made--but it's usually not a good idea for us to condemn people based on partial knowledge. =)

Page 2 Sin Illness Mental Is

My nephew was bipolar (and I agree that the previous term of Manic/Depressive is more apt). I don't know if he was more prone to sin because of the illness, but he was certainly more prone to errors in judgment, which then led him to sin.

I don't believe that mental illness itself is sin, because 1) it tends to be hereditary, which we have no control over; and 2) it's a physical or chemical problem, which we don't have control over.

Sin, by definition, is a choice, which we do have control over (if we have no mental limitations).

In my opinion, of course.
Roz

Sin Illness Mental Is

Without changing the Topic much I would like to point out two tangents since this is something I live with and see daily:

1. Here we discuss about Mental Illness being a sin, however what about those who are mental causing you to commit sin - an excuse? A Justification? Something definitely to think about.

2. There is a Threads here: https://www.bordeglobal.com/foruminv/show.p...T/f/120/t/21993 in which I still wish to pursue a healing, a great healing... has no one hope?

Is Mental Illness A Sin?

I am not sure if I am following you here. What do you exactly mean by a mental person causing you to sin? I do not think anybody can "cause" somebody else to sin, it's a choice. The mental person is in no way responsible and is innocent in the eyes of the Lord no matter what they do. If the individual dealing with the mental person loses control or say or do something that is not good (sin) then he/she is fully responsible for it. The healthy individual in this case has a choice and is supposed to be in full control of his/her emotions.

Is Mental Illness Sin - Page 2

You will note that I added after:

Metally ill people can say things or worst off - do things to you that may cause you to retaliate - everyone has a limit. I know one lady in Church where her son follows her around (he is a grown man) constantly taunting her with insults in the street. Sometimes she loses her patience and sanity and lets him have it with bad language. So I add here again...

An excuse? A Justification? This is just for thought.

Is Mental Illness Sin Mormon Doctrine Studies - Page 2

An excuse for whom? The mentally ill person or the healthy person? As LDS_Forever pointed out, the healthy person has a choice at all times. They know what they are dealing with, especially in the case you mention of the mother and her son. If that is a pattern that has been followed for a long time, I.e. she allows him to insult her until she can't stand it anymore and then she verbally attacks him, then she's allowed it to happen; it's her choice. She could have chosen different ways to handle the situation from the beginning, but she chooses to ignore his behavior until she gets angry. So does the mother use the son's mental illness as an excuse or justification for her behavior? You bet.