Mental Illness or Mental Health

*Disclaimer: This blog post is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure a mental illness. This post is intended to provide information about a topic on mental health and mental illness that you can use your best judgment to address with your primary care provider, therapist, or psychiatrist.

There has been a lot of discussion in the area of mental health and mental illness. It seems that often these two areas are lumped together or used interchangeably. What if there is a difference? And what if this difference made a difference?

Good news. There is a difference. Knowing the difference is important for how you might go about addressing the concerns. The difference may guide your steps differently and will ultimately give you different outcomes.

Mental illness requires a diagnosis from a professional, such as a doctor, psychiatrist, or mental health professional. With this diagnosis, you can seek out services that are often covered by insurance. This diagnosis may also offer you services through government agencies or help in getting certain accommodations. Having a diagnosis often opens doors for addressing your symptoms and getting you the help you need. The outcome for a mental illness will depend on the diagnosis and the treatment plan, but it often provides relief from the symptoms. The length of treatment will also vary.

And there is a huge BUT that comes next. It is the difference between mental illness and mental health. While a diagnosis can offer some comfort and provide the necessary treatment for success, there are some people who do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis. These people who do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis still may benefit from some support to address what they are going through. Life is hard at times, and processing it with others is one of the greatest blessings that we have in God's design. He created us for relationships, for community, and for connections.

If you or someone you know is struggling but does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis, you and they still deserve support and answers. This is where mental health comes into play. Without a diagnosis, you may not be able to have insurance cover your treatment, you may not be able to get certain accommodations, or you may not receive certain government agency services. Here's the BUT. You can still work on your overall mental health with various resources and support. Mental health is a spectrum of overall satisfaction, it is a spectrum of overall wellness, and it is a state that reflects your ability to cope with your experiences, your circumstances, and your environment. The desired outcome will vary, like with a diagnosis, but it often is for a decrease in distress. The length of time will also vary depending on the circumstances.

As you read what mental health does mean, you might notice that it welcomes all people into a space for support and does not limit you based on a diagnosis or a lack of diagnosis. You may not meet the criteria for a diagnosis, but you may still notice some discomfort with anxiety, depression, processing adjustments, change, motivation, etc., just to name a few. Those experiences are an important part of your overall wellness and satisfaction. Those experiences would fall into the mental health category of your life and still deserve the time and attention that you might give a diagnosis.

Jesus had mental health. You can find it all throughout scripture in the way in which He models emotions, emotional regulation, and the day-to-day stressors that He faced in His life, especially in the time leading up to the cross. I would not say that Jesus had a mental illness, but He does model how mental health plays a role in your life, because you were designed to have mental health. Mental health is not necessarily a byproduct of sin, since it really is a spectrum in how you manage, handle, and work through life experiences. This does not mean that sin does not play a role in it, but I do believe that even without sin there would still be mental health the same way there would still be physical health, cardiovascular health, etc.

When your mental health is taking a hit in day-to-day life, it is okay to reach out for support, it is okay to take some time to reflect, and it is okay to not be okay. Just because mental health issues do not mean mental illness, you do not have to wait until it gets worse.

You can check out some resources here on He is for Me to help with the times when your mental health might decrease, and if it becomes something more serious, you can always reach out to a professional.

Scripture:

Psalm 147:3- He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds

Proverbs 17:22- A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones

John 11:35 - Jesus wept

Luke 19:41- As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it

Matthew 21:12- Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.

Reflection:

How does mental health versus mental illness play a role in your own personal life?

What comes to mind when you think about Jesus being an example of managing mental health in a healthy way versus an unhealthy way? What steps do you need to talk to manage your mental health?

Resources:

*While these resources may highlight the area of depression as it relates to mental health, they can also be useful when doing a self-check in the area of anxiety, stress, feeling overwhelmed, etc. You can also check out the different categories on the blog such as self-esteem, coping, etc. Managing Depression

phYsical Activity

Engage in your Purpose

SAD- it is a real thing

It Takes a Village

Catching Zzzzz's

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for creating us in a way that desires others as it models your desire for us. Thank you for creating opportunities to lean into you and grow in relationship with you through areas such as mental health check-ins. Lord, I pray that those who find themselves struggling with mental health concerns or mental illness find comfort in You, Your Son, and the Holy Spirit. I pray for hope and wellness to overcome them in their time of despair and knowing that You love them where they are in these moments. Father God, thank you for blessing us with an example in Christ. I pray this in Your Son's name, Amen!