“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
The world around us kind of likes to exaggerate. Ads use phrases like "Mega-Size" and "Ultra Strength" when there are things that are greater. Five hours after lunch, people say, "I'm starving" when they know they're not dying. Politicians call their opponents "evil" rather than acknowledging any nuance in human beings.
This extreme language shouldn't be taken too seriously, and we usually know exactly what other people mean. But sometimes we borrow words that aren't clear, and it ends up blurring the difference between reality and perception.
We often get questions wondering, "Is it my lack of faith or my anxiety?" or "Is it real conviction or just OCD?" When our daily life and understanding of faith gets disrupted by this confusion, the situation gets serious. So it's helpful to know the difference.
Reality vs. Perception
People know what real, dangerous "starving" is. Regardless of the words they use, they don't think, "Am I starving? Am I going to die?" So why do we use mental health words without the same understanding? Pop culture doesn't really understand things like ADHD, OCD, depression, and anxiety. These are clinical diagnoses that are determined by a mental health professional.
Yet we tend to use them the same way as, "I'm starving." Since we're not as clear on what the medical terms mean, we risk hyping up something minor or brushing off something serious. Stretched language can cause very real issues when it comes to our mental and spiritual health, which can lead to doubts and interruptions in life.
We've all struggled with being the only person annoyed by a thing. We've all had intrusive thoughts. We've all struggled to keep on task or become hyper-fixated on something. We've all felt low-energy and sad or maybe overly energetic and a little out of control. Those can all be frustrating—especially if they happen often.
But none of them are a diagnosis. Honestly, there's no such thing as being a "little" OCD or "slightly" bipolar—just as a person can't "kind of" have cancer or be a "bit" diabetic. So we want to be careful not to lean on those words without confirmation from a medical professional.
How to Determine What's Real
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
The important determining factor between an actual mental illness (like OCD, ADHD, depression, etc.) is when it interferes with daily life. If it’s always hard to concentrate, or to get things done, or to sleep—if it interferes with living a normal, contented life—then it might be an actual medical condition. At that point, it’s important to talk to parents and doctors so they can provide the right sort of help.
Whether it’s a full-blown condition or something more generalized, it’s always important to talk to God (James 1:5) and get support from Christian loved ones and pastors. One reason God formed our Christian family is for support during hard times.
Examination is Key
“The first to speak in court sounds right—until the cross-examination begins.”
We need to take this seriously, because it’s crucial not to give "blind" trust to just anyone who posts on the internet. Scripture tells us two things at the same time:
We should not trust our own assumptions (1 John 4:1).
God gave us multiple tools for figuring out truth (Acts 17:11).
We can't look at just one source or experience or piece of information and make a decision. We have more than one way to check on things. That includes our thoughts, the words of the Bible, guidance from the Holy Spirit, and advice from others. When we examine our circumstances and thoughts using all the tools available, it becomes easier to know if the thoughts are healthy or unhealthy.
So when disturbing thoughts come up or habits become problems, we can pray about them, then refer to the Bible to see if those thoughts make sense of what we read there. We can take them to reliable friends and mentors (Proverbs 18:17).
We can even research other books or writings or videos about the topic. The Holy Spirit will never lead us toward something false, dangerous, unbiblical, or evil. If Scripture, prayer, advice, and research tell us the situation is bad, then it’s bad (Romans 14:23).
Spiritual & Mental Health Are Connected
“Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Our mental health and spiritual health actually do affect each other. So we should be caring for both. In the heat of the moment, a quick prayer and examination can help us find the difference between controlled vigilance and mental illness. Before reacting, ask questions like:
Do these thoughts match what I know of the Bible?
Does it seem like the sort of thing God would say?
Is it good and helpful (Philippians 4:8)?
Do the thoughts call me to be closer to God? To trust Him more? To obey something He’s said in the Bible?
Most of the anxiety we feel comes from a fear that God will be mad at us or disappointed and bring punishment. But remember that God knows exactly what it means to be a human being (Hebrews 4:15). We all make mistakes sometimes. That includes mixing up whether something we think/want/feel is coming from ourselves, from the Lord, from some outside source or trauma—or from a brain chemistry imbalance.
Sometimes we struggle to know if we've made a human mistake or if we literally need therapy. And His forgiveness is always available if we come to the wrong conclusion (Hebrews 4:16). We promise that when God's children are sincere and truly seeking Him with all the tools available (1 Timothy 4:4), He’s ready to forgive and help us heal (1 John 1:8-9).