Dr. Murphy: “It's important to remember that mental illness is not a spiritual defect…”

“Mental illness is a combination of a genetic predisposition with biological factors, environmental factors—or generally a multifactorial component which can manifest in many symptoms. We take those symptoms and give them a name similar to the way we do diabetes. No one can tell you why you have diabetes, but we know that many factors play a role.

Man is not just a spirit—or simply a body—or state of mind. We're all three. If you need biblical confirmation, go no further than 1 Thessalonians 5:23. Paul says,

‘May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ…’

Many times, a mental illness can still benefit from spiritual input. I think any obstacle that we face can definitely benefit from divine intervention and spiritual input. However, that does not mean that the problem itself is a spiritual problem.

Another factor that's important to remember is that seeking help for a mental illness is not a repudiation of the healing power of God.”

Those Who Offer Mental Health Services Are Also Part of God’s Plan

“God works through people I know. I know that I am doing God's work because He has brought me through all the trials and tribulations I've had to go through in my life to get to this point; and it allows me to help people along the way. There are many mental health providers of faith out there who I want to encourage to make themselves known and available to the faith community.

Biblical scripture reinforces this. Again, look at 1 Thessalonians 5:14:

 ‘And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.’

And then if we go to Hebrews 10:24 :

‘And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…’

Remember that we all have gifts. This is reinforced in Romans 12:5-8

‘For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.’

How Do We Recognize A Need for Treatment?

“What does treatment mean for mental health? Seeking treatment is difficult because you may not know that you need treatment. Symptoms of mental health can look just like issue with physical health. As a matter of fact, when we define mental illness, most diagnoses are like this: ‘the diagnosis or symptoms cannot be due to a medical condition or a substance’.

That's because mental illness and physical illness look very similar. Or sometimes there can be subtle things that we may not recognize as mental illness, like difficulties with sleeping, feeling tired, lack of hunger, lack of interest, poor motivation, lack of enjoyment. It's important to have these things checked out by your primary care provider. However, if there are no physical symptoms or no physical diagnoses found, it’s important to open your mind to the possibility of a mental illness that needs to be addressed.

And remember, not every mental illness or mental condition requires medication—nor does medication control people's minds. It helps to correct imbalances similar to heart medications, diabetes medications, cholesterol—all medication. There's no magic treatment in regards to medication therapy.”

What Is Therapy and Why Is It Difficult for Men To Talk About It?

“Therapy becomes very difficult for men to talk about in part because people look at it and say, ‘well, talking about my problems never solved anything’. One hard part, of course, is this requires making yourself vulnerable. It's difficult to talk about things that bring shame and guilt, to address regrets, or to address issues that we'd much rather just forget. As opposed to discussion, I tell people there are also some things you get over, some things you get through, and other things you just need to adapt to.

But keep in mind that therapy is not just talking about problems. Therapy is about going over our thought processes, how we analyze situations, how we manage our stress, how we can look at things differently—maybe utilize tools such as reframing situations—taking something that can be a negative and finding a way to turn into a positive. It may involve addressing things through situational analysis and understanding where and when we have negative thoughts. We take a good step back and take an objective view at the things that support negative thoughts versus the things that go against negative thoughts.

Because when we look back it's so easy for the devil to only remind you of the bad things—or, when you're feeling down, to always look at the negative parts of yourself without being able to take a whole view of your situation. And that's where I think therapy can be very beneficial. In addition, you can learn techniques to help with your homeostasis and the physiological effects of things such as anxiety; you can learn techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness. There are lots of techniques that can be taught that don't always come just naturally.”

Tips on Finding a Good Therapist

“It's important to connect with someone with whom you can build a relationship of encouragement. This may even be someone who shares your faith—who has an understanding that God is always in control.

You can contact your local community service board to reach out for providers. The Medical Society of Virginia can direct you to providers within your area. You can contact your insurance company to find providers. Or you can go online and look at sites such as ZocDoc or other organizations that may have more information to make you feel more familiar and comfortable before you choose a provider.

Remember this, though: working with a mental health provider is a relationship. It's an important relationship. So take your time, choose wisely, and pray on it. Matter of fact, pray on everything because it never hurts.

My name is Dr. Michael Anthony Murphy. Thank you for your time.”